by Kenna Watson, PA-S, Wingate University
Wingate’s main campus, the Levine College of Health Sciences.
Wingate University’s PA program began in 2008. The first year of the 27-month program is comprised of learning didactic material, followed by clinical rotations in various specialties for the remainder of the program. The main campus is in Wingate, NC, which is just outside of Charlotte, providing students access to great medical facilities. In 2013, the program expanded and started a satellite campus in Hendersonville, NC, to train providers to meet the healthcare needs of Western NC. Students in Hendersonville participate in live video lectures from the main campus and in-person lectures. In 2021, Wingate has obtained the largest class size of yet, with 40 students at the main campus and 20 at the Hendersonville campus.
Wingate PA Program, Hendersonville Campus
New Developments
This year, Wingate’s PA program began a new transitions course to help second year students prepare for their clinical rotations. The course runs from August to November, during which time students hone their skills in using ultrasounds, conducting physical exams, suturing, and other skills useful for clinicals. Various alumni come and talk to students about the specialties that they currently work in. Students also participate in workshops to refresh on previous didactic material, such as ABGs, EKGs, and murmurs. Certification classes are provided in IUD placements, BLS, and ALCS.
Wingate PA students during their transition course.
Service
Recently, students volunteered to participate in a Project Access competition. Project Access is a non-profit organization that has created a free program for students from less privileged backgrounds to apply for both undergraduate and graduate programs and was seeking to raise awareness of the PA profession. In October, groups of PA students provided interactive presentations about the PA profession and becoming a PA student to three high schools in the Wingate area and one high school in the Hendersonville area.
Students also recently provided a presentation for the “Upward Bound” program, in which local high school students interested in healthcare related fields came to learn more about the profession by visiting the Wingate PA program.
Currently, students are holding a canned food/toiletry/clothing drive for the Union County Community Shelter in Monroe, NC.
Wingate students presenting information for Project Access
