Presbyterian College Physician Assistant Program professor and medical director makes a difference in healthcare by teaching the next generation
Dr. Lincoln McGinnis didn’t always have his heart set on the medical field, but his own experiences with the healthcare system ignited a spark within him.
“I had some health problems,” he said. “My parents were elderly and both had health problems, and I wasn’t completely satisfied with the care that we were all getting.”
Discovering his calling
Prior to discovering his interest in medicine, McGinnis had worked his way up to being the controller of a small company before it was eventually sold to a larger company.
He had not finished college when he was younger and knew that he would need to obtain a degree in order to continue providing for his family, and the combination of his past experiences and dissatisfaction with the healthcare system inspired him to take the leap toward following his passion.
“My wife asked me, ‘What would you like to do when you go back to school?’ and I said, ‘Well, I don’t know if it would ever work out, but I really feel that God has given me a second chance at life, and I have a responsibility to do all I can to help others, so I’d like to try to go to medical school,’” he said. “And my wife’s response was, ‘If it’s God’s will, the doors will open.’”
From that point forward, McGinnis began to take the prerequisites for medical school at a small college in Mississippi while still continuing to work.
“I took the medical college admissions test in August, and I scored well on it, and was accepted into medical school without a college degree,” he said. “I was accepted in October, and I started the following August when I was 39 years old.”
It’s very exciting to me to make an impact on young people going into the healthcare profession. My excitement revolves around doing all I can to make a difference for the students in our program.”
Dr. Lincoln McGinnis, Medical Director and Professor of PA
A love of teaching
During his training, McGinnis knew he wanted to work in academic medicine, but factors like his age and the cost of his education drove him to traditional practice instead.
However, McGinnis knew his heart still belonged to academic medicine.
“I spent the best part of my career working in an intensive care unit and would have family medicine residents at Self Regional rotate with me, and that always brought me a lot of satisfaction,” he said. “I’ve always believed that healthcare professionals have an absolute responsibility to help train the next generation.”
Finding his way to PC
McGinnis officially began teaching at PC in October of 2023 after working as a clinical preceptor for the Physician Assistant Degree program for several years under previous medical director Dr. Greg Mappin before applying and being offered the position of medical director himself.
In the time he’s been here, McGinnis has worked with three classes, teaching didactic year students pharmacology and advising clinical year students, and has thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the PA program.
“The PA program was well established by the long-term faculty before I was hired – Amanda Stevenson-Cali, Mary Leonardi, Dr. Mappin and all the faculty – the people who actually built the program did an outstanding job,” he said.
The future of the program
When McGinnis thinks about the future of the PA program at PC, he thinks of growth, expansion, and continuing to make a difference in the lives of students.
“It’s very exciting to me to make an impact on young people going into the healthcare profession,” he said. “My excitement revolves around doing all I can to make a difference for the students in our program.”
