Four assistant professors bolster MC Physician Assistant Studies’ faculty ranks
Physician Assistant Studies at Mississippi College has welcomed four new members to its faculty.
Phillip Carithers Jr., Jacob Carpenter, Kim P. Norwood and Allison M. Pitts have each joined the PA faculty as assistant professors.
Rachelle Dye, department chair and program director of MC’s PA Studies, said the quartet will help the program train students to serve as members of the healthcare team, providing high-quality medical care for the people of Mississippi and the nation, with an emphasis on serving underserved populations.
“Together, Allison, Phillip, Jacob and Kim embody the program’s mission of producing competent, compassionate, and practice-ready PAs while advancing MC’s reputation for excellence in medical education,” Dye said. “They significantly strengthen the MC Physician Assistant program by expanding clinical expertise, enhancing hands-on training, supporting curriculum innovation, and strengthening mentorship and professional development.
Carithers recently competed training at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Baylor Scott & White. He will serve as director of pathophysiology and diagnostic medicine in MC’s PA program.
He holds a Bachelor of Psychology from Blue Mountain Christian University, a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Public Health from Walden University, and a Doctor of Medicine from Caribbean Medical University.
Dye said Carithers has significant expertise in pathology and diagnostic interpretation, and his dual master’s degrees equip him to integrate population health perspectives and evidence-based frameworks into his teaching.
“Dr. Carithers offers a diverse clinical and academic background spanning pediatrics, pathology, mental health, and medical education,” she said. “What sets Dr. Carithers apart is his breadth of experience — from pediatric medicine to emotional health crisis counseling, clinical laboratory sciences, and hands-on patient care.
“At MC, he will lead teaching efforts in pathophysiology, lab diagnostics, and patient-centered clinical reasoning, helping students develop a deep understanding of disease processes and diagnostic strategies. His mentorship-focused approach will strengthen student confidence and broaden their clinical perspective, ultimately enhancing their readiness for patient care.”
A former U.S. Army Special Forces medical sergeant and physician assistant with deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Kuwait, Carpenter has more than 15 years of high-acuity medical experience managing trauma, combat casualty care, hyperbaric medicine and tele-emergency response. The 2013 MC graduate will serve as director of emergency medicine training in MC’s PA program.
Dye said Carpenter brings an extraordinary combination of emergency medicine expertise, military medical leadership and advanced procedural skills to the program.
“Jacob’s calm leadership in crisis situations, combined with his advanced procedural capabilities — including airway management, critical care interventions and emergency stabilization — make him uniquely suited to strengthen MC’s emergency medicine curriculum,” she said. “Students will gain invaluable exposure to real-world decision-making under pressure while developing essential clinical competencies.
“Beyond teaching, Jacob’s diverse certifications, including hyperbaric medicine and tele-emergency training, will open opportunities for curriculum innovation and simulation-based learning.”
Norwood brings more than seven years of diverse PA experience across spine surgery, family medicine and emergency medicine to MC. Most recently, the 2015 MC PA graduate served as a spine-focused surgical PA at Mississippi Sports Medicine.
Norwood will serve as director of musculoskeletal and sports medicine education in MC’s PA program.
“Her robust background in preoperative and postoperative care, procedural support, and chronic musculoskeletal management will greatly enrich MC’s orthopedic and sports medicine training,” Dye said. “Kim’s professional qualities — approachability, adaptability and surgical precision — make her an exceptional educator and mentor for students developing musculoskeletal assessment skills.
“Her leadership, combined with her hands-on procedural expertise, positions MC to expand clinical opportunities in orthopedics, spine surgery and rehabilitation-focused care.
Pitts, a 2009 MC graduate, brings more than 11 years of clinical experience in otolaryngology from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where she managed complex inpatient and outpatient cases, assisted in surgical procedures and participated in resident education. She will provide otolaryngology and surgical skills support for the MC PA clinical faculty.
“Her extensive expertise with sinus disease, otologic disorders, airway management and advanced procedural techniques uniquely position her to enhance MC’s curriculum in ENT-focused physical assessment, procedural labs and surgical preparation training,” Dye said. “Allison’s qualities — clinical mastery, collaborative spirit and a passion for teaching — make her an ideal fit for shaping the next generation of PAs.
“MC students will directly benefit from her hands-on procedural teaching, her experience in interdisciplinary team collaboration and her ongoing commitment to patient-centered care.”
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