Susan LeLacheur Susan LeLacheur
Professor of Physician Assistant Studies

Office Phone: (202)994-6831
Email: Email
Department: Physician Assistant Studies

Education

  • AA, Simon's Rock College of Bard, 1975
  • BS, George Washington University, 1980
  • BS, Howard University, 1982
  • MPH, George Washington University, 1989
  • DrPH, George Washington University, 2008

Biography

Susan LeLacheur is a professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dr. LeLacheur is a Distinguished Fellow in the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). She has more than 35 years of clinical experience in primary care, HIV/AIDS, and infectious disease. She is certified as an HIV Specialist by the American Academy of HIV Medicine and is among the founding members of the Physician Assistant AIDS Network of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Her clinical work includes over 30 years of practice in primary and HIV care.  

Dr. LeLacheur’s research interest is in behavioral aspects of patient care and the reduction of bias and stereotyping in the clinical encounter. She has written and presented widely on infectious disease topics, health disparities, bias and stereotyping and the patient-provider interaction. She has served in leadership roles in multiple professional organizations, including the Physician Assistant Education Association and the American Academy of Physician Assistants. LeLacheur also serves as a peer reviewer for several professional publications, including JAAPA, Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, Journal of Physician Assistant Education, Clinician Review, and Clinical Advisor.

Dr. LeLacheur’s career has been devoted to providing high quality patient-centered care to people from disenfranchised populations, improving primary care for people with HIV, and educating and inspiring the next generation of PAs to do likewise in all areas of clinical practice.

 

Programs

  • Physician Assistant

Publications

Kilstrom J, Neary S, Roman C, LeLacheur S, Garruba C, Van Rhee J. Factors Influencing PA Student Attrition Rates. J Physician Assist Educ. 2022; 33(4): 341-345.

Collett D, Wright KA, Woltenberg L, Nagasawa PR, LeLacheur SF. Student Performance Metrics and the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam®: A 3 - Year Multi - Institutional PANCE Study. J Physician Assist Educ. 2022; 33(4):296-301.

Hoover EB, Butaney B, LeLacheur S, Straker H, Bernard K, Coplan B, Carr C, Blesse-Hampton L, Naidu A. Wellness in Physician Assistant Education: Exploring Mindfulness, Well-Being, and Stress, J Physician Assist Educ. 2022; 33(2): 107-113

Hoover E, Butaney B, Bernard K, Coplan B, LeLacheur S, Straker H, Carr C, Blesse-Hampton L, Naidu A, LaRue A. Comparing the Effectiveness of Virtual and In-person Delivery of Mindfulness-based Skills Within Healthcare Curriculums. Med.Sci.Educ. 2022; 32, 627–640. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-022-01554-5

LeLacheur S, Bester V, Huggins-Oxendine L, Bradley-Guidry C, Ryujin D, Samuels K, Maldonado A, Bowen D, Himmerick K, Minority Physician Assistant Faculty: A Phenomenological Assessment of Factors Leading to Retention in the Faculty Role, (accepted for publication J Physician Assist Educ. 2019).

DiBaise M, Tshuma L, Ryujin D, LeLacheur, SF. A Descriptive Study of Perceived Discrimination, Harassment and Abuse in Physician Assistant Education. J Physician Assist Educ. 2018; 29(2): 77-85.

LeLacheur SF. (invited submission) HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis in Women, NEJM Journal Watch, Women’s Health, Feature Article, online publication 2018. Link

LeLacheur, SF. Gastroenterology, LeLacheur, SF. Gastroenterology, AAPA Comprehensive Review for the Certification and Recertification Examinations, 6th Ed., Williams & Wilkins, 2018, revised from prior editions published 1999, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2015 (book chapter)

DiBaise, M., Tshuma, L., Ryujin, D., LeLacheur, SF, A Descriptive Study of Perceived Discrimination, Harassment and Abuse in Physician Assistant Education. Accepted for publication, Journal of Physician Assistant Education 2018 (Peer Reviewed Papers)

LeLacheur, SF. Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Physician Assistant, a Guide to Clinical Practice, July 2017 (Book Chapter)

LeLacheur, SF. Cultural Competence, Physician Assistant, a Guide to Clinical Practice, July 2017 (Book Chapter)

LeLacheur, SF. Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Physician Assistant, a Guide to Clinical Practice, July 2017 (book chapter)

LeLacheur, SF. Cultural Competence, Physician Assistant, a Guide to Clinical Practice, July 2017, 5th Ed., Williams & Wilkins, 2013, revised from prior editions published 1999, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2014 & 2017

“A Phenomenological Assessment of Minority Faculty Retention.” Research presentation with SD. Ryujin and K. Samuels, Physician Assistant Education Association Annual Education Forum, Denver, CO, October 2017 (peer reviewed)

“A Descriptive Study of Perceived Discrimination, Harassment and Abuse in Physician Assistant Education.” Poster presentation with M. DiBaise, L. Tshuma, D. Ryujin, and S. LeLacheur, American Academy of Physician Assistants National Conference, Las Vegas, NV, May, 2017. Research presentation Physician Assistant Education Association Annual Education Forum, Denver, CO, October 2017 (peer reviewed)

O’Brian, TJ, LeLacheur, SF, Ward, C, Lee, NH, Callier, S, Harralson, AF, Impact of a Personal CYP2D6 Testing Workshop on Physician Assistant Student Attitudes Toward Pharmacogenetics. Pharmacogenomics, 17(4), 2016 (Peer Reviewed Papers)

LeLacheur, SF, Barnett, JS, Straker, HO. Race, Ethnicity, and the Physician Assistant Profession, Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, 28(10):41-45, 2015 (Peer Reviewed Papers)

Ekmekci, O., Sheingold, B., Plack, M., LeLacheur, S., Halvaksz, J., Lewis, K., Schlumpf, K., Greenberg, L. Assessing Performance and Learning in Interprofessional Health Care Teams, Journal of Allied Health, 44(4):252-259, 2015 (Peer Reviewed Papers)

LeLacheur, SF. HIV Infection: What Primary Care Clinicians Need to Know. Clinician Reviews, 24(5):38-48, 2014

Lundberg, E, Jablonover, R, Long, Y, LeLacheur, S, Stegnaro-Green, A. Assessment of Competency in Electrocardiogram Interpretation of Graduating Physician Assistant Students. Journal of Physician Assistant Education, 24(4):15-18, 2013 (Peer Reviewed Papers)

Ekmekci, O, Plack, M, LeLacheur, S, Pintz, C, Halvaksz, J, Bocchino, J. Integrating Executive Coaching and Simulation to Promote Interprofessional Education of Health Care Students. Journal of Allied Health, 42(1):17-24 2013 (Peer Reviewed Papers)

LeLacheur, SF. Gastroenterology, AAPA Comprehensive Review for the Certification and Recertification Examinations, 5th Ed., Williams & Wilkins, 2013, revised from prior editions published 1999, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2014 & 2017 (Book Chapter)

Industry Relationships and Collaborations

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported a financial interest with the health care related companies listed below. These relations have been reported to the University and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts.

  • None