When the 44 members of the IU Physician Assistant (PA) Class of 2025 put on their white coats in a time-honored ceremony on August 2, they will be celebrating not only personal achievement, but also the collective success of their entire class.
“I recently asked these students what they were most proud of as a cohort, and the number one thing they said is that all of them are still here,” said Lauren Gilliam, MPAS, CHA/PA-C, physician assistant studies program director and clinical assistant professor. “To navigate the rigor of this PA program together and to achieve 100 percent retention is why this White Coat Ceremony is so meaningful to them. It marks the turning point from classroom study to clinical rotations, and it also acknowledges their support of one another along the way.”
The IU PA program is consistently above the national average when it comes to both student retention and graduate performance on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam. In addition to citing the program’s strong clinical partnerships, students like that it is affiliated with IU School of Medicine and has a cadaver lab—a strong distinguishing factor of IU’s PA program. But more recently, Gilliam said faculty are hearing from students that the program’s people, sense of community, and learning environment also set it apart.
“On interview day, I could really tell that current students and faculty valued applicants as humans rather than numbers,” said Maisy Feeley, one of the ceremony participants. “They were genuinely interested in helping us find a place that was as good a fit for us as it was for them. And that has remained true throughout my time in the program.”
Jacqueline Flores, another ceremony participant, indicated, “The IU program’s emphasis on interprofessional education has enhanced my ability to work effectively within a health-care team, which is a crucial aspect of being a successful physician assistant.”
Since the IU PA program’s first cohort in 2013, building a supportive culture has been intentional. From a holistic admissions process that evaluates more than just grade point average (GPA) to a unique one-on-one faculty/student advising program, program leaders are committed to providing the kind of support that fosters student success in preparing for a high-stakes profession.
“We could fill every cohort with 4.0 [GPA] students, but we’re also looking for other qualities that show us applicants will be able to handle the rigor, have demonstrated resilience, and that they will be successful working as part of a team,” Gilliam explained.
At the same time as the white coat ceremony marks a transition into clinical rotations, 44 additional students will be celebrating their commencement.
According to Gilliam, the students seeking employment post-graduation will succeed in finding a PA position. She also indicates data demonstrates there is a huge opportunity to increase health-care access for patients throughout Indiana. PAs can help fill that gap.
“PAs bring a collaborative approach to practice,” Gilliam said. “We respect all members of the health-care team and strive to work together to educate patients to help them make informed decisions about their health.”
As for their program experiences, 2024 graduates believe caring faculty and student support are program hallmarks. Teodora Simion, a 2024 graduate, said the individualized attention was a key factor in her decision to enroll at IU.
“I was looking for a program that not only considered test scores and grades, but also the factors that play a role in who you are as person,” Simion said. “From the moment I arrived at interview day, I felt at home and throughout my time in the program, the faculty have always made an effort to get to know us and who we are outside of school.”
This year’s student commencement speaker, Nathan Sapal, reiterated his classmate’s statement.
“I was initially drawn to IU’s program because of its relationship with the IU Health system and the variety of clinical experiences I’d be exposed to,” Sapal shared. “However, the supportive and tight-knit culture I saw on display is what ultimately influenced me to enroll.”
While acceptance to a PA program is highly competitive, a growing number of physician assistant programs exist in Indiana and across the country. IU’s program is one of nine PA programs in the state and more than 300 nationwide. Every program is required to offer clinical rotations in seven specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, and behavioral and mental health. IU’s program offers additional mandatory rotations in outpatient medicine and community medicine.