Dr. Shannon L. Jackson
Director of Student Support
Associate Professor
Master of Science in Physician Associate Program
Biography
Shannon Jackson, DMSc, MSPAS, PA-C, is the Director of Student Support and an Associate Professor in the Physician Associate program at Oklahoma Baptist University. She earned her Doctor of Medical Science degree in 2026 and currently serves as a Director-at-Large for the Georgia Academy of Physician Associates. Before transitioning to higher education, Dr. Jackson practiced family medicine for 10 years and later served as Academic Director of Mercer University’s PA program in Atlanta, Georgia. Since entering PA education in 2020, she has focused on enhancing the PA student experience, supporting pre-PA mentorship initiatives, and increasing awareness of the PA profession through community outreach. Her professional interests include mentorship, student support, and expanding access to careers in medicine for underserved and underrepresented students.
Education
- DMSc, Health Professions Education, The College of Idaho (2026)
- MS, Physician Assistant Studies, South University - Savannah (2011)
- BS, Biology, Georgia Southern University (2008)
Certification and Licensure
- Nationally Certified PA (NCCPA) (2011-present)
- Licensed PA - Georgia Composite Medical Board (2011-present)
Subjects Taught
- Clinical Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Reasoning
- PA Professional Practice
Professional Memberships
- American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA)
- Georgia Association of PAs (GAPA)
- PA Education Association (PAEA)
Awards and Honors
- Mercer University-College of Health Professions Excellence in Teaching Award (2024)
- Georgia Association of PAs Faculty of the Year Award (2023)
- South University Alumni Achievement Award (2021)
Selected Publications
- Heagey P, Jackson S, Mathur A, et al. Does Social Media Have a Role in the Decision to Matriculate Into a Physician Assistant Program? The Journal of Physician Assistant Education. 2025;36(4):342-347. http://doi.org/10.1097/JPA.0000000000000684
- Contributing editor in: Gonzales P, McDonald M. Chapter 4. The PA Rotation Exam Review. 2nd Edition. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Wolter’s Kluwer Health; 2024.
- Moverley J, Mathur A, Jackson SL, Bedoya JD, Vu A, Grippe K, et al. Physician Assistant School Applicants’ Perceptions of Virtual Interviews. Journal of Allied Health. 2023;52(2):e47-e53. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37269037/
Selected Presentations
- 2025 PAEA Education Form, "Bridging the Gap: Translating Accommodations from Classroom to Clinic," PAEA, San Diego, CA (October 2025)
- 2025 PAEA Regional Education Meeting, "Implementing Accommodations for the PA Student: Transitioning from Didactic to Clinical," PAEA, Decatur, GA (June 2025)
- 2023 PAEA Forum, "Cultivating the Future PA Leader," PAEA, New Orleans, LA. (October 2023)
- 2023 GAPA Summer Conference, "Posttraumatic Stress & Other Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders," GA Association of Physician Assistants, Hilton Head Island, SC. (July 2023)
- "Preventing Prescription Opioid Misuse: Addressing Pain Management via Telemedicine," The PA Foundation, Virtual Presentation. (June 2021)