Associate Dean/Program Director
Associate Dean/Program DirectorCurrent Position and Professional Experience:
Dr. Don Yager is the Associate Dean and Program Director for the School of Physician Assistant Studies Knoxville and for the Atlanta extension campus. He is one of the original co-developers of the program. He has over 24 years experience as a Physician Assistant previously practicing in both emergency medicine and rural family medicine. He has approximately 14 years of medical laboratory experience and is a registered Medical Technologist (ASCP).
Dr. Yager served 8 years on active duty as a U.S. Navy Corpsman. He has served more than 20 years as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Naval Reserves and currently holds the rank of Captain. He served overseas as the Chief of Ancillary Services while providing acute and chronic diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative healthcare services as a Physician Assistant.
Additionally, while serving overseas, he developed and implemented a standard operating procedure and a functional medical laboratory increasing turn-around time and enhancing point of care testing. He implemented a mass casualty operating procedure for approximately 2500 personnel including strategic placement of mass casualty boxes, crash carts and AED’s.
Professional Education:
Dr. Yager received his Doctor of Health Science degree from Nova Southeastern University. He also has been awarded a Masters of Physician Assistant Studies with an emphasis in Emergency Medicine from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, a Bachelor of Science in Medical Science from Alderson-Broaddus College, a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Old Dominion University and an Associate in Science in Medical Laboratory Technique from The George Washington University.
Teaching Responsibilities:
Dr. Yager is an Associate Professor has lectured in topics regarding emergency medicine, clinical laboratory medicine, and in various courses throughout the PA curriculum.
Committee Memberships:
- Executive
- Didactic
- Clinical
- Advisory