The Physician Assistant Program Class of 2024

The Presbyterian College Physician Assistant program marked a significant milestone for students at Saturday’s annual white coat ceremony.

Thirty-three students received white coats after completing the didactic phase of the program.

Program director Amanda Stevenson-Cali asked students to reflect on why they chose the physician assistant profession before attending clinical rotations this fall.

“Think back to when we asked you, ‘Why PA?” she said. “All of you answered with some version of ‘I want to take care of people’ or ‘I feel a calling to help those in need.” Or ‘I think medicine is the most fascinating subject ever.’

“Now, I want you to think back to how much you knew or didn’t know about medicine when you walked into the PA classroom for the first time. To say you have learned a lot in the past year would be a ridiculous understatement.”

Over the last 12 months, first-year students learned extensively about the human body, diseases, tests, treatments, and procedures, Stevenson-Cali said. Now, she said, it is time to put their knowledge to use.

“As you enter your clinical year, you get to put together your ‘why’ and your knowledge, and, in just 10 days, you get to start caring for actual patients. I’m not saying this to scare you but to remind you that you have worked tirelessly for this and you should be extremely proud of yourselves.”

During the ceremony, the PA program recognized several students and one staff member for outstanding contributions and achievement. Awards included:

• The Service Award – Joel Elam
• The Scotty Strength Award – Emily Higginbotham Gath
• Didactic Student of the Year – Gabryel Dawn Santos
• Overall Amazing Person Award – Jan Sealby, administrative assistant and clinical year coordinator

The program also recognized the contributions of its first medical director, Dr. Greg Mappin. Mappin, who is retiring this fall, shared with students a story about the founder of the PA profession – Dr. Eugene Stead. As a second-year medical student at Duke University, Mappin met Stead and described him as “intimidating, scary, and eccentric.”

But Stead also taught him to learn about his patients and not just their medical problems.

“Dr. Stead told us to take care of people, not their illnesses,” Mappin said.

Stead also taught his students not to forego doing thorough physical examinations and not relying solely on technology and tests.

“Nothing takes the place of laying on hands,” he said.

Mappin told students they must always refine their medical knowledge and always value learning more.

“This ceremony celebrates your accomplishment of learning medical knowledge, but the reality is it’s a transition to lifelong learning,” he said. “That’s what you have to do to be an excellent clinician. So, listen carefully and learn from each of your patients. Doing this will be personally satisfying, I believe, and professionally rewarding.”

The following students received their white coats:

• Kimsey Elise Aguero
• Savannah Moorefield Amos
• Anna Kathryn Burton
• Catherine Dugan Butz
• Emily Joan Cavanaugh
• Sofie Lorraine Chirichiello
• Chloe Lee Cox
• Jessica Elizabeth Davis
• Lucas DePasquale
• Ryan Stephen Dillard
• Catherine Michelle Ebbitts
• Joel Elam
• Lyndsey Kaitey Fields
• Emily Higginbotham Gath
• Kayla Shaniece Gerald
• Bailey McNeill Greer
• Britney Mikala Haynes
• Rachel Joyce Hawk
• Laila Mohammed Ali Jamila
• Andrew Lane Kyzer
• Abigail Rose Levins
• Christin Lynn McAlister
• Brianna Joanne Milne
• Sophie Elizabeth Moore
• Gabryel Dawn Santos
• Heidi Marie Shafer
• Eryn Marie Smith
• Lauren Gail Thayer
• Audrey Grace Ulmer
• Maisie Fisher Verdin
• Slade Christopher Walters
• Jonah Eugene Woo
• Jaden Michelle Kar-Yun Yam