Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2023 participate in white coat ceremony

The Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2023 participated in a white coat ceremony on April 30, 2022.

The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Nicole Ludwig, MSPA, PA-C, assistant professor and director of Clinical Education in the Physician Assistant Studies Program at Seton Hill University. Ludwig was a member of the inaugural Division of Physician Assistant Studies faculty.

The White Coat ceremony traditionally symbolizes the transition from the didactic to the clinical phase of education. The clinical year schedule includes rotations in traditional medical and surgical disciplines as well as a four-week rural physician assistant practice rotation which provides students with hands-on experience evaluating and managing patients in a primary care rural setting. The Class of 2023 will begin their year of clinical rotations on May 16.

“During the ceremony, students were reminded that the white coat symbolizes important aspects of patient care including compassion, professionalism, competence, healing and empathy,” said Jennifer Momen, M.D., MPH, FAAP, assistant professor and program director for the Division of Physician Assistant Studies. “Students were also encouraged to let their new white coats serve as a reminder of the trust their patients will place in them. Their future patients will trust that they are knowledgeable, competent, willing to listen, selfless and honest about their level of knowledge and skills.”

Students in the Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2023 began their educational program in January of 2021.

To learn more about the Physician Assistant Studies program visit https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/physician-assistant-studies/.