Veterans are central to the history of the PA profession. Their service and dedication have helped to grow the foundation of the field into what it is today. For a small PA history lesson, it all started with Dr. Eugene A. Stead, Jr., MD, who saw the need for additional medical assistance following World War II and looked to expand access to care in rural and underserved communities. The first class consisted of 3 Navy Corpsmen, whose military medical training and experience played a major role in its establishment. Without Dr. Stead’s eye and acknowledgment of their incredible training and potential, the profession would not be what it is now.
Throughout the years, we have had many amazing veterans who have helped advance the course of healthcare.
We want to take a moment to acknowledge a few of our current students, staff and faculty who are veterans and who continue to build PA history.
To learn more about how their service continues to influence their path to healthcare, we asked a few of our veteran students to reflect on some lessons from the military that have helped them in PA school.
Alexander (Tram) Whitehurst – Second-year student
Alexander (Tram) Whitehurst
U.S. Army | 12 Years of Service
“All that practice with sleep deprivation has helped on overnight shifts in the Emergency Department this rotation.”
Kassidy Brown – First-year student
Kassidy Brown
U.S. Navy | Served alongside the U.S. Marines
“The military put me through some challenging situations and taught me how to handle high-stress environments. That's not to say PA school isn't stressful — because it is — but my time in service gave me a different way to frame the pressure and the confidence that I can get through anything.”.
A Few of Our Faculty and Staff Veterans
Lovest Alexander Jr., MHS, PA-C, DFAAPA
U.S. Air Force (Active Duty) | U.S. Army Reserve
Brandi Tuttle
U.S. Army
As we celebrate Veterans Day, we would like to thank our veteran colleagues for all that they have done and have contributed to the profession!
The Duke Physician Assistant Program Admissions Blog presents information based on the experiences of Duke PA Program staff and faculty. While the information provided is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication, requirements can change. Please visit the Duke PA Program website for the most up-to-date information.
