Lovest Alexander, MHS, PA-C, is originally from Warren County, NC, and he grew up during the Jim Crow Era. He was encouraged to become a doctor by a high school teacher, and he studied to be pre-med at North Carolina Central University. Anticipating being drafted to the Vietnam War, Mr. Alexander joined the Air Force, where he served as a laboratory specialist. When he returned, he applied and was accepted to the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. However, his wife became ill and died suddenly. In the interest of his infant son, Mr. Alexander chose to leave medical school and enter the Duke Physician Assistant Program. He graduated in only the 11th class of the program, and he was the only Black student. Mr. Alexander then began work at a Lincoln Community Health Center’s outpatient program where he got the chance to serve underserved patients, and eventually switched to a Duke clinic for underserved patients. He was then appointed to recruit a more diverse body of students. Mr. Alexander immediately began recruiting at HBCUs, and has continued to do so throughout his career. Because the PA profession was still new, he had to convince HBCU advisors and Black health leaders that the PA profession was a good career option with significant opportunities. Additionally, he was one of the founding members of the American Academy of Physician Assistants African Heritage Caucus to advocate for Black PAs. Mr. Alexander has also worked to eliminate biases both in the admissions process and in the education of PAs. For many years, this involved raising issues of diversity and inclusion despite being the only Black faculty member.