By Miranda Weavil, PA-S, Class of 2022 NCAPA Student Representative, High Point University
Congdon Hall
High Point University’s PA program was founded under the leadership of Linda Sekhon, DHSc, PA-C in 2014. The program began class instruction in 2017 and is housed in Congdon Hall, the home to the Congdon School of Health Sciences and Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy.
Lobby of Congdon Hall
The mission of the HPU PA Studies Program is geared to “deliver a student-centered, experiential curriculum grounded in high academic and ethical standards. The program strives to develop compassionate PAs who are self-directed lifelong learners prepared to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care as members of an interprofessional health care team.” HPU is a growing program, from the inaugural class of 19 students, to the most recent 7th cohort Class of 2023, consisting of 56 students. Graduates of HPU’s 27-month program (15 months of didactic and 12 months of clinical rotations) earn a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree. Our Five-Year National First Time Test Taker Average for the PANCE is 96%.
Class Updates
Class of 2021
The Class of 2021 just recently completed their final clinical rotation and are preparing for PANCE as well as their upcoming graduation on Saturday, August 14, 2021! Congratulations Class of 2021!
Class of 2022
The Class of 2022 is a few weeks away from completing their 4th and final semester of didactic year. They will soon be preparing for “Clinical Prep Week” which includes End of Didactic year evaluations, EMR onboarding, and PACKRAT. Due to the pandemic, the Class of 2022’s White Coat ceremony has been moved to September 3rd , 2021 prior to starting their first clinical rotations in early September 2021.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Even in the unprecedented times this past year, the Class of 2022 has been devoted to a multitude of volunteering opportunities within the local community. Some of those opportunities included the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Health Heroes Program at HPU, PA Week, PAPA Fights Hunger, Salvation Army drives, Rock Steady Boxing Program for Parkinson’s patients, and an American Red Cross Blood drive. PA students also volunteered to administer vaccines in Flu Vaccination Clinics and ongoing COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
PA Week and the American Red Cross Blood Drive
The Class of 2023 was welcomed in June of 2021 and have completed their first semester of didactic year.
Class of 2023
Continuing A Tradition During COVID-19
Interprofessional education has been an important part of the PA education each year at HPU since 2015. Through the Triad Inter-professional Health Education Center (IHEC) collaborative, partnership students from HPU Health Sciences Programs (PA, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Athletic Training) along with UNCG Schools of Nursing and Social Work, and NC A & T Schools of Nursing and Social Work, get the opportunity to “foster interprofessional education and collaborative educational experiences among a diverse group of healthcare professions.” The pandemic didn’t stop this opportunity, with students from all three schools still taking part in this IPE experience in a hybrid format on Zoom with modified in-person activities.
New Faculty
The High Point program has experienced new growth this past year with the addition of 7 new faculty to our didactic year team. We are quite honored to welcome to the didactic faculty Nolan Crain, MPAS, PA-C, Emily Godfrey, MPAS, PA-C, Brett Gordon, NREMT, MS, PA-C, Michele Jedlica, MD, Shelby Kirkpatrick, MMS, PA-C, Brittany Macon-Davis, DMSc, PA-C and Ashley Nursey MS, PA-C. This spring, HPU PA expanded the Clinical Year team to include three new faculty. We are delighted to welcome Alanna Brown, MHS, PA-C, Varnell McDonald-Fletcher, EdD, PA-C, and Teresa Starke MHS, PA-C to the HPU PA Studies family.
From left to right, top to bottom: Nolan Crain, MPAS, PA-C, Emily Godfrey, MPAS PA-C; Brett Gordon, NREMT, MS, PA-C; Michele Jedlica, MD; Shelby Kirkpatrick, MMS, PA-C; Brittany Macon-Davis, DMSc, PA-C; Alanna Brown, MHS; PA-C, Varnell McDonald-Fletcher, EdD, PA-C;
Teresa Starke MHS, PA-C and Ashley Nursey MS, PA-C not pictured.
