Twenty-one graduates walked across the Blackwell Auditorium stage Saturday morning, receiving their diplomas and officially marking the completion of their Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.

The PA Studies Class of 2025 became the second cohort of graduates from the program, which opened its doors in January 2023. Their two-year journey included 12 months of preclinical immersion before seven six-week clinical rotations. PAs are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting and are essential members of our healthcare systems.

“Your curiosity, your work ethic, and the compassion you show patients have been evident in every interaction I’ve witnessed, and they reflect the very best of what Randolph-Macon’s PA program stands for,” remarked Medical Director Jeremy Sauer ’97. “You have made us all extraordinarily proud.”

“You have honed your skills as a critical thinker, seeking evidence to inform your care for patients with the knowledge that continuous learning will be critical for you and them,” said Dr. Michael E. Hill, RMC’s president. “You bring to your next role an understanding that to be patient-centered, you must bring cultural humility, empathy, and curiosity.”

“You are entering a class of servant leaders, a trait we hope to instill in all graduates of Randolph-Macon College and one that you have a unique opportunity to demonstrate,” Hill continued.

The graduates received hearty applause from friends and family as the degrees were conferred in a jam-packed Blackwell Auditorium, inside the Center for the Performing Arts.

Executive Director of Alumni Relations Rhonda Toussaint ’85 welcomed the graduates as fellow alumni and charged them to remain connected with the College and carry their training with them. “Remember that your skill is not only a reflection of your hard work, but also of the faculty, preceptors, classmates, and patients who helped shape you along the way.”

Lori Shelton, Director of Preclinical Education and Assistant Professor, led the graduates and all PAs in attendance in a recitation of the Physician Assistant Professional Oath. She then closed the ceremony with a final charge to the graduates. “The path you have chosen is one of immense responsibility, but also one that brings profound rewards,” she reflected. “You are the future of compassionate, high-quality care.”