School of Physician Associate (PA) Studies

Chair and Program Director

Email: marci.contreras@mso.umt.edu

Dr. Contreras is the founding Program Director for UM's Physician Associate (PA) Program. Originally from Texas, she graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) PA Program and later returned as faculty in 2014. Dr. Contreras has been in PA education for over a decade and has been a sought-after public speaker throughout her career. Her areas of expertise are Neurology, Behavioral Medicine, and Preventive Medicine. She received her Doctor of Education in Health Professions degree (Ed.D.) in May 2022 from A.T. Still University (ATSU).

Dr. Contreras was awarded UT Distinguished Teaching Professor in 2018 by the UT Academy of Master Teachers (AMT). She was the recipient of the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants (TAPA) Outstanding PA Educator of the Year Award in 2019.  In 2023, she received the honor of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Dr. Contreras is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Associates (DFAAPA), a member of the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), and President-Elect of the Montana Academy of Physician Assistants (MTAPA). She maintains her lifetime memberships in the Pi Alpha Honor Society, the Alpha Eta Honor Society, and the Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Society.

Dr. Contreras has a special interest in the social determinants of health, human anti-trafficking, mindfulness in medicine, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is the proud mom of twin daughters. In her spare time, Dr. Contreras enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her dogs.

Medical Director

Email: jeffrey.adams@umontana.edu

Dr. Jeff Adams serves as Medical Director of the University of Montana Physician Associate Studies Program. He is also a family medicine practitioner at Curry Health Center, where he has cared for patients for more than 20 years. He is passionate about helping students feel their best so they can thrive physically, mentally, and academically. He believes that when students feel confident and empowered in their health, they are better equipped to lead adventurous, fulfilling lives.

Dr. Adams helps patients recover from acute illnesses, manage chronic conditions, and develop lifelong habits that foster wellness and resilience. He values a collaborative approach to care, working with patients to create treatment plans guided by their individual goals and priorities.

A fourth-generation Montanan, Dr. Adams graduated with honors from Stanford University with a BS in Biology before earning his medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Throughout his career, Dr. Adams has taught medical students, residents, and Doctor of Pharmacy students. He is excited to prepare the next generation of physician associates to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care—particularly in Montana’s underserved communities. He is also committed to helping students use technology thoughtfully to support clinical decision-making and streamline medical documentation.

Outside of work, Dr. Adams enjoys hiking, wildlife viewing, gardening, and exploring Montana’s rich history. He is married with two children and spends as much of his free time outdoors as possible.

Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor

Email: andy.ashford@mso.umt.edu

Andrew “Andy” Ashford, MCHS, PA-C, is an Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education for the University of Montana Physician Associate Program. He earned his Master of Clinical Health Services degree from the University of Washington’s MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program in 2014 and has practiced in clinical cardiology ever since. He is also pursuing a Doctor of Education degree through the University of Montana’s School of Education.

Andy retired from the U.S. Army in 2023 after more than 20 years of service in the active-duty and National Guard components. Throughout his military career, he served as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant (Green Beret, 18D) and Special Operations Physician Assistant. He deployed multiple times around the world in support of combat and contingency operations.

Andy is an Associate of the American College of Cardiology (AACC), a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM), and a holder of the Diploma in Mountain Medicine (DiMM). In addition to teaching and practicing clinically, he is an active member of the Missoula and Ravalli County sheriffs’ tactical team. He also provides medical support and training to law enforcement professionals throughout Montana.

Andy and his wife, Brandi, have one son and live in the Bitterroot Valley with their horses and dogs. In his free time, Andy can often be found elk hunting, climbing, and skiing in Montana’s forests and mountains.

Director of Didactic Education and Assistant Professor

Email: elizabeth.ansley@mso.umt.edu

Elizabeth Ansley, MS, MPAS, PA-C, is an Assistant Professor in the University of Montana Physician Associate Program. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Applied Psychology from Montana State University before graduating from Idaho State University’s Physician Assistant Program in 2010. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Medical Science degree with a focus on education through The College of Idaho.

Ms. Ansley has practiced in several clinical specialties, including sleep medicine, internal medicine, and dermatology. During her 11 years in dermatology, she developed particular interests in skin cancer prevention and the management of acne, rosacea, and atopic dermatitis.

Passionate about educating future physician associates, Ms. Ansley is proud to be a founding faculty member of the University of Montana Physician Associate Program. Her academic interests include curriculum development, accreditation standards, and the thoughtful use of technology in education. She is a member of the Montana Academy of Physician Assistants (MTAPA), the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), and the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA).

Outside of work, Ms. Ansley enjoys spending time with her family and three dogs. She also loves hiking, fishing, skiing, and exploring the outdoors.

Clinical Education Recruitment and Retention Lead

Email: thomas.bryant@mso.umt.edu

Col. (Ret.) Thomas A. Bryant, MPAS, PA-C, is the Clinical Education Recruitment and Retention Lead for the University of Montana Physician Associate Program. A native of Summersville, West Virginia, he enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduating from high school in 1985. His early assignments included several years with special operations units, where he was introduced to military medicine. He later graduated summa cum laude from the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) in 1996.

Throughout his distinguished military career, Mr. Bryant held roles spanning leadership, primary care, and operational medicine. As he advanced through positions of increasing responsibility, he became a senior leader within the military healthcare system and served on a General Officer’s staff. A combat veteran of the Afghanistan campaign, he retired from Joint Base Lewis–McChord, Washington, in April 2023 after 38 years of honorable service.

Following his military retirement, Mr. Bryant moved to Montana and became the University of Montana’s first physician associate faculty member. He contributed to the development of the PA program within the Montana university system and later served as Director of Clinical Education. In that role, he built relationships with clinical partners throughout the region, helping ensure that students receive rigorous, comprehensive, and rewarding clinical training.

Mr. Bryant is a member of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), the Montana Academy of Physician Assistants (MTAPA), and the Society of Army Physician Assistants (SAPA). Professionally, he is committed to advancing excellence and professionalism within the PA community and expanding leadership opportunities for PAs across healthcare organizations.

Mr. Bryant is the proud father of three adult children and grandfather of two. Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor recreation, travel, music, and studying world languages and cultures.

Assistant Professor

Email: gina.caffrey@mso.umt.edu

Gina Caffrey, PA-C, APA-C, CDR, USCG (Ret.), is an Assistant Professor in the Master of Physician Associate Studies (MPAS) program at the University of Montana College of Health. She is a graduate of the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, with nearly a decade of clinical experience in primary care, aeromedicine, and occupational medicine.

Gina retired from the U.S. Coast Guard after 20 years of service. Before becoming a physician associate, she served as a deck watch officer and public affairs officer. Her assignments included serving aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle, America's Tall Ship, and Coast Guard Cutter Midgett; supporting a Navy Strike Group; and circumnavigating the globe. Her public affairs experience spanned the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and the Gulf of Mexico during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In her free time, she also trained as a doula, an experience that inspired her transition into healthcare.

Her clinical interests include women's health, primary care, addiction medicine, and preventive health As graduate faculty, Gina is committed to preparing the next generation of physician associates by fostering critical thinking, compassionate patient care, and professional leadership. She draws on her military and clinical experience to help students develop the knowledge, skills, and resilience needed to excel in today's evolving healthcare environment.

Outside of work, Gina enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, biking, and drawing. She is thrilled to call Montana home full-time following her military retirement.

Assistant Professor

Email: heidi.meierbachtol@mso.umt.edu

Heidi Meierbachtol, PA-C, is a board-certified Physician Assistant, native Montanan, and lifelong Missoulian with a deep commitment to serving her community. She practices in General Cardiology at Providence St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, where she cares for both outpatient and inpatient populations, including acute consults and ongoing follow-up. She also provides outreach services to rural Montana communities and contributes to initiatives focused on heart failure management and cardiovascular disease prevention.

Heidi earned her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Samuel Merritt University and her Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance (Exercise Science) from the University of Montana. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and maintains ACLS and BLS certifications. She is an active member of the Montana Academy of Physician Assistants, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, and the Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiology.

Outside of medicine, Heidi enjoys spending time with family and friends and taking full advantage of Montana's outdoors through running, skiing, and biking. She also enjoys sewing and gardening, activities that reflect her creativity and strong connection to place and the Missoula community.

Assistant Professor

Email: brittany.robertson@mso.umt.edu

Brittany Robertson, MMSc, PA-C, is an Assistant Professor in the Master of Physician Associate Studies (MPAS) program at the University of Montana College of Health. She has a clinical background in trauma, acute care surgery, and orthopedics. Originally from the Midwest, Brittany attended grade school in the greater Atlanta area before earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida. She then pursued her Master of Medical Science degree at the Yale University Physician Associate Program, graduating in 2013.

Brittany began her career at a level I trauma center in Portland, OR, where she honed her skills in trauma and acute care surgery. Her passion for the field led her to work in orthopedic surgery for several years before returning to trauma care at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, MT, where she worked for six years before joining the inaugural MPAS program.

When she's not teaching the next generation of healthcare providers, Brittany cherishes spending time with her family, including her husband, two young sons, and their beloved griffon. An avid outdoor enthusiast, she loves hiking, skiing, mountain biking, backpacking, and rafting in the beautiful Missoula area, which she's grateful to call home. She also enjoys painting and listening to endless hours of audiobooks. Gardening makes the list of hobbies, but she has yet to earn a green thumb!

Adjunct Professor

Email: lisa.hathaway@umontana.edu

Lisa Hathaway, MPAS, PA-C, RD, is a physician associate and registered dietitian with a diverse clinical background in family medicine, neurology, urgent care, community medicine, aesthetics, and integrative medicine. She brings a broad, patient-centered perspective to both clinical practice and PA education, with a particular interest in helping students develop strong clinical reasoning and approach patients as whole people.

Lisa earned a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Indiana State University, graduating summa cum laude. She earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Touro University Nevada in 2020, graduating magna cum laude, and was bestowed the Class Humanitarian Award by the faculty.

Her clinical experience includes outpatient neurology and post-stroke care, urgent care, occupational health, home health, street medicine, and FQHCs. Her time practicing street medicine in particular shaped her approach to clinical care. In environments where resources were limited and follow-up was difficult to arrange, her two hands, a stethoscope, and her brain were often the only tools she had. These experiences reinforced her belief in the value of a careful history, thorough physical examination, and critical thinking. She enjoys sharing her love of the physical exam with students. Her goal is to help students develop the confidence to trust their hands, recognize patterns, build thoughtful differentials, and use diagnostic testing to complement, not replace, the history and physical examination. 

Her clinical areas of expertise, aside from family medicine, include migraine neurology, post-stroke care and secondary stroke prevention, weight optimization, nutrition, aesthetic procedures, peri-menopausal care, and urgent care in resource-depleted settings.

Lisa currently practices in Montana with a focus on integrative family medicine and aesthetic medicine. Her dual training as a PA and registered dietitian allows her to incorporate medical management, nutrition, lifestyle, and preventive strategies into patient care.

When not wrangling her two young children, two cats, dog, and husband, Lisa can be found reading, cross-stitching, or jamming out to music. During our brief Montana summers, she enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, running, and floating down the river.

Program Operations Manager

Email: charlotte.dunn@mso.umt.edu

Charlotte Dunn is the Program Operations Manager for the University of Montana Physician Associate Program. Raised in Columbia Falls in northwestern Montana, she attended the University of Montana in Missoula after graduating from high school. Following a career break to raise her family, Ms. Dunn spent more than 10 years as a high school educator in southwestern Washington, where she focused on supporting students at risk of academic failure.

While in Washington, Ms. Dunn advocated for changes to teacher-credentialing laws, including the creation of an expedited pathway for experienced instructional paraeducators with college backgrounds to become certified teachers. The successful initiative helped address Washington’s shortage of qualified teachers and was subsequently adopted by several other states.

Ms. Dunn returned home to Montana in 2024 and became the first administrative professional for the University of Montana Physician Associate Program. In this role, she has played an integral part in establishing the first PA program within the Montana university system.

Ms. Dunn serves as secretary and a senator on the University's Staff Senate. She is also a member of the National Education Association (NEA), the Montana Academy of Physician Assistants (MTAPA), and the American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP). Her professional interests center on promoting student success and well-being and expanding access to advanced educational opportunities and free mental health services.

Ms. Dunn and her husband live in the Bitterroot Valley with their two dogs and are the proud parents of five adult children and one granddaughter. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, quilting, painting, attending concerts, and cheering on her beloved Griz football team.

Financial Manager and Admissions Coordinator

Email: debora.simmons@umontana.edu

Debora Simmons is the Financial Manager for the University of Montana's School of Physician Assistant Studies. She grew up in Wenatchee, Washington, and attended Whitworth University (formerly Whitworth College) in Spokane, where she studied business with an emphasis in accounting. After moving to Montana with her husband in 1991, she began working at the University of Montana, spending most of her career in fiscal and office management with the Bureau of Business and Economic Research and recently at the MT Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit.

She and her husband are proud parents of a grown son. Her free time is spent with her husband and their two dogs. Some of her hobbies include reading, hiking, fishing, crocheting, and traveling.

Clinical Education Coordinator

Email: ellie.hainsworth@mso.umt.edu

Ellie Hainsworth serves as the Clinical Education Coordinator for the University of Montana's Physician Associate Program. Originally from Emory, Virginia, in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, she attended Juniata College in central Pennsylvania, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology with concentrations in Mathematics and Sexual Violence Prevention.

After graduating, Ellie headed west to Billings, Montana, where she began her career as the Health Center Manager at the Billings Planned Parenthood clinic. During this role, she developed a deep passion for healthcare and supporting patients and providers alike.

Ellie later relocated to Missoula with her husband, their beloved senior hound dog, and mischievous cat to join the University of Montana's Physician Associate Program. In her role as Clinical Education Coordinator, she supports students and clinical partners while helping to coordinate the clinical education experience.

Outside of work, Ellie enjoys making the most of Montana's outdoors through skiing, biking, and floating local rivers. More recently, she has taken up sewing and crocheting as creative outlets.