When the class of 2022 interviewed for their place in the Duke Physician Program there was no inkling of the pandemic that would change the shape of the world for years to come.
Most of the class already had their acceptance letters by the time COVID-19 slammed down on the health care system, but most continued to work in health care up until matriculation to save money for their journey through PA school. The carefully crafted path they stepped onto when they interviewed in the fall of 2019 suddenly shifted and filled with uncertainty.
The class of 2022 was the first class to arrive to their initial day of classes on Zoom instead of in person. They did not find their favored place in the classroom and arrange their supplies just so; they did not come together with their families and the rest of the program for a welcoming picnic; their white coat ceremony was virtual with students frequently shrugging on their own coat in their bedrooms.
Being the first is never easy, especially when it is not a choice given freely.
The class of 2022 demonstrated the remarkable resilience and determination that earned them their seats in the Duke PA Program in the first place. They dealt with uncertainty as COVID protocols shifted, both in the classroom and on their clinical rotations. They found ways to get to know each other despite not gathering as a group until the end of their first year.
After two years of frustrations, tears, joy, and learning, the class saw the culmination of their efforts. Loved ones watched as the students walked beneath the Gothic arches and stained glass of Duke Chapel to receive their certificates. A patchwork sea of masks served as a reminder that the pandemic lingers on.
In her welcoming speech, Division Chief and Program Director Jacqueline S. Barnett, DHSc, MSHS, PA-C, said, "You successfully navigated the COVID-related mountains and valleys necessary to get here to this day and you did amazing things during your time at DPAP and truly embraced the humanity and the mission of the program. You served others, and you were particularly interested in caring for those in rural and underserved communities."
COVID and social unrest shook the status quo, but the class of 2022 consistently found opportunities within the turmoil.
Barnett highlighted the advocacy of the graduating class, saying, "The class of 2022 volunteered, covering 91 shifts at the COVID vaccine clinics across Durham. But guess what? You didn't stop there. You were vocal, displaying an unwavering commit to equity and justice and combating the phobia and "isms" in all of their oppressive forms. Yes, you spoke up, and you spoke out. You spoke out about voting rights, poverty, housing, food insecurity and hunger. And most recently body autonomy and a woman's choice related to reproductive health."
Stead Society President Helen Cheng added, "Being a PA student is hard in any year, but it has been uniquely difficult these past two years. With so much social unrest going on in the world around us, there have been countless times we have felt helpless, isolated, and even unable to focus during lectures. Again, despite these challenges, we persevered and channeled that passion that frustration towards giving back to our community."
Most recently, the class of 2022 Stead Society set up a GoFundMe to support reproductive health care in North and South Carolina. They surpassed their first goal of $2400 within one hour of the fundraiser going live and, in the end, raised over $7000.
Social and health justice were themes throughout the graduation ceremony.
Calling on students to continue the hard work of health justice after graduation, School of Medicine Dean Mary Klotman, MD, said, "COVID is just one more example of the nation's enormous disparities in access to health care; and it does influence outcomes. The pandemic showed us in stark relief that access and outcomes are far too dependent on economic, environmental, and social factors, independent of the biology of the pathogen. So, we must break that cycle, and you can do it one patient at a time."
After leading the class and other health care professionals in attendance through the Hippocratic Oath, Assistant Professor Janelle Bludorn, MS, PA-C, said, "although this oath is the gold standard for medical ethics, I actually feel like he's setting the bar a little bit low. And that's because I know for each and every one of you graduating today, well trained, and from the Duke PA Program as Duke PAs, you are going to do a lot more than 'do no harm,' you are each going to do a lot of good."
Congratulations to the Duke Physician Assistant Program Class of 2022!
Awards
This year, the following PA students were inducted into Pi Alpha, the national PA honor society:
Tyler Cummings
Nicole Derby
Austin Graydon
Stephanie Rahim
Claire Tucker
Jessica Woodling
Daniela Kessler
Soijett Blue
LeiMeredith Byers-Moore
Mishel Navarrete Celestino
Dwight Tan
Kathryn Burrows
Samantha Moyer
Anne Wacker
Mei (Meggan) Wong
Scheele Award
Academic Coordinator Lorraine Anglin, MHS, PA-C announced Austin Graydon as the Scheele Award recipient for the class of 2022.
The Scheele award, established by the Duke PA program in 1970, recognizes alumnus Richard J. Scheele.
Anglin said Graydon, "embodied the role of a PA student with a demonstrated record of community and class service, strong academic performance, leadership across multiple venues, and steadfast professionalism throughout his two years at Duke.
"He championed fundraising efforts as a stead leader. And sought additional learning opportunities by participating in the Duke Navigator Program, a program that engages students in end-of-life care with patients experiencing terminal disease."
He also worked in COVID vaccine clinics and participated in the Future Clinician Leaders Society exploring barriers to smoking succession.
Joyce C. Nichols Award
Joyce Nichols, the first woman and first Black physician assistant was a tireless advocate for the poor and underserved. Recently, the Durham housing authority announced they would be naming their newest building, "The Joyce,” in honor of Nichols.
Director of Clinical Education Alicia Bolden, DMSc, MPH, PA-C, presented the Nichols award to Soijett Blue.
Bolden recognized Blue for her empathy and advocacy for underrepresented individuals and her "unwavering passion and commitment in outreach and recruitment in underrepresented, Black, indigenous, and persons of color to the PA profession."
During her time in the PA Program, Blue organized recruitment events in partnership with the PAs of Color and the Duke PA Program. She was active in organizing and leading the admissions week diversity hour. In addition, she supported or facilitated discussions about topics such as pronouns, gender identity, autism acceptance, ways to unlearn ableism, and intersectionality.
Henry "Buddy" Lee Treadwell Award
This award, presented from the graduating class to a member of the program faculty, is named after Treadwell, who greatly influenced the vision of Eugene A. Stead Jr., M.D., for PA education and function. Stead founded the Duke Physician Assistant Program and the profession.
Class of 2022 student LeiMeredith Moore-Byers presented the Treadwell award to Academic Coordinator Betsy Melcher, MS, ATC, MHS, PA-C.
Moore-Byers said, "It is no surprise why this Duke pa program faculty member was nominated by myself and classmates here today. Somehow during a global pandemic and countless Zooms, she built connections, familiarity, and unity, even through a computer screen. When being placed into breakout rooms as a student, you could sense everyone's literal joy and ease when her name popped up as the coordinator for the session."
PA Partnership Award
Melcher then honored Paul Kerns, BA, EMT-P, CPDM, with the PA Partnership Award for his work with CPR Consultants. Kerns, an emergency medical professional for the past 25 years, has served as its president for 14 years. The Duke PA Program has worked with CPR Consultants since 2008 to provide PA student instruction in basic and advanced cardiac life support, intubation, IV insertion, and phlebotomy. Rebecca DeWitt and Yakisha Cole accepted the award on his behalf.
Honorary PA Award
Barnett accepted the Honorary PA Award on behalf of Emily Adams, MPA, who was unable to attend the ceremony. Adams has served as the NCAPA Executive Director since March 2016. In that role, she advocates for PA practice rights as a registered lobbyist and represents NCAPA and the PA profession throughout the state. Under her leadership, NCAPA won two Constituent Organization Awards from AAPA for student advocacy initiatives.
Staff Award
Earlier this month, the class presented the Staff Award to Preclinical Program Coordinator Jan Stem, saying, “Jan was truly our rock during our first year, providing a sense of stability, comfort, and joy during a time of uncertainty and disconnect from our program and peers.”
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