Decades of Dedication: Honoring Retiring PA Faculty at Samuel Merritt University

SMU is bidding farewell to esteemed faculty members from its Physician Assistant (PA) program. In 1999, Samuel Merritt University established the first master’s degree program for physician assistants in the western United States and each of these distinguished individuals has significantly contributed to the institution’s legacy of academic excellence and student success. With a combined total of over 100 years of service, these leaders have left an indelible mark on the SMU community and the broader healthcare landscape.  

Joy Meier  

Joy Meier retired on August 24, 2024, after more than two decades of dedication to the PA program at SMU. Joy joined the faculty in 2001 as an Adjunct Assistant Professor and became principal faculty in 2021. She has contributed lectures on topics such as antimicrobials, cardiovascular drugs, mental health drugs, chemotherapeutics, and autonomic nervous system drugs. In her role as faculty, she was instrumental in developing a systematic approach to analysis of clinical year assessment data. Dr. Meier’s career in Veterans Affairs, spanning various periods over 48 years and across locations from Wisconsin to California, culminated in her completion of the Leadership Veterans Affairs (LVA) program in 2019. In her role at SMU, Dr. Meier has mentored countless students and supported the development of the PA program's pharmacology curriculum.  

Lorraine Petti 

Lorraine Petti will retire on December 14, 2024, after 25 years of dedicated service. Professor Petti joined the SMU PA Program in 1999 as Clinical Coordinator and has since held every position in the department, including serving as Program Director from 2004-2008 and Faculty Organization President. With more than 30 years of clinical experience in Emergency Medicine, Lorraine also recently retired from her role as Senior Physician Assistant at UCSF’s Emergency Department. She has a keen interest in the implementation and integration of simulation into all phases of health science curricula and has expanded the use of classroom simulation in several clinical medicine-based courses in the PA Department. Her contributions have been pivotal in enhancing the educational experience for PA students at SMU.  

Cecily Reeves 

After 30 years of service, Cecily Reeves will retire on December 14, 2024. Dr. Reeves has been a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Physician Assistant (PA) since 1980, with clinical practice experience in emergency medicine, family practice, aesthetic medicine, and infectious diseases. She has dedicated more than a decade to serving transgender and gender-fluid patients in the California prison system and the Bay Area community. Dr. Reeves’s academic career includes various administrative positions as program director and Chair of multiple departments at SMU, tenure as President of the Faculty Organization, and Chair of the School of Nursing. Her visionary leadership and tireless commitment to advancing healthcare education have made her a respected and influential figure within the university. 

Lauri Paolinetti 

Lauri Paolinetti, who plans to retire in 2025, has been with SMU for 25 years. She worked as an Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant at Highland Hospital, Alameda County’s Level 1 Trauma Center in Oakland, for 30 years until her retirement in March 2019. Professor Paolinetti has been a principal faculty member in the SMU PA Program since 2001 and contributed to the establishment of the PA program, eventually having a role on its steering committee. She serves as the Instructor of Record for the Radiology and Emergency Medicine courses while also contributing to other courses in the curriculum. She is also a certified Forensic Examiner specializing in sexual assault cases and has served as an expert witness in Alameda County. Additionally, she is a co-author of three published studies regarding the examination findings in sexual assault survivors. Professor Paolinetti has been a clinical instructor and preceptor in Emergency Medicine since 1995 and as a California native has been an Oakland community member since 1985. 

The contributions of these retiring faculty members extend far beyond the classroom. They have served as mentors, role models, and advocates for the healthcare profession, shaping the lives of students, alumni, and the entire SMU community. As we celebrate their careers and wish them well in their retirement, we also recognize the lasting legacy they leave behind.