Office of the President

Shonna Riedlinger, D.M.Sc., PAC, currently serves as acting president of Ohio Dominican University.

Prior to this role, she was appointed to Provost after serving as Chair for the Division of Health Sciences, and Program Director and Assistant Professor for the Physician Assistant Studies Program since 2012. Dr. Riedlinger has worked collaboratively with faculty and staff throughout her time at ODU. She was key in developing ODU’s Master of Science in Anesthesiologist Assistant Studies Program that launched in January 2023. Dr. Riedlinger also played an important role in establishing and growing ODU’s partnership with Central Ohio Primary Care, which included the development of the Care Forward Center in Peace Hall, which now provides excellent care to our students and members of the surrounding community.

In addition to her service to Ohio Dominican University, she has been an advocate for ODU’s founding congregation, the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Over the past nine years, she has served on the Board of Trustees for Mohun Health Center, which is adjacent to ODU’s campus and is operated by the Dominican Sisters. Over the past four years, she has chaired its Mission and Identity Committee and served on the Executive Committee.

Dr. Riedlinger earned her doctorate of medical science with a concentration in education from the University of Lynchburg. She  graduated from Midwestern University’s graduate PA program and completed her undergraduate studies at Bowling Green State University.

She has a background in healthcare before transitioning to higher education. She worked as a PA in the Emergency Medicine for 17 years at Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio while employed by Immediate Health Associates.

During that time, she was a PA student preceptor for more than 10 years for PA programs in Ohio and surrounding states and coordinated student rotations. In addition to her clinical work, she also held administrative roles. She was the Clinical Supervisor for the Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners working in the emergency department at Mount Carmel St Ann’s before coming to ODU.

She participated in hospital leadership and continuous quality improvement committees. She was a Board Member for Immediate Health Associates Inc., a member of the Human Resource Committee, Management team and coordinated the staffing for the emergency department.

Dr. Riedlinger worked as a Clinical Dietitian prior to going to PA school. She was the Clinical Nutrition Manager at Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster, Ohio.

Prior to her management position, she worked as a Certified Nutrition Support Dietitian focusing on assessing the nutritional needs of critically ill patients at Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and at St. Paul Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

Dr. Riedlinger is passionate about ODU and education. She is strategic in her approach to addressing issues and concerns and recognizes the importance of building and maintaining relationships. She is excited to serve as the Acting President, and for the future of Ohio Dominican University.  

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