NAU Physician Assistant Studies students celebrate at white coat ceremony
The NAU College of Health and Human Services’ Master of Physician Assistant Studies class of 2027 celebrated their white coat ceremony this May at the Phoenix Bioscience Core campus. The white coat ceremony marks a symbolic milestone as students transition into the clinical training phase of their education.
The significance of the ceremony emphasizes the institutional trust and honor placed in these future practitioners as they leave the classroom stage of their academic training and begin their hands-on training as physician assistant (PA) clinicians. During the ceremony, students recited the Physician Assistant Oath for Patient Care, pledging to perform their clinical duties with honesty and dedication as program faculty presented them with their white coats.
Jacob Gubler, PA department chair and associate clinical professor, presented the ceremonial address, commenting, “The white coat ceremony marks an important milestone in the journey to becoming a physician assistant. It recognizes students for hard work and dedication while underscoring the values that define the profession: lifelong learning, compassion, service, and a commitment to providing exceptional care to the communities they will serve.”
All fifty-seven students will begin their rotations in August, at clinics in Yuma, Tucson, Kingman, Flagstaff, Phoenix, Bisbee, and in rural and underserved communities throughout the state. Students apply and match with institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, where multiple members of the ‘27 cohort will begin their training after a rigorous application process.
Faculty, family, and friends gathered to support the PA cohort and recognize their achievements and sacrifices in the journey of earning their degrees. As they begin their clinical training, students carry their oath to serve with compassion, professionalism, and integrity through their white coat ceremony and into the clinic.
Congratulations to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies class of 2027!
Contributed by: Emma Johnson