The Script: School of Physician Assistant Studies faculty
COPHS Staff |
The College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences' physician assistant studies master’s program, expected to enroll students in fall 2018, brings four new faces (and an old friend) to Lipscomb. The newly established School of Physician Studies has hired scholars who hold the highest degrees in their field and have experience in the Nashville health care market.
Stephen Heffington, MD, is the new program director of the School of Physician Assistant Studies and assistant professor of medicine. He holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee and completed six years of post-graduate residency and fellowship in urologic surgery and renal transplantation at the University of Missouri. He came to Lipscomb after 18 years in surgical practice and health care administration.
He served as medical director for the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences before transitioning to the program director role for the school. He also serves as faculty and course coordinator in both the College of Pharmacy and the School of Nursing.
C. Marie Patterson, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, holds a Doctor of Health Science from Nova Southeastern University, and has been a physician assistant for 13 years with experience in emergency medicine, occupational medicine, primary care and urgent care. The last 10 years she has spent at Middle Tennessee State University in the Student Health Clinic.
Jenny Robinson (’09), assistant professor of physician assistant studies and director of clinical education and quality assurance, holds a Master of Science in Medicine from Trevecca Nazarene University. Robinson worked as a physician assistant in orthopedics for two years and then transitioned to PA education. She has extensive experience with developing, contracting and providing quality improvement for experiential education sites.
Kelly M. Smart, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, holds a Master of Science in Medicine from Trevecca Nazarene University. Smart worked in orthopedics for 10 years before moving on to pain management and finally coming here to Lipscomb to pass on 14 years of clinical medicine knowledge and educational experience.
Matthew Steidl (’00), assistant professor of physician assistant studies, holds a Master in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Steidl has eight years of experience as a software engineer for Lockheed Martin and seven years as a physician assistant working in urology. Most recently, he has been doing inpatient work with Urology Associates in Nashville.