South College President Steve South, South College Executive Vice President Dr. Kimberely Hall, Rear Admiral Michael Milner and Dr. Ken Harbert, dean of the school of Physician Assistant Studies, gather at the South College Master of Health Science Physician Assistant Studies Program graduation ceremony at the Tennessee Theatre on Dec. 19. Milner is chief health services officer and Assistant Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service and was keynote speaker at the ceremony honoring the program’s first graduating class.
South College graduated its first class in the Master of Health Science Physician Assistant Studies Program during a ceremony at the Tennessee Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 19. A master’s degree was conferred on students completing this 27-month program.
A white coat ceremony also was held for Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2010 students who have finished their instructional course work and will move into the clinical study phase of the program.
“This is a banner day for South College and the 28 students that have completed this program,” said South College President Steve South. “The master’s degree program gives our students the additional instruction they need to be leaders in the health care community. We commend our graduates on their hard work and encourage them to continue to strive for excellence throughout their careers.”
The Master of Health Science Physician Assistant Studies degree program consists of a 15-month didactic phase and an additional 12 months of clinical practice. More than 70 percent of the clinical year is spent in rotations with health care providers throughout East Tennessee.
“Practicing medicine as a physician assistant with the supervision of a licensed physician is an exciting and rewarding career,” said Dr. Ken Harbert, dean of the school of Physician Assistant Studies. “This is a diverse group of professionals, highly qualified and well prepared to be competent, compassionate and comprehensive health care providers.”
At the ceremony, Rear Admiral Michael Milner was keynote speaker. Milner serves as chief health services officer and Assistant Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service.
“What we do really makes a difference,” Milner said. “In my job I am able to influence policy to allow for better outcomes at the patient level.”
Several South College Physician Assistant Studies students have ties to the U.S. military.
The 47 students in the Class of 2010 participated in a white coat ceremony. Donning the traditional white coats symbolizes the compassion and caring required of the physician assistant as well as the trust that must be earned from the patient.
The Physician Assistant Studies program at South College has become an extremely sought-after step to a rewarding career path. This year more than 675 applicants vied for the 52 available spots in the program.
South College is a private institution accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. South College educates students for selected careers in high-demand fields and offers bachelor’s degrees in business administration, elementary education, legal studies, nursing, pharmaceutical science, and health science, as well as associate degrees in various fields including accounting; business administration; medical assisting; network administration and security; paralegal studies; physical therapist assistant; and radiography. For more information, visit http://www.southcollegetn.edu.
South College Master of Health Science Physician Assistant Studies Program graduates Hannah Holcombe, Nancy Moulton, Ashlee Newland and Derek Rhoton were inducted into Phi Alpha, the National Honor Society for Physician Assistants, at their graduation ceremony at the Tennessee Theatre on Dec. 19. This year more than 675 applicants vied for the 52 available spots in the Physician Assistant Studies Program at South College.
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