Larissa Whitney

Larissa Whitney serves as Assistant Dean and Program Director of the Physician Assistant Program at Penn State College of Medicine, where she also holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. With over eight years of full-time experience in PA education across various programs throughout Pennsylvania, she has established herself as a leader in physician assistant training and medical education.

Her educational background includes a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) in Health Administration and Leadership from California Intercontinental University (2021), a Master of Health Science (MHS) from Nova Southeastern University (2010), and a Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Pennsylvania College of Technology (2010).

Dr. Whitney's research focuses on advancing Physician Assistant education, promoting mental health and wellness for PA students, and developing interdisciplinary educational approaches. Her work particularly examines trauma care systems with special attention to the Amish population in Central Pennsylvania, addressing unique challenges in rural and culturally distinct communities. She has demonstrated expertise in quality improvement initiatives within Level I Trauma Centers, with publications examining injury patterns, mortality rates, and protocol implementation across multiple years (2021-2024).

• Distinguished Honors Graduate (2021)
• HealthCare Hero (2018)
• Patient Safety Fair, 1st Place Recipient (2021)
• American Academy of Physician Assistants, Fellow

As Program Director, she oversees the comprehensive PA educational curriculum while maintaining clinical practice in the Family and Community Medicine Department where she precepts students in outpatient settings. Dr. Whitney is actively involved in professional organizations including serving as Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants Region 3 Representative and as an Elected Delegate to the American Academy of Physician Assistants House of Delegates. She also contributes to the field as a Research Brief/Poster Presentation Reviewer for the Physician Assistant Education Association Education Forum and has presented at multiple conferences including the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation, Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants, and Academic Surgical Congress.