{"id":5483,"date":"2020-11-30T10:23:05","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T15:23:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/unc-pa\/?p=5483"},"modified":"2020-11-30T10:26:19","modified_gmt":"2020-11-30T15:26:19","slug":"physician-assistant-studies-celebrates-fourth-class-of-graduates-in-online-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/unc-pa\/2020\/11\/physician-assistant-studies-celebrates-fourth-class-of-graduates-in-online-ceremony\/","title":{"rendered":"Physician Assistant Studies Celebrates Fourth Class of Graduates in Online Ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Physician Assistant Studies program, housed in the Department of Allied Health Sciences (DAHS), held its fourth commencement ceremony on November 25, 2020. The thirty-minute ceremony, held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted its graduates\u2019 resilience and grit. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Paul Chelminski, the program\u2019s director, said he is immensely proud of the class of 2020, which persevered despite the onset of the pandemic in March.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerseverance is the most underrated human virtue,\u201d Chelminski said. \u201cTo relate it to the Thanksgiving holiday, it is the unglamorous monotony of basting the turkey and preparing the food knowing, and having faith, that redemption and fulfillment are waiting for you at the end of the process. It is the long hours spent on the road rolling toward your destination\u2014often uninspiring but still requiring care and attention.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kristen Brooks provided remarks from the class of 2020 and highlighted the many sacrifices and triumphs of her peers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only constant in medicine is change,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cWe are always on the verge of the next breakthrough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brooks said she was grateful to complete the journey of PA school alongside her peers and colleagues.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur class has persevered through trying times,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cWe remained resilient. [\u2026] It is up to us how we choose to use our minds, our hands, and our hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stephen Hooper, the DAHS associate dean and chair, said the class of 2020 will soon become a critical part of the health care workforce.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou will immediately go forward to make your own impact on the field by your knowledge, skills, interprofessional perspective, and, of course, your clinical service.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hooper said the class of 2020 had contributed approximately half a million dollars in clinical care during their clinical experiences.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour professional journey is just beginning,\u201d Hooper\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cI know you\u2019ve been well prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meg Beal presented the following honors and awards to preceptors and to the class of 2020:<\/p>\n

Scholastic Achievement Award<\/h3>\n