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Students in the Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2025 slipped on their white coats in a ceremony symbolizing their transition from classroom learning to clinical rotations.

The ceremony, held May 15, featured comments from School of Health Professions Dean David Shelledy, PhD, RRT, FAARC, FASAHP, and Associate Program Director and Associate Chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies Steven A. “Tony” Skaggs, PhD, MPS, PA-C.

The white coat represents a duty to patients, Skaggs told the students.

“It symbolizes the education you are receiving and a caring emblem of the trust you must earn from your patients with every patient encounter,” Skaggs said. “You must prove worthy of this trust. It will be your honor to wear this white coat. As you wear this, or any future white coat, may you continue to show your colleagues and patients that you have earned the privilege of representing what the white coat has come to mean to your patients and a reminder of the Oath that you have taken here today.”

During the ceremony the students received their pins from a representative of the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants and recited the PA Professional Oath. The PA Studies Class of 2025 has 64 students at the program’s two locations in San Antonio and Laredo.