A board-certified physician assistant (PA), founder of a nonprofit, assistant professor, NCAPA Director-at-Large, and a children’s book author – Lavette Shirley Elee, DScPAS, PA-C’s impact on her community and beyond is profound, and the NCAPA is excited to be spotlighting her accomplishments in July’s edition of “I am NCAPA” Member Highlights.
Professor Elee currently teaches women’s health and endocrinology at Wingate University’s PA program, in addition to facilitating clinical medicine and the interprofessional education program.
A graduate of Kettering College’s PA program in Kettering, Ohio, she has practiced urgent care medicine, primary care, and psychiatry. When speaking of her roots in medicine, she shares that her biggest mentor, champion, and inspiration has been her sister and fellow NCAPA leader, Chileatha Wynn, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C.
“She was a big part of my motivation. I’ve always been someone who is self-driven, but she definitely helped push me in the right direction,” Professor Elee said. “I started out wanting to be a massage therapist, and then began looking at other avenues. From my time working at a clinic, I worked alongside MDs, DOs, NPs, and PAs. Knowing myself meant that knowing who I am in my 20s could very well be different from what I may want later in life, so I was attracted to having the flexibility that [PAs] had in changing specialties and positions.”
Professor Elee is the founding chair of the DEI committee at Wingate’s PA program, and in sharing her work at Wingate, she offered a glimpse of her involvement and impact with underrepresented communities. She is particularly proud of her mentorship work with underrepresented applicants that are interested in becoming PAs.
“The Wingate PA Program’s DEI committee developed a mentorship program geared towards underrepresented students. We looked back, did some research, and actively found the areas where we can have an impact on interested high school students who may need mentoring and coaching, and catch their interest in the PA profession as early as possible,” she shared. “We have been going out into high schools, well before the college level, and starting these conversations to show them the path to becoming a PA and becoming a healthcare provider.”
“We offer them a buddy once they come into the program to guide and mentor them throughout the program. They offer help with studying, guidance, advice,” Professor Elee shared.
We know that this will take time to see the results, since we start at the high school level and mentor them throughout PA school. That is okay – we are not in a rush; we just need to get started.” -Lavette Shirley Elee DScPAS, PA-C
In addition to her impactful mentorship work, she is an author of multiple children’s books centered around introducing children to the PA profession and medicine, with the goal of eliminating anxiety and fear around healthcare settings. One of her books is titled, “I Saw My PA Today.”
“From my own personal experience, I see these children that come into urgent care all the time, and they don’t know what’s going on. With my own son, I noticed that he feels a lot more comfortable when I explain to him what is happening next, what is coming after, etc. This is what inspired me to write my first book, after seeing that children are just constantly appearing terrified coming into a medical setting,” she said, “Writing has always been my outlet.”
And if she were not a PA, what would Professor Elee be doing instead? “Service work,” she smiled. Lavette explained that if she were not in service to patients, she would want to be pursuing a goal that is still in service of others. “That is what I know my life is going to be, which is in pursuit of serving others. One thing that I have done is start a 501-C(3) nonprofit called the Women’s Health and Resilience Foundation where we focus on women’s health and offer educational sessions and support.”
The organization focuses on historically marginalized communities and provides interactive educational sessions, free meals, free exercise sessions and more, with the goal of an empowering a supportive network for its participants. The organization has also recently held a gala raising funds and support for breast cancer fighters and survivors.
“We travel to different areas in Charlotte and surrounding areas that are underserved. We make sure that there is information and resources out there if they need it, even if they can’t reach us,” she explained. Professor Elee was recently recognized by the NCCPA Health Foundation, with receiving the Be the Change Grant in support of her work with women’s health education and advocacy.
“I want the PA profession to remain a profession and remain relevant. That is particularly important to me. I want to make sure that we are staying abreast to the laws, and making sure that PAs are driving where we are headed.” -Lavette Shirley Elee DScPAS, PA-C
