As workforce demand projects a 35% increase in positions, Chamberlain University celebrates members of the inaugural graduating class of physician assistants.
“It is one of the most special days in the life of a university to see an inaugural class graduate. Thank you for being pioneers.”
Those were the words of Dr. Carla Sanderson, provost of Chamberlain University, speaking to the first graduates of the institution’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program on July 26.
A physician assistant (PA) is a licensed medical professional who works under the supervision of a physician to provide a wide range of healthcare services—diagnosing illnesses, developing and managing treatment plans, prescribing medications, and often serving as a patient’s principal healthcare provider.
Projections for the PA workforce are anticipating a 35% increase in available positions over the next decade, according to a National Library of Medicine study.
Attracting Exceptional Students
Kelly Beyer was no stranger to enrolling in an inaugural program, having been one of the first biomedical engineering students at Loyola University Chicago. As an undergraduate, she led a project to develop a 3D-printed prosthetic hand for a 10-year-old. The opportunity to deliver her project to the patient changed her perspective. She cared about the patient and enjoying the moment with them more than the engineering and design.
She changed her major to biology with intent to pursue a medical career and found becoming a physician assistant to offer the best flexibility to work in multiple fields and spend more time with patients.
“I didn’t get into PA school the first cycle, but Chamberlain took a chance on me,” she says. “I have enjoyed every minute of it knowing this is the culmination of finding what I want to do. The program has grown a lot, and we have grown with it. I feel like I'm a different person—more confident in my skills, more comfortable in my patient encounters. It all comes with time and practice; every day I'm still learning because you'll always be learning something new in medicine.”
Chamberlain Cares for Students and Health Equity
During a dedication ceremony for the class, Beyer and the three other student society leaders were all presented with awards for their service to their peers and the program. Alongside Beyer was Trisha Cordero, who was also recognized with academic achievement and Chamberlain Excellence awards.
When Cordero was researching PA schools, she connected with ChamberlainCare®—the commitment to a culture that advances care for all and promotes changing the face of healthcare by graduating practice-ready healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds.
Among the four-week clinical rotations in Chamberlain’s MPAS program is a dedicated clinical rotation caring for patients in underserved populations.
“That exposed me to the health disparities in the Chicagoland area, and those are disparities we ultimately want to help fix as physician assistants,” Cordero says.
Expanding Program Access to an Innovative Curriculum
All 50 spots for the incoming class of 2026 are filled at the Chicago campus, and Adtalem just announced plans to expand the program to its new Phoenix campus.
Dr. Angerer-Fuenzalida believes a modular delivery is unique to helping students succeed. Where traditional curricula are more linear, modular delivery offers more flexibility in ordering topics in ways that could be more helpful for each student.
“When you ask our students what’s the best thing about the program, the majority like this structure because it helps them put the material together in the same way they would clinically,” she says.
Cordero agrees: “I liked how the modules are body-system based. I was able to make more sense of what we were learning holistically.”
Beyer added her appreciation for the coursework’s flexibility: “You can make it your own by exploring the topics you're most interested in.”
For more information, email the Adtalem Global Communications Team: adtalemmedia@adtalem.com.
