Shelley Irving, MSPAS, PA-C is the Morehead Campus Site Director and Associate Professor for the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences Physician Assistant Studies (UKPAS) Department. A 2008 alumna, Mrs. Irving practiced rural Primary Care, Internal Medicine Specialties, and Charitable Care in Appalachia prior to joining the UKPAS program faculty in 2008.

Within the UKPAS program, Mrs. Irving has administrative and curricular responsibilities that include oversight of the Morehead Campus and administration of the clinical curriculum. She has held a variety of instructional and service responsibilities in the department as well as service in the UK College of Health Sciences. She promotes interdisciplinary collaboration through involvement in interprofessional education within the University. In 2019, Mrs. Irving earned the honor of being named an Interprofessional Faculty Fellow by the UK Center for Interprofessional and Community Health Education.

Scholarly interests include rural health, PA practice, and clinical education. Mrs. Irving currently serves as project director for the UKPAS Health Resources and Human Services funded project titled: A Healthier Appalachia through PA training in Primary Care and Behavioral Health. This project will increase the number of PAs trained to work in rural Integrated Behavioral Health Clinics.

Mrs. Irving is active nationally and regionally. She has served on the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) national end of rotation examination board where she provided content expertise and authored exam questions. Regionally, she serves on several committees including: medical education, continuing medical education, and quality management and compliance. Additionally, Mrs. Irving serves on the board of directors for Claire Blue Health.

She was honored to be named a 2022 recipient of the William H. Marquardt Community Health Access Fellowship for her dedication to the promotion of accessible healthcare to underserved patient populations.

Mrs. Irving is a life-long learner and is insatiably curious. In 2021, Ms. Irving completed the UK College of Health Sciences Graduate Certificate in Telehealth. In her spare time, you can find her exploring a variety of interests from astrophysics to philosophy.

Publications:

• Irving, SR, Woltenberg LN, Gifford D, Tucker W. 2023. Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening in Appalachia: Considerations for Health Literacy. Journal of Physician Assistant Education. 34(4):309-324, December 2023.
• Vanderford C, Carlisle G, Irving S, Woltenberg L. 2022. Interprofessional Psychiatric Simulation: Preparing Students For Success. Medical Science Educator. 32(Suppl 1):S103.
• Woltenberg LN, Irving SR, Aulisio MC, Schuer KM. 2021. Making a Case for Multimodal IPE: Developing a Competency-Based Interprofessional Curriculum for Health Professions Learners at Rural Campuses. Journal of Physician Assistant Education. 32(3):176-181.