As a Program Director, I am passionate about creating opportunities for students to live their dreams while preparing them to meet the evolving needs of our profession. Our program is designed to be relevant, rigorous, and forward-looking—grounded in evidence-based medicine while integrating emerging topics such as health informatics, artificial intelligence in medicine, and evolving models of patient care.
You will learn from a team of experienced and dedicated faculty who share a commitment to excellence, service, and professional integrity. Together, we will cultivate not only your clinical knowledge and technical skills but also your capacity for critical thinking, compassion, and advocacy.
From your first semester, you will engage in early clinical experiences that connect classroom learning to real-world practice. You will serve our community, advocate for your patients, and grow into a confident, competent, and compassionate provider.
We believe that success in this program is a shared responsibility—our faculty will guide, mentor, and challenge you, but you are accountable for your own learning and professional growth.
If you are ready to dedicate yourself to a career of service and lifelong learning, we invite you to join us in this journey. Together, we will prepare you not only to practice medicine but to make a difference.
Warm regards,
Johnna Yealy, PhD, PA-C
Program Director, PA Chattanooga
Lincoln Memorial University–School of Medical Sciences
At the heart of our program, there are five core values—autonomy, altruism, accountability, attunement, and advocacy. These are not just words on paper; they are the foundation of how we learn, teach, and care for patients.
You will see these values reflected throughout the curriculum—in how we engage with one another, approach clinical practice, serve the community, and grow as professionals. Our commitment to these values fosters a learning environment where professionalism, compassion, and accountability are lived expectations rather than just taught concepts.
Throughout your time in the program, these values will be consistently modeled by faculty and peers. While they are not measured like academic competencies or program goals, they are fundamental to how we interact with patients, colleagues, and our community.
We believe that excellence in clinical care is inseparable from excellence in character.
| Autonomy | We will honor patient autonomy by ensuring individuals have a voice in their care decisions, while preparing providers to practice at the highest level of their training and professional scope. |
| Altruism | We will utilize active community engagement and service to build a shared sense of purpose among faculty and students, while deepening our understanding of community health and the value of serving others. |
| Accountability | We will encourage a culture of lifelong learning by engaging faculty and students in active learning and professional growth, grounded in self-accountability and mutual respect. |
| Attune | We will support faculty and graduates in providing holistic, patient-centered care by integrating the physical, emotional, social, and preventive aspects into clinical practice. |
| Advocacy | We will empower faculty and graduates to engage in healthcare policy and legislative initiatives to advocate for the profession and the patients we serve. |
