Physician Assistant Studies

As a PA educator at UNC, my primary aim is to help students develop into confident, compassionate clinicians who are ready to practice evidence-based whole person medicine here in North Carolina. I believe in fostering a learning environment that welcomes collaboration and inspires curiosity, and challenging my students to become lifelong learners who have a sincere appreciation for caring for others.

In this role, I support the Director of Clinical Education in coordinating student clinical placements, ensuring that all compliance documentation is accurately maintained and aligned with accreditation standards. I oversee a range of administrative and financial functions such as accounts payable, travel coordination, supply procurement, inventory management, and the planning and execution of key events, including orientation and graduation. Serving as a program liaison, I facilitate effective communication and collaboration between the program, the department, the School of Medicine, clinical preceptors, and the affiliated clinical sites.

I am deeply committed to primary care and preventive medicine. In addition to patient care, this includes helping train and mentor the clinicians of tomorrow. For many years I have been a clinical practitioner and student preceptor in clinic, now I am transitioning to the classroom. I am optimistic that my 25+ years of experience in family medicine and community-based care, will be an asset to the landscape of didactic teaching and mentoring in the UNC PA program.

I am a Clinical Assistant Professor with the UNC Physician Assistant Program, where I support students throughout both the preclinical and clinical phases of their education. My primary focus is on teaching patient assessment, using interactive and student-centered learning strategies to help future PAs build strong clinical reasoning skills. In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I serve as the Chair of Admissions, where I help guide the selection of the next generation of compassionate and capable healthcare professionals.

Krislyn is an administrative support specialist for the Department of Health Sciences Physician Assistant Program. She assists students with admissions, enrollment, registration, and graduation during their time at UNC. Additionally, she serves as support staff for the PA program directors and faculty.