“Today, we celebrate 35 exceptional graduates who have dedicated the past 28 months to rigorous academic challenges, countless clinical encounters, and transformative personal and professional growth.” Director of the Physician Associate (PA) Program David Brissette, MMSc, PA-C, stated in opening remarks at the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) PA Commencement ceremony on December 9, 2024. Family, friends, faculty, and staff gathered in Yale’s Woolsey Hall, to celebrate the graduates of the nation’s sixth-oldest PA program.
Brissette shared that a survey conducted as part of the PA Program’s 50th anniversary last year showed that nearly 60% of the over 500 alumni respondents held leadership positions. “This speaks volumes about the caliber of individuals who graduate from this program. And knowing the talent, passion, and determination of this class, I have no doubt you will carry this torch forward, blazing your own trails in health care and beyond,” he told the Class of 2024.
Adaptability, teamwork, and AI
In his Commencement Address, Associate Research Scientist in Pathology Robert Camp, MD, PhD— who also received the Outstanding Didactic Course Award— told the graduates he was going to share four points, beginning with, “remain adaptable.” He described how the PA Program “emphasizes an education that allows you to gain expertise in one specialty and then pivot to another entirely different field if you choose,” and characterized the students as “adaptable, resourceful, and unflappable,” traits he said would serve them well throughout their careers.
His second point: “Teamwork is essential.” After noting that YSM PA students are taught by the same professors who teach medical students, and “do clinical rotations side by side” with the medical students, he said, “the people you train with will become your colleagues, and learning to work as a team is critical.” Given the continual expansion of research and information, he explained, “no one can memorize it all. That’s why learning to collaborate in teams is essential. No one person needs to know everything, but together, you can deliver exceptional care.”
Focusing on AI, Camp said “who really knows what AI will do? I certainly don’t. But I can tell you what it won’t do: replace the vital human connection you bring to patient care. That connection—the trust, compassion, and intuition that only a human can offer—will always be your most important tool.” He encouraged students to use AI as a tool to “help you dig deeper, faster,” to help maintain curiosity, because “you’ll always be at your best when you approach your work with curiosity and an understanding of the basics.”
Building trust in science and health care
“Messaging matters,” was Camp’s other point. After noting that he and the Class of 2024 both started their careers during pandemics, he stated that each pandemic “profoundly shaped—often negatively—how people felt about medicine.” For Camp, it was the AIDS epidemic, for the graduates, COVID-19.
“As horrible as those times were,” Camp pointed out, “good things can grow from them. The AIDS epidemic fundamentally changed how we approached medical outreach and how we treated the terminally ill in clinical trials—with more humanity and compassion. Back then, we had to learn to tailor public health messages to support the gay community—not to judge it, not to lecture it.”
Looking forward, he told the graduates, “Now, with COVID, it’s your turn. Your turn to craft a message that restores people’s faith in medicine, in public health, and—incredibly—in vaccination itself. The truth is, society will no longer abide by one-size-fits-all approaches or preachy, top-down messaging like we relied on during earlier pandemics. People expect nuance. They expect empathy. And they expect to feel heard.”
It falls to health care providers—"to you”—Camp told them, to rebuild trust. “It will be up to you to craft messaging that balances science, society, and the individual, in ways your patients will actually hear. Messaging that supports, empowers, and ultimately heals.”
In her Commencement remarks, Nancy J. Brown, MD, Jean and David W. Wallace Dean and C.N.H. Long Professor of Internal Medicine, echoed some of Camp’s points. For example, she noted, “we are entering a time when trust in science and health care professionals has faced significant challenges, requiring us to reaffirm our commitment to the rigorous application of evidence-based practices and patient-centered care. It is our responsibility to engage in transparent communication, uphold ethical standards, and remain steadfast in our pursuit of improved health outcomes.”
Encouragingly, she told the students that their journey through the PA Program “has equipped you with the tools to navigate these complexities with resilience and integrity. It has instilled in you a respect for the scientific method, an appreciation for the nuances of human health, and a commitment to ethical practice. As you move forward,” Brown continued, “let these principles guide your actions and decision. If you do so, I can assure you that your career will bring you great joy.”
Collaborative spirt and kindness
Brown also told the class, which is comprised of individuals from 18 states, including four first-generation students and two veterans, that they embody “the diversity and dynamism essential for the evolving landscape of health care. The bonds you have forged and the community you have built,” she said, “reflect the collaborative spirit and dedication required for transformative patient care.”
This spirit was reflected in the remarks graduate Joe Kruk, MMSc, delivered.He described the comradery of his class, saying it was obvious from the beginning, that “In addition to high test scores and a laundry list of extracurriculars, kindness and empathy seemed to be unofficial prerequisites.” He characterized his classmates as “folks from disparate backgrounds and varied experiences who all shared the same goal of being a competent, kind physician associate.”
Kruk also took time to thank families, friends, and loved ones, for their support during the program, stating, “Your graciousness and mercy are some of the key reasons we’ve made it to graduation in one piece and you deserve as much a share of today’s accolades as anyone.”
Student achievement awards
(Selected by Yale PA Program Faculty)
Dr. John P. Hayslett Award for Overall Academic Excellence
Isabel Bautista, MMSc
Hailey Lynn Wagner, MMSc
Yale Physician Associate Program Leadership Award
Cordelia Zurita Cluett, MMSc
Awards selected by the Class of 2024
Outstanding Didactic Course Award
for dedication and excellence in the classroom
Robert L. Camp, MD, PhD, associate research scientist in pathology
Outstanding Preceptor Award
for dedication and excellence in clinical education
Alberto J. Rodriguez, MD
Outstanding Clinical Site Award
clinical rotation site that provides exemplary clinical teaching
Bridgeport Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology
Jack Cole Society Award
for significant contributions in support of the PA profession
David Brissette, MMSc, PA-C, assistant professor, director of the physician associate program
Class of 2024 Award
for support and dedication to the Yale PA Program and the Class of 2024
Tara Herbert, MS, PA-C, assistant professor, director of clinical skills, assessment and remediation