Stephens College celebrates achievements thus far and welcomes Physician Assistant students to the clinical portion of their education.
White coats were presented to 29 Physician Assistant students on September 8, 2023. The momentous ceremony celebrates the students' completion of the didactic, classroom-based portion of their education and marks the beginning of the clinical, hands-on portion where they will work with real patients in medical environments.
"This white coat is a symbol of your dedication to the medical profession," said Dr. Megan Blakemore, DHA, PA-C (Program Director). She continued, "It's a shorter version of the long white coat you will wear as a professional PA and marks the beginning of your new journey into the honor and the privilege of caring for patients."
Keynote speaker Elo Osoego, PA-C, encouraged students with an anecdote about his daughter learning to drive and reminded them of all the effort they had poured into their education thus far, telling them, "You are READY!" Elo is a Stephens PA Alum, former Assistant Professor in the program, and owner of Innovative Medical Clinic in Jefferson City, Missouri.
To seal the celebration, the students recited the Phisician Assistant professional oath:
"I pledge to perform the following duties with honesty and dedication:
- I will hold as my primary responsibility the health, safety, welfare and dignity of all human beings.
- I will uphold the tenets of patient autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.
- I will recognize and promote the value of diversity.
- I will treat equally all persons who seek my care.
- I will hold in confidence the information shared in the course of practicing medicine.
- I will assess my personal capabilities and limitations, striving always to improve my medical practice.
- I will actively seek to expand my knowledge and skills, keeping abreast of advances in medicine.
- I will work with other members of the health care team to provide compassionate and effective care of patients.
- I will use my knowledge and experience to contribute to an improved community.
- I will respect my professional relationship with the physician.
- I will share and expand knowledge within the profession.
These duties are pledged with sincerity and upon my honor."
More about the Stephens College Master of Physician Assistant Studies program
The Stephens College Physician Assistant program is dedicated to transforming students into excellent clinicians who practice with compassion. The program emphasizes leadership within the profession while working in an inter-professional team.
The Stephens PA program is a full-time, 27-month professional program, providing 13 months of didactic education and 14 months of clinical training. Clinical rotations include family medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, general surgery, internal medicine, behavioral medicine and emergency medicine. Stephens has partnered with area hospitals, clinics, private practice groups and individual providers to offer the highest quality clinical training by providers who are dedicated to their patients and to the students they teach. Learn more and apply here: Master of Physician Assistant Studies (stephens.edu)