Joyce Nichols (born Clayton, June 28, 1940 - July 29, 2012) was an American physician assistant (PA). Nichols was the first woman to be certified as a PA, graduating from the Duke University Medical Center program in 1970.

Nichols was born as Joyce Clayton on June 28, 1940, in Roxboro, North Carolina.^[1][2] Nichols was married at age 16, though with encouragement from her parents, she finished high school and went onto to beauty school.^[2] Later, she attended Carolina College (later North Carolina Central University) where she made it half-way to a degree in psychology before her finances ran out.^[2] In 1965, she received a scholarship to study as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and after graduation in 1966, she started working in the cardiac care unit at Duke Hospital.^[2] In the hospital, she learned about the physician's assistant (PA) class at the Duke University Medical Center.^[2]

The PA Program had been made up strictly of men, especially those with former experience as Navy corpsmen, was reluctant to enroll Nichols.^[3][2] However, she was encouraged to apply by Doctor Eugene Stead, the creator of the PA training program.^[1] Nichols was accepted and fought to be given the same stipend as the men in the program.^[1] During her training, she still worked in the cardiac unit to support her family.^[1] She and her family also lost their house due to a fire in 1969 and the faculty and students at the PA school helped to raise money to help Nichols' family.^[3] Nichols graduated from the program in 1970, becoming the first woman to earn a degree as a PA.^[3]

When she graduated, she was able to get funds with the help of Doctor E. Harvey Estes Jr., to open a rural, satellite health clinic.^[1] She worked in Rougemont and Bahama for two years, providing preventative healthcare to individuals who had not had easy access to medicine in the past.^[1] In 1972, she moved to the Lincoln Community Health Center and continued to provide healthcare to rural communities.^[1] Nichols continued here until her retirement in 1995.^[1] After retirement, Nichols stayed involved in her community in various capacities, including raising money for healthcare and volunteering in political campaigns.^[1]

Nichols died in her home in Durham, North Carolina on July 29, 2012.^[3]