On August 23, the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) PA Medicine Program will mark a historic milestone as it graduates its first cohort. The Class of 2024 will be honored at a hooding ceremony during commencement at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts, where family, friends and loved ones will gather to celebrate the achievements of these pioneering students.
“The PA Medicine commencement is a significant milestone, celebrating the hard work and dedication of our students as they embark on their professional journeys. Their commitment to patient care and the health of our communities inspires us all,” said MSUCOM Dean Joyce deJong, D.O.
The inaugural class comprises 32 physician assistants (PAs) from across the nation, including Michigan, Idaho, Massachusetts and Illinois. Notably, 13% of these graduates come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and 16% are first-generation college students.
Andrea Amalfitano, D.O., Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology, and former dean of the college from 2018-2023, will deliver the keynote address. Dr. Amalfitano, who played a central role in establishing the PA Medicine Program, is excited to reflect on the program's impact and future.
“It was one of the highlights of my tenure as dean to help initiate the MSUCOM Physician Assistant program, and it’s a thrill to now be a speaker at this inaugural commencement,” Dr. Amalfitano said.
“Our first graduating PAs are a testament to MSUCOM’s tradition of excellence and innovation,” said John McGinnity, MS, PA-C, PA Medicine program director. “These trailblazers have worked with our D.O. colleagues from the very start, and they are now ready to make a profound impact on patient care and medical teams. Our mission to produce graduates who are ‘Day 1’ ready for medical practice is clearly demonstrated by their exceptional readiness.”
Class of 2024 graduate Kelly McDonagh, PA-S, commended the faculty for their dedication and highlighted the program’s focus on career development. “The program faculty are some of the most intelligent, hardworking and caring people that I had the pleasure of meeting. There was never a time when I did not receive the support I needed from them,” he said. “Not only did the program provide a strong education, but there was a clear focus on career development. We had mock interviews, a resume workshop and even a job fair put on exclusively for the PA Medicine students.”
Upon graduation, students will begin their careers with positions secured in over six states, with additional contracts expected to be finalized in the coming days. Seventy-eight percent of the graduates will remain in Michigan and 71 percent will work in healthcare provider shortage areas and medically underserved communities. They will enter the field across 11 specialties, including internal medicine, family medicine, behavioral health, pediatric intensive care, orthopedic surgery, dermatology and cardiology.
Additionally, Summer Clay, PA-C, of University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Charlotte 123 Primary Care practice, will be honored as the first MSU PA Medicine Preceptor of the Year. This recognition, awarded by the MSU Department of PA Medicine faculty and the Class of 2024, acknowledges her outstanding contributions.
Physician assistants are in high demand, with employment projected to increase by 27% over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The PA Medicine Program at Michigan State University is a rigorous 27-month, 108-credit curriculum culminating in a Master of Science in PA Medicine degree. The program emphasizes collaboration with other healthcare professionals throughout both didactic and clinical training, preparing students to address the evolving needs of the healthcare landscape.