Physician Assistant Studies program holds white coat ceremony, students begin clinical rotations
The West Virginia University School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Studies program hosted a white coat ceremony for 25 students on Sunday, April 27th at the Okey Patteson Auditorium in Morgantown.
Receiving their white coats marks the students’ transition from classroom instruction to the clinical phase of their education. Students will apply the foundational knowledge they received and begin to work with patients.
During the ceremony, Jennifer Momen, M.D., director of the Physical Assistant Studies program, addressed the students.
“Let your white coat serve as a symbol of the attributes you hope to embody as a medical professional,” Momen said. “Take advantage of this clinical year to practice the habits that will set you up for success throughout your career. Also, embrace the diversity in your patients and let every patient whose challenges you bear witness to lead you to become a more compassionate healthcare provider.”
Students complete the last 12 months of the PA Studies program in a series of clinical rotations in the core medical specialties: surgery, emergency medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, family medicine, internal medicine, behavioral medicine and rural primary care. They also have the opportunity to choose two elective rotations based on their individual interests.
Janice Shipe-Spotloe, PA-C, MS, DFAAPA, CPAAPA, who served as the director of advanced practice professionals at WVU Medicine for more than 10 years, served as the keynote speaker. Shipe-Spotloe has more than 37 years of experience in healthcare as a physician assistant, with clinical expertise in internal medicine subspecialties of hematology/oncology and immunology and translational research in immunology and biologic therapeutics.
MEET THE STUDENTS
Jacob Hoover of Charleston, West Virginia, will complete clinical rotations in core specialties including behavioral medicine, dermatology, emergency medicine, endocrinology and cardiology. He is looking forward to his dermatology rotation for its hands-on procedural aspects. His primary goal during rotations is to apply and expand on the knowledge gained during his didactic education. He plans to specialize in either family medicine or dermatology and hopes to remain in West Virginia after graduation.
“I’ve always known I wanted to pursue a career in medicine, but I wasn’t entirely sure which path was the right fit for me,” Hoover said. “The PA profession stood out because of its flexibility, collaborative nature and the ability to provide high-quality patient care across various specialties. What truly sets PAs apart is their unique balance between autonomy and teamwork, which I find incredibly appealing.”
Sarah Hudacheck of Weirton, West Virginia, will complete clinical rotations in core specialties including women’s health, cardiology, psychology and rural medicine. She will also complete an internal medicine specialty rotation at WVU’s pain management clinic. Hudacheck has elected to pursue hematology/oncology at the WVU Cancer Center and an additional women’s health rotation at WVU, where she hopes to gain more experience in labor and delivery.
“I grew up being exposed to family members with illnesses and always knew I wanted to be part of a healthcare profession that provides high-quality and compassionate care,” Hudacheck said. “For me, being a PA allows me the opportunity to have an empathetic approach when treating patients, while also emphasizing collaboration and lifelong learning to provide the best care possible.”
Grace Rock of Salem, West Virginia, will complete clinical rotations in core specialties including family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine and neurology. She has elected to complete additional rotations in the neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) and pediatric surgery. Rock is especially looking forward to her rotations in pediatrics, rural medicine and neurology, where she hopes to apply her classroom knowledge in real-world settings and deepen her clinical experience.
“Receiving my whitecoat symbolizes all the hard work I have put into learning medicine and transitioning that knowledge into clinical practice,” Rock said. “I am grateful to all of my family, friends and educators for helping me to reach the moment I put on my whitecoat and continue my education in the clinical setting.”