Duke Physician Assistant Program News & Blogs

The Duke Physician Assistant Program held its 58th graduation on August 9, celebrating the class of 2025. A total of 88 students graduated from the program. Jacqueline S. Barnett, DHSc, MSHS, PA-C, who recently retired as division chief and program director, welcomed students and attendees to the ceremony.

Second year Duke PA student, Alexander (Tram) Whitehurst, was recently elected to the AAPA House of Delegates as a Student Delegate for the 2025-2026 year, where he will help represent PA students through policymaking. This year’s election cycle was notably competitive, requiring two run-off elections in addition to the general election to determine the final group of 35 delegates.

Duke Physician Assistant Program Admissions Blog There is a lot that goes into the waiting period between submitting CASPA and getting an interview. Like we mentioned in previous blogs, the wait can seem extremely long, but it’s a great chance to plan ahead. Being prepared can make things less stressful and take some of the weight off your shoulders.

In May, Duke PA faculty, students, and alumni attended the 2025 American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) conference in Denver, CO. Held annually, this conference gathers PAs and PA students from all across the country for a week filled with education, networking, and entertainment. Duke PA students came in energized and ready to showcase their leadership and passion for the profession. 

This month, we’re shifting from our admissions blog post to continue highlighting more of Duke PA students’ amazing volunteer work this year. Let’s take a look at the Joyce Health Fair.

The Duke Physician Assistant Program held its annual White Coat Ceremony on June 27. During the ceremony, 89 students from the class of 2026 received white coats, marking their transition from classroom learning to clinical training.

It has been a full year for Duke PA students, both in and outside the classroom. From hosting fundraisers and school carnivals to the much-loved visit to Burton Elementary, they have found meaningful ways to make their mark and shine a light on the PA profession.

“In the beginning, I simply wanted pots and seeds to grow pollinator plants, because I thought that planting into the ground would be too steep of a goal… But over time, it became clear that this garden would grow into something much deeper, and much larger than I ever could have anticipated.”

First-year student Skyler Gubbels has been elected to serve on the Student Academy Board of Directors for the 2025 cycle. Gubbels will represent the Southeast region as the Southeast Regional Director. The AAPA website describes the Regional Director position as follows:

Beta Tested: DPAP Approved How Peer Partnership and Purpose-Built Tech Modernized Volunteer Engagement As the Stead Society student secretary for the Class of 2026, one of my core responsibilities is to track and manage individual and class-wide volunteer hours.