Physician Assistant Program - Fort Lauderdale
Faculty and Staff
Melissa Coffman, MPA, PA-C
Professor Coffman joined the Nova Southeastern University's Physician Assistant Program in August 2004. At NSU, she served as the course coordinator for the three-semester Physical Diagnosis course series before transitioning to roles as the Assistant Clinical Director and the Assistant Director / Associate Chair. She lectures in a wide range of clinical and professional topics and has served on the curriculum committee, admissions committee and continuing medical education committee for the Physician Assistant Program. She is also an active participant on the NSU Council on Continuing Medical Education. Professor Coffman currently holds the position of Program Director and Department Chair for the Physician Assistant Program.
Professor Coffman graduated from the Long Island University/Brooklyn Hospital Center Physician Assistant Program in 1997. After graduation, she practiced clinically in Interventional Cardiology at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York while pursuing her Master's Degree in Public Administration at New York University.
In 2000, Mrs. Coffman entered the field of health education at Pace University-Lenox Hill Hospital's Physician Assistant Program in New York City. At Pace University, Melissa served as an Associate Director and Senior Clinical Coordinator, as well as being the course director for physical diagnosis and clinical procedure skills. During this time, she also worked per-diem at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, NY in the field of Internal Medicine.
Professor Coffman feels blessed to have a career that involves her two passions; medicine and teaching. She is dedicated to seeking various ways to further develop her skills. She has been involved in the Physician Assistant Education Association's Education Committee and well as an adjunct online instructor in Human Diseases and Conditions for Kaplan University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in education with a concentration in health care education and curriculum development, and looks forward to focusing her research on the enhancement of patient education and counseling skills in physician assistant students.
Mrs. Coffman resides in Plantation, Florida where she enjoys reading, cooking, gardening and most of all, spending time with her family.