Duke Physician Assistant Program News & Blogs

For more than 50 years, Edmund Joseph Wise, Jr., PA-C’74, MPH, has carried Duke’s physician assistant program with him throughout a distinguished career in healthcare, education, and professional leadership.

The Duke BLUE Interprofessional Scholars Symposium, held at the Duke PA program (DPAP), honored two Class of 2026 students for their accomplishments and completion of the program.Emily Walden, PA-S2, and Skyler Gubbels, PA-S2, both demonstrated excellence and have earned over 100 points through their participation in BLUE Scholars. 

When I started PA school, I hoped to become the kind of clinician who could do more than diagnose and treat disease. I wanted to build relationships, serve communities, and make a meaningful difference in people's lives. As I complete my final rotation, I realize that this experience in rural eastern North Carolina has been the clearest example of that vision brought to life.

Rising second-year student Daniel Toole has been elected to serve on the 2026 Student Academy Board of Directors. Toole will represent the Southeast Region as the Southeast Regional Director.Last year, this position was held by Duke PA second-year student Skyler Gubbels.

PA school is often described as the most challenging two years of your academic life. The pace is relentless, and the volume of material often feels like you’re trying to drink water through a firehose. It's easy to believe that every spare moment should be spent studying and that life has to be put on hold until graduation.

Whether you’ve made it to Durham and are preparing for PA school or you’re a prospective student visiting town, you may still be wondering, “What’s there to do?” Well, you’ve stopped by the right place, because with this warm weather, it’s actually the perfect time to get out and see what the city has to offer. If you’re looking for ways to explore, here’s a quick guide to a few local favorites that are worth visiting. 

The Duke University Physician Assistant Program recognized 89 students during its annual White Coat Ceremony on June 26. The ceremony is a rite of passage that signals the end of classroom learning and the beginning of clinical training.“You are now part of the Duke legacy,” said Program Director April Stouder, EdD, MHS, PA-C, PA, in her opening remarks.

Last month, Duke PA (DPAP) staff, students, and alumni attended the 2026 AAPA conference in Nola, Louisiana. This conference was full of DPAP representation, with faculty presentations, student poster presentations, and competitions. It was great to see another year of impactful work and connection across the PA community. 

Before my month-long orthopedic surgery rotation at the VA, admittedly, I carried certain preconceived notions of the VA, shaped by things I’d heard, veterans I’d briefly met, or stories of the military told by my family from Vietnam. From these pieces, I’d gather that veterans were hardened, calloused by their experiences, reluctant to seek outside help, and a distrust was built from their injuries, sacrifices, or years of service. I knew my observations were incomplete, but I didn’t fully grasp to what degree until I had the opportunity to care for them directly.  &nbs

With CASPA open, our admissions team (A-team) here at DPAP review a large number of applications each day. While each applicant is unique, we still come across a couple of common mistakes and patterns that could negatively impact an application.