Lavette Shirley

Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies - Charlotte

Department: Physician Assistant Studies - Charlotte

Elon University Charlotte 2007 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244

Brief Biography

Dr. Lavette Shirley is a Board-Certified Physician Assistant (PA) who has practiced since 2012. She holds a BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Kent State University, an MS in Physician Assistant Studies from Kettering College, and a Doctor of Science in PA Studies completed in December 2020.

Dr. Shirley has dedicated much of her career to serving high-risk communities in North Carolina, primarily in urgent care, with additional experience in primary care and psychiatry. She is now part of Elon University’s developing PA program in Charlotte, starting July 1, 2025. Previously, she served as an Assistant Professor at Wingate University’s PA program, teaching Women's Health, Research, Endocrinology, co-teaching Dermatology, and facilitating Clinical Medicine. She was also the founding chair of Wingate PA’s DEI committee and served as a Director at Large for the North Carolina Academy of PAs (NCAPA).

As Co-Founder and CEO of the Women's Health and Resilience Foundation, Dr. Shirley empowers communities through education, mentorship, and advocacy. She developed a mentorship program supporting underrepresented students pursuing PA careers to foster an inclusive healthcare workforce.

Dr. Shirley is the author of children’s books including I Saw My PA Today, Remarkably You, Remarkably Me, and My Primary Care PA, written to ease children's fears of medical visits and inspire confidence among young readers.

Her research includes co-authoring Cross-disciplinary Narratives on COVID-19: Local Perspectives from Global Health Science Graduate Students in the International Journal of Nursing and Health Care Research, and A Difficult Diagnosis: Intermittent Palpitations in a Healthy Woman published in JAAPA.

Beyond her professional work, Dr. Shirley is the proud mother of two sons, Za’kari and Zion. She enjoys traveling, karaoke, Hotworx workouts, and kickboxing, and believes deeply in the power of positivity and mentorship to shape future healthcare leaders.

News & Notes

Education

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
DScPAS, Physician AssistantDScPAS, Physician Assistant 2019 - 2020Doctor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
- Capstone: Does the addition of antibiotics in conjunction with I&D improve cure rates and reduce rates of recurrence of simple cutaneous abscesses versus I&D alone?Doctor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Capstone: Does the addition of antibiotics in conjunction with I&D improve cure rates and reduce rates of recurrence of simple cutaneous abscesses versus I&D alone?
Kettering College
Master, Physician Assistant StudiesMaster, Physician Assistant Studies 2010 - 2012
Kent State UniversityKent State University
Bachelors, Science and Pre Medical DegreeBachelors, Science and Pre Medical Degree 2006 - 2009

Employment History

Assistant ProfessorAssistant Professor

Elon University · Full-time

Jul 2025 - Present · 1 mo

Charlotte, North Carolina

Assistant ProfessorAssistant Professor

Wingate University · Full-time

May 2021 - Jul 2025

Courses Taught

Women’s Health 2021-2025
Clinical Medicine I 2022-2025
Clinical Medicine II 2023-2025
Clinical Medicine III 2023-2025
Inter-professional Education I 2021-2024
Inter-professional Education II 2022-2024
Research, Epidemiology, and Statistics 2025

Instructor

Clinical Medicine I- Dermatology
Clinical Medicine II- Endocrinology
Research, Epidemiology, and Statistics
Women's Health

Leadership Positions

CEO, President

Women's Health and Resilience Foundation, Inc. ·

Self-employed

Apr 2024 - Present

Director At Large

North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants

Jan 2024 - Present

Current Projects

An Interdisciplinary Guide to Social Determinants of Health in Chronic Disease

(Chapter: Structural & Systemic Influences).

In progress

Spring 2024- Ongoing

Textbook

Grants Awarded

Title	Sponsor	Award date	Status	Term	Total Funding
Developing a Mentorship Program between current Wingate University PA students and alumni and pre-PA students who self-report as underrepresented in medicine (URiM)	nccPA Health Foundation	04/06/2022	Funded- Complete	Spring 2022	2500.00
Board of Visitors Grant	Board of Visitors	03/03/2023	Funded-complete	Spring 2023	1165.00
Women’s Health and Resiliency; Charlotte	nccPA Health Foundation	06/06/2024	Funded- complete	Summer 2024	2482.47
FREE community health education- endometriosis	Walmart Spark Grant Facility #7180	08/23/2024	Funded-Complete	Fall 2024	1000.00
FREE cervical cancer education session	Walmart Spark Grant Facility #6236	08/06/2024	Funded-Complete	Fall 2024	1000.00
Joyce Nichols Memorial Community grant	NCAPA PA Endowment	06/03/2025	Funded	Summer 2025	1850.00

Publications

A Difficult Diagnosis: Intermittent palpitations in a healthy femaleA Difficult Diagnosis: Intermittent palpitations in a healthy female JAAPA · Jan 1, 2022 doi: 10.1097/01.JAA.0000803676.95089.2bdoi: 10.1097/01.JAA.0000803676.95089.2b
Cross-disciplinary narratives on COVID-19: Local perspectives from global health science graduate studentsCross-disciplinary narratives on COVID-19: Local perspectives from global health science graduate students International Journal of Nursing and Health Care Research · Feb 1, 2021 Gruenglas, J., Abimbola, O., Asogha-Shemlon, C., Bell, A., Bishop, D., Castronova, S., Chon, T., Dillon, K., Shirley Elee, L., Graham, C., Hamacher, E., Haynes, S., Jones, S., Kasai, D., Levitt, K., Martino, L., Massey, C., Ntori, M., Senneville, E., Taylor, S., Welk, Z., & Ewing, H. (2021).

Presentations

Title	Outlet	Level	Term	Presentation Type	Status
Strategies for Reducing Infant Mortality Rates in NC	NCAPA Conference	State	Spring 2022	Oral Presentation	Completed
The Role of 3D Printing in PA Education: The Future Is Now	PAEA Education Forum	National	Fall 2022	Oral Presentation	Completed
On the Flip Side: Advancing Education, Scholarship, and Service in the COVID-era	PAEA Education Forum	National	Fall 2022	Oral Presentation	Completed
Mentorship and Faculty Development	PAEA Education Forum	National	Fall 2023	Oral Presentation	Completed
“Developing a Mentorship Program between current Wingate University PA Students and Alumni and pre-PA Students who Self-report as Underrepresented in Medicine(URiM).”	NCCPA Represent Summit	National	Fall 2024	Poster Presentation	Completed

Professional Activities

Title	Location	Description	Date	Development Category	Semester	Development Type
PAEA Education Forum	Virtual	The PAEA Education Forum is our premier event, bringing together faculty and staff from PA programs across the world to learn, connect, and celebrate the profession.	10/11/2021	Teaching	Fall 2021	Professional meeting(s) attended (no presentation given)
PAEA New Faculty Jump Start	Virtual	This virtual workshop is designed to help new faculty learn the essentials of their specific role in just one month, covering the most crucial topics for new PA educators as they take on the role of faculty member. This workshop is delivered in a series of four weekly virtual sessions, giving participants the opportunity to apply what they learn and reflect on their experiences in real time.	11/08/2021	Teaching	Fall 2021	Training Seminars
New Faculty Meeting	Wingate University	A series of meetings designed to help new faculty learn the essentials of their specific role, covering the most crucial topics for new educators as they take on the role of faculty member	Several meetings	Teaching	Fall 2021	Professional meeting(s) attended (no presentation given)
Brain Aware™ Manager Training!	Virtual	Brain Aware™ Training, is an award-winning, highly engaging leadership development series. It offers a unique learning opportunity to network with PA educators, grow your knowledge and skills, and explore a mix of classic and cutting-edge tools to add to your leadership toolkit. Developed by Dr. Britt Andreatta, an internationally recognized thought leader in leadership development and learning strategy, this science-based learning solution uses foundations of leadership, neuroscience, psychology, and learning to unlock the best in people and organizations. The series will help you develop the critical skills needed to drive success in your career. Brain Aware™ Training contains 30-hours of learning content over six months. There are two, 2.5-hour virtual sessions per month that will be offered live via Zoom.	Twice monthly for 6 months	Teaching	Spring 2022	Training Seminar
Adult Mental Health First Aid (A-MHFA)	Wingate	Mental health 1st aid was designed to extend the concept of 1st aid training to mental health and substance use challenges. Mental health 1st aid teaches participants to recognize the signs and symptoms that suggest a potential mental health or substance use challenge, listen nonjudgmentally, give reassurance to a person who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge, and how to refer a person to appropriate support and services.	2/21/2022	Service	Summer 2022	Professional certification, licensure, or credential
PAEA Education Forum	San Diego, Ca	the premier event in PA Education, bringing together faculty and staff to learn and connect. We are thrilled to reunite in person in San Diego as this year also marks PAEA’s 50th Anniversary! This year’s in-person Education Forum will once again bring you top-notch educational presentations, thought-provoking featured speakers, and numerous unique opportunities to connect with industry leaders and colleagues. THIS FORUM will offer valuable resources, actionable ways to turn challenges into opportunities, tools to sharpen your skillset, camaraderie with your peers, and empowerment to advance your career. The forum lasted 3 days 10/12 thru 10/15.	10/12/2022	Teaching	Fall 2022	Professional meeting(s) attended (no presentation given)
Faculty Skills 101 Workshop	San Diego, Ca	In this three-day, in-person workshop, you will learn the basic techniques and tools required for effective teaching, while receiving timely, actionable guidance from experienced educators with a passion for helping new faculty excel. With the building blocks for becoming an impactful educator, you will walk away from this workshop equipped with new skills and knowledge for your role, as well as a network of supportive colleagues.	10/10/2022	Teaching	Fall 2022	Training seminars
NCCPA Represent Summi t	Atlanta, Ga	The Summit, which will take place from September 8-9 in Atlanta, Georgia is focused increasing racial diversity, equity and inclusion in the PA profession. The event will be attended by clinically practicing PAs, PA faculty, PA students, leaders of PA organization, physicians and employers.	09/08/2022	Service	Fall 2022	Professional certification, licensure, or credential
PAEA Virtual Associate Program Directors Virtual Retreat	Virtual	One-and-a-half-hour session with APDs from various programs. They touched base on multiple issues noted in PA education and related chiefly to the didactic year. They discussed accommodations, diversity, retention of new faculty, accreditation, etc.	04/03/2023	Service	Spring 2023	Professional meeting(s) attended (no presentation given)
PAEA Education Forum	New Orleans, La	The premier event in PA Education, bringing together faculty and staff to learn and connect.	10/11/2023	Teaching	Fall 2023	Professional meeting(s) attended (no presentation given)

Service Activities

National Committee Names

Semester Began

Semester

End

Responsibility

Faculty Development MAC (PAEA)

Spring 2022

Ongoing

Member

AAPA Pathway Grant Advisory Committee

Spring 2024

Ongoing

Member

Wingate PA Committee name	Semester Began	Semester End	Responsibility
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion	Fall 2021	Summer 2025	Founding Chair
Graduate Awards	Fall 2021	Fall 2022	Member
Progression	Spring 2022	Fall 2022	Member
Admissions	Spring 2023	Summer 2025	Member
Curriculum	Spring 2023	Summer 2025	Member

National Committee Names

Semester Began

Semester

End

Responsibility

Charge

Mentorship Taskforce (NCAPA)

Summer 2025

Ongoing

Chair

The purpose of this taskforce is to evaluate the feasibility of a mentorship program that pairs PAs with expertise in various skillsets with PAs that desire to develop those same skillsets. The taskforce will also look at alternative means of promoting mentorship within the PAs of NC

University Committee Name	Semester Began	Semester End	Responsibility
Interprofessional Education	Fall 2021	Fall 2024	Member
Advising and Vocation	Fall 2021	Spring 2024	Member
DEIB Student Success Subcommittee	Spring 2023	Fall 2025	Member

Awards

Honors/Awards	Semester	Conferring Organization	Details
Didactic Instructor of the year	Fall 2021	Wingate PA	This award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the education of student physician assistants in the classroom.
Project Access- Second Place	Fall 2021	PAEA	Project Access is an outreach recruitment program that aims to encourage high school students from underrepresented minoritized groups to consider the PA profession as a career.
Dr. Martin Luther King Award	Spring 2023	Unity House- Wingate University	This award is given to those who have proven to exemplify the life and legacy of Dr. King's fight for equity, inclusion, and social justice. They also contributed to making Wingate University a more welcoming experience for underrepresented faculty, staff, and students.
University Mentor Recognition	Spring 2023	Wingate University	Graduates were given the opportunity to select up to three mentors--one mentor each in the University's core values of Faith, Knowledge, and Service. Mentors may be faculty or staff. May 2023 Faith: Kofi Monney
University Mentor Recognition	Fall 2024	Wingate University	Graduates were given the opportunity to select up to three mentors--one mentor each in the University's core values of Faith, Knowledge, and Service. Mentors may be faculty or staff. Dec 2024 Faith, Service, and Knowledge: Carolyn Little
50 Most Dynamic Women in Charlotte	Summer 2023	Charlotte Media Group	CMG put out a call to the readers of South Charlotte Weekly, Union County Weekly, and Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly in to nominate women in the community they would describe as dynamic. Dynamic is a word that encompasses activity, change, and progress, which are necessary to survive the challenges of today.
Women to KNOW in North Carolina 2023	Summer 2023	Women to KNOW	You are among a select group of global female leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs. We are excited to help you continue to be known as a thought leader, connect with other like-minded high-achieving women, and grow through exclusive events and opportunities. I was among 46 women selected across NC.
Project Access- My books added as resource	Summer 2022- ongoing	PAEA (national)	The PAEA has listed my children’s books as a resource for providers to download and take to present to elementary students.
Physician Assistant historical Society	Fall 2022	PA Hx Society (national)	Archived 3 of my Childrens books