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

Program Director Remarks

Larissa Whitney, DBA, MHS, PA-C
Assistant Dean and Program Director, PA Program
Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine

Introductory Remarks

Kristi E. Gruber, DMSc, MEd, PA-C
Director of Didactic Education and Principal Faculty, PA Program
ssistant Professor, Department of Radiology

Keynote Speaker

Kathryn Kugler, PA-C, MEd, DFAAPA
Lebanon Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Welcome and Introduction of Alumni

Dan Weiss, MSPAS, PA-C
Director of Clinical Education and Principal Faculty, PA Program
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine

Introduction of Students and Presentation of White Coats and Stethoscopes

Kristin Hill, MS, PA-C
Principal Faculty and Assessment Lead, PA Program
Assistant Professor, Department of Urology

Larissa Whitney, DBA, MHS, PA-C

Kimberly Walker, PA-C
Principal Faculty, PA Program

Administration of the Physician Assistant Oath

Timo Besse, PA-C
Principal Faculty and Admissions Chair, PA Program
Assistant Professor, Department of Urology

Introduction of Student Speaker

Alexa Lantz, MSPAS, PA-C
Program Faculty and Early Assurance Admissions Chair, PA Program

Student Remarks

Julia Smecker
Physician Assistant Student

Closing Remarks

Emmanuelle Williams, MD, MEd
Associate Dean of Student Affairs
Professor, Department of Medicine

Light reception immediately following the ceremony.

Kathryn Kugler, PA-C, MEd, DFAAPA

Lebanon Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Kathryn Kugler, PA-C, MEd, DFAAPA attended King’s College PA program and graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physician Assistant Sciences. She went on to obtain a Masters of Education in Health Education from Penn State University in 2016 and is currently studying at A.T. Still University for her Doctorate in Medical Science and anticipates completing this in 2027.

Once graduating from PA school, Kathryn began her career in Philadelphia practicing Urology and then transitioned to a job in Family Medicine closer to her home in Hershey. Since that time, she has practiced in multiple specialties including Urology, Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Abdominal Transplant Surgery, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and Interventional Radiology with over 14 years of experience in Otolaryngology. Kathryn is currently practicing Otolaryngology at the Lebanon VA Medical Center for the past 3 years.

In addition to her clinical work at the VAMC, Kathryn teaches Internal Medicine residents, medical students, PA students and precepts PA students on a regular basis. She also provides guest lectures for multiple PA programs and speaks at work, specialty, state and national conferences. In addition, Kathryn teaches part-time in a Masters of Biomedical Sciences program at A.T. Still University which aims to prepare students to apply for and succeed in PA school.

Kathryn has a strong background in leadership throughout all aspects of her professional life. She is the Vice President of the Medical Staff at the Lebanon VAMC and will progress to President next year. In her prior PA job, she held the position of Lead Advance Practice Provider for the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center. She has been a delegate for Pennsylvania to the American Academy of Physician Associates House of Delegates for many years and is a Distinguished Fellow of the AAPA. She is a past president of the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Associates and has been the chair of multiple committees including: Silent Auction, Regional Affairs, Reimbursement and Governmental Affairs. Kathryn takes a special interest in Governmental Affairs and helped the PSPA pass legislation to modernize PA practice in the state during her leadership tenure.

Emily Barb
Pennsylvania State University – BS
US Air Force – 2017-Current

Elizabeth Bolton
North Carolina State University – BA

Jenya Carter
Northern Kentucky University – BS

Brian Combary
Adelphia University – BS

Brianna Dawes
University of Central Florida – BS

Deborah Denman
New York University – BA
Columbia University – MS

Jenna Gibbons
Brigham Young University – BS

Lynnae Gilman
University of Michigan – BS

Annie Gonzales
University of Alaska – BS

Casey Grayson
Smith College – BA
New School University – MA
US Air Force – 2019-2025

Pedro Hernandez, III
Kaplan University – BS
US Navy – 2017-2024

Cheyenne Hileman
Pennsylvania State University – BS

Kellen James
University of Washington – BA

Ethan Jones
Pennsylvania State University – BS

Megan Klare
Ohio Northern University – BS

Brinley Lance
Utah State University – BS

Eleanor Livingston
Liberty University – BS

Jayden Martin
Lewis-Clark State College – BS

Carter Miller
University of Kentucky – BA
US Army – 2024-Current

Elizabeth Miller
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania – BS

Arthur Minahan
Pennsylvania State University – BS

Adrianna Neiman
Pennsylvania State University – BS

Kelsey Piatkowski
Clemson University – BS

Hailey Quiterio
Lebanon Valley College – BS

Benjamin Scheu
University of Vermont – BS
University of Utah – MS

Allison Schrass
Pennsylvania State University – BS

Larissa Semanchuk-Enser
SUNY – Buffalo State University – BA

Anna Marie Simon
Florida State University – BS
American Military University – MPH
US Army – 2024-Current

Alisha Toy
University of Maryland - 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.

PA Program Faculty and Staff

Acknowledgements

Ushers from the Class of 2027:

• Natalie Guerrisi

• Morgan Wade

• Christina Hoang

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 2028. 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

Highmark Inc.

Dr. Lindsay A. Alaishuski

Karen L. Banks

Matthew C. Banks, MD

Alan D. Bedrick, MD

Mrs. Sally Pollock Bedrick

Kevin P. Black, MD

Mr. Frank J. Bonini

Dr. Keith C. Cheng

David P. Clark, MD

Mrs. Deborah A. Clark

Edward W. Cowen, MD, MHSc

Gwendolyn Walton Curry, MD

William J. Curry, MD, MS

Patricia M. Curtin, MD

Dr. Steven P. Dear

Dr. Kathleen C. Dougherty

Mrs. Kristine H. Evankovich

Dr. Michael R. Evankovich

Mr. Daniel S. Fabian

Mary P. Fabian, MD

Mary Lynn Fecile, MD, PhD

Mrs. Cathy Glick

Kenneth A. Glick, MD

Mark R. Glick, MD

Margaret L. Grotzinger, MD

Paul M. Haidet, MD

Chad R. Haldeman-Englert, MD

Mrs. Maria C. Hamilton

Dr. Kimberly S. Harbaugh

Robert E. Harbaugh, MD

Dr. Eileen F. Hennrikus

Dr. William L. Hennrikus

David S. Hulbert, MD

Mrs. Randi Martin Hulbert

Kelly E. Joyce MD

Mary Bradley Kawan, MD

Mr. Robert J. Kreidler

Mrs. Christine L. Leon

Edward E. Leon, MD

Dr. Shou Ling Leong

Jeffrey L. Martin, MD

Mr. Sean Marx

Dr. Gail L. Matters

John J. Messmer III, MD

Mrs. Tasha Messmer

Malik N. Momin, MD

Ms. Mumtaz Momin

Kathleen T. Montone, MD

Dr. Paul B. Nelson

Mrs. Teresa Cullen Nelson

Dr. Megan M. Rayman

Paul A. Regan, MD

Christie G. Regula, MD

Schwab Charitable Fund

Kathy J. Selvaggi, MD

Diane E. Shafer, MD

Douglas A. Spotts, MD

Mrs. Sue Ellen Spotts

Mr. Chad M. Templin

Kristin S. Templin, MD

Dr. Alyssa A. Vigliotti

Donald J. Vigliotti, MD

To-Nhu H. Vu, MD

Mr. Thomas M. White