Dr. Lavette Shirley is a Board-Certified Physician Assistant (PA) who has practiced since 2012. She holds a BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Kent State University, an MS in Physician Assistant Studies from Kettering College, and a Doctor of Science in PA Studies completed in December 2020.

Dr. Shirley has dedicated much of her career to serving high-risk communities in North Carolina, primarily in urgent care, with additional experience in primary care and psychiatry. She is now part of Elon University’s developing PA program in Charlotte, starting July 1, 2025. Previously, she served as an Assistant Professor at Wingate University’s PA program, teaching Women's Health, Research, Endocrinology, co-teaching Dermatology, and facilitating Clinical Medicine. She was also the founding chair of Wingate PA’s DEI committee and served as a Director at Large for the North Carolina Academy of PAs (NCAPA).

As Co-Founder and CEO of the Women's Health and Resilience Foundation, Dr. Shirley empowers communities through education, mentorship, and advocacy. She developed a mentorship program supporting underrepresented students pursuing PA careers to foster an inclusive healthcare workforce.

Dr. Shirley is the author of children’s books including I Saw My PA Today, Remarkably You, Remarkably Me, and My Primary Care PA, written to ease children's fears of medical visits and inspire confidence among young readers.

Her research includes co-authoring Cross-disciplinary Narratives on COVID-19: Local Perspectives from Global Health Science Graduate Students in the International Journal of Nursing and Health Care Research, and A Difficult Diagnosis: Intermittent Palpitations in a Healthy Woman published in JAAPA.

Beyond her professional work, Dr. Shirley is the proud mother of two sons, Za’kari and Zion. She enjoys traveling, karaoke, Hotworx workouts, and kickboxing, and believes deeply in the power of positivity and mentorship to shape future healthcare leaders.