Loren Versheldon is a board-certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) licensed to practice in the state of Illinois. She earned her Master of Medical Science degree from the Saint Louis University Physician Assistant Program in December 2024, following her undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri, where she majored in Health Sciences.
Originally from St. Louis, Loren recently relocated to Chicago and is excited to begin her professional career in the city. Her clinical training at SLU provided a strong and well-rounded foundation, including rotations in general surgery, emergency medicine, and internal medicine, as well as elective experiences in Gastroenterology and Urology—where she developed a passion for surgical subspecialties.
Loren currently practices alongside Dr. Odell, assisting in the operating room and caring for patients in both hospital and clinic settings. She is committed to delivering thoughtful, evidence-based care and is passionate about building lasting relationships with her patients.
What Is A Physician Assistant?
A physician assistant (PA) is a highly educated medical professional who works as part of a team with a doctor. As a graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant program that is nationally certified and state-licensed, a physician assistant can practice medicine with the supervision of a physician. PAs perform physical examinations, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret lab tests, perform procedures, assist in surgery, provide patient education and counseling and even make rounds in hospitals.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia allow PAs to practice and prescribe medications.
What Does “PA-C” Mean?
Physician assistants have their own medical licenses with a distinct scope of practice. The acronym PA-C simply means “Physician Assistant Certified”. A physician assistant becomes certified by graduating from an accredited physician assistant program and must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (among other requirements) before receiving the medical license designation “PA-C”.