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BW physician assistant grads transform passion into rewarding profession

In honor of National PA Week, Oct. 6-12, Baldwin Wallace commends the many accomplishments and contributions of the students, alumni, faculty and staff involved in its Physician Assistant Program.

Here are a few of the many BW individuals who each day bring passion and professionalism to their roles in helping address a growing healthcare need. Since the program's inception in 2013, BW has graduated 126 PAs, who serve in hospitals throughout Northeast Ohio, such as the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, MetroHealth and Southwest General Health Center, as well as nationally.

Erin Jadallah '15

Photo of Erin JadallahA physician assistant with the plastic and reconstructive surgery department at The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute in Columbus, Ohio, Jadallah was part of the inaugural class of BW's PA program.

"Receiving an education from Baldwin Wallace has allowed me to find a career that I love. I value my continued relationships with the faculty today in the ever-changing field of medicine and enjoy mentoring students from the program as well. I'm forever grateful to BW for assembling its impressive group of PA educators."

Andie Hobson '18

Photo of Andie HobsonNoting that she is the first PA that her physician group has hired, Hobson works as a hospitalist with Summa Health in Akron, Ohio, where she participates in the care of patients with a variety of different medical conditions - from heart failure and strokes to infections and peri-operative care.

"I currently serve as a preceptor for students in BW's PA program. It takes a village to support someone who pursues a career in medicine. My goal is to provide students with a welcoming, while also challenging, experience in internal medicine while encouraging them towards independence and taking more ownership in developing treatment plans for our patients."

Dan O'Brien '17

Photo of Dan O'BrienO'Brien believes the values of BW match those of the PA profession - respect, integrity and compassion to give back to society as an individual and as a professional. Today, he is fulfilling those attributes as an emergency medicine PA with Cleveland Clinic Akron General.

"I knew pretty early on that I wanted to pursue a career in medicine. My personal health experiences, as well as my mom working in the medical field, exposed me to different aspects of medicine at a young age. The flexibility of working in different settings and the role of being an integral part of a medical team were desirable to me both personally and professionally. But the driving force behind my career choice was the opportunity to provide compassionate care to those in need."

Samantha Emerson '18

Photo of Samantha EmersonPraising BW's PA program comes easily to Emerson. From small class sizes to knowledgeable faculty and outstanding education experiences, she credits BW for successfully preparing her for her role as a physician assistant with Summa Health in Akron, Ohio.

"I've been in my position for about 14 months now and love my job. Being a PA opens up many opportunities for learning and leadership. It's impossible to know everything, so I still face challenges at times. Although I am in a specialty practice (general surgery), I pick up medical knowledge from physicians, nurses, assistants, social workers and others."

BW PA Program Has Perfect Pass Rate Five Years Straight

This year, BW's PA Program has posted a perfect first-time pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) for the fifth year in a row - making BW the only PA program in the state of Ohio (and one of only a select few in the nation) to earn that achievement.

Fully 100% of BW Master of Medical Science graduates, in each of the first five years of the PA program's existence, have now passed the rigorous PANCE exam on the first try.

Accreditation through 2026

In addition to the stellar PANCE pass rates, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the BW PA program through June 2026.

To learn more about BW's 24-month Physician Assistant Program, call (440) 826-8012 or (877) 292-7759, email paprogram@bw.edu or schedule a visit.

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