A Dec. 11 program in the Sacred Space of the Numen Lumen Pavilion marked the end of academic studies and the formal start of clinical education for members of the PA program's Class of 2017.
The 38 students’ families and friends joined the PA program faculty and staff in a celebration with welcome messages from Associate Professor Patti Ragan, chair and program director of the Physician Assistant Studies program, and Elon University Provost Steven House.
“This White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage welcoming you to the next phase of your journey to becoming a physician assistant,” House said. “By accepting a white coat you are making a commitment to transform yourself into a health care professional in whom patients place their trust.”
The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Timothy E. Oaks, a cardiovascular surgeon from Ely Surgical in Burlington, North Carolina. Oaks pressed students to carry rhetorical “AAA” cards throughout their career as a reminder that physician assistants must be able, affable and available to their patients, their profession and their communities.
“Your profession is demanding and difficult,” Oaks said, “yet it is the most satisfying in the world.”
Remarks also were shared by class officers Brittany Wiseman and Lindsey Bradshaw. Both students thanked the families, faculty, friends and peers who have contributed to the group’s classroom success over the past year.
The students received their white coats, which they wore for the first time as they recited the PA Honor Oath, committing themselves to a lifetime of treating their patients with dignity and respect while providing quality medical care.
The class of 2017 now begins 15 months of clinical education where students will complete rotations in primary care, inpatient medicine, women’s health, behavioral medicine, pediatrics, general surgery and emergency medicine. Each student will also enroll in two electives.
The Class of 2017:
Alexander Axtell
Cassandra Bogdan
Lindsey Bradshaw
Alyssa Cady
Danielle Carter
Amanda Chaffo
Kayla Checkovich
Zach Dedden
Stephanie Dyck
Emory Edwards
Brandi Forbes
Jonathan Gross
Peter Guertin
Kim Heald
Ariel Hilsinger
Shana Hornbeck
Caroline Howell
Bree Johnson
Elena Klaus
Rachel Lane
Elizabeth MacArthur
Ashton MacDonald
Whitney McVey
Ashley Meyer
Lisa Nichols
Mackenzie Precht
Stephanie Puma
Amber Race
Erin Raspet
Scottie Springer
Elizabeth Strickland
Nicole Trittschuh
Boyd Vicars
Katherine Vornheder
Brittany Wiseman
Michelle Worley
Katie Young
Micayla Zeltman