Faculty and Staff

Program Director and Assistant Professor, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Colleen Ohm, a 2007 graduate of the UMB/ACC Program, holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Health Science from Towson University and a Master of Medical Science from Saint Francis University. She returned to the UMB/ACC Program full time as an Assistant Professor in 2020 after serving as an Adjunct Faculty member since 2013. Within the PA Program, Colleen has held multiple leadership positions, including Academic Coordinator, Assistant Program Director, and now Program Director. She is also currently pursuing her PhD in Health Professions Education.

Colleen began her career at Johns Hopkins Hospital on the inpatient schizophrenia service and day hospital, where she became the first PA-C to work in the Department of Psychiatry in Johns Hopkins history. Over her six years at Hopkins, she developed expertise in treating individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and personality disorders.

In 2013, Colleen joined Mosaic Community Services as a member of the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team, providing mobile, community-based mental health treatment for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness and functional impairments. Prior to rejoining UMB, she spent four years in outpatient psychiatric practice in Bel Air, MD.

Colleen is dedicated to mentoring PA students and takes pride in fostering their growth as compassionate, knowledgeable, and resilient healthcare professionals. Her passion for teaching and health education drives her commitment to preparing future physician assistants for excellence in patient care.

Assistant Dean for Physician Assistant Education
Associate Professor, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Dr. Hendrix is responsible for the overall coordination, management and leadership of PA education at UMB. She earned her doctorate in health education from AT Still University in 2011, and earned her master of science in Engineering and Applied Physics of Biomedicine from the Johns Hopkins University in 1998. A 2003 graduate of this PA Program, Dr. Hendrix completed a postgraduate PA residency in general surgery at Duke University Medical Center in 2004. Her practice as a certified PA spans a multitude of specialties including general, vascular, and thoracic surgery, emergency medicine, and urgent care.

Dr. Hendrix has spent the majority of her career in higher education; her passion in developing students' critical thought process at the graduate and post graduate levels has allowed her to excel in her roles in PA education. She is a highly sought-after lecturer on the national stage, and has earned a solid reputation for curriculum development that cultivates critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills in physician assistant students and in medical residents.

Medical Director and Assistant Professor, University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies Physician Assistant Program

Dr. Kimberlee Bizzell joined the faculty of the University of Maryland Baltimore Physician Assistant Program in July 2019, where she serves as Medical Director. In this role, she works closely with program leadership and faculty to support curriculum development, mentor PA students, and foster a collaborative, learner-centered educational environment.

Dr. Bizzell is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hospitalist and General Internal Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and continues to practice clinically at the University of Maryland Medical Center. She completed her internal medicine residency training at the University of Maryland Medical Center and brings extensive experience caring for medically complex patients while teaching and supervising learners at multiple levels.

Deeply committed to education, mentorship, and patient-centered care, Dr. Bizzell is known for her thoughtful, supportive approach to teaching. She values building strong relationships with students and colleagues and is passionate about preparing future clinicians who practice with clinical excellence, compassion, and professionalism.

Academic Coordinator and Assistant Professor, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Jeanine Gargiulo has worked as a clinical PA in orthopedics since 2008. She earned both her Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Physician Assistant Science degrees from Saint Francis University. During her clinical career, Jeanine has participated in orthopedic clinical research in collaboration with the Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute.

Committed to service, she is an active volunteer with Operation Walk Virginia and has participated in multiple international healthcare partnership trips providing hip and knee replacement surgery to underserved patient populations. Jeanine has lectured at both the state and national levels and enjoys leading hands-on skills workshops for fellow healthcare professionals.

Her passion for education led her to complete a Doctor of Medical Science certificate in PA Education from the University of Lynchburg in 2021. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Health Professions Education, with research focused on clinical-year PA students who participate in global health electives. Outside of work, Jeanine enjoys traveling, fostering dogs, and volunteering with her rescue pup to provide therapy dog visits in her local community.

Assistant Director of Experiential Learning, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Mystee Jennings is a Maryland native who earned her Bachelor of Exercise Science from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2011 and her Master of Science in Health Science from Towson University in 2015. She has spent nine years in the administrative field and has three years of experience in higher education as an Academic Coordinator in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Program at The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She brings experience in recruitment, admissions, enrollment, and data management to the Physician Assistant program. She enjoys helping others reach their goals no matter how big or small. 

Mystee enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, exercising, and binge-watching shows with her husband and dog. Her favorite TV show of all time is “I Love Lucy”.

Assistant Program Director and Assistant Professor, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Teresa Rogers has been working as a Physician Assistant in psychiatry in both inpatient and outpatient settings since graduating with a Master in Medical Science (MMS) at Nova Southeastern University's PA program in 2015. Her career began in Orlando, Florida, where she worked at a community behavioral health clinic and a private outpatient practice, treating both children and adults and precepting PA students. During this time, she also earned a Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Psychiatry from the NCCPA.

She and her family eventually moved to Baltimore where she worked in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, treating patients with co-occurring disorders on the acute psychiatric unit. In this setting, she continued to mentor PA students and participate in learning/teaching opportunities with medical interns and residents. She has been the recipient of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Chester W. Schmidt Jr. Teaching Award and the Johns Hopkins 6th Annual Miller Coulson Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant Clinical Excellence Award.

Adjunct Faculty, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Dr. Archibald has a Ph.D. in Public Policy (specialization: Health Policy & Criminological Policy) from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Her first Master's degree is in Sociology (specialization: Criminology & Deviance) from George Mason University. the second Master's degree is in Regulatory Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and final degree is a Master's of Science Law in Crisis Management and Homeland Security Law. Dr. Archibald also has a graduate certificate in Research Ethics from UMB and a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from SUNY College at Buffalo. Additionally, she is a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP).  Dr. Archibald has six (6) years of experience in research administration (grants and contracts) and fifteen (15) years of experience in research compliance (conflicts of interest, Institutional Review Board, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, etc.). 

Adjunct Faculty, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Kaitlyn Ayerle is a certified Physician Assistant with extensive experience in emergency medicine, providing care to both adult and pediatric patients at Doctors Emergency Services PA. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore Physician Assistant Program in collaboration with Anne Arundel Community College, Ms. Ayerle previously served as class president and was recognized on the Dean’s List for three years.

Since 2018, she has practiced full-time in emergency medicine and has also worked in dermatology and orthopedics, with a strong focus on pediatric care. Ms. Ayerle previously taught in the UMB PA Program in both Pediatric Medicine and Applied Medical Science, earning praise for her clinically grounded and engaging teaching style. She brings enthusiasm, clinical expertise, and a deep commitment to student learning to the Pediatric Medicine I course.

Adjunct Faculty, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Professor Burinsky is originally from Baltimore, MD and a class of 2022 graduate of the  AACC/University of Maryland Baltimore Collaborative PA Program. He started his career in critical care and has several years of experience working in local ICUs. He is passionate about sharing his experiences with the next generation of PAs and enjoys precepting students to help them develop the skills and confidence they'll need to succeed in their own careers.

Adjunct Faculty, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Dr. Chang is a surgical physician assistant with 20 years of experience. He earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Clinical Laboratory Science from California State University, Sacramento with a minor in Chemistry, an MPAS degree from University of Nebraska Medical Center with a concentration in Surgery, a Doctor of Health Science degree and a Ph.D. in Health Science from Nova Southeastern University. He graduated from the CCBC PA program with Dean's highest honor in 1999. His research interest is perioperative medicine. He is committed to disseminating scientific knowledge. He has authored numerous publications on various topics in healthcare. He has been actively involving in PA education in Maryland.

Associate Professor, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Shani Fleming has devoted her career to promoting social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the healthcare community. She spent twenty years in clinical practice, working in family medicine, adolescent medicine, infectious disease, and urgent care.  She serves as Associate Professor, Director of Community and Member Engagement of the PA Leadership and Learning Academy, and School of Graduate Studies Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer at the University of Maryland Baltimore. She has significant clinical, academic, and leadership experience as a PA. She is a proud HBCU graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and completed her PA studies, MPH, and MSHS from George Washington University.  She received her Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Culture from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Clinical Coordinator, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Ashley Hargrove received a Bachelor of Science from Morgan State University. Her professional background includes more than 10 years in clinical research and project management at the University of Maryland. She hopes to integrate her experience in compliance and data management to ensure a seamless experience for students. Ashley is a Maryland native and enjoys eating anything that has crab.

Assistant Professor, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Aaron Jacob, MSHS, PA-C, graduated from the UMB/AACC Collaborative PA Program in 2017 and has been practicing in the field of urgent care and emergency medicine. He began teaching middle school and high school in 2004, and earned his Masters in Education and Human Development from GWU in 2006, with a BA in English from UMUC. He specialized in creating individualized learning environments and differentiated classrooms. He is excited to be able to combine his two professions and return to UMB to help educate the next generation of PAs.

Clinical Coordinator, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Alexis Jones, born and raised in Maryland, obtained her Bachelor of Science in Economics from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She has previous experience working in higher education as a Tuition Coordinator with University of Maryland Global Campus. She is dedicated to helping others and comes equipped with data management and consultative experience. Alexis enjoys spending time with family, cooking/baking, trying new foods/restaurants, and bowling.

Academic Services Specialist, Program Success Coach, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Tomika D. Jones, MA earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Science/Early Childhood Education from Coppin State University in 1998 and her Master of Arts in Instructional Technology from University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2002. She also holds a Certificate in Integrative Health and Wellness, further supporting her holistic approach to education, personal development, and well-being. With over 10 years of experience in public school education and 15 years in healthcare, Tomika brings a diverse and well-rounded professional background. Her experience also includes work with nonprofits, educational consulting, and success coaching. She is deeply committed to empowering individuals to reach their fullest potential by fostering resilience, unlocking motivation, and cultivating a mindset for success. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tomika transitioned into higher education, beginning her role as a Program Coordinator with the PhD Nursing Program at University of Maryland, Baltimore. Her passion for helping others, combined with her interdisciplinary expertise, allows her to effectively support students, faculty, and programs. Outside of her professional work, Tomika enjoys spending time with family and traveling.

 

Assistant Professor, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Dr. Kowalis has built a remarkable career marked by academic excellence and professional dedication. After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree, her pursuit of a career in medicine led her to earn a Master of Science in Health Sciences from George Washington University Physician Assistant Program in 2007. Dr. Kowalis’ professional journey began in general and trauma surgery, where she honed her clinical skills and developed a deeper understanding of patient care. In 2010, she made a pivotal transition to orthopaedic surgery, specializing in orthopaedic trauma, where her expertise significantly impacted patient outcomes. Her passion for education and mentorship has been a consistent theme throughout her career. Dr. Kowalis has found great fulfillment in working with PA students and new graduates, nurturing their growth and inspiring future medical professionals. This passion culminated in earning a Doctor of Medical Science degree with a concentration in PA education from Southern Illinois University in 2024. Her journey reflects a blend of clinical excellence and a deep-seated commitment to shaping the future of PA education. 

Data and Assessment Analyst, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Curiosity about how the human mind and body interact and the underlying mechanisms have driven Dr. Lo’s education and research. Before her doctoral studies at the University of Maryland, College Park, she was a fifth-grade teacher at a public school in Taipei, Taiwan. Her graduate studies specialize in psychology and human behaviors, such as the phenomenon of “choking” in sporting competitions and the elevated anxiety experienced under stress. She completed several studies examining changes of brain activity across varying stages of skill acquisition, further investigating brain dynamics and the manners in which mental stress affects motor performance. Her research and experimental designs not only included hands-on work with patients, but included data acquisition, mining, correlation, and inference of data. Dr. Lo recently completed a research training program in the rehabilitation of clinical populations with neuromotor disorders in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore.

Professor, UMB School of Medicine

Laurence Magder has over 30 years of experience providing biostatistical expertise for biomedical research projects. His work has resulted in almost 200 publications in the biomedical literature. In addition to his collaborative work, Laurence is interested in developing relatively simple, easy-to-use statistical methods that can be useful in biomedical research. Examples of these methods can be found in his extensive list of publications. Laurence is also passionate about promoting a shift in the view of the role of statistics in biomedical research. Traditionally, statistical methods are described in courses and in practice as tools for using data to decide whether to accept or reject hypotheses. In contrast, Laurence views statistical methods as ways to quantify the evidence in a set of data with respect to hypotheses. This perspective allows scientists to weigh all relevant considerations in making a scientific judgment about hypotheses. This shift in thinking about the role of statistics renders many traditional statistical topics, such as the use of one-sided versus two-sided tests or the adjustment for multiple comparisons, irrelevant.

Associate Professor, University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies

Dr. May earned her doctorate in American Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park. A native of Germany, Dr. May came to the United States on a Fulbright scholarship in 1999 and has resided in Maryland, with a two-year interruption in Lueneburg, Germany, ever since. Before her tenure at UMB, Dr. May oversaw the Writing Center at the University of Baltimore, founded the Writing Center for Academic English at Leuphana University in Luenburg, Germany, and directed the Center for Academic Success at the Universities at Shady Grove. At UMB, she co-teaches the introductory course on library research and scholarly writing for the MHS program at University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies as well as the first two courses in the Science Communication Certificate Program, while also directing UMB's Writing Center. Her research interests are the development of graduate communication skills, science communication, and the revision process in graduate- and professional-level writing. If Dr. May is not busy writing her blog, researching, or working with writers, she can be found in a Pilates or Cardio class in URecFit or at an Orioles game. Dr. May will be teaching the Science Writing Principles and Writing for Scholarly Journals courses.

Admissions Counselor, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Cayla McCoy joined the Physician Assistant Program admissions team in June 2025. In her role as Admissions Counselor, Cayla supports prospective and incoming students through the full PA program admissions lifecycle. Having a diverse academic and professional background, she brings a student-first approach along with experience in project management, compliance, cross-cultural awareness, and advising. Cayla is passionate about access to education and enjoys serving students on their academic journeys.

Associate Professor, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Theresa Neumann, MPAS, PA-C, is a veteran PA and PA-educator and is actively involved in state and national leadership and advocacy roles. She is passionate about the profession and is very involved legislatively to improve the scope of practice of the profession in the state of Maryland. Theresa has spent her clinical career in Emergency Medicine, being one of the pioneers to open the doors for PAs in this specialty field.

Theresa has also spent 10 years working in legal medicine, both in Denial Management and Medical Malpractice, which has supplemented her teaching by offering relevant cases and documentation pearls to her lectures. Theresa has been teaching since 2009, and she received her Master's in Physician Assistant Studies (Educational Track) through the University of Nebraska Medical Center's PA Program in 2014. She brings a wealth of experience, skills and interests to the PA program.

Adjunct Faculty, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Professor Niles received her Master’s of Science and completed the ethics pathway from Baylor College of Medicine’s PA program in 2016. She has practiced in critical care since graduation, and continues to engage in medical ethics by serving on the UMMC Ethical Advisory Committee. Currently, she works in the Critical Care Resuscitation Unit at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. She is active in new-graduate APP critical care education, and educating PA students has always been one of her professional goals.  She completed the PA Leadership and Learning Academy Fellowship through UMB in May 2024 while serving as a guest lecturer and instructor for the UMB PA program’s Emergency Medicine course and skills labs. Her educational interests include simulation in PA education, teaching skills labs, medical ethics, and clinical medicine.

Adjunct Faculty, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Ashley earned her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Nova Southeastern University in 2015 and has over a decade of experience as a Physician Assistant/Associate in hospital medicine, with additional expertise in nephrology and endocrinology in the long-term care setting.

Originally from the South, Ashley began her career practicing in rural Maryland, providing comprehensive inpatient care to diverse patient populations. Over the past 10 years, she has continued to serve in both clinical and academic roles, with a focus on hospital medicine and PA student education. Her professional interests include advancing the forward mobility of the PA profession, enhancing patient care through evidence-based hospital medicine practices, and developing innovative curriculum and assessment strategies for PA education.

Adjunct Faculty, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Dr. Jason Noel received his Bachelors of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from Rutgers University College of Pharmacy.  He completed a residency in psychiatric pharmacy practice at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. He later obtained a Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in health care policy and administration from the University of Baltimore College of Public Affairs. He is a board certified psychiatric pharmacist. Dr. Noel’s clinical practice focus is in mental health and intellectual/developmental disabilities, where he serves as the statewide psychopharmacology consultant for the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration. He teaches general pharmacology and therapeutics of psychiatric and neurologic disorders in UMB’s PharmD, nursing, and physician assistant graduate programs, as well as to audiences of training and practicing clinicians, including pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and social workers.

Associate Professor, UMB School of Graduate Studies

Dr. Obasanjo earned her PhD in Epidemiology from Cornell University and a Masters from University of California, Davis. She obtained a Doctor of Veterinary degree from University of Ibadan before coming to the US for graduate school. She worked in Clinical Research as a Project Manager in the US in the 1990’s and then moved back to Nigeria where she was Commissioner for Health in Ogun State from 2003 to 2007, then a Senator from 2007 to 2011. Her research focus includes the impact of women’s leadership on health outcomes for countries, the effect of Community Health Workers (CHW) on health outcomes in low-income communities, and health policy in African countries. She currently has a research project in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa examining ways to improve community health in rural areas and she recently completed work on a grant examining CHW impact in Richmond, Virginia. She has given lectures across the globe and has over twenty-five scientific publications. She has also written for international foreign policy journals. Before joining UMB, Dr. Obasanjo was a tenured Associate Professor at William and Mary University in Virginia. 

Simulation Training Specialist, UMB Physician Assistant Program, UMB School of Pharmacy

Jessica Ockimey is a dedicated healthcare simulation professional with over 15 years of experience and holds certification as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist (CHSOS). With a strong background in simulation operations, she is known for her proactive leadership, problem-solving skills, and commitment to ensuring seamless educational experiences. She began her simulation career at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing as the Simulation Operations Manager, where her initiative and ability to troubleshoot under pressure earned formal recognition. Her work has been consistently acknowledged by faculty and learners alike, underscoring her role as a trusted collaborator and advocate for excellence in simulation-based education.

Jessica currently serves as the Simulation Training Specialist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), where she supports high-quality, learner-centered simulation experiences for physician assistant and pharmacy students.

She remains actively engaged in advancing simulation-based education through operational expertise, educator support, and a passion for continuous improvement within the healthcare simulation community.

Adjunct Faculty, UMB School of Social Work

Mirian Ofonedu, PHD, MSW, LCSW-C received her master degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland, School of Social Work and her doctoral degree in Psychology from the Capella University. Dr. Ofonedu is psychologist and licensed clinical social worker, with a specialization in service to children, youth, and families. She is the Director of Training at the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute and an Associate Faculty in the Department of Mental Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Ofonedu is a master trainer for the ACT Raising Safe Kids, a program developed and coordinated by the American Psychological Association (APA), served as the APA's Program Chair and as Task Force and Diversity Activities Coordinator for the Society of Child and Family Policy and Practice (Division 37), and serves as Chair for Division 37's Diverse, Racial, Ethnic, and Multicultural Special Interest Group (DREAM SIG) and Division 37's liaison to the APA Committee on International Relations in Psychology.

Dr. Ofonedu's research interests include inclusive practice, mental health treatment engagement and service delivery for the underserved population, community-based interventions. With expertise in qualitative research, she examines the psychosocial and cultural factors that influence marginalized groups' help seeking behaviors and service utilization to inform policy and intervention programs. Dr. Ofonedu combines her macro, clinical and research knowledge in the training of students and professionals in evidence-supported and culturally-responsive interventions and helps them realize the key role they can play as the underserved children, youth, families, and communities' champions.

Adjunct Faculty, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Sarah Padgett is a board-certified Physician Assistant who currently practices in Annapolis, MD. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, she completed her undergraduate degree at Marquette University in biomedical engineering. She went on to earn her Masters of Science in Health Sciences and Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from George Washington University in 2012. Her clinical experience includes out-patient internal medicine and orthopedics, specifically total joint reconstruction. She has worked in a teaching institution and enjoys mentoring in the operating room. She finds PA education very rewarding and has had the opportunity to lead workshops and give lectures on suturing and intra-articular injections. Outside of clinical medicine you will find Sarah traveling, gardening, or spending time with her family.

Adjunct Faculty, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Mr. Pardoe has been a physician assistant since 1985 and has worked primarily in Emergency Medicine, Military Medicine, and PA Education. With a graduate degree in Community Health and Wellness Promotion, he has worked with underserved populations in local communities and on mission trips to South America. He served multiple terms on the Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants Board of Directors as the Membership Director and as a member of the CME Committee.

In addition to being a physician assistant, Mr. Pardoe has an extensive career as a firefighter/paramedic and is a retired Battalion Chief for the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. He is a Marine Corps veteran and following PA school, served in the Naval Reserve and active-duty Navy as a physician assistant, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander - Medical Service Corps and MSC Surface Warfare Officer.

Simulation Director, UMB Physician Assistant Program, UMB School of Pharmacy

Ms. Pennington is responsible for the facilitation of simulation-based training and evaluation including the design and implementation of training protocols and assessment for UMB physician assistant and pharmacy students. She strives to ensure simulation is being designed and delivered according to the latest best practices while meeting program outcomes, goals and competencies. Ms. Pennington has 18+ years of medical experience in emergency room and operating room settings, and working as a public servant in various capacities, including EMS, fire, and police.

Ms. Pennington is a graduate of Drexel University, attaining her Master of Science degree in Medical and Healthcare Simulation. She has more than 10 years working in the medical simulation field in various roles and capacities. She is also a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, attaining her Bachelor of Science degree in ElectroMechanical Engineering Technology. She is a member of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) and has attained qualifications as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE), Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist (CHSOS), and TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer.

Professor, UMB School of Medicine

Dr. Puche earned a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Cell Biology from the University of Melbourne, Australia, studying cell-surface carbohydrates in axon guidance under Dr. Brian Key. They then conducted post-doctoral research with Dr. Michael T. Shipley at the University of Maryland, where they later became tenured faculty in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology.

Assistant Professor, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Dr. Riekers graduated from the (former) Essex Community College Physician Assistant Program in 1998. She then earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 1995. In 2004, she completed her Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree from the University of Nebraska. Dr. Riekers then went on to earn her Doctor of Medical Science degree from the University of Lynchburg in 2022. She has published in the JAAPA medical journal, Surgical PA journal, and has done poster presentations on her original research at the National Society of Hospital Medicine Conference.

Dr. Riekers began her clinical practice as a Physician Assistant in gynecologic oncology, later becoming lead PA for the inpatient hospitalist service where she led twelve PA colleagues in caring for medical and surgical patients. She then joined the neurosurgery team which became her passion. Dr. Riekers worked as part of the inpatient neurosurgical team at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She worked closely with attending physicians, residents and students. She has acted as a clinical preceptor during her entire career. Before joining the UMB PA Program she has spent the last three and a half years in PA education in the role of Clinical Director.

Dr. Riekers, outside of work, enjoys boating with her family and playing with her two dogs. She is also an avid runner and enjoys training for marathons.

Adjunct Faculty, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Jenna Schiller graduated from the Towson/CCBC Physician Assistant Program in 2017, after completing her undergraduate studies at the James Madison University. She began her clinical career in Emergency Medicine at Northwest and Sinai hospitals. Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she served on the front lines at the Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital, responding to the public health crisis.

After starting her family, she transitioned into telemedicine and currently works with the LifeBridge Health Virtual Care Center. Her role spans multiple service lines, with a focus on virtual transitional care and remote patient monitoring for heart failure.

She joined the UMB PA Program as adjunct faculty in 2020 and completed the Physician Assistant Learning and Leadership Academy (PALLA) that same year. As faculty, she has contributed to the foundations course focused on history-taking and physical examination, and has delivered lectures on women's health emergencies, combining clinical insight with a passion for teaching.

Adjunct Faculty, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Kyle Schiller graduated from the Towson/CCBC Physician Assistant Program in 2017 after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland, College Park. He began his career in Emergency Medicine at University of Maryland - Baltimore Washington Medical Center (BWMC), spending four years building a strong foundation in acute care. He later shifted his focus to general inpatient cardiology at BWMC and serves a specialized role as the Clinical Director for the UM BWHA Heart Failure Bridge Clinic.

Since 2019, Schiller has served as adjunct faculty with UMB’s PA Program, contributing in various roles. He enjoys mentoring students as a clinical preceptor, has been involved with the foundations course focused on history-taking and physical examination, and currently teaches the EKG course and lab.

In 2019, he was part of the inaugural cohort of the Physician Assistant Learning and Leadership Academy (PALLA), a statewide initiative dedicated to developing PA faculty and advancing PA education across Maryland.

Adjunct Faculty, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Victoria Trott, PA-C is a board-certified physician assistant who has dedicated her career to the field of neuroscience. She spent nine years practicing in outpatient neurology and most recently transitioned to inpatient neurosurgery within the University of Maryland Medical System.

Victoria earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in Music from Washington College in 2009. She began her career at the National Institute on Drug Abuse before deciding to pursue a career as a physician assistant. She graduated from the Anne Arundel Community College/St. Francis University Physician Assistant Program in 2013 and was inducted into the Phi Alpha Honor Society.

In recent years, Victoria has developed a strong passion for teaching. She completed a fellowship with the Physician Assistant Leadership and Learning Academy (PALLA) in 2022, further deepening her commitment to education and lifelong learning. She is enthusiastic about applying her clinical experience and instructional skills to inspire and support the next generation of PA students.

Associate Professor, University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies

Dr. Werts is an accomplished educator, scholar, and leader, and has taught health science in community and higher education settings for more than fifteen years. She has an interdisciplinary focus on community health and health information technology. 

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a Master of Health and Exercise Science from Miami University of Ohio, a Master of Information Systems from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Information Systems from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She’s also held an active license as a Massage Therapist in the state of Maryland since 2002.  Her primary interests are in the realm of health literacy and health data integration for the improvement of healthcare on the community and organizational levels. She currently serves as the Graduate Program Director for the MS in Health Science at UMB.

Assistant Professor, UMB Physician Assistant Program

Tiffany White is a board-certified physician assistant who has specialized in otolaryngology since 2010. She has spent her career working in outpatient settings with a focus on head and neck surgery, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, allergy care, and hearing disorders, treating both pediatric and adult patients. Her approach to patient care centers on compassion, respect, and prevention.

She has had the opportunity to train physician assistants and nurse practitioners new to the specialty, as well as medical assistants, scribes, and students. She is deeply committed to preparing the next generation of physician assistants, with a particular emphasis on cultivating compassion, empathy, and reflective practice alongside clinical excellence, and she enjoys mentoring and advising students throughout their training. She has also participated in the Physician Assistant Learning and Leadership Academy, a statewide initiative focused on developing PA faculty leaders and advancing physician assistant education across Maryland.

Tiffany earned a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Kentucky, where she received both the Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Award and the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service. As a student, she co-chaired the Diversity Committee for the Joseph Hamburg Student Society. She has a strong interest in the elimination of health disparities and completed nearly all her clinical clerkships in urban, rural, and underserved settings, including OB/GYN and internal medicine rotations in Swaziland, Africa.

Tiffany is passionate about service and has volunteered as a caretaker for patients with HIV/AIDS while in Lexington. She has also mentored high school- and college-aged women throughout Kentucky and locally in Baltimore, Maryland.