Springfield, MO, September 16, 2024 — Drury University hosted its first Physician Assistant (PA) White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at the O’Reilly Enterprise Center in the Judy Thompson Executive Conference Center. This ceremony featured Drury’s first cohort of physician assistant students as they participated in a symbolic rite of passage to signify the shift from focusing on themselves to the care of patients. At the ceremony, students committed to fulfilling their responsibilities with honesty and dedication. This Pledge of Professionalism includes promises to deliver effective patient care, contribute to the betterment of the community, treat all patients with equality, and continuously strive to expand their knowledge and skills.
“This is a landmark event for the Drury University PA Class of 2025 as they take their first steps to treat patients and serve the population of southwest Missouri, the surrounding communities and states, and across the country,” said Dr. Lawrence Herman, Clinical Professor and Program Director. “The Department of PA Medicine faculty, staff, and our university administration could not be prouder of this talented group of healthcare professionals and the incredible work that they will be performing.”
Keynote Speaker: Brett Clayton, PA-C
Mr. Brett Clayton is an experienced orthopedic PA and educator, serving as both a preceptor for PA students and an adjunct professor with the Drury PA Program. He works at Phelps Health in Rolla, MO, with a Fellowship-trained shoulder surgeon. Brett earned his Master of Health Science Physician Assistant Studies from Drexel University in 2008 and is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA). Raised internationally in U.S. Embassy communities, he is fluent in German and resides in Rolla with his wife and six children.
In his speech, Clayton remarked that respect and happiness are crucial to being a physician assistant. “Treat everyone with respect, whether you work with them or if they are your patients. Another component of being a physician assistant is that you have to be happy — you are setting an example for those around you,” he said. “Be positive and do the best that you can. As you work hard in your rotations, you will become better physician assistants.”
Brief History of the PA Program
The PA profession began in the U.S. in response to the changing healthcare landscape of the mid-20th century. Over the past 50 years, PAs have become vital to the healthcare system, with the field continuing to grow. Dr. Eugene Stead launched the first PA program at Duke University in 1965, using highly trained US corpsmen as students. Since then, the profession has expanded, serving underserved populations and gaining government support for its quality, cost-effective, and collaborative care model. While the profession has gone through many changes throughout the last half-century, it has maintained its original emphasis on collaboration and excellent patient care, while expanding its diversity, specialties and geography.
To find out more about Drury’s PA program, contact Dr. Lawrence Herman at lherman@drury.edu or visit drury.edu/graduate/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies/.
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Media Contact: Lawrence Herman, DMSc, MPA, PA-C, DFAAPA, Clinical Professor, Interim Program Director | Office: (417) 873-7249 | Email: lherman@drury.edu