Dr. Lavette Shirley is a Board-Certified Physician Assistant (PA) since 2012. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Kent State University, a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Kettering College of Medical Arts, and a Doctor of Science in PA Studies, which she completed in December 2020.

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Dr. Shirley has dedicated much of her career to serving high-risk communities in North Carolina, primarily in urgent care, with experience in primary care and psychiatry. She is an Assistant Professor at Wingate University’s PA program, where she teaches Women's Health, Research , and Endocrinology, co-teaches Dermatology, and facilitates Clinical Medicine. She is also the founding chair of the PA program’s DEI committee and serves as a Director at Large for the North Carolina Academy of PAs (NCAPA).

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As the Co-Founder and CEO of the Women's Health and Resilience Foundation, Dr. Shirley is committed to empowering communities through education, mentorship, and advocacy. She developed a mentorship program to support underrepresented students pursuing careers as PAs, fostering an inclusive and diverse healthcare workforce.

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Dr. Shirley is the author of several children's books, including "I Saw My PA Today," "Remarkably You, Remarkably Me," and "My Primary Care PA." Her books aim to ease children's fears of medical visits, introduce the PA profession to young readers, and inspire confidence and camaraderie among girls.

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

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Beyond her professional endeavors, Dr. Shirley is the proud mother of two sons, Za’kari and Zion. She enjoys traveling, singing karaoke, and kickboxing. She believes in the power of positivity and the impact of mentorship in shaping future healthcare leaders.

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Her favorite quote is: My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. ~Maya Angelou