Steve Martin Serves as New Physician Assistant Leader at Mississippi College

Steve Martin to chair MC's Department of Physician Assistant Studies.

Bob Philpot provided excellent service as the leader of Mississippi College’s Physician Assistant Program since its beginning in 2011.

Mississippi’s first PA program will welcome new leadership with administrator Steve Martin named its director and department chair. His appointment on the Clinton campus becomes effective December 18.

Dr. Philpot received kudos as the architect of the state’s first program that started with 29 Mississippi College students more than seven years ago. There are 90 graduates students enrolled today. Each year, at least 50 percent of the 30 new cohort students admitted are Mississippians. MC students along with graduates were admitted to prestigious national fellowship and residency programs.

Under Philpot’s leadership, the PA program became nationally accredited. The American Academy of Physician Assistants honored Dr. Philpot as one of its Distinguished Fellows in 2015.

Associate director of Mississippi College’s program since 2014, Martin comes highly regarded in the healthcare profession. He’s trained physician assistants since 2000.

The intensive MC program spans 30 months and trains professionals to work under the supervision of physicians. The Physician Assistant Studies Department works closely with the University of Mississippi Medical Center, federal clinics and the region’s other medical facilities.

Teaching a mix of classes at PA headquarters in the Baptist Healthplex, Martin especially enjoys instructing students in physical exam skills. “I really enjoy the hands on teaching and watching students gradually gain confidence as they become caring, competent clinicians.”

Martin also gained recognition as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Members are selected for their research, community service, outreach to patients and contributions to the profession. There are a little more than 1,000 active distinguished fellows among 123,000 certified physician assistants in the United States.

As he leads the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, Martin wants to continue partnering with a strong faculty team. He joins colleagues seeking “to offer the finest physician assistant training possible to help address the critical medical needs of Mississippi.”

Philpot believes the department remains in good hands. “I couldn’t ask for a better person to do this. Steve understands the culture and mission of the program like no one else.”

Before arriving at MC, Steve served as program evaluation coordinator for the South University PA facilities in Savannah, Georgia. He later became founding director for South University’s Tampa, Florida PA program. Martin and Philpot worked together at the institution. Philpot chaired the PA Studies Department at South University in Savannah.

Martin is a graduate of the University of Florida PA program with a Bachelor of Science in medicine. He earned a master’s in PA studies at the University of Nebraska. He’s finishing studies toward a doctorate in educational leadership at Mississippi College.

During his career, Martin served as a reserve police officer, volunteer firefighter and drummer with the Police Pipe and Drum Corps of Florida. He’s traveled on several overseas mission trips, including journeys to El Salvador, Guatemala and Uruguay. He’s worked with the federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team.

In his leisure time, the Mississippian maintains an avid interest in photography (including a collection of old cameras), enjoys mountain biking and is learning to play the Bodhran, an Irish frame drum. He and his wife, Sandy, moved to Clinton in January 2014 to join the MC family.

Dr. Philpot won’t relocate far from Mississippi in the new year. He’s leaving to take the leadership post in PA studies at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. The billion-dollar health science center sits on a Texas campus of more than 100 acres on historic Galveston Island. It includes four schools. Created 47 years ago, the PA program in Texas enrolls 270 students.

Philpot first arrived at Mississippi College in 2009 and immediately worked to build an outstanding program. “Our vision was to create one of the best programs in the country, while supporting the mission of Mississippi College.”