By Student Representative Emily Uus, PA-S
Cohort 2025 is now in their final semester of PA school! They are starting off with clinical rotation 8 of 9. After rotations end they will be gearing up for graduation with End of Curriculum exams, the Graduate Logistics course, Capstone presentations, and more. It is a packed semester but they are excited for what’s to come!
Cohort 2026 is in their final few weeks of didactic work before starting their first block of clinical rotations in late March. They are learning about research methods, have cumulative clinical modules, exams and workshops to prepare them for their rotations. In their free time they went to a Bridgeport Islanders hockey game! They are very busy and extremely eager to start clinicals.
Cohort 2027 just joined in January and are enjoying getting to know the faculty, fellow students and starting their coursework! We are so excited for them as they start their PA journey at UB!
By Student Representatives Courtney Litts, PA-S ’25 and Bridget Walsh, PA-S ’26
The Fall semester was an exciting time for the USJ PA Studies Program. We were happy to partner with the other PA programs in the state for the ConnAPA Holiday Toiletry Drive to benefit the non-profit organization Hands on Hartford. USJ collected 1601 toiletries to contribute to the total of 2,594 toiletries donated over the holiday season.
The Class of 2025 has completed seven out of nine clinical rotations thus far and are currently finishing up their eighth. Students have been executing their service learning projects to give back to local communities of all ages. Some of the projects include a clothing drive benefiting the House of Bread, a children’s book drive to benefit Read to Grow, and an educational series on healthy aging presented at the West Hartford Senior Centers in collaboration with For All Ages. As the end of clinical year approaches, students are completing their thesis papers and starting the job search in preparation for graduation in May.
The Class of 2026 kicked off the fall semester by traveling to New York City for PAs on the Plaza! Later in the semester, they assisted faculty with donations for Adopt-A-Family 2024, a holiday gift collection for families through the Salvation Army of Hartford. They ended their rigorous year of didactic coursework with an obstetrics simulation. Returning to campus for the new year, they are excited to welcome the Class of 2027 and support them as mentors throughout their upcoming didactic year.
As the new year enters, so does the Class of 2027! First year students have completed their orientation and are ready to take on didactic year. We are excited for the great things our newest students will achieve during their time in the USJ PA Studies Program.
By Student Representative Rachel Sheldon, PA-S ’26
The new year started strong for the classes of 2025 and 2026 as we waved off the newly graduated class of 2024. Congratulations to the graduates, and good luck with all of your future successes in your roles as clinicians!
The class of 2025 is nearly halfway through their didactic year as they work hard to apply their hard-earned knowledge in the clinical setting. Currently on their fifth rotation, they are excited for the continued opportunity to learn and grow as healthcare providers.
Meanwhile, back in Stamford, the class of 2026 is shaking off the moss from winter break and getting back into the swing of things. January began with orthopedics, and some may say the growing pains were real with this module. But after several short weeks of hard work and a whole lot of radiologic reviews, we are thirsty for more knowledge…thank goodness nephrology is next!
Outside of the classroom, the class of 2026 has been busy volunteering to serve our community. In the fall, we were given the opportunity to assist class of 2025 students Evan Gaudette and Sarah Hughes with their capstone project, which led to the collection and donation of over 600 pounds (and counting) of medical supplies.
These supplies, which would have otherwise ended up in medical waste, were donated to resource clinics in Guatemala and Ghana. A few weeks later, students volunteered at Fairfield’s Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® and the Kids Helping Kids Gift of Giving Event. Our class is so fortunate to have a dedicated community service chair with a heart for service. Thank you, Kiley Foley, for all you do. In December, we wrapped up our volunteer activities with the Hands on Hartford toiletry drive, organized by USJ PA program student Courtney Litts. In total, Connecticut PA programs gathered 2,594 items (roughly 520 pounds) of toiletries.
Finally, I would like to congratulate SHU graduates Gabriella Zarlenga and Brianna Courteau on their publication in The Journal of Pediatric Pulmonology and Therapeutics, which features a systematic review of propranolol as a treatment option for chylous effusion and ascites in fetuses and neonates.
By Student Representative Aliana Castro, PA-S ’26
As winter sets in, second-year students are wrapping up their fifth clinical rotation. With the clinical year about halfway complete, the end is in sight! Half of the class is preparing to start electives next, while the other half continue with core rotations. The holiday break offered a much-needed week to recharge. Just before the break, we presented case studies from our clinical experiences, highlighting unique cases we encountered during our first few rotations. This was a great way to learn from our peers. Looking ahead, students are preparing for one of the program’s largest fundraisers, “Cycle for Survival,” organized by Memorial Sloan Kettering. In the coming weeks, we have planned multiple events to raise funds for our big cycle day in NYC on March 8th. The team name “PArterning Together” is a reflection of our commitment to making an impact by raising money for rare cancer research!
After starting classes this summer, the first-year students finished a rigorous fall covering all the diverse topics in medicine! Outside of the classroom, we were able to gain valuable experiences in our community working with ACES, a school that provides various learning styles and who may benefit from more educational and support resources. As a class, we attended a health fair to teach the children various aspects of nutrition and exercise in addition to hosting reading activities with them. We also started pre-clinicals in November to begin our experiences in various healthcare settings and will continue into the spring semester. During this upcoming semester, we are jumping into topics ranging from surgery and emergency medicine to pediatrics/OBGYN to psychosocial issues to history of the PA profession. Within our obstetrics training, we are looking forward to each having the opportunity to work interprofessional with fellow healthcare students to deliver infants within Quinnipiac’s high-fidelity simulation suites.
By Student Representative Leigh Paradis, PA-S ’26
With the start of the new year, students in the Yale PA Program continue their hard work both in and out of the classroom.
The Class of 2024 celebrated their achievements during their Commencement Ceremony in December. The Yale School of Medicine PA Program honored 35 graduates who successfully completed 28 months of intensive academic coursework and clinical training. Families, friends, and faculty gathered to commemorate this great achievement.
Meanwhile, the Class of 2025 concluded 2024 by dedicating themselves to their thesis projects throughout November and December. Now, they are gearing up to begin their fifth clinical rotation. For some students, this marks the start of electives, with opportunities to explore specialties like Pediatric Emergency Medicine or the Intensive Care Unit, allowing them to deepen their knowledge and refine their specialty interests.
First-year PA students in the Class of 2026 collaborated with first-year MD students to organize the 31st annual Hunger and Homelessness Auction, which raised $14,600 for local nonprofits seeking to alleviate poverty in New Haven. Held on January 9, the live and silent auctions featured unique items, including baseball tickets, boat rides, and a highly sought-after bowtie that alone raised $1,500.
Proceeds benefited three local organizations: Liberty Community Services, which supports individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness or housing instability; Christian Community Action’s New HOPE Housing Program, which provides housing and support services to 18 families for two to three years; and Fellowship Place, which offers daytime support and basic resources for adults with mental illness and those facing housing instability.
The Classes of 2025 and 2026 will carry their hard work, unwavering dedication, and heartfelt compassion forward into the year ahead.