1. PA Faculty

Dr. Josselin Carter DMSc, MMS, PA-C

Program Director

josselin.carter@franu.edu

Dr. Jossie Carter has been an assistant professor in PA education at Fran U since 2016. Prior to becoming a PA, she graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences in 2004 and worked as a DNA Analyst. In 2008, she graduated as a member of the first PA class of Our Lady of the Lake College. Since graduation, she has been a cardiology PA and has emphasized the importance of patient advocacy and education in clinical practice. Interested in contributing to PA education, she served as a PA clinical preceptor and a guest lecturer prior to becoming a full-time PA Educator. Motivated by her desire to be a proficient clinical educator and a part of the professional development of PA students and future colleagues, she obtained a Doctor of Medical Science Degree in 2022 from the University of Lynchburg in Virginia. Her preparation has placed her on this path to become the PA Program Director at Fran U. Dr. Carter strongly believes in the pursuit of sharing her experience and knowledge in the service of her community especially in the cardiovascular and autism spectrum populations.

Principal Faculty

Dr. Rachel Chappell DMSc, PA-C

Assistant Program Director

rachel.chappell@franu.edu

Dr. Rachel Chappell is an Physician Assistant practicing in Louisiana for 16 years. She graduated from the University of South Alabama PA Program, and the University of Lynchburg Doctor of Medical Science Program. She is a passionate educator and has been in PA education for several years. Burnout and Interprofessional Education in PA education are areas of active interest and research. She also serves the Physician Assistant Education Association as a member of the Leadership Mission Advancement Committee working toward developing leadership skills in PA educators.

Brian Galofaro, MD

Medical Director

Dr. Galofaro serves as the program's Medical Director. Dr. Galofaro practices family medicine with Lake Physician Group in Covington, Louisiana where he provides comprehensive medical care across the life span. His main clinical focus is on rural family medicine in which physicians are trained extensively in procedures and global patient care. Additionally, Dr. Galofaro's passion for medical education began when he was Chief Resident with the Louisiana State University Family Medicine Residency program. Since then, he has served as a clinical instructor for multiple medical schools throughout the state and Mississippi.

Tara Milligan MMS, PA-C

Clinical Coordinator

tara.milligan@franu.edu

Tara Milligan is a certified physician assistant and a Louisiana native. Tara graduated in 2003 and 2004 from Louisiana Tech University with degrees in Biology and Medical Technology. She later obtained her master’s degree in physician assistant studies from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas in 2013. She has worked in multiple areas of medicine including internal medicine, family, sleep medicine, and urgent care for the past 10 years. Ms. Milligan also served as a PA Ambassador from 2019-2021 for the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and has been a part of numerous marketing campaigns about the PA profession. Tara has academic teaching experience as an Assistant Clinical Professor and Admissions Coordinator for the Mississippi State University at Meridian PA program from 2019-2021 from the beginning of the program through receiving accreditation. Ms. Milligan is passionate about education. Whether that be educating patients on disease processes, treatments, and outlooks, to educating students about the intricacies of the realm of medicine, Ms. Milligan loves to serve in helping others understand navigating medicine. Tara is also a member of the American Academy of Physician Associates, Louisiana Academy of Physician Assistants, and Mississippi Academy of Physician Assistants.

Jolie Relle MMS, PA-C

Principal Faculty

Jolie.Relle@franu.edu

Jolie Relle is Principal faculty in the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Physician Assistant Program. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University in 2009. She earned her Master of Medical Science degree from Our Lady of the Lake College (now FranU) in 2013. She is the local ambassador for the Louisiana Academy of Physician Assistants and a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. For the past decade she has been active in the medical community in Baton Rouge, has a personal passion for preventative medicine, and has served in several lead roles at Ochsner Health System prior to joining academia.

Matt Chappellie, MPAS, PA-C, ATC

Principal Faculty

matthew.chappellie@franu.edu

Matt Chappellie is an assistant professor at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Physician Assistant Program. Born and raised in Louisiana, Matt graduated with a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in athletic training from Louisiana State University in 2011. Following completion of his undergraduate degree, he worked as a Certified Athletic Trainer for 4 years in the Shreveport/Bossier City area before returning to PA school. He obtained his Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree from Louisiana State University Health Science Center Shreveport in 2017 while serving as SGA president for the LSU School of Allied Health professions and being recognized for the Pi Alpha National PA Honor Society. Since that time, he has practiced as a PA in Baton Rouge with experience in both orthopedics as well as urgent care. His experiences have drawn him to PA education in order to pass along his knowledge and experience to help continue the growth of the PA profession.

Michael D. Ludwig, PhD

Assistant Professor

michael.ludwig@franu.edu

Dr. Michael Ludwig holds a PhD in anatomy from Penn State University and is a classically trained anatomist. He completed a number of cadaveric dissections for the education of the medical students at Penn State University College of Medicine, and has published several peer reviewed publications and poster presentations. Dr. Ludwig teaches Structural and Functional Anatomy.

Amit K. Mitra M.D., Ph.D.

Principal Faculty

Dr. Amit Mitra is a full Professor at Franciscan University. He graduated with his medical degree (M.D), in 1982. He practiced as a physician and clinical pathologist for over 20 years. He also holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science and his field of research includes cell and molecular biology, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and heart failure. He was a research scientist for over 12 years and has multiple peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Mitra has been teaching since 2003 and has been at FranU since 2012. Currently, he teaches the pathophysiology of diseases in the undergraduate nursing program (BSN) and advanced medical physiology in the graduate PA (physician assistant) program. Dr. Mitra also teaches anatomy and physiology II, and in the past has taught advanced pathophysiology (FNP program), cardiology, and endocrinology (PA program). Dr. Mitra is the current Faculty Senate President of FranU faculty. He also serves on the institutional review board (IRB). He is a reviewer for two pathophysiology textbooks - Gould's Pathophysiology for the Health Professions, 7th Edition and Pathophysiology, 9th edition (In press).

Michael Falba, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA

Principal Faculty

Mr. Michael Falba, clinical instructor holds a Masters of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He has been a practicing PA for 40 years and a member of FranU initially as adjunct faculty now serving as principal faculty. He has experience in various medical specialties including correctional medicine, occupational medicine, primary care, adult and pediatric oncology, infectious disease, psychiatry, as well as multiple surgical specialties. He has been practicing in Urology since 1995 in New Orleans, Louisiana. One of his greatest joys is participating in the professional development of up in coming physician assistants.

Adjunct Faculty


Jessica Templet

Adjunct Instructor

jessica.templet@fmolhs.org

Jessica Templet is a certified Physician Assistant practicing pediatric hematology and oncology at the St. Jude Affiliate Clinic in Baton Rouge, where she has been part of the clinic team since 2008. There she participates in delivering quality patient care and strives to enhance the clinic experience through ongoing quality improvement projects, patient education initiatives and clinical research. She received her Masters of Medical Science from Our Lady of the Lake College School of Health Sciences in Baton Rouge, LA in 2008. She also received her undergraduate Associate and Bachelor’s degrees in Clinical Laboratory Science from Our Lady of the Lake College. Prior to completing her Physician Assistant degree, she worked as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Ms. Templet teaches the PA Program's Laboratory Medicine Class, provides lectures in oncology and also serves as a Clinical Preceptor.