When more than three dozen students gathered with family and friends last week to celebrate becoming the first cohort to complete The Chan Family Master of Physician Associate Program (MSPA), it signaled the closure of the 27-month journey for the aspiring healthcare professionals.
"This program completion ceremony is a milestone moment for KGI and our outstanding new healthcare leaders," said President Mohamed Abousalem. "This program has been a resounding success at KGI, and with the quality of the learning outcomes in the classroom and through their rotations, we know they will represent our institution well as they proceed to heal and uplift our community."
The MSPA program has become one of KGI's most popular since it began in 2022, with more than 1,200 applicants annually vying for 40 spots. Students in the program engage in an innovative and active learning environment that is focused on leadership in the field and heavily involved in the care and education of the community's healthcare needs.
"As a former Army combat medic, I am dedicated to making a meaningful impact on people's lives," said Kirill Lipa, '23 MSPA, a member of the first MSPA graduating cohort. "KGI MSPA program has given me that opportunity and the skills needed to make an even greater impact. Graduating marks the start to a long-lasting KGI impact and I'm proud to be one of its pioneers."
KGI was one of the first in the nation to have the name of the program include Physician Associate to align with the name that the profession is moving to from Physician Assistant. According to the U.S. Career Institute, the Physician Associate profession is expected to see a 28% increase in job growth through 2031.
"The inaugural Class of 2024 is a special class. I was privileged to be involved from the development of the curriculum to their acceptance through now their program completion,” said Christy Eskes, MSPA program director and professor of practice. “As an inaugural cohort, they have been through so much as we worked to continue refining the program through its first offering, and they faced every challenge with hard work and grace. We are confident that they are going to have a tremendous impact on their communities, and we are eager for this first generation of KGI PAs to go out and begin making their mark in health care."
In attendance at the program completion ceremony were Tony and Virginia Chan, who with their children, Megan and Jonathan, have generously supported the MSPA program from its inception. Seeing the first graduates of the program receive their long white coats — which symbolizes the move from student to professional — was a wonderful moment for the Chan family, who are the owners of ABC Pharmacies and Claremont residents.
"It's rewarding to see the first graduates of the physician assistant program we helped establish at KGI," said Tony Chan. "At a young age, I experienced a profound loss when my father passed away suddenly at a time when access to healthcare providers was limited. This personal tragedy instilled in me a deep understanding of the importance of healthcare accessibility. Inspired by my mother's guidance and supported by my wife, I have been driven to pursue a career that contributes to addressing the shortage of healthcare providers and advancing this critical mission."