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Mary Lou Cornwall Hawkes '65 and James B. Hawkes Physician Assistant Program

Master of Medical Science

Program Overview: Cornwall Hawkes Physician Assistant Program

Agnes Scott College is proud to offer the Mary Lou Cornwall Hawkes '65 and James B. Hawkes Physician Assistant (PA) Program, a 24-month Master of Medical Science program that builds on our decades of success in pre-medical education. If you are passionate about medicine and committed to serve local communities, the Cornwall Hawkes PA program is ideal for you.

In Agnes Scott College’s Master of Medical Science (MMSc) program, students seeking certification and licensure as a physician assistant (PA) will learn to practice in all areas of medicine and gain expertise in community-based healthcare.

The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce has identified the state as a primary care shortage area. In their 2025 statewide report, 42 counties lacked access to a a primary care provider and 82 counties were without access to an OB/GYN practitioner. The Cornwall Hawkes PA program seeks to address this urgent need by cultivating high-quality healthcare providers committed to community health.

Agnes Scott’s Cornwall Hawkes PA program will be exclusively located in Hopkins Hall, which was recently renovated to meet the needs of the program. The building includes innovative technology and instructional facilities for the practice of medicine, including 3-D anatomage tables, a clinical examination suite, an instructional laboratory, and state-of-the-art classrooms. Students will also benefit from a third-floor student lounge and private study rooms.

“Here, you'll gain the skills to practice in any medical setting—while being part of a community that values compassion, critical thinking, and meaningful service.” -Dr. LeAnne Martinelli, Program Director

Accreditation Status

Agnes Scott College has applied for Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Agnes Scott College's Mary Lou Cornwall Hawkes '65 and James B. Hawkes Physician Assistant Program anticipates matriculating its first class in October 2026, pending achieving Accreditation - Provisional status at the July 2026 ARC-PA meeting. Accreditation - Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation- provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.

What You’ll Learn

Our program’s purpose-driven curriculum will prepare you to practice evidence-based medicine, serve local communities, and assume leadership roles that help promote patient-centered healthcare.

Students will complete 102 graduate credits over 24 consecutive months. The first year of on-campus instruction includes dedicated service learning opportunities followed by a year of supervised clinical practice experiences in all major areas of medicine: community health, emergency medicine, general surgery, women’s health, behavioral medicine, and pediatrics, among others.

Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) and, upon certification and licensure, can begin practicing as a PA in all disciplines of medicine.

  • Applications are open now until March 1, 2026
  • Classes begin October 2026
  • Program Length: 24-months, 102 credits
  • 1 year of didactic learning on-campus followed by 1 year of supervised clinical practice experiences
  • Format: In-person
  • Cohort Size: Up to 40 students

Program Highlights

A Mission and Vision to Advancing Health Equity

Our Mission

The mission of Agnes Scott College’s Cornwall Hawkes PA program cultivates compassionate, critical-thinking physician assistants (PAs) to practice evidence-based medicine, serve local communities, and assume leadership roles that help promote patient-centered healthcare.

Our Vision

Our program is intentional about creating a collaborative environment that produces high-quality healthcare providers committed to community health.

Our Values

  • A Commitment to Excellence in Innovation, Teaching and Learning
  • A Commitment to Appreciation of Various Life Experiences
  • A Commitment to a Community that Values Justice, Healthcare Equity, and Integrity
If you believe everyone deserves quality care, Agnes Scott's Cornwall Hawkes PA program is your perfect fit. We equip you with the skills and knowledge to practice in all areas of medicine, while fostering a deep commitment to community health.

Read our full vision, mission, and values statement.

Applying for a Future as a PA: Our Application Process

We know you’re passionate about helping people. Why wait? Start planning today!

The Agnes Scott College application is open now until March 1, 2026.

Acceptance into Agnes Scott’s Cornwall Hawkes PA program is highly competitive – we accept up 40 highly-qualified students per cohort. Applicants will be considered for acceptance upon completion of all requirements, as verified by Agnes Scott Graduate Admission:

  • Minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA
  • Minimum 3.00 BCP GPA
  • Prerequisite courses completed within last 10 years
  • View all application requirements through the link below
Complete your Agnes Scott graduate application early. Admission decisions will be made on a rolling basis. The Cornwall Hawkes PA program invites qualified applicants to interview with program faculty as part of the admission process, with interviews being held from September 2025 through April 2026.

Applications will be accepted through Agnes Scott's Cornwall Hawkes PA program application beginning summer 2025 through the final deadline of March 1, 2026, for fall 2026 admission.

Admission Requirements and Process

Innovative Curriculum

Start your career earlier: complete your physician assistant program coursework in just 24 months through the Cornwall Hawkes PA program at Agnes Scott. Most PA programs take 27 months or more.

At Agnes Scott, we’ve designed the Cornwall Hawkes PA program to provide the outstanding education and hands-on experience you’ll need to begin your healthcare career in just two years.

The systems-based curriculum combines rigorous academic training with hands-on clinical experience, service learning, and a strong foundation in evidence-based medicine. As a Cornwall Hawkes PA student, you will complete clinical rotations that will prepare you to practice emergency medicine, hospital medicine, women’s health, general surgery, pediatrics, behavioral medicine, community health and more.

After you complete the program, you will take the national examination for certification as a physician assistant.

Curriculum and Technical Standards

Meet the Faculty

headshot of Erin Lepp

Erin Lepp MMSc, PA-C

Associate Program Director and Associate Professor of Physician Assistant Studies

LeAnne Martinelli DHSc, RPh, PA-C

Physician Assistant Studies Program Director

Malatrice Montgomery MMSc, PA-C

Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies

Corbi Sandoe MMSc, MPH, PA-C

Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies

Felicia Slaton MHS, PA-C

Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies

Megan Timpone MMSc, PA-C

Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies

Headshot for Dr. Raulniña Uzzle

Raulniña Uzzle, MD

Assistant Professor, Medical Director and Clinical Director of Community Health Initiatives of Physician Assistant Studies

View our Facilities!

Take a glimpse of our newly renovated Hopkins Hall, home to the Mary Lou Cornwall Hawkes '65 and James B. Hawkes Physician Assistant Program.

See the space!

Physician Assistant Program: Job Outlook

Physician assistants are in high demand across the U.S.

The BLS projects that employment of physician assistants in Atlanta is projected to grow 34.2% until 2033.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), healthcare careers are expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2033. In Atlanta, the labor demand for physician assistants is expected to grow at a faster rate than the national average.

Our Cornwall Hawkes PA program will provide a successful pathway for a diverse students to achieve their goal of becoming healthcare practitioners, while also addressing this growing national health care shortage and health disparities across the state of Georgia.

  • Hospitals
  • Clinics
  • Private Practice

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