Tracey Thurnes, a founding faculty member in Elon’s Physician Assistant Studies program, has spent 14 years advancing PA education through teaching, mentoring, program leadership and national service.
Originally from Midway, North Carolina, Dr. Tracey Thurnes has spent the past 14 years at Elon University helping educate and mentor future healthcare professionals. After beginning a career as a physician assistant in cardiology, she joined Elon as one of the founding faculty members of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and has enjoyed watching both the program and the School of Health Sciences grow and thrive over the years.
Today, Dr. Thurnes serves as professor of Physician Assistant Studies, assistant program director and director of the School of Health Sciences Accelerated Pathways Program. She is also the inaugural CATL Pedagogy Fellow for Teaching and Learning in Graduate and Professional Studies, where she works with faculty across disciplines to promote innovative and effective teaching practices.
Beyond Elon, she serves as an elected director at large on the Board of Directors for the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), helping shape the future of physician assistant education at the national level. In 2024, she was honored with the School of Health Sciences Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award and received the national PAEA Leadership Development Award in recognition of her commitment to student mentorship, innovation and leadership in PA education.
One of Dr. Thurnes’ favorite parts of teaching is creating engaging learning experiences that help students connect classroom concepts to real-world patient care. She enjoys using case -based learning, interactive discussions and clinical scenarios to encourage critical thinking and active participation. Most of all, she values the relationships she builds with students and the opportunity to watch their confidence and clinical skills develop throughout their educational journey.
Outside the classroom, Dr. Thurnes enjoys spending time with her husband, James, their two sons, Luke and Levi, and their dog, Rylee. Much of her free time is spent cheering on her boys at sporting events or relaxing with family at the lake at her parents’ home. Whether in the classroom or with family and friends, she values meaningful connections, lifelong learning and making lasting memories.