Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) have created a pathway program to encourage more Winston-Salem State students to pursue careers as Physician Assistants (PA) and apply to Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s PA program.
The pathway program builds on the longstanding relationship between the Department of PA Studies and the School of Health Sciences at WSSU. This multi-year partnership has enabled pre-PA students to receive important professional guidance from PA faculty and current students who have elected to participate in the RLW Mentorship Certificate Program. Named in honor of PA Studies faculty member Robert Lee Wooten, the certificate program provides a series of workshops designed to equip PA students with the skills and knowledge necessary to become effective mentors.
“For some time, our PA faculty and students have been mentoring Winston-Salem State students who are interested in pursuing careers in health care, so we are delighted to take this next step forward in our relationship,” said Dr. Ebony Boulware, dean of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and chief science officer and vice chief academic officer of Advocate Health. “We are grateful to Winston-Salem State for their partnership in our mission to educate the next generation of health care leaders and we eagerly look forward to working much closer with their faculty and students.”
Through the pathway program, Wake PA will recruit WSSU graduates who meet the admission requirements and have been formally recommended by their leadership.
“Most of our students interested in pursuing careers in health care are attracted to the PA program,” said Manju Bhat, dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education at WSSU. “Our close partnership over the last few years with the faculty and students from the PA program at Wake Forest University and their dedication have benefited our students. This agreement is the obvious next step in our commitment to prepare the next generation of health care professionals, and we appreciate our partners at Wake Forest University.”
WSSU and Wake Forest University School of Medicine celebrated this new initiative with a signing ceremony on April 29 at WSSU’s Thompson Student Services Center. Andrea McKinnond, Wake PA director of clinical education, and Sobia Hussaini, Wake PA director of admissions and strategic recruitment, organized and presided over the event. McKinnond and Hussaini both played key roles in developing the pathway program.
At the celebration, Dean Boulware and Dean Bhat delivered remarks on the significance of the pathway program and signed commemorative copies of the Memo of Understanding that formally established the new partnership. Juan Clavijo, a graduate of Winston-Salem State University and the Wake PA program, shared reflections on his experiences at both schools with guests at the ceremony. Donna Murray, director of student scholarship and admissions for NC A&T PA Studies program, presented Wake PA leaders with a crystal plaque in recognition of the pathway program.
