Full Circle
Alumni serve as preceptors, mentoring Austin College Master of Medical Science-Physician Assistant students.
By Laura J. Veach
Years after their own time at Austin College, 30 alumni are exemplifying the tenet of servant leadership by hosting and mentoring Master of Medical Science-Physician Assistant (MMS-PA) students for their clinical rotations. While the state-of-the-art, interactive simulation tools employed during the program’s first year are remarkable learning aids, there is no substitute for applying skills and concepts to actual patients.
The second year of the MMS-PA program requires students to complete 40 weeks of supervised clinical experience in a variety of medical specialties in order to build student confidence and career readiness. To fulfill these hands-on clinical rotation requirements, the program connected with medical professionals across the region to serve as preceptors, the technical term for those who supervise clinical experiences. The program also tapped into the vast pool of talented Austin College alumni who are medical professionals working in the region, inviting them to host and mentor the PA students to round out the preceptor roster.
Amanda Wilder Lark ’98, DMSc, MAPS, PA-C, who has over 20 years of experience as a physician assistant in emergency medicine, dermatology, and wound care, is one of those alumni. “I chose to serve as a preceptor because others once provided the same guidance and opportunity for me,” she says. “It is a meaningful way to give back to my alma mater and support the development of the next generation of healthcare providers.” Dr. Aaron Cernero ’95, owner and Lead Surgeon at Cernero Surgery and Aesthetics and another preceptor, explains that these partnerships are mutually beneficial. “I believe we should never stop learning. Technology in the healthcare sector will continue to change and improve. One of the best ways for me to stay current is interacting with bright and inquisitive future practitioners,” he said. Dr. Karen Edwards-Key ’09, OBGYN, agreed, saying, “The PA program has assembled a stellar class, and the high caliber of students has been remarkably consistent for every group I’ve hosted. Because that caliber is so high, they each ask great questions, which in turn has assured that I’m providing the highest quality of care possible to my patients.”
The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Austin College Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Austin College. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-austin-college/
Reflecting on their own Austin College experiences, the preceptors are confident that physician assistants produced by the MMS-PA
program will enter practice with not only the technical skills to provide excellent healthcare, but also the special set of skills developed through a footing in the liberal arts. Dr. Megan Metcalf ’05, OBGYN, said, “Austin College provided me a liberal arts education foundational to my identity as a physician. My time as a student at Austin College fostered communication skills, critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and self-reflection. The College provided a basis for lifelong learning and interdisciplinary teamwork—both crucial in clinical medicine. The breadth of education and experience at Austin College translates to patients feeling heard, understood, and respected in their unique context.”
When the first cohort of MMS-PA students graduate in May and transition into practicing professionals in a healthcare climate in desperate need of their services, they will do so with an elevated level of regard for their patients, demonstrated and nurtured by fellow ’Roos.
Courtesy Photos
As a preceptor for the Austin College Physician Assistant program, Dr. Karen Edwards-Key ’09, OBGYN shares her expertise with students as they fulfill their clinical rotations.
Courtesy Photos
Amanda Wilder Lark ’98, DMSc, MAPS, PA-C serves as preceptor at a dermatology clinic.