Jim Hammond shaped the JMU Physician Assistant program

James “Jim” Hammond passed away on Friday, February 26, 2026 in Michigan.

Jim embodied the very best of the physician assistant (PA) profession—service, humility, leadership, and a lifelong commitment to educational excellence. As the founding program director of the James Madison University Physician Assistant Program, serving from 1997 to 2013, Jim built far more than a program or a curriculum; he built a community of learning and compassion that continues to shape a generation of clinicians.

Jim’s distinguished career in PA education spanned more than three decades, during which he became nationally recognized. From 1988 to 1997, he held multiple leadership positions with the Association of Physician Assistant Programs (now PAEA) - including Secretary, Treasurer, and President - where his influence helped strengthen the foundation of PA education nationwide.

His service extended deeply into accreditation and quality assurance. For over thirty years, Jim participated in or led accreditation site visits for PA programs, later serving as a Commissioner (2007–2013) and Chairperson (2010–2011) of the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC‑PA). Even after his official tenure ended, he continued contributing to accreditation as an independent contractor through 2018, exemplifying his unwavering dedication to program excellence.

Before arriving at JMU, Jim served on the faculty at Western Michigan University for nearly twenty years, including time as program director. His professional journey took root in Michigan and Kentucky, where he practiced clinically in family medicine, community health, and the Veterans Affairs system—experiences that grounded him in the needs of real patients and informed the empathy he brought to education.

At JMU, Jim's impact is felt daily—in the program’s culture, its commitment to excellence, and the many alumni whose careers were shaped by his leadership. His work helped solidify JMU as a respected and student‑centered PA program, one defined by integrity, rigor, and compassion.

Beyond titles and accomplishments, Jim will be remembered for his kindness, humility, and steadfast belief in the potential of every student. His legacy lives on through the faculty he mentored, the programs he strengthened, and the patients cared for by the clinicians he trained.  His life’s work made a lasting difference—not only to James Madison University, but to the PA profession he helped build and sustain.

Thank you, Jim.