Michelle Lea

Michelle Lea joins the University of Bridgeport after completing a 20-year career with the United States Navy. Michelle has 14-years of experience as a Physician Assistant and specializes in emergency medicine. She graduated from the Interservice Physician Assistant Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in 2010.
As a Navy Physician Assistant, she has served at multiple locations globally. In 2011, she deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She was then hand-selected as a member of the White House Medical Unit under the Obama administration. She served as the Medical Officer for Camp David and provided primary and acute care for the President, Vice-President, and their families.
Michelle later completed an 18-month Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant (EMPA) Fellowship at the Naval Medical Center San Diego. Upon completion of this program, she was named Director of the Navy EMPA Fellowship. She now works clinically at Danbury Hospital Emergency Department.
Michelle joined the University of Bridgeport PAI in 2021, as the Coordinator of Clinical Education. After a short hiatus, she has returned as the Director of Clinical Education. She is ecstatic to once again work and mentor the program’s motivated students and clinical affiliates.