Duke Physician Assistant Program News & Blogs

Near-peer teaching, in which senior students provide instruction to students in the classes below them, has received growing recognition for its utility and efficacy in medical education. At the Duke Physician Assistant (PA) Program, three new student organizations are implementing near-peer teaching as a way to build student-learning opportunities: the Semi-Pro Seminars, the Duke Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Society, and the Wilderness Medicine Student Interest Group (SIG).

Should you retake courses for better grades, or take a completely different, higher level, course? When it comes to your GPA, CASPA includes everything. Retaking a course does not replace the grade in the GPA that CASPA sends to individual schools. So, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question.

The Duke Physician Assistant (PA) Program held its traditional white coat ceremony for first-year students on January 4, 2023.  For the first time since 2019, the entire first-year class gathered in one location to celebrate their journey into PA education.   

As we enter this new year, we have some suggestions of attainable resolutions that will further you along your path to becoming a PA and prepare you for your time in PA school.    

You’re scrolling through ads and political fundraising emails when you see a letter from your top choice for PA school. Maybe you go get a glass of water and calm your nerves before checking, or perhaps you open it quickly before the anxiety can set in; either way, you find yourself staring at the dreaded rejection letter. The first thing to do is give yourself grace — nationally, only 37% of applicants are accepted to any PA school in any given cycle. A rejection letter is only a snapshot in time and does not reflect you as a person or your future success as a PA. Take some time to practice self-care.

Earlier this month, Duke PA Program faculty and alumni traveled to San Diego for the 2022 Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) forum.   According to the PAEA website, “For over 25 years, the PAEA Education Forum has been the premier event in PA education, bringing together faculty and staff to learn and connect.” 

Last week faculty and staff of the Duke Physician Assistant (PA) Program gathered to wish a fond farewell and happy retirement to two long-serving faculty members, Pat Dieter, MPA, PA-C, and Peggy Robinson, MS, MHS, PA-C.

Our applicants find their passion for the PA profession at a variety of life stages. Some know they want to be a PA or a health care professional as children. Others come to the profession after a decade in different careers. Many potential applicants learn about the profession while working on their undergraduate degrees. Last month, we discussed the possible advantages of taking a gap year after college to shore up your application. But what can you do while you’re still spending most of your time in class?

Second-year student Lily McWilliams, RDN, recently presented at the “Spotlight on Stomach Cancer Symposium” hosted by No Stomach for Cancer, an organization providing support to stomach cancer patients and their families.

Each year the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) awards 15 Future Educator Fellowships to students of its member schools.     The PAEA website describes the opportunity as an “exciting year-long fellowship, designed to explore foundations in teaching, expose students to the current educational environment, and expand professional development and lea