The students in Randolph-Macon’s Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program learned where they’ll tackle their first clinical rotations with a “rotation reveal” event Monday. 

The PA students, who are entering their second year of RMC’s 24-month program, will complete seven different six-week clinical rotations throughout 2024, spanning the core areas of family medicine, behavioral medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, women’s health, pediatrics, and internal medicine. 

“The launch of the Class of 2024 into clinical rotations represents a milestone in the development of the PA program and our first steps into the community in support of our mission,” said Erich Grant, RMC’s Program Director for Physician Assistant Studies. 

The rotation reveal event brought the students together to simultaneously open envelopes containing their rotation assignment, celebrating the news with color-coded cake pops that corresponded to their assignment’s core area. 

“The PA program’s rotation reveal was spectacular,” said PA student Nicole Ramkey. “You could tell a lot of work was put into it to ensure the students felt very accomplished and excited going into the next chapter of their studies.”

RMC’s students head off to a wide range of locations, from small sites like Ashland Medical Center to hospital systems like VCU Health. Clinical rotations give students hands-on interactions in public health settings like hospitals, emergency rooms, clinics, and operating rooms, under the guidance of preceptors. Preceptors—physicians, PAs, nurse practitioners, and other qualified healthcare providers in their respective fields—are an integral part of the learning process for the PA students, helping them transfer their lessons gained through the first year of classes at RMC to clinical practice situations. 

 In January, the PA program will also welcome its second cohort of students, the Class of 2025.