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What first inspired you to pursue a career as a physician assistant? In college I was always in sports and medicine. I decided to do athletic training in college and realized I wanted to touch a lot more people than just athletes. I looked around and came across the PA profession, and after shadowing I thought it was great. It allowed me to be independent and a part of the team. I could connect on a different level. I saw both the athlete and clinical side.

What first inspired you to pursue a career as a physician assistant? I wanted to be in health care and take care of patients, but I didn’t feel like medical school was the right mixture of what I was looking for.

Duke Physician Assistant Program Alumni Magazine is published by the Duke Physician Assistant Program Alumni Association Editors -April Loehmer Stouder, EdD, MHS, PA-C Division Chief and Program Director, Associate Professor in Family Medicine and Community Health -Andrea Martin Assistant Dean for Digital and Brand Communications -Jennifer Carpenter Associate Director, Marketing -Kyla Fisher, BFA Staff Specialist – Communications and Recruitment

Raheleh Ghasseminia, PhD, MS, OT/L, assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and a member of the Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program, successfully defended her dissertation and earned her PhD in Community Health Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Department of Public Health Education.

What first inspired you to pursue a career as a physician assistant? As a kid, I always loved science. My mother was a nurse and I knew that was not what I wanted to do.  As a biology major in college, I was fascinated by the physiology of the human body and life in general. My advisors tried to steer me to teaching or nursing, neither of which appealed.  After college, I worked in a couple of different labs where I had mentors who really encouraged me to go to medical school.

A group of pre-health students from North Carolina A&T University recently visited Duke to gain an inside look at the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), and Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) programs. The visit provided students with the opportunity to explore campus facilities, observe classes in action, and connect directly with program faculty and staff.

The Class of 2027 has been busy giving back to their community, bringing the service they started last semester into the new one. They have put the Duke PA mission and values into practice by strengthening our community partners and emphasizing the importance of advocacy and service. Let’s take a look back at a few highlights from their community building efforts and how they continue to make a lasting impact in Durham.

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Dr. Nirali Dubal (second from left) with students who participated in her mindfulness “Sunset Reset” on March 11, 2026 Retired pediatrician-turned-life coach Dr.

First-year students in the Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program joined peers from the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Nursing, and Physician Assistant (PA) programs for the annual Adaptive Sports Experience (ASE), held this year at the Brodie Recreation Center. This immersive event brought together interprofessional learners and community athletes to explore the importance of inclusive fitness, wellness, and participation for people with disabilities.