Written & submitted by Shelby Koelz, PA-S

East Carolina University PA Program

Shelby Koelz is a Physician Assistant Student at East Carolina University. She currently serves as the NCAPA Student Representative for ECU PA Program.

The East Carolina University Department of Physician Assistant Studies was founded early on in the history of the PA profession, opening its doors to students in 1966. Insightful and intentional faculty, who have all previously or currently worked clinically, and skilled administrative staff operate the program out of ECU’s Allied Health campus in Greenville, North Carolina. Per the program’s website, “ECU PA studies, celebrates, and respects the differences in all humans.” They “strive to matriculate students of backgrounds that are representative of the patient population of east North Carolina” and “empower ECU PA students to promote healthcare literacy, wellness, and reduction in healthcare disparities among these patient populations.”

Students selected for the 27-month program complete a 15-month didactic curriculum and then transition into a year of clinical rotation throughout the state, primarily concentrated in the eastern region of North Carolina. Throughout the curriculum, the program focuses on medical service from a primary care lens, but graduates go on to care for patients in a variety of medical disciplines.

Didactic and Clinical Year

The first fall of didactic year consists of 15 credit hours of foundational science, including clinical, gross anatomy, and human physiology. Students also take intros to their core courses: clinical medicine, history and physical exam, principles of PA practice, and pharmacology. From their first semester, students engage in multiple learning modalities that cultivate critical thinking through hands-on learning opportunities. In anatomy, students have the opportunity to learn in a cadaveric lab. In history and physical exams, students rehearse and test their skills for patient interactions in the PA lab and at the Eastern Area Health Education Center (AHEC) with standardized patients. Additionally, ECUs Laupus Library provides students with helpful resources, such as online textbooks, clinical skills practice, practice clinical questions, anatomy models, and more. You often find students independently engaged in their work or collaborating in the library’s various study spaces!

Students practice point of care ultrasound (POCUS) in the Brody School of Medicine Simulation Center

In their second fall, students take a 15-hour course load. This semester’s courses help bridge didactic and clinical education. They include Behavioral Medicine and Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare, Introduction to Clinical Practice, Surgery and Emergency Medicine Skills, and Evidence-Based Medicine.

In the final 12 months of the program, students participate in 10 clinical rotations. Eight of the student’s rotations will be four weeks long, including behavioral medicine, general surgery, emergency medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, geriatrics, and two electives with an international opportunity. In the past, groups have traveled to Honduras, Kenya, and Belize. At the end of their program, students graduate with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant studies. They are eligible to sit for the PANCE, of which the program has a historic 100% pass rate.

Interprofessional Events & Community Outreach

Each semester, students participate in Interprofessional Education events with other students from the College of Allied Health Sciences programs such as Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Addiction & Rehabilitation Studies, Audiology, Nutrition, Clinical Laboratory Science, and the Dental and Medical schools. Cohorts also participate in the ECU PA Student Society (PASS). Students hold elections for president, vice president, secretary, historian, treasurer, and student representatives for AAPA and NCAPA.

There are additional community and campus-based councils and committees. The community service community works in collaboration with the Brody School of Medicine and ECU Health, which provide education and outreach in the community through events, such as Pirates vs. Cancer, and the ECU Health HTC bleeding disorder barbecue. ECU PA sends volunteers to clinical opportunities, including the Pitt County care clinic, where students can utilize skills such as physical exams and vitals to serve patients in collaboration with other health professionals. Students also organize volunteer opportunities with organizations, including Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan’s Feet, and local nursing homes. Social and sports committees create opportunities for students to build community and spend time together outside of the classroom.

Mentorship Within the Program

Each year, incoming students are paired with an upperclassman mentor who can provide insight and guidance in navigating life as a PA student, creating a connection between the current cohorts. The cohort of 2025 is currently out on rotations. They return to Greenville at the end of each month to take their end-of-rotation exams and share their clinical experiences. The cohort of 2026 is in the second semester of their didactic year, improving their SOAP note-writing abilities, expanding their differential diagnosis, and learning a variety of tests and treatments. Recently, students gathered together to watch the Super Bowl. Many students look forward to Playing or watching the intramural soccer season that will begin shortly. The program looks forward to welcoming the class of 2027 in August.