On May 9, the members of the Yale School of Medicine Physician Assistant (PA) Online Program Class of 2025 celebrated their graduation from the 28-month program. Family and friends filled Yale’s Battell Chapel for the ceremony, while others watched remotely.
The 58 members of the class chose emergency medicine PA and former professor Jonathan Kilstrom, MPAS, PA-C, to deliver the Commencement Address. After PA Online Program Director and Assistant Professor Elizabeth Roessler, MMSc, PA-C, introduced him, Kilstrom shared “12 pearls” he wished someone had told him before he began practicing as a PA. These included: stay humble, ask for help, lean into the discomfort, stay curious, never skip the heart and lung exam, always offer a warm blanket, use your PTO, know when to say no, know your worth—imposter syndrome is real but it’s not the whole truth, don’t take it personally—take care of yourself, step up for preventative care, and you will make mistakes. Kilstrom thoughtfully expanded upon each pearl.
12 pearls
Regarding staying humble, for example, he told the graduates that although they were incredibly well-prepared “you won’t have all the answers—and that’s okay. Humility is not a weakness; it is a strength that keeps us open to learning and connected to our colleagues and patients. Be confident, but remain teachable. The moment we believe we’ve arrived is the moment we stop growing.” Reflecting on staying curious, Kilstrom shared that one of the greatest gifts the graduates can give themselves and their patients is a commitment to lifelong learning. “Medicine doesn’t stand still, and neither should you. Let curiosity be your compass. Read the journal article. Ask why. Take the CME you don’t ‘need.’ Follow up on that complex patient.” Staying curious, he continued, “keeps you sharp, engaged, and humble. It’s how good clinicians become great ones.”
Kilstrom spent the most time discussing preventative care, telling the graduates, “And this is my challenge to you all: become champions of prevention. We are facing a chronic disease epidemic in the United States—one that’s silently reshaping the future of health care.” He pointed out that heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease are responsible for nearly 75% of deaths in our country, adding, “They are largely preventable or manageable with early intervention.” He described a variety of patients the graduates would encounter daily and said, “Every visit is a chance to plant a seed—about nutrition, movement, screening, smoking cessation, sleep, mental health. Prevention isn’t glamorous, and it doesn’t come with instant results. But it’s where the tide turns. Don't let it be an afterthought.” Kilstrom told the graduates, “If we want to change the trajectory of health in this country, it won’t come from a single cure or new technology. It will come from thousands of moments—conversations you have, encouragement you offer, education you share.”
Kilstrom also praised the Class of 2025 for completing “a rigorous and one of the most innovative PA programs in the country,” noting they also “navigated uncertainty and evolving circumstances within a program that itself was pioneering a new model of PA education.” He told the graduates that their “ability to persevere through ambiguity and rise to each occasion is not only admirable—it’s a skill that will serve you for the rest of your careers.”
In his closing remarks, Kilstrom shared that, “the white coat you wear is a privilege, but it is not what makes you a healer. It is your humility, your courage, your resilience, and your humanity.”
28 states represented
In remarks following Kilstrom, Jessica Illuzzi, MD, MS, deputy dean for education and Harold W. Jockers Professor of Medical Education, told the graduates, “we are excited to have you join our caring and highly-skilled alumni spread across the country, providing care to patients and being leaders in your communities and in health care.”
Illuzzi emphasized that the graduates should be very proud of their accomplishments. “You have been part of an innovative program that has trained you to be outstanding patient-centered clinicians, experienced in being part of a health care team. You worked extraordinarily hard during the 28 months of your program, including engaging in 120 or more hours of clinical care during your didactic year, followed by 15 months of intensive clinical rotations.”
Noting the class comes from 28 states, with 40% from communities that are medically-underserved or have a health professional shortage, Illuzzi said this creates “the potential to help address health care needs across a broad expanse of the country.”
Over 25 health care roles represented
After the students received their diplomas, graduate Allison Streeter, MMSc, delivered the Class of 2025 Student Address. She spent time reflecting on the diversity of the class, including the over 25 health care roles represented in the cohort, stating, “I hope you can see how beneficial this wide range of backgrounds was to our overall PA education. We were able to individually draw upon our own experiences, share knowledge with one another, fill in learning gaps, and truly support each other during this journey.”
Streeter shared remarks from classmates, who she described as “my biggest inspiration.” Among other reflections, these included, “I have come to realize that medicine is one of the greatest journeys someone can pursue in life. When you realize that medicine is your purpose, everything else like the workplace drama, angry coworkers, or hospital politics seems so small. Every day I get to treat or heal a patient and know how much of a privilege it is to do so. People trust me, trust us with their lives. That is one of the greatest forms of respect there is.” Another reflection she shared was, “It's amazing how even though we are all scattered throughout the nation, we have still formed such close friendships.”
In closing, Streeter told her classmates, “As PAs, I believe we are at the intersection of science and humanity. Patient care is top of mind and I trust this class to be excellent stewards of the profession. We have been well-trained. We are resilient. We are diligent. We are leaders. It’s time to trust ourselves and step into this new chapter.”