The culminating moment took place during the Physician Assistant Program Certificate Award Ceremony held in the M&T Bank Arena on the York Hill Campus. Hosted by physician assistant faculty and administration, the celebratory ceremony drew a crowd of family, friends, instructors and preceptors to applaud the accomplishments of the Class of 2024.

Adjunct faculty and master of ceremonies Jason Prevelige, MHS '09, MBA '21, president and chair of the American Academy of Physician Associates and Chair of the Board of Directors Board of Directors, congratulated the cohort on completing Quinnipiac’s nationally recognized physician assistant program. He encouraged the Class of 2024 to continue the reputation of high-quality care that physician assistants have been providing in the nearly 60 years since the creation of the PA profession.

“You have the opportunity to influence the practice of medicine by using your knowledge and talents to affect how care is delivered,” said Prevelige. “As a PA, you can and will help close the gaps in care that leave the disparities that leave too many patients behind.”

In his welcoming remarks, physician assistant chair and graduate program director Tim Ferrarotti noted the Class of 2024 represents the 29th class of Quinnipiac’s PA program, which to date has supported more than 1,300 graduates.

Ferrarotti said the morning’s white coat ceremony held two symbolic references.

“The first is that this talented team behind me, the physician assistant faculty, are confident that you have mastered the key medical competencies while demonstrating the compassion, dedication and professionalism to join our ranks as physician assistant colleagues,” said Ferrarotti. “The faculty trusts that you will practice the healing arts to the highest of medical and professional standards that has guided our own practice.”

Secondly, providing the graduates with their long white coats is a recognition of promotion, Ferrarotti explained.

“In June of 2023, you put on the short white coat and took the PA oath for the first time,” said Ferrarotti. “The short white coat symbolizes the learner’s status of the wearer. It designated you as a learner of medicine. It is the tradition, as the learner becomes more knowledgeable and competent, that the length of the coat also grows. Today, you shed the student status and assume the role of provider, with all of the responsibilities and commitments that are entrusted to those who practice medicine.”

Ferrarotti said accepting and donning the white coats and taking the oath of the physician assistant profession is an acknowledgement of their role as healing arts professionals and of their commitment to practice by the highest standards of professionalism, as well as their commitment to a life of continuous learning and public service.

“The wearing of the white coat and the title of physician assistant do no bestow entitlement. Every time you don your white coat, you must remember the gift that it is to practice medicine, the trust that the vulnerable place in you, and the fact that your actions as a physician assistant inside that coat reflect on how all of your colleagues in our great profession are viewed,” Ferrarotti said.

As president of the Physician Assistant Class of 2024, Katherine Huntington '22, MHS '24, said it was honor serve her class and to stand before her fellow Bobcats as they celebrated their transition to serving others as physician assistants.

“As president, my role has been made so much easier by the dedication and enthusiasm of my classmates. These students have been champions of change, advocates for themselves and for others, and above all, selfless,” said Huntington. “This is truly a very special group of individuals.”

Huntington expressed her hope that her fellow graduates would always cherish the shared experiences and educational opportunities presented by the PA faculty on the journey which led to the day’s ceremony.

“But more importantly, remember the unwavering support of your classmates, friends, family, loved ones, and faculty that were essential for our success,” said Huntington.

In his closing remarks, Prevelige said given the track record of the Class of 2024 and the Quinnipiac graduates who came before them, he is confident that the state of healthcare is in good hands. He advised his new colleagues to proudly and wisely use the skills Quinnipiac had provided to bring change to their patients’ lives.

“There are so many ways that each of you can and will impact the healthcare of our communities,” said Prevelige.

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