Rachel Lehrer, PA

Rachel has built her career at the intersection of neurosurgery, education, and community service. As Cofounder and President of JAPA, she has helped create a national platform for advocacy, mentorship, and professional growth within the PA community. Her contributions have been recognized with the honorary title of Distinguished Fellow of the AAPA, as well as the Outstanding Clinical Achievement Award and Care Champion Award at Westchester Medical Center.

Rachel graduated magna cum laude from the Touro College PA Program and went on to serve a decade as Chief PA of Neurosurgery at Lincoln Medical Center. She now practices in the Department of Neurosurgery at Westchester Medical Center, where she continues to advance patient care and support multidisciplinary teams. Her academic work includes participation in multiple research initiatives and co‑authorship of peer‑reviewed publications.

Beyond the hospital, Rachel is passionate about giving back. She organizes neurosurgical education programs for EMTs and paramedics, leads CME events for PAs, NPs, and students, and has contributed to planning major neurosurgical symposia on topics such as cerebral micro-dialysis, aneurysms, stroke, and AVMs. She also devotes time to teaching brain safety and injury prevention to children and teens.

A committed mentor and educator, Rachel has supported many PA and medical students through clinical teaching and neurosurgical board review courses. Her leadership, compassion, and dedication continue to shape the next generation of clinicians and strengthen the communities she serves.