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PA students at Cumberlands receive white coats

PA students at Cumberlands receive white coats

Thu, 07/22/2021 - 3:50pm

The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) program at University of the Cumberlands is proud to announce the PA students who received their white coats this spring, marking the successful completion of the didactic (classroom) segment of the program.

The white coat ceremony is a symbolic ceremony marking the transition from didactic learning to clinical studies. PA students complete four semesters of didactic education before receiving the white coat. The ceremony typically occurs during students' second year of studies. After the ceremony, they begin the clinical year, comprised of three semesters and ten clinical rotations. During these three semesters, they also complete a professional development course and a capstone research project. Approximately 27 months after matriculation, students graduate the program, prepared to take the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE). After passing the PANCE, they are certified to practice medicine in any specialty they prefer.

Fatimah Hussain, president of the UCPA Class of 2022, remarked, “This past year has been a real ride for us. The COVID-19 restraints affected us all and taught us a significant amount of patience, new medical practices, the importance of family, and to never take anything for granted.”

She continued, “What makes you a future physician assistant is not the white coat. It is the qualities you possess – your compassion, discipline, selflessness, and intelligence. The ability to practice medicine is a true blessing.”

Dana Campbell, director of the UCPA program, said to the students during the ceremony, “You all make me so proud. To persevere in light of what you have faced since matriculation is amazing to me. Congratulations on making it to this milestone!”

The following students received their white coats this spring:

First Name

Last Name

Hometown

State

Justin

Barnett

Parkers Lake

KY

Katelin

Beals

Charlotte

NC

Devon

Blandford

Louisville

KY

Matthew

Brooks

Stanton

KY

Courtney

Brune

Renton

WA

Anastasia

Carson

Corbin

KY

Jessica

Cline

Williamsburg

KY

Misba

Farooqi

Darien

IL

Garrett

Faulkner

Williamsburg

KY

Shaily

Gaudani

Twinsburg

OH

Zachary

Hurley

East Bernstadt

KY

Fatimah

Hussain

Naperville

IL

Jennifer

Kannookaden

Mt. Prospect

IL

Taylor

King

Elizabethtown

KY

Shawn

Kitzmiller

Woodburn

IN

Jenna

Leinenbach

Huntingburn

IN

Cristina

Lisardo

Fayetteville

NC

Skyler

Lynch

Decatur

TX

Morgan

Nickell

London

KY

Ryan

Ostmann

Williamsburg

KY

Hristina

Ostojić

Louisville

KY

Darshana

Patel

Columbia

TN

A.      Trey

Pelfrey

Hazard

KY

Ethan

Richter

Portsouth

OH

Hannah

Rutkowski

Eastlake

OH

Kayla

Smith

Heidrick

KY

Tori

Therrien

St. Louis

MO

Robert

Tinsley

Corbin

KY