Faculty & Staff
Shannon Ijams, MPAS, PA-C
Program Director, Assistant Professor
Shannon earned a bachelor's degree from Kansas State University where she studied biology and gerontology. In 1997, she graduated from the Wichita State University Physician Assistant Program. Her past clinical experiences include the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless. Prior to assuming the role of Program Director within the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Physician Assistant Program, Shannon served as the Director of Clinical Education and Associate Director. In addition to administrative responsibilities, her teaching involvement includes Professional Issues in Medicine, Concepts of Community Medicine, and Clinical Medicine. She participates in the clinical training of students in the Bedlam-E Clinic at OU Family Medicine.
Janelle Whitt, DO
Medical Director
Dr Whitt received her Bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University and also completed her residency at Oklahoma State University. She is the Medical Director of OU Physicians Community Health and also serves as the Medical Director for the PA Program.
Autumn Ackerman, MSPAS, PA-C
Director of Admissions, Assistant Professor
Autumn graduated from the Missouri State University Physician Assistant Program in 2005. She has served as a clinical preceptor for the Tulsa program since 2008. Her clinical work experience as a PA includes primary care with the OU Community Health clinics and outpatient Family Medicine. As the Director of Admissions, she oversees the recruitment and admissions process for applicants, and she also serves as core faculty for the Physician Assistant Longitudinal Student Clinic. Her teaching responsibilities include teaching in several Clinical Medicine modules.
Chris M. Brasel, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Brasel received his B.A. in Biology from Wesleyan University (1992) and, after working several years in the biotech industry, returned to school and received his Ph. D. in Biomedical Sciences from Oklahoma State University- Center for Health Sciences (2008). Dr. Brasel teaches in two areas of basic science in the PA Program- Physiology and Medical Genetics. He actively uses new pedagogical models for his courses, such as the flipped classroom, and pursues research related to the use of digital media in medical education.
Marci Deck, MHS, PA-C
Assistant Professor
Marci earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Oklahoma in 2010. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine PA program in 2013. Her clinical work experience as a PA includes eight years in outpatient internal medicine. She joined the OU-Tulsa PA faculty in 2021, and is involved in teaching several modules in the Clinical Medicine course. Marci also serves as a preceptor in the Physician Assistant Longitudinal Clinic.
Rob Jackson, Ph.D.
Director of Anatomical Sciences, Assistant Professor
Dr. Jackson received his BS in Biology-Chemistry from Southern Nazarene University (2011) and received his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (2017) where he studied the role of adipose in the context of dieting, obesity, and Type II Diabetes Mellitus. He then went on to complete intensive training in anatomical sciences and education immediately following his doctoral program while also completing a short post-doctoral fellowship studying induced pluripotent stem cells. He now teaches all cadaver anatomy related courses on the OU-Tulsa SCM campus, namely in the MD and PA programs. He also leverages his expertise to teach in the biochemistry and endocrinology components of both the SCM MD and PA curriculum. He is actively involved in different lines of medical education research with one research program centered on experiences in the anatomy lab and a second research program centered on assessment analysis, course outcomes, and remediation of at-risk learners.
Lee Luetkemeyer MHS, PA-C
Director of Pre-Clinical Education, Assistant Professor
Lee earned a bachelor of science in radiologic technology radiation therapy from the University of Oklahoma in 2004. She graduated from the OU-Tulsa PA program in 2010. Lee’s clinical work experience as a PA includes internal medicine, geriatrics, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, and bone marrow transplant. Her teaching responsibilities include clinical medicine and co-director of the capstone course. Lee also serves as a preceptor in the Physician Assistant Longitudinal Clinic.
Josh Moen, Ph.D., MSPAS/MPH, PA-C
Assistant Professor
Josh has worked as a physician assistant in various clinical settings across multiple states. Combining his MPH (Master of Public Health), MSPAS (Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies), and Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance, he is dedicated to enhancing the performance of future generations of students. With a focus on the intersection of health, education, and performance, Josh aims to contribute to the development of well-rounded healthcare professionals prepared to face the challenges of medicine. His teaching role includes emergency medicine, dermatology, and preceptoring in the Physician Assistant Longitudinal Clinic.
Jeremy Paysnoe, MHS, PA-C
Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Professor
Jeremy earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center – OKC where he studied Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences. He worked in emergency medicine as a radiologic technologist for several years before returning to school and graduating from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center – Tulsa PA Program in 2018 with a Master’s in Health Sciences. Jeremy’s clinical work experience as a PA is primarily within occupational medicine where he saw patients for work-related injuries and pre-employment or annual medical evaluations/certifications in an urgent care setting. In addition to teaching Physical Diagnosis, Jeremy also serves as a preceptor in the Physician Assistant Longitudinal Clinic.
Katie Norris, M.Ed.
Student Program Manager
Katie Norris earned a master’s degree in Adult and Higher Education in 2015 from the University of Oklahoma. Katie has dedicated her career to the field of higher education. Her professional experiences have made her knowledgeable in the areas of admissions, academic advising, training and development, and medical education. Katie joined the PA program in March of 2024 after serving as the Neurology and Geriatrics Coordinator with the medical school at OU SCM. As the Student Program Manager, her primary responsibilities include coordinating the clinical phase of education for PA students. A few of her tasks include managing rotation schedules, organizing student credentialing, providing support for community preceptors, and maintaining student records. Katie feels grateful to take part in shaping the future of healthcare through supporting students as they strive to become excellent certified physician assistants.
Crystal Peterson
Staff Assistant
Crystal Peterson, our dedicated Staff Assistant, has been an invaluable member of our PA program since December 2018. Crystal received her bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from Rogers State University in Claremore. With her exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, Crystal ensures the smooth coordination of student enrollment, program events, and didactic courses. She expertly manages applicant and student records, grades, program social media accounts, program calendars, and program emails. Crystal's commitment to excellence, coupled with her warm and friendly demeanor, make her an invaluable asset to our program. She goes above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of our program runs smoothly.
