Physician Assistant Studies Faculty & Staff
Executive Director and Program Director, J. Barton Gillum, D.Sc.
Dr. J. Barton Gillum is an experienced educator and academic leader in physician assistant and pre-medical education. He currently serves as Executive Director and Program Director of the Physician Assistant Program at Kean University, where he oversees program leadership, curriculum development, and student success initiatives.
From 2018 to 2024, Dr. Gillum directed The George Washington University’s Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medicine Program, followed by his role as Program Director and Assistant Professor for GW’s Physician Assistant Program from 2024 to 2025. Throughout his academic career, he has taught a wide range of courses, including Current Topics in Healthcare, Medical Terminology, and Clinical Specialties, and has facilitated integration courses for PA students.
His scholarly interests include point-of-care ultrasound and pathways to healthcare careers for pre-PA and pre-medical students. He is a peer reviewer for leading PA journals and has served in national leadership roles, including co-chairing the advisory committee for the PostbacCAS centralized application service.
Dr. Gillum is committed to advancing healthcare education through innovation, collaboration, and a strong focus on student success.
Director of Didactic Education, Wendy A. Ritch, M.A., MTS
Wendy Ritch earned her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College in Politics and Religion, her MTS from Harvard University in Theology and Women’s Studies in Religion, and her M.A. from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in Political/Feminist/Queer Theory and American Politics. She was completing her Ph.D. in Urban Systems with a focus on urban health in a joint program at Rutgers and NJIT; however, the program closed before Wendy finished her dissertation. Wendy has worked as a faculty member and an administrator in academic health sciences since 1997. She has a background in research, teaching, grant writing, program evaluation, student learning assessment, accreditation, all-hazards preparedness, administration, and change management. Wendy is also a musician, visual artist, and tennis player/fan.
Wendy's research interests include health policy, population health, social drivers of health, LGBTQ+ health equity, intersectionality, domestic migration of LGBTQ+ populations, and cultural competence education for health professionals. Wendy is the founding Director of Didactic Education for Kean's PA Program. She teaches the non-clinical topics that ARC-PA requires of their accredited programs, as well as a research series that takes students from the basics of epidemiology, biostatistics, research methods, and evidence-based medicine through the completion of an original group research project that is presented at two conferences and that may be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. Wendy enjoys being an agent of change and is committed to health equity for all.
Medical Director, Dmitriy Zelikson, DO
Providing compassionate patient care and mentoring future healthcare providers are Dr. Zelikson's driving forces. He believes these are the building blocks for a successful and rewarding career in medicine. After all, doctor in Latin means “teacher.”
Since graduating residency and becoming a board certified Emergency Medicine physician, Zelikson has been involved in academics as a preceptor to residents and medical students, providing them with educational guidance. He's also an examiner for American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Physicians. His professional interests include practice of evidence based medicine, community education and student development.
Through his role as a Medical Director at Kean University’s Physician Assistant Program, I have the honor to help educate the next generation of health care providers. The program strives to provide every student with a solid foundation for limitless career opportunities and professional growth. He hopes that together we can achieve our highest aspirations.
Director of Clinical Education, Ewa Keil, M.S., PA-C
Ewa Keil, MS, PA-C has been practicing as a Physician Assistant (PA) since 2005. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Philadelphia University (now Jefferson University) in 2003 and 2005 respectively. She has expertise in a variety of fields including Emergency Medicine, Urgent Care, Interventional Pain Management, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry), and Occupational Medicine. She brings a wealth of clinical experience along with a strong background in mentoring and as a clinical preceptor. She believes that PAs are vital to the future of healthcare and is eager to pass on her enthusiasm for medicine and patient care. Her goal is to inspire her students to become empathetic, skilled, and compassionate providers.
Michael Teehan, DMSc, PA-C, Assistant Professor
Dr. Michael Teehan is a board-certified Physician Assistant with over eight years of experience in emergency and urgent care medicine. He earned his Doctor of Medical Science from the University of Lynchburg, a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Mercy College, and a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies from Monmouth University.
Dr. Teehan’s clinical background includes advanced training in cardiothoracic and neurosurgical critical care and emergency medicine, as well as leadership as an Assistant Medical Director, where he oversaw clinical operations, provider development, and quality improvement initiatives across a multiunit practice in New Jersey.
Since 2018, Dr. Teehan has taught in both traditional and hybrid undergraduate courses, with a particular focus on global and community health. His academic interests center on obesity medicine, metabolic health, and systems-based clinical reasoning. He also holds a Certificate of Advanced Education in Obesity Medicine and is an active member of the Obesity Medicine Association, the American Academy of Physician Associates, and the New Jersey State Society of Physician Assistants.
Passionate about mentoring future physician associates, Dr. Teehan is dedicated to combining evidence-based medicine with compassionate, patient-centered care.
Vanessa Disla, M.S., PA-C, Assistant Professor
Vanessa Disla has been practicing as a cardiac surgery physician assistant since 2007. She also spent 3 years working in reconstructive surgery. She believes that strong training will shape strong future providers. Bringing the focus and intensity of surgery to teaching, she looks forward to shaping the next generation of physician assistants.
She obtained her Bachelor’s degree from NYU and her Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant studies at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.