09/29/2023

PA Program Spotlight: Kettering College

Kettering College’s Physician Assistant Program is distinguished as one of the oldest programs in the nation and has been educating PAs since 1973. Our program’s faculty possesses an average of 13.5 years of clinical experience and 5 years as clinical educators. To ensure that our PA faculty remains current in their knowledge, each member actively maintains their clinical practice. Additionally, our partnership with Kettering Health offers our PA students a distinctive opportunity to gain clinical education in a nationally acclaimed hospital network.

It has been an exciting time for our second-year didactic students when 57 students received their white coats on July 5th, 2023. The Class of 2024 is looking forward to transitioning from the classroom into their clinical year and to begin putting their knowledge from didactic year into their various rotations, including Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Behavioral Medicine, Pediatrics, Women’s Health, and various Elective Rotations.

Our most recent graduating class, the Class of 2023, included 57 graduates with a PANCE pass rate of 98%, who are beyond excited to begin practicing as PA-Cs. Within the past 5 years, Kettering College’s PA Program has been above the National Average for First Time Test Takers of the PANCE with a Five Year First Time Taker Average Pass Rate of 98%.

During Kettering College’s Annual Service Day, first-year didactic Physician Assistant students were excited to get outside, meet, and provide a helping hand to members of the community. PA students volunteered at the local Boys and Girls Club, maintained trails and gardens for Five Rivers Metro Parks, and assisted Caring Partners International in sorting medical supplies. These were just a few of the many opportunities that the PA students were able to participate in.

Kettering Physician Assistant students have engaged with the community through the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Acceptance (DEIA) Organization. DEIA collaborates with faculty, administration, and students to discuss the importance of including thought-provoking conversations in the classroom and beyond. The mission of DEIA encourages students to recognize the unique experiences of others’ lived experiences and aims to educate healthcare providers on how to care for someone whose ideologies differ from their own. As future providers, joining together with members of the community will help us understand the culture and life experiences of those whom we will someday serve.

During the week of October 6-12, 2023, students in their didactic year are looking forward to celebrating National Physician Assistant Week with sweet treats throughout the week and following their Cardiology I Submodule Exam. We invite current Physician Assistants and Kettering Alumni to join us in celebration of this amazing career!

Submitted by Erin Bell, PA-S, Student Representative for OAPA/AAPA with Kettering College