Each fall, the Duke Physician Assistant (PA) Stead Society organizes a Giving and Gratitude Campaign to raise money for local organizations and charities whose missions align with that of the PA program.
Because the nature of the first semester of PA school is sometimes frantic, Division Chief and Program Director Jacqueline Barnett, DHSc, MSHS, PA-C, challenged students to refocus their energy during this stressful time by serving others. Students organize various community and fundraising events as a way of demonstrating gratitude for being a part of the Duke/Durham community through extending themselves in service. Dr. Barnett reminds these future clinicians of what it means to serve as a health care provider and often recites the following quote by Winston S. Churchill, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
Barnett says, “The students really leaned into the Giving and Gratitude Campaign and this speaks to their altruistic spirit and strong match to the mission of the Duke PA Program. They are amazing!”
Previous years' events include food drives for local organizations dealing with food insecurity, donations to Durham Rescue Mission, and campaigns to raise money for the local Ronald McDonald House.
This school year, students raised $1043 for The Triangle Nonprofit Volunteer and Leadership Center’s project to match donors with local families who cannot afford holiday presents.
$1200 in supplies and food was split evenly between Durham Urban Ministries and the Durham branch of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
In addition, over $1100 was presented as a class gift to the custodial team at the PA program’s building on N. Duke St., in recognition of not only their daily behind-the-scenes work to provide the program with a clean building each morning, but also for their enormous efforts to keep the students, faculty, staff, and guests safe each day during the pandemic.
Recently, Barnett, and Associate Program Director April Stouder, MHS, PA-C, joined students in the classroom to present plaques and certificates to campaign leaders and organizers:
Adopt-a-Family
Olivia Granger (leader)
Lily McWilliams
Zoe Couse
Kelsey Martin
Bria Harris
Isabella Paya
Mariah Gowens
Shianne Wood
Seema Patel
Food Drive
Rebecca Gregory (leader)
Nathalie Le
Carrington McCallister
Custodial Staff Class Gift
Kendra Ireigbe (leader)
Parker Afari