Faculty and Staff Information
Program Director: Amy Elizabeth Baker, M.S, PA-C
Education: Philadelphia University: B.S. Health Sciences, M.S. Physician Assistant Studies
Background: Amy graduated from the former Philadelphia University, now Thomas Jefferson University, Physician Assistant Program. She completed an accelerated 5-year degree there after being introduced to the PA profession by a beloved high school biology teacher. After PA school, she worked in a family practice PA before joining her alma mater, first as an adjunct, then as a full-time faculty member from 2005-2020. She served as the Senior Associate PA Program Director of the TJU East Falls and New Jersey programs from 2013-2020 where she oversaw the pre-PA program, served as the Health Sciences program director, oversaw the successful reaccreditation of the program in 2018, and navigated an institutional merger. She has been involved in all aspects of PA education in both the didactic and clinical years and has worked on various university committees, with a focus on curriculum and assessment of student learning. She has taught several courses, her favorite of which include: Pathophysiology, Clinical Medicine, Women’s Health, Pediatrics, and Clinical Reasoning. She continues to work clinically with Tower Health Medical Group in Collegeville, PA as a family practice PA. Her interests include hiking, swimming, and spending time with her husband and 3 children. She is excited to develop a program from the ground up and educate a new generation of PA students during the profession’s expansion.
Director of Clinical Education: Paul D. Bradford, MEd, M.M.S, PA-C
Education: B.A. Psychology Villanova, M.Ed. University of Notre Dame, M.M.S Arcadia University
Background: Paul comes to West Chester from Thomas Jefferson University where he spent the last 10 years as faculty, first on the didactic side, then for the last several years as the Director of Clinical Education for Philadelphia University’s East Falls and New Jersey campuses. He was instrumental in site development when the program expanded to include a New Jersey campus and then when the program grew after the merger with Thomas Jefferson University. He was a middle school English teacher before graduating from Arcadia’s PA program in 2005. After graduation, he worked in emergency medicine and pediatric orthopedics before re-entering the academic world. He continues to work clinically as a pediatric orthopedic PA at CHOP. He is excited to develop new clinical partnerships and focus on a high quality clinical education for students at West Chester.
Director of Didactic Education: Jennifer L. Anderson, M.S., PA-C
Education: West Chester University B.S.Ed. Secondary Biology Education; Philadelphia University, M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies
Background: Jen is excited to return to West Chester where she completed her B.S. in Secondary Education before graduating from Philadelphia University with her M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies in 2004. She worked clinically as inpatient internal medicine PA for many years before returning to teach at Thomas Jefferson University. She progressed from faculty to Director of Didactic Education where she acted as academic coordinator, interfaced with adjuncts and guest lecturers, and oversaw the scheduling of the program’s didactic components. She has also taught many courses including Clinical Medicine, Internal Medicine, Medical Physiology and Pathophysiology, and Clinical Disciplines Overview. She is a strong advocate for students and has been involved in the Student Association of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. She continues to work clinically at Jefferson’s Methodist Hospital in internal medicine and critical care. She is excited to develop curriculum from the ground up and work closely with students in a new program at her alma mater.
Assistant Professor/Didactic Faculty: Patrick Heagey, MPAS, PA-C
Education: Lock Haven University, B.S. Health Science/Athletic Training; King's College, M.S. Physician Assistant Studies
Background: Pat earned his bachelor's degree from a fellow state institution, Lock Haven University, earning a degree in Health Science / Athletic Training. During his junior year at LHU, he discovered the diverse opportunities of the PA profession. Soon after becoming a board-Certified Athletic Trainer, he went on to King's College to earn his Masters in Physician Assistant Studies in 2009. He brings clinical expertise in emergency medicine and trauma/surgical critical care to the students and curriculum at WCU. Pat continues to practice clinically in trauma surgery at nearby Paoli Hospital, part of the Main Line Health system.
Academically, Pat is joining the ranks as full-time academic faculty following several years in a very active adjunctive instructor role at Arcadia University's PA Program where he was involved in many hands-on teaching roles including physical diagnosis, clinical skills labs, OSCEs, and various acute care lectures. He also thoroughly enjoys serving as a clinical preceptor, working closely with PA students from various area programs who complete trauma electives.
On a personal note, Pat, his wife, and their 3 kids reside in the West Chester community. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends by the pool, PSU football games, traveling, and anything sports related.
He is excited to work closely with our students serving as both educator and mentor, he hopes to instill a passion for the high-quality patient centered care that PA's are so well known for.
Assistant Professor/Didactic Faculty: Laura Santanna Lonergan, MHS, PA-C
Education: Saint Joseph’s University, BS Interdisciplinary Health Services; Drexel University, MS Master of Health Services
Background: Since graduating from Drexel’s PA Program in 2005, Laura has been a practicing PA in the surrounding area, most of that time being spent as practicing Emergency Medicine. Laura was an adjunct professor at Jefferson’s PA Program for 7 years before coming to West Chester University full time. It was during these years that she learned that educating future PAs was such an important part of service to her profession. She loves helping students develop not only academically, but professionally as well. In her free time, she loves spending time with her 2 children, traveling and going to the beach.
Contact the PA Program at PAProgram@wcupa.edu