Nancy Freeborne, DrPH, MPH, PA-C

Director/Chair and Associate Professor, Physician Assistant Program

Nancy Freeborne learned of the Physician Assistant/Associate profession when it was still relatively new, having been introduced to a dynamic PA when needing a high school sports
physical. Nancy obtained a biology degree from Lafayette College and debated whether to get a PhD in biology or pursue a PA career. She made the choice to apply to PA programs and matriculated at George Washington University (GWU).

She has worked clinically in geriatrics, primary care, college health, women’s health and clinical research. While Nancy was a geriatric clinic manager, she worked on and received an MPH in health administration at GWU School of Public Health. Soon after getting that degree, she was recruited to join the GWU PA program faculty and eventually transitioned to overseeing the GWU School of Medicine and Health Sciences community outreach program. In that program students from the PA, NP, MD, PH, MHA, and PT students worked on teams to do health education programs in Washington, DC. While PA program faculty, she started a foot clinic for the unhoused which she oversaw for ten years-the initiative was awarded the Fannie Mae Foundation Help the Homeless Good Neighbor award.

While at GWU, Nancy obtained a Doctorate of Public Health, with a concentration in health behavior. Dr. Freeborne was recruited to join George Mason University (GMU) faculty when GMU was expanding their public health programs. She helped grow the popular Bachelor
of Community Health, advising countless students, including Pre-PA students. During her time as Undergraduate Director, she was nominated three times for the university undergraduate advisor of the year. Additionally, she received an Office of Student Scholarship Creative Activities and Research award for mentoring undergraduate research.

After serving as fulltime GMU faculty, she was then recruited to serve as the Director of Operations at a Virginia Community Health Center and then became a Federal clinical reviewer for the HRSA-based community health center program.

Nancy enjoys combining her love of biological science with her interests in psychology and social science. She blogs regularly for Psychology Today. Her doctoral dissertation assessed the variable of social support on cardiovascular outcomes and longevity. Over the years, Dr. Freeborne has lectured widely on a variety of topics including ethical approaches to elder care, Alzheimer’s Disease, and leadership in healthcare organizations.

Dr. Freeborne has enjoyed a variety of leadership positions, and she is excited to be back in PA education. She and her husband have houses both in Occoquan and in Staunton. Her son and daughter-in-law live in Richmond, and her son is a civil engineer with an expertise in hospital construction. Her daughter works for an American company but recently re-located to London.