For the first time, members of Class of 2025 donned full-length white coats to signal the start of their professional careers. The morning’s presentation of long white coats also symbolized the shedding of the medical learners’ short white coat worn during the past 13 months of clinical training.

The 44-member cohort was celebrated by family, faculty, preceptors and administration during the Physician Assistant Program Certificate Award Ceremony in the M&T Bank Arena on the York Hill Campus. The Class of 2025 was welcomed by Department Chair, Graduate Program Director and Clinical Associate Professor Timothy Ferrarotti DHSc, PA-C.

“Over the past 27 months you have been challenged, tested and pushed to do more and to do it better. I guarantee you now that as you begin this new chapter in life as a medical provider, that there will be a day when you reflect back and appreciate how well you were prepared by this great team of medical faculty,” Ferrarotti said.

Given the challenge of today’s healthcare system, Ferrarotti said the need for PA’s remains just as true as it was at the birth of the profession 58 years ago.

“It is an exciting time to be joining the profession and forging a path to its future. The faculty trusts that you will practice the healing arts to highest of medical and professional standards that has guided our own practice. We trust that when you wear the coat you will represent yourself, our program, and our profession well. We entrust the future to you,” Ferrarotti said.

Wearing their long white coats, the Class of 2025 rose to face their loved ones in the audience as they took the Physician Assistant Professional Oath.

The ceremony also recognized the cohort’s eight Urban Health Scholars and six Pi Alpha inductees. Adjunct faculty member Vania Modesto Lowe, MD, was also inducted into Phi Alpha. Additionally, the event recognized the cohort’s four Quinnipiac PA Student Society Officers; two student representatives of the Connecticut Academy of Physician Assistants; one student representative of the AAPA Student Academy; and two representatives of AAPA HOD. The Class of 2025 PAEA Student Health Policy Fellow was John DeFrancisco. Alison Chamberlain represented the cohort as New England Regional Director for the AAPA Student Academy Board.

Class of 2025 program awards were presented by faculty, administrators and instructors. Katie Rogers received the Academic Excellence Award; Michelle Laraia earned the Medical Writing Award; John DeFrancisco was recognized with the Leadership Award; Alison Chamberlain received the Professional Excellence Award; Jacqueline Callinan was the recipient of the Bruce Fichandler Community Service Award; and Ashley Shafran was recognized with the Professional Involvement Award. Maureen Robert, MHS ’97, was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

In a moving moment, Ferrarotti announced the recipient of the Class of 2025 Director’s Award, which he presented to Joseph Kaplowe III. Ferrarotti said Kaplowe grew up observing the practice of a true PA professional, his dad, a surgical PA.

“He saw his dad as the founding president of the New Hampshire Academy of Physician Assistants, as a lecturer at several PA programs including this one; as an active member of our Connecticut chapter, ConnAPA, and in the role he enjoyed the most, precepting PA students and mentoring junior PA’s,” said Ferrarotti.

After serving in the Navy and in AmeriCorps, Joseph Kaplowe III earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and MBA in healthcare management. He worked in healthcare research and as a medical practice manager.

“During this time, while supporting providers and watching PA’s that he knew, he came to see, as he wrote in his application to this program, first that patients’ trust in their provider influences outcomes, and trust is built through countless small interactions. He saw his management role was to remove unnecessary distractions so that providers could be spiritually, mentally and emotionally present in the exam room. Second, he recognized that truly coordinated care requires a team effort,” said Ferrarotti.

Ferrarotti said the tragic loss of Dr. Joseph Kaplowe Sr. following a catastrophic car accident in 2019 contributed to his son’s decision to become a PA.

“Our profession lost a mentor, and patients lost a true caregiver. But it was during the long hospitalization of his father that this graduate came to see his calling to be a PA. He was to serve in his father’s footsteps,” Ferrarotti said.

When Kaplowe returned to academia as a member of the Class of 2025, he and his fellow students encountered the rigor and demands of the Quinnipiac MHS in Physician Assistant program.

“He did what every PA student must do; what everyone on this stage had to do, and what each of you in the chairs in front of me had to do: adapt, work hard, give up your free time, and study like crazy,” said Ferrarotti. “That fact that he is with us today joining our profession is a true demonstration of devotion to the profession his father so proudly practiced.”

As members of Quinnipiac’s PA Class of 2025 join the medical profession, Ferrarotti said many patients will view their white coat as a cloak of compassion and symbol of the care they expect to receive from their providers.

“I trust when you wear the coat you will not let them down,” said Ferrarotti. “This talented team behind me, this PA faculty, are confident that you have mastered the key medical competencies while demonstrating the compassion, dedication and professionalism to join our ranks as a PA colleague.” 

In Focus