Duke Physician Assistant Program News & Blogs

Two Duke University School of Medicine students are among the 31 graduate students recently named 2026-27 North Carolina Albert Schweitzer Fellows.    Students selected to this year’s class by the North Carolina Albert Schweitzer Fellowship will spend the next year learning to effectively address the social factors that impact health as they develop lifelong leadership skills.   

Artificial Intelligence platforms can plan trips, budget finances, provide directions on how to repair broken appliances and devices, and so much more. But how much can health care providers actually trust the information it generates in a clinical setting?     Nicholas Hudak, PhD, PA-C, professor in family medicine and community health, is helping physician assistant (PA) students answer that question through a 4-hour seminar.   

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.

What first inspired you to pursue a career as a physician assistant? I was one of those people that always knew I wanted to be in medicine. I always thought the only way to do that was to be a doctor, so I grew up with that thought of I'm going to go to medical school. I went through the process and didn't get in, and it made me reevaluate things. It never sat quite right with me. I knew I wanted to be in medicine, but something didn't align.

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

While I always knew I wanted to go into medicine, I never fully believed I was capable of doing so. As many of you who are reading this are aware, every step of the process of becoming a medical professional tests you in new ways, constantly reminding you of how much there is of both you and the world that you’re unaware of. Although I knew on paper I was a good candidate for PA school, the idea of absorbing all the information provided during the didactic year into my brain or embodying the dream version of myself a

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.

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.

The Class of 2005 took a trip down memory lane as they returned to the Duke PA building for their 20th anniversary. Benee Rich, Lisa Hasan, Rochelle, Jose Corporan, and Bill Sanford all enjoyed reconnecting with one another. The 2025 PA Week was a busy and very spirited time for Duke PA students. Each day had its own theme, with students wearing pink on Wednesday in support of breast cancer awareness. On Thursday, they represented their alma mater, and on Friday, students wore their Duke blue.