inaugural Physicians Assistant Studies program students

Most of the inaugural Physicians Assistant Studies program gathered for an informal meet-and-greet a few weeks ago. On June 3, their journey begins! 

20 Students Start Historic Journey as 1st Physician Assistant Class

Morehouse School of Medicine’s Newest Degree Program Makes Its Debut

In 2017, Morehouse School of Medicine President and Dean Valerie Montgomery Rice, M.D., and the executive leadership team, with approval from the Board of Trustees, gave the green light to begin laying the groundwork for a new Physician Assistant Studies (PAS) program. Nearly three years of planning and work come to fruition on Monday, June 3, when the first 20 members of the inaugural cohort class report for orientation and the start of their historic journey.

The move to add a PA program was driven partly by demand; the number of open positions is expected to climb 40 percent over the next decade, and U.S. News and World Report ranked the profession third on its 2018 “100 Best Jobs” list.

More than just demand factored in, however. PAs are a key part of the patient-centered healthcare team and a critical link to enhancing patient access to healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved areas. These highly trained professionals – they undergo an average of 2,000 hours of clinical rotations in outpatient clinics and hospitals after a year of classroom study – are licensed to practice medicine under a doctor’s supervision. They can conduct physical exams, order and interpret diagnostic studies, write prescriptions, treat chronic illnesses and assist in surgery.

Increasing access to healthcare and improving health outcomes in underserved rural and urban communities while increasing the diversity of the healthcare workforce, are cornerstones of MSM’s mission, which made the choice to grow the program an easy one.

Beyond that, however, the creation of the Physician Assistant Studies program represents Morehouse School of Medicine’s continuing evolution as a health sciences center.  In 2018, the Master of Public Health program became Graduate Education in Public Health with the addition of an online MPH program, and additional related degree programs are being planned. Dr. Montgomery Rice also has said that plans for MSM’s future are open to adding various health sciences programs that align with the school’s mission.

Once the decision was made, things moved swiftly. MSM formally announced plans to launch the PAS program in March 2018 and began accepting applications the next month. Close to 1,000 interested prospects submitted one. From that group, 100 were granted interviews in June.

In October 2018, program leaders announced that  the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant had granted the program Provisional Accreditation, opening the door to admit the inaugural cohort class of 20 students.

Now all the planning comes together the week of June 3-7, as the class members and their families gather for the program’s initial orientation, followed by the first day of class on Monday, June 10. The 28-month, full-time program leads to the awarding of the Master of Science in Medicine Physician Assistant Studies degree when they graduate in 2021.

The Morehouse School of Medicine physician assistant program is driven by vision, mission and legacy. It will empower students to make health equity a priority and address community health issues. This has been a phenomenal journey. Our success is primarily a result of the great support from our executive leadership, and the unified efforts and contributions from the entire MSM community.”
Pangela Dawson, Ph.D., PA-C, founding program director

Applications are now being taken through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) for next year’s PAS class. To be considered for admissions, applicants must submit their completed application and all supporting documentation on or before Sept. 1, 2019.

#3 Best 100 Jobs List,
US News & World Report
2017
#3 Best Healthcare Jobs List,
US News & World Report
2017
#1 on Most Promising
Jobs for Millennials List
Forbes, 2017
#5 Fastest Growing Jobs
in America, Bureau of
Labor Statistics, 2017

The “First” PA?

Henry Lee “Buddy” Treadwell

In 1940, Henry Lee “Buddy” Treadwell was a young African American in Garland, North Carolina. The local general practitioner, Dr. Amos Johnson, hired Treadwell as an office “orderly” to escort patients to the examining rooms, prepare rooms for the next patient and clean laboratory equipment.

Gradually, Johnson taught Treadwell to perform many of the routine tasks in his office, such as taking vital signs, suturing, conducting laboratory tests and developing x-ray films. By 1950 Treadwell was recognized as Johnson’s assistant and managed the practice while Johnson was away.

Dr. Eugene Stead Jr. is generally recognized as the originator of the physician assistant concept at Duke University in 1965, but he readily acknowledges that the idea was not his exclusively. Prior to the development of the Duke program, many physicians such as Johnson were training their own assistants.

“I believe that he (Buddy) has played a very significant role in the evolution of this program, for it was through Dr. Stead’s contact with him and Dr. Johnson that nurtured the notion (PA concept),” a program administrator wrote about Treadwell, urging that the program honor him. In 1970, the Duke University PA program made Treadwell an Honorary Physician Assistant.

When Johnson died in 1975, Treadwell decided not to continue practicing as a PA although he was offered jobs by physicians in surrounding communities. Instead, he started a restaurant in Garland before Johnson’s death and decided after 30 years to leave medical practice. Treadwell died on Oct. 4, 1990 at age 68. Interestingly, Stead launched the Duke PA program on Oct. 4, 1965 – 25 years earlier to the day. *

*Source: Amos Johnson MD and Mr. Henry Lee “Buddy” Treadwell: A Prototypical MD/PA Practice” by Reginald D. Carther, PhD, PA, and Thomas Clark, MSLS.


Meet the History Makers

The inaugural Physician Assistant Studies class, the Class of 2021, has 20 students – the current program capacity. More than half are from Georgia, while others come here from Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Ohio.

Name State Undergraduate Institution Major
Alexandria Blake GA University of Georgia Biological Sciences
Erica Courson GA Middle Georgia State College Biology
Brianna Cummings GA George Washington University Biology
Nnena Ezeabasili GA Kennesaw State University Biology
Lorna Gitari-Mugambi GA Georgia State University Biology
Thelisha Glover GA Georgia Gwinnett College Biology
Candace Lymus VA Old Dominion University Psychology
Deandra Mahon FL University of South Florida Biomedical Sciences
Tara Martin GA Spelman College Biology
Kabriel Moorehead FL University of Central Florida Biomedical Sciences
Amarachi Odu GA Indiana University of Pennsylvania Radiology
Victoria Ohuoba GA University of Georgia Biological Sciences
Amanze Onwuka TN University of Tennessee Neuroscience
Quaadir Otto-Smallwood PA Lock Haven University Health Science
Teodoro Pineda GA Georgia Gwinnett College Exercise Science
Nicolle Ramsay-De Jesus GA Emory University Allied Health
Krystle Richmond GA Clark Atlanta University Biology
Courtney Smart OH Howard University Sports Medicine
Edmund Smith GA Oglethorpe University Neuropsychology
RaKetra Snipes GA Clark Atlanta University Chemistry

Meet Some Class Members Up Close

Teodoro Pineda

Pineda Teodoro
Nickname
Alberto
Hometown
Dallas, TX
High School
Phoenix High School
Undergraduate School
Georgia Gwinnett College
Major
Exercise Science
Hobbies
Lifting heavy objects and putting them back down, reading, playing PC games

How did you become interested in a career as a PA?
During my freshman year of college in an intro to exercise class, the discussion was about potential careers with the degree. I originally thought I wanted to be a PT (physical therapist) but after shadowing both professions I realize what I really wanted.

Why did you select MSM?
The mission statement. I very much identify with it on a very personal and familiar level. 

How does it feel being part of the first-ever Physician Assistant Studies class?
It's an honor. I can't express how grateful I am to the faculty for selecting me to be a part of MSM history.

What do you hope to do once you graduate?
My interests include primary care, neurology and surgery. Those are all my current interests, but I am open to whatever life has in store for me. Other than that, personally, I want to take an initiative with the Latin American Association to bring awareness to the Latino population about the PA profession and serve as a mentor to interested youth. 

Tell us more about you, the person. What shaped you growing up? What challenges did you have to overcome? Were there special people in your life who helped you along the way? Feel free to share any information that you would like people to know about you.
Growing up in a single-parent household I got to see life from a different perspective than most people. Not having two parents to raise you forces you to mature in certain aspects of life. I became independent at a very early age. I am very grateful to my mom for teaching me to never give up no matter how hard life gets and for also showing me that hard work pays off. Also, for always feeding me!

Edmund Smith

Edmund Smith
Nickname
Edmundo (pronounced Ed-moon-doe)
Hometown
Fayetteville, GA
High School
Whitewater High School
Undergraduate School
Oglethorpe University
Major
Biopsychology
Hobbies
Spending quality time with friends and family, road trips, trying new restaurants, working out

How did you become interested in a career as a PA?
I always knew I had a passion for healthcare and that I wanted to make my mark in my community as a provider. My interest to pursue the Physician Assistant program truly sparked after working with a great handful of PAs in an urgent-care system in Atlanta. The PAs I worked with always had an amazing amount of investment in their patients, truly emphasized patient education, were always so willing to teach and impart any sort of knowledge on me, and generally always seemed to go the extra mile.

As I worked with PAs over the past 4 years, I always told myself that "This is the provider I want to be like," and "this is the way medicine should be." This is not to say I never had wonderful experiences with doctors or NPs, but I shared most of my monumental moments in healthcare with PAs. I want to continue to build upon this legacy and inspire others and be a ray of light to everyone I meet.

Why did you select MSM?
When selecting PA programs, MSM stood out among all others not solely for its standard of academic excellence, but for the promise of fostering students who will take what they learn in the classroom and apply it fully and sincerely to the greater community. I'm very passionate about giving back and enhancing my community, and even further, becoming a civil servant through medicine. With the guidance and philosophy of MSM, I know I will become an exceptional healthcare provider and learn from experiences beyond the run-of-the-mill PA program.

How do you feel being part of the first-ever Physician Assistant Studies class?
Being part of the first PA class is a tremendous honor! Gaining acceptance into a PA program is difficult enough, but I can only imagine how daunting it must be to select the first class that essentially has to set the tone for future classes. To be part of the first class, MSM saw the potential, the strengths, the ingenuity, the leadership, the scholarship, and the optimum care in everyone selected. It’s now up to us to show why we will be the most formidable class in history.

What do you hope to do once you graduate?
I truly hope to practice in primary care or emergency medicine upon graduation.

Tell us more about you, the person. What shaped you growing up? What challenges did you have to overcome? Were there special people in your life who helped you along the way? Feel free to share any information that you would like people to know about you.
I would be nothing and no one without the love and support of my parents and siblings. My parents, both immigrants from Panama and Costa Rica respectively, have always encouraged me to be the best that I can be and to let any doubt of my capabilities fade away. Regardless of any sort of financial struggles or any other adversities, we are always strong in spirit. My dad specifically always preached to "Seek God, Seek Education, and to Stay Out of Trouble" since I was child. I lived by this philosophy and it has never failed me, and it never will fail me.

Erica Michelle Courson

Erica Michelle Courson
Nicknames
EE, Southern Belle, Big E
Hometown
Macon, GA
High School
Windsor Academy
Undergraduate School
Middle Georgia State University
Major
Biology
Graduate School
Fort Valley State University, Master’s in Animal Science
Hobbies
I enjoy reading cardiology journals. I love helping at the cardiologist office in my free time. I go to the gym daily and love dancing. I love watching basketball (enjoying the NBA Finals this week...Go Warriors!). I enjoy attending pretty much any sporting event. I do enjoy shopping and going to the beach, but pretty much find the joy in every situation or location I am at!

How did you become interested in a career as a PA?
I became involved in the medical field eight years ago. This is where I encountered one of the most passionate medical providers who exposed me to the core values of a PA and the compassionate caregiving that I dreamt of giving when I was growing up. Interacting with this PA and his patients on a daily basis was a remarkable experience and helped to nurture the seeds that were planted in my childhood. The knowledge and experience I gained through this time have truly been invaluable to both my education and my career. I was able to see the compassion and high-quality care that is given to those who are less fortunate in our community. Medical care is not about the paycheck, it is about making a difference in the life of others regardless of socioeconomic background. Bias concerning religion, race or sexuality should not play a role in who is able to receive care or the quality. The Hippocratic Oath should surely be spread and practiced across the medical field and not just by physicians. It is our duty as our brother’s and sister’s keepers to care for one another. This experience helped to strengthen my resolve and reaffirm my commitment that the PA route was for me.

Why did you select MSM?
I selected MSM because of the mission at MSM. I look forward to giving back to the community and serve underserved/underprivileged areas. I felt “at home” at the information session. I knew leaving the information session that MSM is where I wanted to be.

How do you feel being part of the first-ever Physician Assistant Studies class?
When I received my acceptance letter, my eye filled with tears not only because the joy of getting accepted into a PA program, but because I was accepted into the historic Morehouse School of Medicine PA program’s inaugural year. I am honored to be a part of a profound institution.  I am blessed to be one of the 20 individuals selected for the first-ever Physician Assistant Studies at MSM. I will be forever grateful for MSM giving me this opportunity of a lifetime. I am proud to be a part of the MSM family!

What do you hope to do once you graduate?
I plan to work alongside a cardiologist with hopes to not only practice in office, but also in a hospital setting. I would like to potentially work in the OR with a cardiothoracic surgeon preforming surgery.

Tell us more about you, the person. What shaped you growing up? What challenges did you have to overcome? Were there special people in your life who helped you along the way? Feel free to share any information that you would like people to know about you.
Being a part of the PA program, the newest professional graduate program offered at the historic Morehouse School of Medicine, will allow me the opportunity to not only use my skills and knowledge from the thousands of clinical/ experience hours over the past seven years, but it will give me the opportunity to explore a variety of different models of care that will be centered to exceed the patient needs for the urban and rural under-served regions in Georgia.

Coming from a low-income family it is my firm belief that everyone deserves high-quality medical care no matter how rich or poor that person might be. Being a female in a male--dominated field will provide for diversity in the scientific work force and within the health profession. My extensive background in education, research and service will also be a great addition to the Morehouse School of Medicine as I spent the majority of my undergraduate and graduate career preparing for this. The amount of research I completed while working on my master’s degree help hone my skills for the Morehouse School of Medicine. In my opinion there is not a greater calling in life than serving others. Some serve in the military or political arena; I choose to serve in the field of medicine. I am honored to be a part of the Morehouse Medical School family, and an absolute thrill to finally be able to give back and serve underprivileged areas in my home state!

As John Wesley stated, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.” I am a firm believer in this motto!

Nicolle Ramsay-De Jesus

Nicolle Ramsay-De Jesus
Hometown
Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
High School
McIntosh High School
Undergraduate School
Emory School of Medicine
Major
Medical Science
Military Service
None but proudly serve America’s veterans at the VA
Hobbies
Watch my kids play sports, swim, workout, bike ride, hike, travel

How did you become interested in a career as a PA?
A few years ago, I felt slightly limited in my career field and wanted to do more- PA is it!

Why did you select MSM?
Excited to be a part of a brand-new program at an institution that has a such a deep-rooted foundation in the community and an impressive history seemed like an amazing opportunity.

How do you feel being part of the first-ever Physician Assistant Studies class?
Excited! To be given an opportunity at this college as a Hispanic woman is really exciting.

What do you hope to do once you graduate?
I really enjoy working at the VA hospital, so I would love to learn everything I can and take that knowledge back to the VA.  

Tell us more about you, the person. What shaped you growing up? What challenges did you have to overcome? Were there special people in your life who helped you along the way? Feel free to share any information that you would like people to know about you.
The most important part of me are my children. There is nothing I am prouder of than shaping them and watching them develop into these unique and brilliant people. Coming from a small but loving family was at times lonely, but my parents taught me that some friends are like family. My mother’s lessons were not limited to just family and friends; she taught and continues to teach by example with an indiscriminate passion for voicing her beliefs. She has always been my number-one supporter and will knock down any wall that stands in her way.  I made decisions that forced me to face and overcome certain challenges and am stronger now. I love to learn and try to be great at everything I do, and I am so excited to begin!

 

What is a PA?

PAs are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative. PAs practice in every state and in every medical setting and specialty, improving healthcare access and quality.

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