Get to know two of our new faculty members! Meet Kelly Conner, PhD ’03, PA-C ’16, and Delaney Drechsler, PA-C ‘21.

Kelly Conner 5 Fast Facts

A man and a woman standing in front of a large statue that is wearing a top hat.
  1. Where did you complete your undergraduate and graduate degrees?
    Undergrad Appalachian State University (Summa Cum Laude) BS in Biology 2003 PhD: Wake Forest University School of Medicine Graduate School of Arts and Sciences 2009 in Neuroscience. PA: Wake PA program 2016.
  2. What is your favorite thing about being a PA?
    Educating patients about their health and equipping them to advocate for their health goals
  3. Who inspired you when you were growing up?
    My paternal grandmother has always inspired me. She is a very independent woman who overcame so much. She instilled in me a strong work ethic and sense of justice.
  4. What advice would you offer to someone interested in becoming a PA?
    Shadow PAs in different clinical settings to get a better feel of the width and breadth of the profession. Then really ask yourself if this profession lights a fire in your belly. You maybe not change the world as a whole, but you may change that patient’s world who is sitting in front of you.
  5. What do you like to do in your free time?
    Exercise! I like to be active to challenge myself and my body. There is a lot of research on both the mental and physical health effects of being active (my neuroscience nerd is showing). I also love to bake and have fun with my family. I have a husband, two boys, and a goldendoodle.
Two children playing on a display of a mouth.
A brown dog with curly hair wearing a bandana.

Delaney Drechsler 5 Fast Facts

A young woman standing in front of a sign that reads Wake Forest School of Medicine Bowman Gray Center for Medical Education.
  1. Where did you complete your undergraduate and graduate degrees?
    I completed my undergraduate degree at the State University of New York at Geneseo and then moved to North Carolina to attend the best PA program in the country - Wake Forest!
  2. What is your favorite thing about being a PA?
    I love being able to provide high quality care for my patients while also being able to work collaboratively with a team of amazing providers. I never stop learning, and that makes it fun! I also love having the ability to spend more time with my patients. Being able to truly listen is invaluable in providing care. 
  3. Who inspired you when you were growing up?
    My mom inspired me the most while I was growing up. She is strong-willed, silly, selfless, and exceptionally compassionate. I am lucky to be her daughter.
  4. What advice would you offer to someone interested in becoming a PA?
    I would strongly encourage prospective PAs to shadow a Physician Assistant so they can see exactly what the job entails, and how great it is. I would also encourage them to check out the AAPA and PAEA websites for prospective PA students. These provide helpful information on what is required to apply to PA school and how to be a successful applicant.
  5. What do you like to do in your free time?
    In my free time, I enjoy indoor cycling, running, coffee dates at Camino, and spending quality time with my fiancé John Michael and our three pets: Button, Zumie, and Roo.