In a historic December ceremony in Blackwell Auditorium, 22 students officially earned their Masters in Physician Assistant Studies—the first graduate students to complete their degrees at Randolph-Macon College. 

The first-ever winter graduation ceremony celebrated the individual accomplishments of the class, alongside the consequence of the occasion in the history of RMC. 

“Today, we celebrate the achievements of each individual candidate, and as a College we recognize the importance of such an endeavor: through this program and its first graduates, we multiply our hands. We reach into the future and beyond ourselves, arcing toward the ideal of health equity for all. One patient at a time,” remarked Department Chair and Physician Assistant Program Director Erich Grant.

“As the first class of graduating students, you have set the tone for the program.  You established the benchmark which future classes will be measured against, as well as its reputation,” reflected RMC President Robert R. Lindgren from the podium. 

“Your personal and professional actions carry added weight. Your success going forward will foster the program’s growth and advancement. Your success will aid in recruiting the next class of students and each class after that. Now, all of that may have been more than you thought you signed up for!  But by all accounts, you are a class very worthy of that responsibility,” he said.

The 22 Physician Assistant (PA) graduates completed their journey, which began in January 2023, by walking across the stage to receive their diplomas. Family and friends celebrated the conferring of degrees with a standing ovation and raucous applause. 

After Executive Director of Alumni Relations Rhonda Toussaint welcomed the graduates as fellow alumni, Professor Lori Shelton led the graduates—and all PAs in attendance—in a moving recitation of the PA professional oath. 

The graduation ceremony capped off a weekend of festivities for many graduates, which began with a hooding ceremony and dinner, during which the class celebrated their accomplishment with faculty and their families. At the graduation, many graduates were also joined by preceptors of their clinical rotations; these are the current medical professionals who helped teach them in medical practices, hospitals, and other healthcare settings. 

Many in the class relished the opportunity to pave this new ground. 

Meghan Andrepont, a Texan who had served as class president during her time at RMC, beamed as she took photos with classmates. “I was accepted into several programs in Texas,” she remembered. “But this place stole my heart. I just couldn’t stop thinking about the campus and the people here.”

This PA cohort began their two-year journey in the brand new third-floor facility in Duke Hall, which became their academic home. After a year of classes and labs, they were also the first to begin clinical rotations. (The program includes seven six-week clinicals for each student.)

“I was so excited to be first,” Andrepont said. “I couldn’t think of a better group of people—faculty and preceptors and classmates—to be first with!”

Andrepont plans to work in emergency medicine within the HCA network, the largest healthcare system in the United States. Her classmates will scatter around the country, and work in a wide variety of specialties in medical offices, operating rooms, and emergency departments.  

Randolph-Macon’s PA program continues to expand, in keeping with the strategic growth plan outlined at the outset. The second cohort begins clinical rotations and a third, slightly larger, cohort will begin their coursework in January 2025.