White Coat Ceremony

Welcome Remarks

Karen E. Kim, MD, MS
Dean
Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Rural Health Research and Professor
Penn State College of Medicine
Physician-in-Chief
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Penn State University

Introductory Remarks

Larissa Whitney, DBA, MHS, PA-C
Assistant Dean and Program Director, PA Program
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Penn State College of Medicine

Keynote Speaker

Sarah Atkins
OSS Health

Welcome and Introduction of Alumni

Kevin Black, MD
Interim Vice Dean for Educational Affairs
Professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation
Penn State College of Medicine

Introduction of Students and Presentation of White Coats and Stethoscopes

David Richard, MD, FAAFP
Larissa Whitney, DBA, MHS, PA-C
Kristi Gruber, DMSc, MEd, PA-C
Seth Fuhrman, PA-C

Administration of the Physician Assistant Oath

Dan Weiss, MSPAS, PA-C
Faculty, PA Program
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine
Penn State College of Medicine

Closing Remarks

Kevin Carballo
Physician Assistant Student

Light reception immediately following the ceremony.

Sarah Atkins

OSS Health

Sarah Atkins is a physician assistant at OSS Health in York. She started that position immediately upon graduating from Penn State PA program in 2016. Over the last 2 years at OSS, she established an osteoporosis clinic to combat the rates of hip and vertebral fractures in addition to improving osteoporosis screening for the community. She currently serves as a board member for PSPA and cochair for the Public Relations and Education committee. She works with PSPA to improve state regulations for PAs in the state and educating the community about the profession.

Sarah is passionate about PA legislation and advocacy to improve health care access. She enjoys working with her patients in different roles; from urgent care, in surgery or post-op visits. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her 2 kids and husband. Prior to PA school she served in the Army for 8 years as a radiology technologist.

Flandra Berisha
Pennsylvania State University – BS

Lydia Brown
Pennsylvania State University – BS

Sandra Chalghin
University of Connecticut – BS

Alexa Chin
University of Central Florida – BS

Anthony Colache
University of Texas – BS
United States Air Force – 11/2011 - 11/2017

Rachel Everette
Johnson & Wales University – BS

Natalie Guerrisi
New York University – MS
Loyola University – BS

Sydney Hemler
Pennsylvania State University – BS

Lauren Hinley
George Mason University – BS

Christina Hoang
University of Texas – BA, BS

Mathew Hoffman
Pennsylvania State University – BS
Pennsylvania National Guard – 12/2022 - Present

Benjamin Jones
University of Virginia – BS

Kelly Jones
Michigan State University – MA, BS

Megan Kantz
Mercyhurst University – BS

Anisha Laddha
Wayne State University – BS

Alexis McClelland
University of Richmond – BA

Dzejlana Mehmedovic
Dickinson College – BS

Brian Nafarrete
Augusta University – MS
Georgetown University – BA

Brandon Naranjo Cervantes
Shippensburg University – BS

Caroline Olson
California State University – MS
University of California – BS

Madeline Penick
University of Iowa – BA, BS

Brenda Quinones Flores
University of Puerto Rico – BS

Taylor Reed
Pennsylvania State University – BS

Jennifer Rennich
Westfield State University – BS

Cameron Rexrode
Pennsylvania State University – BS

Emily Sausser
Lebanon Valley College – BS

Julia Smecker
Pennsylvania State University – BA

Nikki Tajaddini
University of Maryland – BS

Morgan Wade
Pennsylvania State University – BS

Parker Wilson
AT Still University – MS
Brigham Young University – BS

Physician Assistant Professional Oath

I pledge to perform the following duties with honesty and dedication:

I will hold as my primary responsibility the health, safety, welfare and dignity of all human beings.

I will uphold the tenets of patient autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence and justice.

I will recognize and promote the value of diversity.

I will treat equally all persons who seek my care.

I will hold in confidence the information shared in the course of practicing medicine.

I will assess my personal capabilities and limitations, striving always to improve my medical practice.

I will actively seek to expand my knowledge and skills, keeping abreast of advances in medicine.

I will work with other members of the health care team to provide compassionate and effective care of patients.

I will use my knowledge and experience to contribute to an improved community.

I will respect my professional relationship with the physician.

I will share and expand knowledge within the profession.

These duties are pledged with sincerity and upon my honor.

The Physician Assistant Professional Oath is recited at white coat ceremonies, which mark physician assistant students’ transition from the classroom to clinical studies and at graduation.

By taking the oath, students pledge to put the health, safety and privacy of their patients first and adhere to a professional code of ethics.

The Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants developed the oath, which their Assembly of Representatives adopted.

Congratulations to the Class of 2027 Scholarship Recipients

• Flandra Berisha

• Lydia Brown

• Sandra Chalghin

• Rachel Everette

• Lauren Hinley

• Megan Kantz

• Brenda Quinones Flores

• Cameron Rexrode

• Parker Wilson

Acknowledgements

Ushers from the Class of 2026:

• Kyla Brossoit

• Jodee Flurry

• Jordan Geis

• Riley Gerber

Special Thanks

Thanks to the generosity of alumni, friends and Highmark Blue Shield, custom Penn State stethoscopes are being gifted to the Physician Assistant Class of 2027. The stethoscopes are engraved with the lion shield and “We Are Penn State” as a reminder that a College of Medicine education starts with a white coat, a stethoscope and a supportive community with arms wide open.

Stethoscope, Pen Light and Reflex Hammer Donors

Mr. Seth Fuhrman, PA-C

Dr. and Mrs. Alan Bedrick

Dr. and Ms. Alan Halliday

Dr. Alyssa Vigliotti

Dr. Anthony Tascone

Mr. Brent Leiby

Dr. Bridget Rafferty

Dr. and Mrs. David Hulbert

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Betterly

Dr. and Mrs. Douglas Spotts

Dr. Gordon White

Dr. Hannah Miller and Dr. David Fanelli

Dr. and Mrs. Harris Stutman

Dr. Jacqueline Heath

Dr. and Mrs. James Groff

Dr. and Mrs. James Kerrigan

Dr. John J. Plosay III

Dr. Joshua Glick

Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Glick

Dr. Kristin Larson and Mr. David Richardson

Dr. Lester Sultatos and Dr. Carol Gagliardi

Dr. Lindsay Alaishuski

Dr. Paul Regan

Dr. Mark Glick and Dr. Margaret Grotzinger

Dr. and Mr. Marjorie Dunkle King

Dr. Mark Cohen

Dr. Natthapol Songdej

Dr. Ninad Pendharkar and Dr. Asavari Thatte

Dr. Patricia Curtin and Mr. Thomas White

Dr. Rachel Fogle and Mr. Vincent Divittore

Dr. Ray Zarlengo and Dr. Beth Lange Zarlengo

Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Krol

Dr. Stuart Goldberg and Dr. Stephanie Hamarman

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Graham

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Olenginski

Dr. Tiffany L. Whitcomb

Dr. and Mrs. Timothy Deimling

Dr. To-Nhu Vu and Dr. Ambrose Liu

Dr. Vonn Walter and Dr. Natalie Aucutt-Walter

Dr. and Mrs. W. Stephen Barnes