MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM FACULTY AND STAFF

Wm. Russell Detten, DO, FAACPserves as the Medical Director for the Missouri State University Physician  Assistant Program. He completed his undergraduate degree at Drury University and his medical education at the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, MO. Subsequently, he did his residency at Cox Family Practice Residency Program. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice and a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Currently, he is a family practice physician at Steeplechase Family Physicians, an affiliate of Cox Health Systems, in Springfield. He has been actively involved in precepting Missouri State University PA students since the inception of the Program.

Steven T. Dodge, MD, FACOG, joined the Missouri State University Physician Assistant Program in August 2003 and serves as the Department Head/Program Director. Dr. Dodge has also served the department as Clinical Coordinator. He graduated from the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in 1975, completed the SIU Obstetrics & Gynecology residency in 1979 and a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at Washington University in St. Louis in 1983. He also served 7 years in the US Army Medical Corps, ending as Chief of the Reproductive Endocrinology Service at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu. Dr. Dodge has enjoyed his move from clinical medicine to medical education and also coordinates the obstetrics and gynecology portion of Clinical Medicine I and the Advanced Clinical Pharmacology course.

Roberto Canales, MS, PA-Cserves as the Associate Program Director and Admissions Coordinator in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies. He joined the Missouri State University PA faculty in July 2002 after having been a faculty member of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Department of Physician Assistant Studies for 8 years. He completed his physician assistant education at UTMB in 1989 and subsequently completed his Master of Science in Health Education and Promotion from the UTMB Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 1998. His clinical experience includes university, military and correctional facility settings and he has a particular expertise in infectious disease. His primary teaching responsibilities at the Missouri State University PA Program  includes, but is not limited to,  the coordination of Clinical Medicine I & II series and teaching didactic year courses including Medical Physiology Clinical Correlations. Mr. Canales also assists with Clinical Coordination responsibilities for the Department.

Nancy Dion, MS, PAserves as an Instructor, and is currently acting as Clinical Coordinator in the Missouri State University Department of Physician Assistant Studies.  Ms. Dion received her training as a registered nurse from Salem Hospital School of Nursing followed by completion of her Physician Assistant education at George Washington University School of Medicine. She completed her MS in Physician Assistant at Finch University School of Health Sciences/ Chicago Medical School in 1998. Ms. Dion has over 20 years clinical experience as a physician assistant, with extensive experience and expertise in the area of otolaryngology. She assists with clinical education activities and teaches a number of courses including Principles of Clinical Problem Solving, Clinical Assessment I & II, Clinical Practicum I & II, and the Laboratory Medicine and Clinical Procedures.

 

Tracy Cleveland, MS, PA-C joined the Missouri State University Physician Assistant Studies Program in August 2007 as an Assistant Professor and in 2009 became the Academic Coordinator.  She graduated with bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Biology from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota in 2000, and from Southwest Missouri State University, now Missouri State University, with her Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies in 2002.  Tracy's experience as a Physician Assistant includes both primary care and orthopedic surgery.  She continues to work clinically in orthopedic surgery in Springfield, Missouri, and currently assists with the Clinical Medicine, Principles of Clinical Problem Solving, and the Laboratory Medicine and Clinical Procedures Courses.       

 

Jodi Flynn, MS, PA-C joined the faculty of the Missouri State University Physician Assistant Program in November 2009 as an Assistant Professor.  Jodi graduated from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri in 2000 with a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a Pre-Med emphasis. She received her Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies in 2002 from Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State University).  Jodi's experience as a Physician Assistant includes Invasive and General Cardiology, and she continues to work clinically in Cardiology in Carthage, Missouri.  Jodi also received certificatation as an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Instructor in 2007 and continues to educate/certify the employees of Cox and Citizens Memorial Hospitals.  Jodi's teaching responsibilities in the MSU PA Program currently include ECG/ACLS, Professional Issues, Clinical Assessment, Clinical Medicine, Principles of Clinical Problem Solving and Laboratory Medicine/Clinical Procedures courses. 

                                            

Linda K. Vaught, PhD, HCLD (ABB)serves as the Research Coordinator for the Missouri State University Physician Assistant program. She received a doctorate in Animal Science from Utah State University in 1976, and shortly thereafter became an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaii-Hilo. In 1984, she joined a private medical practice as an embryologist in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory, eventually serving as Executive Director overseeing daily operations and research efforts of five IVF labs in California. Since 1994, she and her husband have operated serves as the Research Coordinator for the Missouri State University Physician Assistant program. She received a doctorate in Animal Science from Utah State University in 1976, and shortly thereafter became an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaii-Hilo. In 1984, she joined a private medical practice as an embryologist in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory, eventually serving as Executive Director overseeing daily operations and research efforts of five IVF labs in California. Since 1994, she and her husband have operatedtheir own IVF Laboratories. Dr. Vaught is certified as a High Complexity Laboratory Director by the American Board of Bioanalysts and is an IVF Laboratory Inspector for the College of American Pathologists. Her duties involve providing support and assistance to faculty and students with reserch-oriented activities.  Dr. Vaught also assists in Admissions and Recruitment, and candidate review.

                                              Cynthia Chandler-Clayton, CPS is the Academic Administrative Assistant II for the Department of Physician Assistant Studies. Cynthia has extensive administrative experience in health care and business settings and earned her Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) certification in 1992.  She also completed her training at the Professional Massage Training Center in Springfield, MO in 1997 ,and practiced as a Nationally Certified LMT until 2001. She has worked at Missouri State University since 2000 and in July 2002, joined the Department of Physician Assistant Studies. She is responsible for maintaining office procedures and the operational functions of the PAS department. Cynthia also assists in the areas of Admissions and Recruitment. 

  

Jan Rund, BS is an Acacemic Administrative Assistant I for the Department of Physician Assistant Studies.  She received a Bachelor  of Science degree in Dietetics from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1974 and has worked as an administrative dietitian in St. Louis.  More recently, she has worked as a secretary and joined the Physician Assistant Studies program at Missouri State University in May 2007.