Say Yes: Dr. Chileatha Wynn on Embracing Opportunities

This episode will introduce you to Dr. Chileatha Wynn, who demonstrates the power of saying "yes" whenever possible and the benefits it has had on her life as a PA, a leader, and the value of advocacy. 

Transcript

Chileatha Wynn DMSc and Bre Garbas

[00:00:00] 

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: Welcome to Building Bridges. This is a podcast from the Butler University, doctor of Medical Science Bridge Program. And I'm your host today, Bre Garbas.

we are so glad that you are here. This podcast, we are all about connection. We're bringing together voices from across healthcare, education, leadership, and beyond. Whether you are a practicing pa, a student, an educator, or someone passionate about where healthcare is headed, and let's face it, there are lots of places that we can go today.

This space is for you. Today we are joined by Dr. Chileatha Wynn. From a developing hybrid program, PA program at South University out of High Point, North Carolina, and I can't wait until you learn more about her and what she does. Welcome Dr. Wynn. 

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: I'm very happy to be here.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: A little bit about our background, so, we both have a personal connection and I'm super glad that you, were agreeable to join me today. I was absolutely blessed to work with Dr. Wynn in a previous institution, and we were both able to discover a shared love for moving PA education out of the traditional classroom [00:01:00] environment.

And into the more hybrid realm, and her passion and focus for student success was absolutely beyond inspiring, and I hope today you are as motivated by her as I have been. I'd like to give everyone a brief overview of Dr. Winn's background and accomplishments. She has had a long established history as a physician, associate and PA educator practicing since 2005, which is, interestingly enough the same year that I graduated.

So we have, another little connection there. started at click. but when we tell students that there's either that blank stare or, sometimes they flinch, which is always one of those, oh, I'm not that. Oh wait, I am that old. Actually, that's

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Right. Two full decades. 

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: oh, two full decades.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: it's a good time.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: decades. We have been in this for decades, which I mean, it's just, we're we're maturing.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: That's right.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: Yeah.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Seasoned.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: seasoned, like, really good cheddar, aged cheddar.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: That's right.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: And now you started at the [00:02:00] Cleveland Clinic and transplant.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Correct. 

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: And you've also been the lead, provider in an urgent care, and currently you have a position as the vice president on the Transitions Life Care board of directors.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Yes.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: clinically, you have had an incredible background.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Yeah, I've been really lucky to do a lot of different things. I've had a lot of interest in, been able to really pivot at times. You know, life changes, right? We have different needs, and that's one of the, I think, most beautiful things about this profession is that we don't have to go back, and do more training or anything different to be able to pivot, as our interest and our life needs. it's really been a privilege being, a PA for all these years. and having all the different experiences that I've had.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: I think one [00:03:00] of the best parts about our profession is that quick ability to say, I have had this season in my life and I've loved what I've done, but I think now I am interested in. In either I choose to change professions or sometimes something happens in your life season where you have to move on to another area for whatever reason.

so as an educator, Dr. Wynn has been so dedicated to the success of our next generation of PA students. now you started at Campbell.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: correct.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: Then moved into a leadership role at, this is the director of clinical education at UNC Chapel Hill. I started at University of Florida and one of the things that stood out to me right away was how hard our clinical director was working from day one.

I don't think I met our clinical director until something around week three because they were always, always, running around to a clinical year fire or finding a site or something. So, as a

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: [00:04:00] the heart.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: no, and as that, was that your first, leadership position in.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: It was, pseudo right. So at Campbell, I kind of felt like I led a bit, there was no formal title, but I did, direct clinical medicine, which was kind of. The center of the curriculum in the first year, and a lot of things were built from there and we know how important clinical medicine is. and that course and the foundational, part of PA education. So I did that there. when I started out at UNCI was actually on the didactic side as well. And, before too long due to some, other shifts in roles wound up in that DCE position and was almost voluntold. 

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: That never happens in PA education ever, 

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: but it was wonderful. and I too [00:05:00] kind of was of the same opinion, like, wow, that, you know, they. Work really hard. This seems. Really intense. but it was a really rewarding experience in transition and I felt like, you know, especially having started my career at the Cleveland Clinic, which is, is, you know, a huge teaching institution and that is just kind of. into the fabric of being a provider, you know, at an institution like that. So I'd always, been some sort of clinical instructor, from the very beginning of my time as a pa. So when I moved into the DCE role, it felt very natural to me. You know, just kind of combining clinic, with the learning experience and talk to my husband about it and, and say, really my job is, is like as a matchmaker at this point. Like I put really good students, in really good clinical situations and make matches. So, it was something that I [00:06:00] didn't put my hand up for initially. but I'm really glad now in hindsight that I did accept that challenge.

It was a great experience.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: I think that's probably one of the coolest things about leadership roles is that frequently the best leadership roles aren't the ones that we plan for. They're the ones that we get asked to take on. They're the ones that someone says, Hey, I see you in this role, or I have a desperate need and you're the body that happens to be in front of me right now, so I'm gonna need you to do it, for X amount of time.

And you're like, well, okay, that sounds,

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: sure.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: either that sounds awesome because that's what you know to say, or it sounds like something I can do. And then you find that it actually is a pretty neat experience.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: and I, there was a very successful person at UNC before their retirement and they were reflecting on their career. And they [00:07:00] were asked, what advice would you give, to those leaders that are up and coming or those considering leadership his advice was profound for me. that was that you just say, yes. and often we're trying to find our no, because, we're always operating with so little bandwidth. But his response was that he'd been offered, roles and had been in situations where, he felt stretched or he didn't necessarily think that he had the skillset or the interest to do something. But he was approached and asked because there was a need, or exactly like you said, because someone saw him doing something that he maybe didn't envision for himself, he felt that that was one of his keys to success over his career when he was approached with those challenges and those promotions, even if he didn't feel [00:08:00] comfortable, He said yes most of the time. I thought that that was very interesting. Often we're so intentional and fixed on our trajectory finding certain opportunities or being really committed to a certain kind of step-wise approach to our career. and often the things that fit the best and work well, are things that you didn't plan for yourself.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: That is scarily true the things that you plan on. So we set out this path that it's gonna be this way, and, we tell our students that, But I think things that we easily forget when we're looking at our own careers. So thank you so much for sharing that.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Scary.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: Scarily accurate. And now you are the founding PA director at a hybrid program in High Point out of South University. How did that come to be?

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Oh wow. Super exciting. I am, so honored to have this [00:09:00] role and, you know, every day that. I continue to build and work with my leadership team, I think, the more solidified and sure I am of where I am. So it, it's funny 'cause I was transitioning at this time, from one institution to another and really, trying to determine what I wanted to do next, but also. Really committed to being true to my vision for my leadership. often we find ourselves in situations where the people that we're working for working with, they don't necessarily see for us what we see for ourselves. I had an idea what I wanted my impact to be. but didn't feel that I was fulfilling all of those things in the role where I was working. I actually had a friend, that I had done [00:10:00] some previous work with and met at the state academy. We'd, we'd done some committee worked together, and she and I stayed in touch. And she reached out and told me that there was, a program director role available that that, you know, was gonna be the, the first hybrid in North Carolina. and that I would be a good fit for it. I, was kind of like, huh, you know, I just, 

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: know.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: You know, I'm not sure. I said, okay, so send me the link, and I'll apply. she is a wonderful colleague and has been a mentor in a lot of ways. And so, you know, I'm like, if she sends it to me, you know, really just out of respect, I'll go ahead and apply. so, You know, she sent the link. I went on, I read some about the institution and about the opportunity, and got interested and, went ahead and applied. it [00:11:00] didn't take long. It was like within a day or two I'd heard from them and then been set up, to speak with the chair of the department. and after experiencing her energy and the leadership's vision for this program, you know, that was it. I was sold. and, went through the formal process and thankfully was offered the role, and started a couple months ago and it's been great so far.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: So you took the advice from the original UNC guy that, hey. if a role falls towards you

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: right.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: instead of running away from the fall, jump toward it, jump into this role and it worked out for you. So what are some of the alignment between their vision and your vision for leadership?

Can you talk a little bit about your leadership vision?

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Yeah. So one thing, that the institution really prides itself on with its other programs, and this one will be no [00:12:00] different, is that. They produce practice ready clinicians. 

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: It's, I.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: love that. That really the focus on making sure that the education meets the demands of. The workforce, right.

Being in touch with the community. they believe in students having some clinical experiences as early as the didactic year, you know, right

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: I.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: the bat. Oh yeah. Right off the bat. Integrating into the community and into the healthcare systems. the thing that's really special about our hybrid.

Build and what we're envisioning really being able to offer a PA education to those who have life circumstances where they can't pick up and move to another area where a program may be. So those that maybe have. competing obligations if they're [00:13:00] maybe taking care of a loved one, and can't move or have a family. those students who maybe live in very rural areas where there aren't brick and mortar programs, or really committed to working. In an underserved area. We want to provide the education so they can give back immediately to the communities where they are. So, you know, hearing that kind of what the vision was and, you know, the target type of student for the program, that really resonated with me. and their mission and vision for what they wanna do. really aligned with. My values, in what I see next for myself in my career.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: I think that is so important that we have so many amazing people out there ready to contribute to healthcare and ready to become amazing PAs. But they are limited, right? They're limited by financial circumstances or [00:14:00] geographic circumstances. And, you know, COVID was a challenging time.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Yeah.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: But it taught us a lot of good things because out of adversity we look for positivity. 

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Absolutely

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: something that came from it that was a positive thing was that we don't have to have students physically in a classroom five days a week from early morning to evening. So we know that hybrid, and that's something I think that we both were able to find together when we were teaching, at our prior institution, was that these students can be taught and they can be taught.

Just as well as if they were sitting in front of us all the time. So, that's, that's something I truly believe is the wave of the future for PA education and we can make such a difference for students that wouldn't be your, traditional applicant, and are amazing students, deserving worthy students.

So I think that, We can have a little transition over to something else that is [00:15:00] just incredible about you with all your hours of free time starting up this PA program, which I'm sure you have a lot of spare time. Occasionally maybe you have dinner once in a while.

Occasionally you have lunch, most likely at your desk when you're doing all of the ARC paperwork, right? you are such an advocate for PA practice and advocacy and legislation, and you have been a regular presence at the state legislature in moving pa practice forward, as well as delegate for the North Carolina Academy.

and wonderful news, you have just been made the president elect, elected president for the 2026 year, and you will be the acting president for 2027 for the North Carolina Academy. So many congratulations on that amazing accomplishment. Woo hoo.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Yeah,

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: women doing strong women things. So how, I mean, if I woke up tomorrow morning and said, I really think I'd like to go to the Florida Capitol and just have some words [00:16:00] with the legislative body, I probably, I mean, I don't know that I'd get very far just driving up to Tallahassee and knocking on the door.

So how did all of this come about for those people that are hanging out thinking, I really wanna get involved with legislation, but I really don't know what I'm doing. Tell me about that journey.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Wow. Bri, I think you know the principle. Of advocacy is that we are the change that we wanna see, right? And, you know, having been in this profession for 20 years, just to see the movement already. As far as healthcare is concerned, we're a fairly young profession. I remember starting out and walking into rooms and introducing myself and having patients ask me what the difference was between my job and a medical assistant.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: yes.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Folks not even knowing. And this is not like in big hospital systems, people not having a clue[00:17:00] 

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: Oh yeah.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: And I feel very privileged to have. Been early in my career and having leadership around me, that was a huge part, of my development. Like Sharon Luke, who was my program

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: Sharon, Luke, what a powerful person. you were blessed.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Jos Pagle. Who was the administrator, at Cleveland Clinic at the time that I went through school and did rotations there and was hired there. and they were always such staunch advocators and movers and shakers throughout the profession. it just felt like. The next thing to do it's like clinical teaching you. It's just a part of being in the profession. in very early going in, I knew I wanted to give [00:18:00] back. I knew I wanted to be a part of continuing to move, our profession forward and really realize all the things that it could be. when I joined N-C-A-P-A I transitioned to full-time education, full-time higher ed. So having those connections being plugged in at the state level. our amazing CEO Emily Adams, who Is such an advocate for the profession, and really understanding advocacy in a very sophisticated way. that on top of all the connectedness, I really think was just a perfect storm, for producing a really good culture of advocacy, in our group and in our state. I would say, the roots of my interest in advocacy probably go all the way back to being in PA school [00:19:00] and just being surrounded by movers and shakers. the action and the, wonderful legislative wins that have taken place the most recent. HB 67, the optimal team practice that went through here recently, in North Carolina has really just been the culmination of bunch of really dedicated professionals coming together, at the right time in speaking with one voice.

it's been amazing to be a part of. Thanks.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: congratulations on HB 67. That was a fantastic win. so you know, if you wanna move states and come on down to Florida, you can help us with that next, that would be amazing. But You'll be busy up in North Carolina.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: I'll be immediate past, president in 28, so it'll

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: Okay,

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: It would have

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: so

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Yeah.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: come on down to Florida. I'm gonna ask you, if you could leave our listeners with one, one piece of advice, call to action, [00:20:00] piece of advice, whether it's PA education, healthcare advocacy, what would your y'all need to do this?

What would it be?

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: Yeah. That is a great question. I would say stay true to your calling.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: It's good.

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: we have, you know, and it changes, right? Like it changes sometimes where we need to be and, and where, um, we need to put our energy and who we need to align with. I would say that stay true to what you feel called to do.

And I, I've believed all of the 20 years that, that I've been a pa that this has been a calling, not just a job or a career, the energy that you have to bring, the passion, the intention, the grit that you have to have to continue to move through some of the situations that you find yourself in. You really have to [00:21:00] understand that you're called to do the work. And whatever that may be, whether you feel led as a clinician to advocate for patients and work full-time clinically at the bedside, or if you feel the desire or the drive to move into leadership and make changes at institutional or state or national levels. or if you feel the drive for education or advocacy in, making deposits into the future of the profession and helping those who want to take this path. just have to be true to that and find those places, those spaces, the people, that are a mission match and that align with what you see yourself doing. sometimes that looks like. Moving a year here, a couple of years there, really having [00:22:00] faith in the process, and continuing to put yourself out there. if I were to say anything, I would say just stay true to your calling. things will open up if you feel that there is a need and you wanna meet it and you're passionate about it, there's a reason. 

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: I love it. 

chileatha-wynn--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104537: That's right.

bre-garbas--she-her-_1_09-19-2025_104536: Dr. Wynn, thank you so much for being here today and taking time to speak with us. it was fantastic having this conversation. Our listeners keep making connections. I hope you heard that in the. Conversation today that reaching out to others, you know, the strength in numbers or strength in joining and reaching out to people.

We hope to connect with you again soon and we hope you enjoyed this podcast.