North Greenville University
Kathryn E. Allen, 2016 NGU graduate from Sumter, is being cloaked during the NGU PA Medicine White Coat Ceremony on Friday.
North Greenville University
NGU’s PA Medicine first cohort receive their white coats during a ceremony on Friday.
The school held its first white coat ceremony for the Master of Medical Science in PA Studies students at Suber Road Baptist Church in Greer.
The ceremony celebrated students’ successful completion of their didactic year. Each student was given a clinical white coat to commemorate his or her transition from didactic to clinical year. This group is the first to enter the newly launched graduate degree program that offers a Master of Medical Science in PA Studies.
The didactic year is the portion of training where students learn about disease processes, the presenting signs/symptoms, physical examinations, clinical procedures, treatments, patient education, etc. Most of this occurs through traditional instruction in classroom and small group settings.
Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and pass a cumulative assessment. During clinical year, the students begin to apply their knowledge through interacting with patients in collaboration with a clinical preceptor.
Students, their families and guests, and PA medicine faculty and staff attended the ceremony.
“The white coat represents attainment of a prestigious milestone in a health care professional’s career. It is given as a formal welcome to the profession and to emphasize the commitment they make to patient care,” said Program Director Jordan M. Hairr. “We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of this class. We are excited for them to begin the next phase of their training.”
Graduate School of Health Science Dean Gregory J. Davenport honored the students for their hard work and welcomed them to the first NGU family of physician assistants.
“NGU PA Medicine students are smart. But that doesn’t make them a great PA,” said Davenport. “Their desire to serve, however, does. They will make a difference.”
The white coat ceremony is a rite of passage.
After receiving my white coat, I feel incredibly honored, privileged and excited to be part of the very first cohort in this dynamic and groundbreaking program,” said first-year student and class president Jessica L. Hatcher.
The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Dr. J. Samuel Isgett, retired vice president for graduate studies at North Greenville University.
As the PA Medicine degree program continues to attract increasing numbers of students to NGU’s Graduate School of Health Science, the ceremony will become a yearly milestone for the school and is part of a growing trend.
Members of NGU’s first white coat cohort are: Kathryn E. Allen, April M. Beckett, Taylor N. Bowling, Lauren N. Broberg, Megan D. Carson, Loretta L. Church, Sarai H. Graves, Sarah Elizabeth Harmon, Jessica L. Hatcher, Rebecca L. Hill, Hannah L. Hodge, Shruhi N. Modi, Devan M. Murphy, Jennifer A. Pedersen, Meghan E. Reed, Blair A. Rosemeyer, Hannah E. Saville, Casey B. Skinner, M. Christine Stover, and Ainsley E. Wingard.
Visit ngu.edu/academics for more information.