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The Class of 2026 Physician Assistant students officially marked their entry into the professional study and practice of medicine during their Aug. 1 White Coat Ceremony.<\/p>\nThe Class of 2026 Physician Assistant students officially marked their entry into the professional study and practice of medicine during their Aug. 1 White Coat Ceremony.<\/p>\n
The cohort\u2019s 20 students comprise the tenth class of the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Physician Assistant (PA) program, which graduated its first students in 2016. Since then, the program has graduated more than 200 students.<\/p>\n During the ceremony, students were addressed by PA Program Director\u00a0<\/span>Susan White<\/a>, MD, and Graduate Medical Sciences Assistant Dean of Master\u2019s Programs\u00a0<\/span>Theresa Davies<\/a>, PhD.\u00a0<\/span>Robert Lowe<\/a>, MD, associate professor of medicine\/ gastroenterology, delivered the keynote address.<\/p>\n \u201cCongratulations as you receive your white coats,\u201d Davies said. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing, and you should be very proud. Congratulations as well to your parents who have supported you to this point. You should be so proud as well. \u2026You have incredible faculty serving you, and you have bright futures. We will be celebrating you and your program all year.\u201d<\/p>\n Davies concluded by encouraging the cohort to \u201cexplore Boston; be a student, grow and learn.\u201d In his keynote speech, Lowe described the White Coat Ceremony as the start of a great journey and an invitation to work hard throughout what will be a challenging, but worthwhile, curriculum and career.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing that\u2019s worthwhile is easy,\u201d Lowe said. \u201cThe program is tough. When you\u2019re done, it\u2019s still tough. But you\u2019re going to step up and do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ultimately, Lowe said, the white coat is a symbol. The values instilled in each student still exist, whether they are wearing the coat or not.<\/p>\n \u201cYou will be the person to help when needed,\u201d Lowe said. \u201cOn the days you\u2019re not wearing [the white coat], you\u2019ll still be the person to step forward.\u201d<\/p>\n In return, the new cohort will have the opportunity to work with an incredible set of colleagues and \u201cgain a perspective on life that many people don\u2019t have,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n \u201cThe things we do are incredible, but an incredible privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n Once all students had been called, they recited the Physician Assistant Professional Oath, led by Class of 2024 President Elise McIntosh, PA-S. The oath summarizes the students\u2019 professional and ethical responsibilities throughout their careers as physician assistants.<\/p>\n \u201cCongratulations on taking your first step to joining the PA profession,\u201d White said. \u201cYou are our tenth class, and this is a wonderful milestone for us. We are very happy to have you here and look forward to getting to know you.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/gms\/files\/2023\/08\/Rob-Lowe-addressing-PA-white-coat-students-Aug-1-2023-e1690996676381.jpeg\")
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Following the keynote speech, each student joined the PA faculty individually to receive their white coats. Associate Director of Clinical Education\u00a0<\/span>Michael Smith<\/a>, MS, PA-C, read each student\u2019s name. Students were coated by\u00a0<\/span>Dan Tzizik<\/a>, MPAA, MPH, PA-C, and Robert O\u2019Brien, MHS, PA-C, both associate directors of didactic education for the program.<\/p>\n