Meet the Fellows

Jennifer Norris is the Academic Director for the Physician Assistant Program at Notre Dame of Maryland University and has been involved in fulltime PA education for over eight years. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Medical Sociology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of MD, Baltimore County in 2002. She graduated from the Towson/CCBC PA program with a Master's in PA Studies in 2004 and is currently completing her PhD in Healthcare Education through Eastern Virginia Medical School and Old Dominion University. 

Jenn has over two decades of clinical experience in women's health, specializing in obstetrics. She has worked in Labor and Delivery at GBMC for 20 years and has spent time in general surgery, trauma and thoracic surgery. She previously served seven years on the MD Board of Physicians' PA Advisory Committee, including three years as chair. 

A recent graduate of the MARCH Fellowship through UMB, Jenn is committed to advancing reproductive health access. She also lectures at Drexel and Thomas Jefferson PA programs in obstetrics and women's health. 

1. Why PALLA? As a PA education and academic director, I value opportunities that foster collaboration, leadership development, and innovation in PA education. PALLA offers a unique platform to connect with colleagues across Maryland who share a commitment to advancing the profession. I recognize the need for continuous growth and I was especially drawn to PALLA's mission to support leadership in PA education and to drive initiatives that improve training and access to care. Participating in PALLA will allow me to strengthen my impact as an educator and mentor while contributing meaningfully to statewide efforts that shape the future of PA education and healthcare delivery. 

Jennifer Middlebrooks' clinical experience is rooted in military medicine. She graduated from the Interservice Physician Assistant Program in 2016 as a family practice PA and recently earned her Doctor of Medical Science from the University of Lynchburg. Jennifer has been adjunct faculty at IPAP for 6 years and served as the Assistant Chief of GME for Allied Health at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center prior to assuming her current role at Air Force Medical Command.  

Why the PALLA Fellowship? 

The PALLA Faculty Fellowship perfectly aligns with my goal to advance as a PA educator through teaching, scholarship, and service, and I am eager to further refine my leadership and mentoring skills under the expert guidance of the PALLA team. 

Tiffany is a multi-specialty surgery PA in Maryland, assisting in general, orthopedics, thoracic, vascular, and robotic surgery, along with inpatient management. Before becoming a PA, Tiffany worked in higher education residential life, where she managed campus housing and developed a learning outcomes-based programming curriculum. She also taught anatomy and physiology at a local 2-year college. 

In 2020, she earned her Master of Public Health from George Washington University with a concentration in Community-Oriented Primary Care In 2022 she graduated with a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions. During PA school, she was a Health Policy Fellow, a Future Educator Fellow for PAEA, and served on the board of PAS LEAD. She was inducted into the Phi Alpha Physician Assistant Honors Society. 

Since graduating, Tiffany has remained committed to mentoring and supporting future PAs, including through the AAPA Pathways Mentorship Program, where she facilitated pre-PA student shadowing opportunities. As a PALLA Faculty 8Fellow, she is dedicated to advancing PA education, with a focus on curriculum innovation, mentorship, and creating equitable pathways for PA students to succeed. 

 

I chose the PALLA Faculty Fellowship to formalize and strengthen my commitment to PA education. My background has shaped my approach to education as collaborative, inclusive, and outcomes-driven. The PALLA Fellowship provides the structure, mentorship, and scholarly focus I need to further develop as an educator. My goal is to design curriculum and programming that allows ALL PA students to succeed academically but also fosters their growth as future leaders in healthcare. PALLA aligns perfectly with my mission to make PA education more accessible, supportive, and responsive to the diverse needs of today’s students. 

Lauren Eisenbeis-Thome holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies from Wagner College. She then earned her Doctor of Medical Science degree from the University of Lynchburg. She began her career at the Johns Hopkins Hospital with the department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Later, Lauren transitioned to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. Currently, she serves as the Director of Didactic Education at Mount St. Mary’s PA Program, where she is dedicated to organizing and enhancing the didactic curriculum for the Physician Assistant program. Her professional interests include clinician well-being, PA advocacy and advancement, and fostering the development of future PAs who provide inclusive, patient-centered care.  

  

The PALLA Fellowship offers a distinctive chance to deepen my knowledge and expertise in PA education. Learning from leaders in research, grants, and curriculum development is an exciting prospect. What I value most is the opportunity to collaborate with fellow PA educators across Maryland to strengthen and enrich the educational experience for both prospective and current students.

Jay holds BA from Rutgers University in Political Science with Minor in Philosophy and Women’s Studies. He graduated from Chatham University Physician Assistant with master's in physician assistant science in July of 2014. He began his career in 2014 with four years as an inpatient hospitalist PA in Hematology and Oncology at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Shadyside Hospital.  While at Shadyside Hospital he precepted students and lectured on Oncologic Emergencies as well as Chemotherapy Administration.  He spent 4 years working in General and Vascular Surgery at Medstar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore MD. He currently serves as an inpatient PA at the National Institutes of Health under National Heat Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) on teams trying to cure Aplastic Anemia and Sickle Cell Disease. While at the NIH he lectures at NIH grand rounds, created a peer review program for medical documentation, created the “Approach to….” Lecture series to foster friendship through learning, created onboarding program for advanced practice providers, and created an evidenced based program to treat Vaso-occlusive Crisis in the Sickle Cell population at the NIH.  

Why the PALLA Fellowship? 

While participating in the 2024-2025 cohort of the PALLA HELP-PA Fellowship my desire to learn more about education was enforced. After completing the HELP-PA fellowship I felt that I had the beginning framework to help educate future PAs as a preceptor. Through the discussions and course work I realized that I want to do more than just precept. I feel this fellowship will allow me to further delve into the journey of PA education and to further aid in the advancement of the PA profession.

My name is Wendy Riekers. I am a wife, mother, dog lover and avid runner. I am also an experienced and student-centered Physician Assistant educator with over twenty-seven years of clinical experience, mostly in the surgical subspecialities and three years of academic teaching experience with knowledge in curriculum development, clinical site coordination, and ARC-PA accreditation. An active leader in the professional community, serving on the Physician Assistant Advisory Committee of the Maryland Board of Physicians and as the faculty-student representative to the Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants. I am passionate about fostering inclusive, evidence-based education and preparing students to become skilled, compassionate, ethical healthcare providers. My scholarly interests include interprofessional education, clinical reasoning development, and mentorship. 

“Why the PALLA Fellowship” 

Education is critical in our profession. The willingness to learn and teach is crucial to moving us forward. Challenging myself and others is how we learn and grow; it is critical for our advancement.  

I want to continue to advance my career and advocate for our profession. By fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment that involves strategies that address curriculum content and classroom dynamics. I try to ensure that medical conditions and treatments are taught with sensitivity to how they present differently across different populations. I try to promote equitable evaluation and feedback utilizing standardized grading rubrics to minimize personal bias while providing constructive feedback that focuses on growth rather than performance.  

The next step in my career is to continue to share my practical knowledge and experience, advocate for our profession, and network with other PA faculty members.  That is why I am honored to be a part of the PALLA Faculty Fellowship. 

Tara Jernejcic is a Physician Assistant with more than 27 years of experience in clinical practice, healthcare leadership, and medical education. 

Why PALLA?  To grow as an academic leader, gain insights into curriculum innovation, and build meaningful connections with expert PA educators through this transformative fellowship.