PA graduates celebrate achievements, step into service-focused careers
With a mixture of joy, pride, and gratitude, the Class of 2025 of the Presbyterian College Physician Assistant Studies Program crossed the stage Saturday, Sept. 27, in Belk Auditorium.
Family, friends, faculty, and staff gathered to honor the graduates’ accomplishments at the program’s commencement exercises — a ceremony that underscored both their academic excellence and their commitment to PC’s motto: “While We Live, We Serve.”
‘A Remarkable Achievement’
Amanda Stevenson-Cali, director of the Physician Assistant Program, opened the ceremony by welcoming the graduates and their guests. She reflected on the challenges and triumphs the students faced over the last two years.
“Today, we gather to celebrate a remarkable achievement: your graduation from the Presbyterian College Physician Assistant Program,” Stevenson-Cali said. “You faced long nights of studying, early mornings of clinical rotations, and the inevitable challenges that come with mastering the art and science of medicine. Yet, you’ve persevered.”
She praised the graduates not only for their mastery of clinical knowledge but also for their resilience, compassion, and dedication to patient care.
President’s Challenge: Skill With Compassion
Presbyterian College president Dr. Anita Gustafson congratulated the class for their perseverance and offered words of encouragement as they entered the medical profession.
“You are entering a career for which there is great demand,” Gustafson said. “Your role as a physician assistant is an extremely important part of the medical team that takes care of patients.”
While recognizing their accomplishments in clinical skills and medical knowledge, she reminded the graduates of the qualities that make PC-trained PAs unique.
“These other skills include compassion, care, and a dedication to service,” Gustafson said. “These are the skills that will set you apart as graduates of Presbyterian College and are so vitally important for patient care.”
Gustafson also shared a personal story. After a fall last year that required a trip to the emergency room, she was treated by a PA graduate from PC’s Class of 2022.
“I was treated with compassion, care, and expertise,” she said. “I have first-hand knowledge of the quality of your preparation.”
She encouraged the graduates to embrace their privilege and responsibility: “You have the privilege to make a difference in the lives of your patients.”
Outperforming National Benchmarks
In her address to the class, Stevenson-Cali highlighted the academic accomplishments of the group, which outpaced national standards across multiple measures.
Twenty graduates earned a GPA above 3.7, including seven above 3.9. On the End of Curriculum Exam, 46 percent scored in the Advanced Medical Knowledge range, double the national rate. The class’s average score was 36 points above the national average. The class scored above the national average on every single body system and task area.
Stevenson-Cali credited not only the students’ determination but also their faculty mentors, preceptors, and support networks for helping them succeed.
“Your preceptors have gushed about your professionalism, bedside manner, and collaborative spirit,” she told the graduates.
Jobs Secured, Communities Served
The Class of 2025 also demonstrated strong career readiness. More than half of the graduates had already secured jobs, and many had multiple offers. A large number chose to remain in the communities where they completed clinical rotations.
Graduates are entering a wide variety of specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, orthopedic surgery, general surgery, pediatrics, neurosurgery, and allergy and immunology.
“Many of you are choosing to serve in the communities where you trained,” Stevenson-Cali said. “This speaks volumes about your commitment to serving others and the impact you are already having.”
The Privilege of Patient Care
Both speakers reminded graduates that clinical knowledge is only part of what makes a good PA. Stevenson-Cali urged the class to remain grounded in the human side of medicine.
“You will face ethical dilemmas, difficult conversations, and situations that will test your resilience,” she said. “Always prioritize your patients’ well-being, and never underestimate the impact of a kind word or a reassuring presence. Sometimes, it’s not just the treatment, but the care and compassion you provide that makes the greatest difference.”
She encouraged them to embrace lifelong learning as they step into a rapidly evolving medical landscape.
“The landscape of healthcare is changing, with new technologies, treatments, and challenges emerging every day,” she said. “Stay curious. Commit to lifelong learning, and embrace the changes that come your way.”
Gratitude for Families and Mentors
The ceremony also took a moment to acknowledge the sacrifices and encouragement of those who supported the graduates along the way. Stevenson-Cali invited the students to rise, turn toward their families and friends, and offer them applause.
“Family, friends, and mentors — your encouragement and sacrifices have been invaluable,” she said. “Graduates, please stand, turn around, and applaud your family and friends.”
A Quote to Carry Forward
Stevenson-Cali concluded her remarks with words from physician and medical anthropologist Dr. Paul Farmer: “The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world.”
“As you step into your roles as physician assistants, hold this truth close to your heart,” she told the graduates. “Every life you touch matters. Every story you hear is important. Approach your work with the understanding that you have the power to make a profound and long-term impact on patients’ lives.”
Awards of Distinction
The ceremony also recognized three graduates whose achievements and service embodied the values of the program and the college:
- Anna Fuller – Clinical Student of the Year, for outstanding achievement during the clinical year based on preceptor evaluations, end-of-rotation exam scores, and other assessments.
- Josh Kerr – Clinical Crusher Award, for the highest overall average on end-of-rotation exams.
- Shelia Parnell – Don Raber Award, presented to the student who best exemplifies the PC motto, “While We Live, We Serve.”
Joining the PC Alumni Network
As the ceremony concluded, Stevenson-Cali introduced the graduates not as students, but as professional colleagues.
“I am proud to introduce, as our colleagues, the Presbyterian College Physician Assistant Program Class of 2025,” she said.
Gustafson echoed that pride, welcoming the class into the broader network of alumni making an impact across the nation and the world.
“We are proud to have you join the amazing network of Presbyterian College alumni,” she said. “As you move on to the next chapter in your life, continue to learn and grow and be the best among your peers as you join the broad network of healthcare providers who work to serve their patients and who help make the world a healthier and better place.”
A Celebration of Excellence and Service
The commencement exercises reflected both the academic strength and the spirit of service that define Presbyterian College’s Physician Assistant Program.
For the graduates, the day marked the end of a rigorous educational journey and the beginning of a career grounded in knowledge, compassion, and service.
As Stevenson-Cali reminded them: “Your education doesn’t end here; it’s just the beginning. We are providing a scaffolding for the real learning to come.”
With diplomas in hand, the Class of 2025 stepped forward to begin that journey — ready to serve, to lead, and to make a difference in the lives of their patients.
The Presbyterian College Physician Assistant Program Class of 2025
Mckenna Shea Berger
Margaret Maylon Bovard
Mary Margaret Britton
Erin Elizabeth Carter
Christine Florence Caudill
Alex Allen Crysler
Kyle Wayne Decker
Logan Marie Drake
Emma Kate Eitenmiller (Pi Alpha recipient)
Briana Elise Fallon
Hannah Grace Fowler
Anna Catherine Fuller (Pi Alpha recipient)
Sarah Frances Gyenes
Kelsey Darlena Hopkins
Allison Lisa Jones
Joshua Seth Kerr
Vasiliki Evangelia Migdalas
Shooka Moallemi
Ellie Lacour Norris
Shelia Fay Parnell
Brady Michael Peters
Phillip Pipenko
Madeline Richburg Ray (Pi Alpha recipient)
Amanda Marie Roper
Cassidy Paige Ryan
Chanel Chante Sanders
Carter William Schmitz (Pi Alpha recipient)
Jessica Ann Segars
Kayla Marie Stein
Gerianne Octavia Ward
Hannah Christine Watts
Tara Ann Weaver
Sarah Grace Whitt (Pi Alpha recipient)
Megan Carmichael Wooles
