Plans discussed roughly five years ago officially came to fruition Monday morning atop Emmanuel Hill.
Milligan College welcomed its inaugural class of physician assistant students during a special morning matriculation ceremony, an annual tradition of where students sign the college’s registry, inside the Mildred Welshimer Phillips Memorial Chapel.
The inaugural class is comprised of 26 students from nine states with 15 hailing from Tennessee. During Monday’s ceremony, Program Director Andrew Hull said the students’ average age was between 22 to 53 and hail from different backgrounds, which make a superb inaugural class.
“You are the real trailblazers,” Hull, a certified physician assistant, told the incoming class.
Milligan’s 28-month, 108-credit hour Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program allows students a foundation in primary to work with physicians and other members of a healthcare team in a variety of medical specialties. According to information provided by the college, the ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to Milligan’s program.
Having the ability to offer a physician assistant program did not come without help, Hull added. Along with thanking individuals that aided the creation of the program, the director indicated students will have an opportunity to work with different medical organizations throughout the Tri-Cities, including Mountain States Health Alliance, Wellmont Health System, State of Franklin Healthcare Associates and Holston Medical Group.
“I’m thrilled we are able to extend the college into another segment of healthcare and increase our relevance into a changing world of healthcare,”said Milligan President Dr. Bill Greer. “Milligan’s physician assistant program will help meet a critical healthcare need both regionally and nationally.”
Greer stated the goal of the school was to include different medical-based learning programs for students while staying true to Milligan’s core message of providing servant leaders to the world.
The president added that the acquisition of Emmanuel Seminary allowed the school to bolster its ability to offer programs, which now includes the PA program.
One of Milligan’s staunch supporters continues to be MSHA, according to Greer. Bob Feathers, MSHA board chair, attended Monday’s ceremony and provided words of encouragement to the PA Class of 2020.
Students were recognized during the meeting participating in the reading of the affirmation of commitment and support and signing the matricula.
Milligan’s inaugural PA class is comprised of: Ryan Bader (Johnson City), Amanda Carey (North Carolina), Carley Carter (Nashville), Madeline Cass (Columbia), Caroline Derrick (Nashville), Dustin Edwards (Erwin), Ryan Farmer (West Virginia), Bradley Fullbright (Johnson City), Chelsea Herald (Kingsport), Brian Jones (Johnson City), Shivali Kanal (Franklin), Josh Lawson (Cleveland), Robert Love (Jonesborough), Kathryn McGowan (Florida), Jonathan Oakie (Arizona), Sandra Porter (California), Branda Frankhorn (Louisiana), Joanna Roberts (Johnson City), Malia Scott (California), Tawny Shelton (Florida), Mark Singleton (Johnson City), Caleb Stephens (South Carolina), Owen Thigpen (South Carolina), Kaith Beth Watts (Sweetwater), Kevin White (West Virginia) and Kayla Yates (Bristol, Tenn.).