The Franklin College Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program held its White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. The college’s cohort of 22 PA students from the class of 2026 received their white coats and recited a medical oath before family and friends inside the Clarence E. & Inez R. Custer Theatre in Old Main on the Franklin College campus.

Jasmina Cheeseman, MSPAS, PA-C, MLS, program director and associate professor of physician assistant studies, delivered the opening remarks for the ceremony, welcoming students, family and friends to the event.

Next, Franklin College President Kerry N. Prather addressed the guests. He extended congratulations to the students on achieving the significant milestone of the symbolic white coat. He also recognized four exceptional students recently selected for the Indiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars Program. This program is part of a national initiative to prepare tomorrow’s health professionals to lead in interprofessional, transformative practice, serving those who need it most. The four students will receive a stipend for travel and related expenses while participating in online and community-based learning experiences in rural and underserved communities throughout Indiana. The students include: Carley K. Bond, Emma C. Jackson, Ashly N. McDonald and Sajal Salim.

Prather also had the honor of presenting the PA Student of Excellence Scholarship. This scholarship, established in 2021 by a dedicated class of PA students, was created to provide financial support to their successors during the demanding clinical year. The scholarship is unique in that it is entirely funded by PA cohorts through their own fundraising efforts. The tradition reflects the generosity of the PA students, and the care they bring to everything they do. The recipient is chosen based on his or her embodiment of the core values of the program: approachability, compassion, cooperation, inclusivity, empathy, positivity and self-motivation. This year’s recipient is Kierstyn McDaniel.

Following President Prather’s remarks, Jennifer Simmons, MSPAS, PA-C, clinical coordinator and assistant professor of PA studies, presented the Preceptor of the Year award to Veronica Mosier, MD., citing her dedication to the students. Mosier is a pediatrician at WindRose Health Network in Franklin. Originally from Kansas, she earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Kansas. She moved to Indiana to complete her residency at Riley Children’s Hospital through IU Health.

The ceremony marks the halfway point of the 25-month, full-time program. Christopher Zietlow, M.D., program medical director and adjunct assistant professor of physician assistant studies, explained the symbolism of the ceremony as a rite of passage that welcomes students into the health care practice by providing a white coat signifying professionalism and humanistic patient care. At Franklin College, it also marks the transition from the didactic year to the clinical year and the beginning of clinical rotations.

Class of 2026 President Andrew Owens, PA-S, spoke to the guests next. Owens, a native of Plainfield, Indiana, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati. He had the honor of representing a class that hails from seven states and 18 different undergraduate institutions.

Owens was joined on stage by Lauren Smith, class vice president. Together, they shared student superlatives such as “most likely to bring her dog to class” and “most likely to always have snacks on hand.” The personal insights shared the personality of each class member with the audience, while showcasing the closeness of the class.

Following Smith’s remarks, the students participated in the cloaking ceremony, led by members of the physician assistant faculty, and then recited the PA Professional Oath, pledging to perform their duties with honesty and dedication.

The ceremony is the sixth for Franklin College. The program’s seventh cohort of PA students will begin their studies in January 2025.

Students receiving their white coats include:

Aubree Jane Adams is from Garland, Utah. She completed her undergraduate degree at Utah State University.

Madison Joanna Auito is from Rochester Hills, Mich. She completed her undergraduate degree at Saginaw Valley State University.

Ruba Bakdash is from Fishers. She completed her undergraduate degree at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.

Victoria Anne Baver is from Fishers. She completed her undergraduate degree at Anderson University.

Carley Kathleen Anne Bond is from Indianapolis. She completed her undergraduate degree at Franklin College. Bond was selected as a recipient of the Indiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars Program.

Joshua Michael Christensen is from Layton, Utah. He completed his undergraduate degree at Brigham University.

Kuldeep Kaur Gill is from Bakersfield, Calif. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of California – Los Angeles.

Makenzie Taylor Ginn is from McCordsville. She completed her undergraduate degree at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Emma Carol Jackson is from Columbus.  She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Indianapolis. Jackson was selected as a recipient of the Indiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars Program.

Isabella Alexandra Liliac is from Columbus. She completed her undergraduate degree at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus.

Kierstyn Korinne McDaniel is from New Castle. She completed her undergraduate degree at Indiana University East. McDaniel is the recipient of the PA Student of Excellence Scholarship.

Ashley Nichole McDonald is from North Vernon. She completed her undergraduate degree at Marian University. McDonald was selected as a recipient of the Indiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars Program.

Katie Lynn McDuffie is from Indianapolis. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Indianapolis.

Thanh Trung Nguyen is from Jacksonville, Fla. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of North Florida.

Drew Owens is from Plainfield. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Cincinnati.

Sajal Salim is from Plainfield. She completed her undergraduate degree at Purdue University. Salim was selected as a recipient of the Indiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars Program.

Robert James Stiles is from Plainfield. He completed his undergraduate degree at Concord University.

Courtney Jade Swingewood is from Carmel. She completed her undergraduate degree at Albion College.

Maria Guadalupe Vazquez is from Round Lake, Ill. She completed her undergraduate degree at Muhlenberg College.

Avery She Xi Wagoner is from Plainfield. She completed her undergraduate degree at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.

Brittany Sue Walker is from Savannah, Ga. She completed her undergraduate degree at Piedmont College.

Lauren West is from Greenwood. She completed her undergraduate degree at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.

About the Franklin College Physician Assistant Program:

Franklin College received Accreditation-Provisional for the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) program in the fall of 2018 and enrolled its first cohort in January 2019. The college’s MSPAS program is a 25-month course of study. Graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) and become licensed as a physician assistant in any state.

The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies is made possible by a nearly $1 million grant awarded to the college in 2014 from the Lilly Endowment, as part of its Initiative to Promote Opportunities Through Educational Collaborations. It is the second master’s program launched by the college.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Franklin College Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program sponsored by Franklin College. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be 2033. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-franklin-college/.

For more information, contact the Franklin College Office of Communications at (317) 738-8185.