{"id":12499,"date":"2018-09-25T10:51:54","date_gmt":"2018-09-25T17:51:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/medex\/?p=12499"},"modified":"2018-09-25T10:51:54","modified_gmt":"2018-09-25T17:51:54","slug":"medex-2018-graduations-having-a-full-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/test\/medex-2018-graduations-having-a-full-day\/","title":{"rendered":"MEDEX 2018 Graduations: Having A Full Day"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"dropcap\">I<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt\"><strong>n the final weeks of summer<\/strong><\/span>, MEDEX Northwest graduated 128 physician assistant students across its four sites. After two years of study\u2014one in the classroom, the last year in a variety of clinical settings\u2014the graduates took their place in front of friends and family to walk the stage and receive their certificates. Notable accomplishments were acknowledged, and the toil of two long years was recounted.<\/p>\n<p>MEDEX Program Director Terry Scott, MPA, PA-C, DFAAPA, kicked off all four ceremonies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a big day for everyone and a special moment for the graduates,\u201d Scott said. \u201cThey\u2019ve worked very hard, sacrificing time with family and friends to complete this journey. Today marks the end of your time with the MEDEX program and the beginning of your careers. We realize the challenges you\u2019ve faced in meeting a goal of this magnitude. We recognize also that something of this magnitude is never accomplished without the support of family, friends, and others.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"MEDEX Northwest 2018 Graduations\" width=\"1020\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Idsl-Wk3IsU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt\"><strong>Tacoma Class 4<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Based on the University of Washington Tacoma campus, this is the newest site in the MEDEX family. With a strong military representation, MEDEX Tacoma 4 turned out 29 graduates in the 2018 class.<\/p>\n<p>Upon taking the stage, MEDEX Tacoma site director Jennifer Erickson, MPH, PA-C, cited an influential speech by American college basketball player, coach, and broadcaster Jimmy V (Valvano) during his acceptance of the ESPY Author Ash Courage Award in 1993.<\/p>\n<div>[smartslider3 slider=189]<\/div>\n<p>\u201cIn order to have a full day, you need three things,\u201d Jennifer said.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cIn order to have a full day, you need three things.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cOne: You need to laugh. You need to have a day where you find humor in what\u2019s going on around you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwo: You need to have the opportunity to think. Use your mind, expand your mind.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd third, you definitely need to have a shift of your emotions where you\u2019re brought to tears at some point. Sometimes they\u2019re tears of happiness, sometimes they\u2019re tears of sadness.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jennifer continued. \u201cWhen you\u2019re a provider out there practicing, you\u2019re going to have patients who give you a full day. Sometimes it\u2019s not all on the same day, sometimes it\u2019s not one patient who gives you all three things. But there are going to be patients who you\u2019ll sit with, and you\u2019re going to learn from them, laugh with them and meet their family. And you\u2019re going to love laughing with them. And after they leave, you\u2019re going to sit in your office and think about them. They\u2019re going to make you use your brain. You\u2019re going to think about their diagnosis, their signs, and symptoms, what you\u2019re going to do about the test result that come in.<\/p>\n<div>[smartslider3 slider=190]<\/div>\n<p>\u201cLater, you\u2019re going to see these test results and you\u2019re going to see this patient back in the clinic. My hope is that you\u2019ll share tears of happiness with them and tell them that everything is okay. But there are going to be patients that you\u2019ll share tears of sadness with. Because you\u2019re going to look at these test result and realize that medicine isn\u2019t fair and it\u2019s really tough. It\u2019s okay for you to have a full day, and cry with your patients.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn fact, most of your days in clinic should be full days. And if you take the time to have a full day with your patients and really experience healthcare with them, make that approach where you want to be with them\u2014you\u2019re not there just for a paycheck\u2014then you\u2019ll become the wonderful, compassionate PAs that I\u2019ll be proud to call my colleagues.\u201d<\/p>\n<div>[smartslider3 slider=191]<\/div>\n<p>Special honors were given to six students from Tacoma Class 4 including the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>The Tacoma Writing Award<\/em> \u2013 Jaynesha Marie Williams<\/li>\n<li><em>The Spirit of MEDEX Award<\/em> \u2013 Brianne Sheree Noel<\/li>\n<li><em>The John Coombs Leadership Award<\/em> \u2013 John Reese Bradburn<\/li>\n<li><em>The Ellen Harder Award Underserved<\/em> \u2013 Olivia LeAnn Price<\/li>\n<li><em>The Steven Turnipseed, PA-C Veterans Award<\/em> \u2014 jointly shared by Lillooet Ann Bryner and Glenn Lamarr Sons, Jr<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Congratulations to all 21 graduates of Tacoma Class 4! View the video of the Tacoma graduation ceremony <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=d_MP450A96s\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt\"><strong>Seattle Class 50<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>This was a historic graduating class for MEDEX Northwest. Since 1969, the program has graduated fifty fulltime classes from the University of Washington Seattle site. At 52 students, Seattle Class 50 was one of the largest classes ever to come through MEDEX.<\/p>\n<div>[smartslider3 slider=186]<\/div>\n<p>All 52 who entered the program in 2016 graduated on August 23<sup>rd<\/sup>, 2018. Perhaps class speaker Terry DuBravac summed up their two years together best.<\/p>\n<p>Terry recalled being informed that \u201cYou will travel\u201d for the clinical year at the start of the program.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd that seemed like a perfectly fun idea,\u201d he says. \u201cWho wouldn\u2019t want to travel? But what they might have said was, \u2018I hope you have a big suitcase because you\u2019re going to be living out of it for eleven months.\u2019 I don\u2019t know about you all, but I\u2019m excited to have furniture again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Terry then waxed enthusiasm for his Class 50 cohorts and their future.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Truly, I could not ask for a better group of people to learn alongside for these past two years.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div>[smartslider3 slider=187]<\/div>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve had the chance to sit next to all of these amazingly talented people and hear their stories about their journey to PA school as nurses, paramedics, scribes, nursing assistants, researchers, laboratory staff and I\u2019m sure there\u2019s plenty more. It\u2019s made me realize that, despite any differences between us, there is a common thread of compassion, joy, and humility that brings us to this place together. Truly, I could not ask for a better group of people to learn alongside for these past two years. I so excited to see what all you guys do next.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Special honors were given to thirteen students from Seattle Class 50 including the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>The Seattle Writing Award<\/em> \u2013 Matthew Robert McGady<\/li>\n<li><em>The Spirit of MEDEX Award<\/em> \u2013 Tenesha McFadden<\/li>\n<li><em>The John Coombs Leadership Award<\/em> \u2013 Douglas Harvey Stroop<\/li>\n<li><em>The Richard Layton Underserved Award<\/em> \u2013 Christopher Pitre<\/li>\n<li><em>The Steven Turnipseed, PA-C Veterans Award<\/em> \u2014 Brendan Joseph Finn and Ryan Patrick Kraeger<\/li>\n<li><em>The Mary Reed Award for Academic Excellence<\/em>\u2013 Paul Robert Hughes<\/li>\n<li><em>Best Overall Capstone Project<\/em> &#8212; Matthew McGady<\/li>\n<li><em>Best Oral Presentation<\/em> \u2013 Christopher Pitre<\/li>\n<li><em>Best Poster Presentation<\/em> \u2013 Terry DuBravac<\/li>\n<li><em>Best Global Health Project<\/em> \u2013 Andrea Smith<\/li>\n<li><em>Best Public Health Project<\/em> \u2013 Sarah McDougal<\/li>\n<li><em>Best Rural &amp; Underserved Project<\/em> \u2013 Julianne Krause<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>[smartslider3 slider=188]<\/div>\n<p>Congratulations to all 52 graduates of Seattle Class 50! View the video of the Seattle graduation ceremony <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-5y_OVkdVgE\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt\"><strong>Anchorage Class 8<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The need for PAs across Alaska is great, especially among remote areas. The 29 graduates of MEDEX Anchorage Class 8 will do much to fill those needs.<\/p>\n<div>[smartslider3 slider=192]<\/div>\n<p>Didactic faculty member Gino Gianola, MA, PA, DFAAPA spent the past two years in Anchorage with Class 8 as the interim Site Director. During the graduation ceremony, he spoke to the graduates\u2019 future impact on Alaskan patients and the community.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEach of you has learned the science of medicine,\u201d Gianola said. \u201cHowever, the practice of medicine is an art. And like many artists, it may take a lifetime to perfect it. But in your lifetime, you will become part of a patient\u2019s life story. You have learned what medications to prescribe for specific conditions. You have learned new critical thinking skills to assist you in your ability to diagnose many conditions, and you now process information way different than when you were in the selection process.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;The most important tool you have when you practice the art of medicine is your words.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div>[smartslider3 slider=193]<\/div>\n<p>\u201cBut the most important tool you have when you practice the art of medicine is your words. The majority of the time your words may well change a person\u2019s life story. They will not forget the words you use, and you may never take them back. You may diagnose hypertension three or four times a week, but for the patient, it\u2019s the very first time they hear those words. They may have to change their lives, their behaviors. So, choose your words carefully, and give the patients strength as you work with them. Be well, and enjoy the rest of your life as a PA. The effect you have on the people you serve will be immeasurable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Special honors were given to five students from Anchorage Class 8 including the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>The Anchorage Writing Award<\/em> \u2013 Sara BreAnn Langford<\/li>\n<li><em>The Spirit of MEDEX Award<\/em> \u2013 Benjamin Douglas Johnson<\/li>\n<li><em>The John Coombs Leadership Award<\/em> \u2013 Dayna Maria Daku<\/li>\n<li><em>The Alaska Underserved Service Award<\/em> \u2013 Pearl Margaret Churchill<\/li>\n<li><em>The Steven Turnipseed, PA-C Veterans Award<\/em> \u2014 Ashley Ann Ajoah Boge<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>[smartslider3 slider=194]<\/div>\n<p>Congratulations to all 29 graduates of Anchorage Class 8! View the video segments from the Anchorage graduation ceremony <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Ga8JTn0Q2ZQ&amp;feature=youtu.be\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt\">Spokane Class 20<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Housed on the Gonzaga University campus through a special regional health partnership with UW Medicine, MEDEX Northwest graduated 26 students through Spokane Class 22. This Eastern Washington site reaches across the WWAMI Region to include Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.<\/p>\n<div>[smartslider3 slider=183]<\/div>\n<p>Darry K. Potyk, MD, FACP, Chief of Medical Education, UW\/Gonzaga Regional Health Partnership, addressed the new graduates.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cYesterday, you were a student. And today you enter the medical profession. Yet you are still a student\u2014a professional student.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cYesterday, you were a student,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd today you enter the medical profession. Yet you are still a student\u2014a professional student. From here some of you will go on to primary care, others will spend time in the operating room, others will enter specialized fields. Whatever your path in the next phase of your career, you\u2019ll enter practices with lots still to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019ll learn a lot about the field of medicine. You\u2019ll learn from your physicians. It will be an exciting time to put to good use all the things you\u2019ve been learning for the last couple of years.\u201d<\/p>\n<div>[smartslider3 slider=184]<\/div>\n<p>Dr. Potyk warned against a time when the graduate gets comfortable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere will be a tendency to become complacent about what you know, and this just becomes a job. Don\u2019t let that happen. You\u2019re entering a profession, and you\u2019ll be lifelong students. Follow the latest developments and the best evidence and practices that relate to patient care.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Potyk continued. \u201cPeople come to us when they\u2019re at their most vulnerable. They\u2019re sick, they\u2019re not feeling well, and they\u2019re looking to you and trusting in you. Before you stands an opportunity, but also a responsibility to ensure that our profession is seen in the best possible light. It doesn\u2019t take much, just remembering the things you\u2019ve learned over the past couple of years. Give patients the time they need. Treat them with respect and dignity. And offer them the best possible care.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThrough these simple actions and your individual and collective integrity you\u2019ll assure that the medical profession, of which you are now a member, will be held in the highest esteem.\u201d<\/p>\n<div>\n<div>[smartslider3 slider=185]<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Special honors were given to six students from Spokane Class 22 including the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>The Spokane Writing Award<\/em> \u2013 Emily Ann Looze<\/li>\n<li><em>The Spirit of MEDEX Award<\/em> \u2013 Noah James Chutz<\/li>\n<li><em>The John Coombs Leadership Award<\/em> \u2013 Cody Robert Solders<\/li>\n<li><em>The Barbara Gunter-Flynn Underserved Award<\/em> \u2013 Michaela Sarah Whitmore<\/li>\n<li><em>Best Oral Presentation<\/em> \u2013 Emily Looze<\/li>\n<li><em>Best Poster Presentation<\/em> \u2013 Noah Chutz<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Congratulations to all 26 graduates of Spokane Class 22! View the video segments from the Spokane graduation ceremony <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=zeAH5ywedGk&amp;feature=youtu.be\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Each year MEDEX Northwest graduates around 125 physician assistants who largely stay on to practice in the five-state WWAMI Region of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. These graduations are joyous occasions, the culmination of over two years of intense study on the part of the students. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12745,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-medex-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12499"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12499\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/test\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}