“I think this stethoscope is such a big symbol of medicine and the connection you have with patients, hearing their heartbeat and just hearing what’s going on with them,” Sen said. “It was very special finally getting it.”

Angel Sen

Sen and the 14 other new MPAS students were presented with stethoscopes as part of the Inaugural Exercises on Sept. 1 in Brodie Centre atrium on the Bannatyne campus.

Heading into the MPAS program, members of the Class of 2025 already have plenty of health-care experience. There are nurses, researchers and a diagnostic medical sonographer. They also have a wealth of volunteer experience – which includes work in ERs, ICUs and at CancerCare Manitoba.

Nikaela Hewat

First-year MPAS student Nikaela Hewat has worked as a nurse for the past eight years and she said it has provided her with an excellent foundation in medicine. She said it felt a bit surreal when she recited the Physician’s Pledge because it’s a big moment entering the MPAS program.

“I’m just excited to start this journey,” Hewat said.

Sen said that one of the main reasons she wanted to become a physician assistant (PA) was to have a positive impact on her community.

“Going to hospitals myself – if I have a family member sick or I’m volunteering there – I saw the impact good health care can have on the life of a patient and their family,” Sen said. “As a physician assistant, I think I will be able to have that kind of impact. So, I really wanted to go into this profession.”

The students were welcomed into the program at the Inaugural Exercises by PA Rebecca Mueller, interim program director and academic coordinator for MPAS.

“I want to emphasize that the journey you are about to embark upon is not an easy one, but it is a noble one,” Mueller told the MPAS students at the event. “You have chosen a profession that will allow you to touch lives and heal wounds and make a meaningful impact.”

Dr. Peter Nickerson, vice-provost (heath sciences), and dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and the Max Rady College of Medicine, addressed the audience and told the students that they are joining an exceptional program that trains outstanding physician assistants.

“I know this because many other provinces are trying to open programs like ours and they’re calling Rebecca [Mueller] constantly to find out how we’re doing it because they want to emulate that which we have, so you are in a fantastic program and I’m so happy we have you here,” Nickerson said. 

As well as the Stethoscope Ceremony and the Physician’s Pledge, Elder Margaret Lavallee gave a blessing, and speakers included Dr. Anna Ziomek, registrar for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, Dr. Ian Whetter, medical director for Ongomiizwin – Health Services, and PA Kali Braun, Manitoba Director, Canadian Association of Physician Assistants.

In his first convocation address as vice-provost (health sciences) and dean, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Peter Nickerson called on the graduates to be “agents of change” by condemning all forms of discrimination and racism they will encounter in their careers.

“It is our professional responsibility and it is inherent in the oaths that we take as we enter the health professions,” Nickerson said.

He also urged the group to be open to changes in the health-care system.

“Just as you were able to adapt to continue your education, the resilience you have shown these last few years will need to be ongoing,” he said. “What we do and how we do it evolves constantly. This has never been more evident and made real than by the pandemic.”

UM President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Michael Benarroch and UM Chancellor Anne Mahon also spoke at the ceremony.

Mahon encouraged the graduates to celebrate, noting that 11,915 UM students graduated virtually during the height of the pandemic.

“You’ve all come from areas of study and discipline where you wanted to be face-to-face with your patients, and at times you weren’t able to. And yet you’ve persevered and learned,” she said. “This is truly a day for celebration.”

In total, 125 Rady Faculty of Health Sciences students graduated at the ceremony, including 44 in the Master of Occupational Therapy program, 48 in the Master of Physical Therapy program, 18 in the Bachelor of Respiratory Therapy program and 15 in the MPAS program.

Charnae Betcher, MPAS graduate, said she’s looking forward to seeing where she and her classmates will go as they transition from students to professionals.

“I’m excited to see the impactful difference we are able to make in our community within the health-care system,” she said.

Physical therapy graduate Christina Keeper said the pandemic presented challenges to her time in the program, but she now looks forward to a career that can bridge health-care gaps for First Nations people in Manitoba.

A member of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, Keeper first learned about physical therapy through a Manitoba First Nations training initiative when she lived in Thompson, Man. Today, she’s a physiotherapist with the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre, working with school-age children.

“Now, with my master of physical therapy degree, I’m in a very good position to come to First Nations communities and be a role model for these kids. If they see me, as an Indigenous person, they’ll see that they can do this too.”

At the ceremony, respiratory therapy graduate Victoria Ploszay was awarded the University of Manitoba Gold Medal for highest standing in an undergraduate faculty, college or school.

Ploszay, completed the program in May and now works full-time at St. Boniface Hospital, casually at Selkirk Regional Health Centre and at UM as a teaching assistant and research assistant.

“Being a student in respiratory therapy was challenging and exhausting, but also exhilarating and rewarding,” she said.

Earlier in the day, 21 awards were presented to rehabilitation sciences graduands at the college’s annual convocation awards luncheon. Melissa Gunn (occupational therapy) and Jennifer Schreibmaier (physical therapy) were both multiple award winners and shared the Dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Student Achievement Prize.

“I feel grateful for the recognition of the hard work it took to get to where I am today and, of course, the financial support that it provides,” said Gunn.

Dr. Reg Urbanowski, dean of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, congratulated the award winners and all graduates for their achievements.

“With this being the first in-person awards ceremony and convocation in recent years, this event is extra special,” he said.

The College of Rehabilitation Sciences will see 48 students graduate from its master of physical therapy program, 44 from its master of occupational therapy program and 13 from its bachelor of respiratory therapy program.

Occupational therapy graduate Corrine Clyne, originally from Norway House Cree Nation, received numerous awards while in the program, including UM’s Emerging Leader Award and another leadership award from the Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation. An advocate and educator for other students regarding Indigenous health issues and cultural safety, she also recently completed a geriatric certificate program through McMaster University.

But the road to her degree and accolades wasn’t easy, Clyne said. A few years prior to entering the program, she was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. She plans to use her experience of overcoming that to inspire others, particularly young Indigenous people.

“You can still achieve your goals even though you have something heavy on your shoulders. I feel that committing myself and overcoming that helped me to work 10 times harder to achieve all these leadership awards,” she said.

Earlier this month, Clyne began a position providing pediatric services to four Indigenous communities: Shamattawa First Nation, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Pauingassi First Nation and Little Grand Rapids First Nation. She said her goal has always been to work in remote, Indigenous communities in Northern Manitoba, as she saw a lot of discrepancies in the health-care system growing up.

“I am so excited to be working with these communities, utilize my Cree language and ensure there is a culturally safe environment for our clients,” she said.

Clyne is also eager to bring her leadership skills to the Manitoba Society of Occupational Therapists as a board member for 2021-2022.

Respiratory therapy

Graduates in the respiratory therapy program completed their program ahead of schedule earlier this year to assist with the need created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Haley Nakonechny, originally from Manitou, Man., received the University Gold Medal for highest standing in an undergraduate faculty, school or college. She recently took a position at Health Sciences Centre.

Nakonechny said taking the program during the pandemic allowed for a unique learning opportunity.

“It was a little stressful because we went from not knowing if we’d be able to go back to school in our second year to being thrown right in in our third year,” she said. “But when I first started the program and would tell people I was in respiratory therapy, a lot of people didn’t know what it was, and now it seems like everyone knows what it is.”

Physician assistant studies

Fifteen students will graduate from the MPAS program, the only physician assistant (PA) program offered at a graduate level in a Canadian university.

Among the two-year program’s graduates is Laura Carroll, who recently started working in orthopedic surgery at Health Sciences Centre.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Carroll said she knew early in the program that she wanted to work in a surgical environment.

“I was shadowing a PA in one of my early clinical rotations and we were scrubbing into a bowel surgery and I got to help out in the surgery. I was so excited to be there and loved the environment. Ever since that moment, I pursued a PA role in surgery,” she said.

“Not everyone has the privilege to be passionate about what they work in, but I am very passionate and excited about being a surgical PA.”

The UM virtual Fall Convocation ceremony on Oct. 22 will include graduates from the College of Nursing, College of Rehabilitation Sciences and Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) programs. The event will begin streaming at 5:00 p.m. CDT. Like the Spring Convocation in June, the event was moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rehabilitation Sciences

Master of occupational therapy graduate Hannah Brown said the pandemic made the last semester for her and her graduating class memorable. Adjusting to online learning and virtual conferencing was particularly demanding for the 25-year-old, who was born with significant hearing loss.

“The cognitive fatigue plus Zoom fatigue added additional challenges as we had moved into virtual education,” she said. “We basically came back from Spring Break, had one week of classes and automatically went online. We had to navigate how to take a test online and learn how to run group therapies over Zoom. We also had a practical exam that is typically done in person. It ended up being over Zoom with an imaginary client. It was definitely memorable this last semester.”

Brown is excited to start working at Rehabilitation Centre for Children at Specialized Services for Children and Youth in the Jordan’s Principle program, a national initiative for First Nations children.

In total there are 49 students graduating from the occupational therapy program, 50 from the physical therapy program and 17 from respiratory therapy.

Master of physical therapy graduate Dustin Murdock said he was initially disappointed that he wouldn’t receive his degree in person, but that changed when he found it in his mailbox on Oct. 20.

“It’s still just as valid as any other degree and I worked really hard for it,” he said. “I was really proud of it as I was opening it up in the mail this morning.”

Murdock, 30, is originally from Fisher River Cree Nation, where he hopes to return to improve the fitness and health of people in the community.

“I definitely want to work with my home community in some capacity. I’d be very interested in developing a program to deliver physiotherapy service there,” he said.

Nursing

The College of Nursing will see 114 bachelor of nursing (BN) grads join the Class of 2020, along with two graduates of the baccalaureate program for registered nurses (BPRN), 17 from the master of nursing program and one PhD.

Nicolas Lees, 32, is one of 12 students graduating from the nurse practitioner stream of the master’s program. The program combines classroom and online learning with practical work, which he said was challenging during the pandemic.

“We’re working in hospitals and clinical settings, so with them trying to limit the flow of people, a lot of students were struggling to get their hours in,” he said. That was the main impact we had. Luckily a lot of the people coordinating our placements were able to work with the clinics to find alternative ways.”

The college will also hold a virtual pinning ceremony, welcoming the new BNs and BPRNs to the profession, in the morning of Oct. 22.

Laryssa Yakimoski, 23, graduates from the BN program and will begin her career at the pediatric oncology unit Children’s Hospital. She said she’s surprised at how quickly the last four years went by and how much she’s grown in that time.

“I had a teacher in first week of nursing school tell us that you have to start being comfortable with being uncomfortable, and I’d say that’s the big takeaway – be open to new things, be open to working with people and do your best to be as compassionate and caring as possible,” she said.

MPAS

This year, 15 students will graduate from the MPAS program. Since launching in 2008, the program has graduated 136 physician assistants. Of them, 90 per cent are employed in Manitoba.

Carmen Konzelman, 26, came to the program with a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Winnipeg and experience working with people with neurological disorders at the Movement Centre of Manitoba. She said she will remember her time in the program as a whirlwind of emotions and a huge accomplishment. She recently started working at the Selkrik Regional Health Centre Emergency Department.

“The MPAS program has prepared me for my future career as it’s provided me with a stable foundation of a general medical knowledge and a skill set that I’ll be able to bring forward with me to any career or specialty,” she said.

Moors, who was raised in Thompson, Man., is a band member of God’s Lake Narrows, the home of her mother, a residential school survivor. She was sponsored by the band while she pursued her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, which she achieved in 2016. This also led to a rich university life that included winning the 2016 Female Athlete of the Year Award as a member of the Bisons swim team.

Her interest in athletics guided her to pursue a master’s degree in occupational therapy, for which she was sponsored by the training institute at the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre (MFNERC).

Moors, 33, is one of 49 Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) graduates and 119 Rady Faculty of Health Sciences graduates in total that received degrees at the University of Manitoba fall convocation held Nov. 7 at Bannatyne campus. She recently started working as a provisional occupational therapist with children in four First Nations communities – God’s Lake Narrows, York Landing, Pukatawagan and Pinnaymootang.

“My journey to get here has been tough, but I am so grateful for it all, as it has made me strong and resilient. I’m also happy that I’m making my mom proud,” said Moors.

Other graduates included those from the Master of Physical Therapy (MPT), Bachelor of Respiratory Therapy (BRT), MSc Rehabilitation Sciences and Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) programs.

Since launching in 2008, the MPAS program has graduated 122 physician assistants (PAs), most of whom are employed in Manitoba. This fall, 14 MPAS graduates join the ranks, including Jennifer Forbes who received an award for her Capstone project, Starting Strong: Exploring Experiences of Prenatal Care among First Nations Mothers.

“Our MPAS graduates accepted employment in a variety of positions, including urgent care, rural and urban hospitalist roles, and specialty care centres such as cardiac sciences and MS-neurology,” said MPAS director Ian Jones. “The graduates will optimize patient care in any area lucky enough to have them as they already demonstrate a commitment to quality patient care.”

When addressing the graduates, Dr. David Barnard, president and vice-chancellor, University of Manitoba, and Dr. Peter Nickerson, vice-dean, research, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, both noted the important role health-care professionals play in supporting Indigenous populations.

“We know that in our community, Indigenous people have large health gaps that we must address. Many of those gaps are rooted in systemic racism that has permeated our country for hundreds of years,” said Nickerson, who appeared on behalf of Dr. Brian Postl, dean, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and Vice-Provost (Health Sciences).

“As you start your first jobs as physician assistants and occupational, physical or respiratory therapists, I ask you to reflect on your role in reconciliation,” he said.

Dr. Morley Hollenberg received an honorary degree at the Nov. 7 convocation.

The ceremony also saw an honorary degree given to Dr. Morley Hollenberg, an internationally renowned biomedical researcher who completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry at the U of M before he was awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. Hollenberg’s publications have transformed many branches of research and knowledge pertaining to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal and neurological diseases.

Hollenberg said he was humbled to follow in the footsteps of others who have received honorary degrees from the U of M.

“As we’ve learned from Dr. James Peebles, the most recent Nobel Prize awardee from U of M and former honorary degree, even the sky is not your limit,” he said. “Given the right tools, our only limitation is your imagination.”

Prior to the convocation ceremony, 22 awards were presented to 18 Rehabilitation Sciences graduands at a luncheon at Canad Inns Health Sciences Centre. Multiple award winners included Andreea Alexandrescu (MOT), Erin Unger (MOT), Matthew Short (MPT), Katie Dalmaijer (MPT) and Gold Medal winner Hanna Kilas (BRT).

After opening remarks and greetings from the U of M, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Shared Health and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, the students took part in a meaningful stethoscope ceremony and recited the Hippocratic Oath.

Physician assistants (PAs) are medically-educated clinicians who work as medical providers in collaboration with physicians. They perform duties such as medically assessing patients, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, performing procedures and prescribing medications.

The program is the only one in Canada to train physician assistants at the graduate level. This year, there were 153 applicants for 15 spots. The Class of 2021 consists of 10 Manitobans, two from Alberta, and three from Ontario.

A rich diversity of students make up the class including immigrant, Indigenous, rural- and urban-raised individuals. Members of the class hold degrees in fields such as pharmacy, psychology, biochemistry, immunology, kinesiology, occupational therapy and biomedical sciences.

In his remarks, Dr. Brian Postl, dean, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, said this profession was “an example of what we need to do more of in health care,” which reflects the health sector’s evolving focus on inter-professional team models of care and collaboration.

Since launching in 2008, the program has graduated 122 PAs. Of the program graduates working in Manitoba, 45 are employed in surgery, 20 work in internal medicine/hospitalist roles, 19 in primary care, 15 work in emergency/urgent care, eight in mental health, one in obstetrics and one in addictions.

Twenty-three per cent of graduates work in rural communities. There are also graduates practicing in Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and the Northwest Territories.

University of Manitoba President and Vice-Provost Dr. David Barnard highlighted the students’ wealth of volunteer experience with various charitable organizations, student mentorship, sports teams, and cultural and recreational groups.

“It’s these types of diverse interactions that will define the kind of physician assistant you will become. You have, in one way or another, improved the quality of life for the people you’ve worked with and you did so with compassion and integrity; the core values of the health professions,” he said.

Students from the Class of 2021 shared some thoughts about their future profession with us:

What attracted you to the physician’s assistant program?

“I always wanted to work in health care. I wasn’t sure which route to go in when I was doing my B.Sc. degree, and then I heard about the PA profession. I was intrigued because PAs have a unique ability to be flexible and versatile in the health-care system. They’re trained as medical generalists so they have the ability to work anywhere in health care which is cool to me because I’m from a rural community and I’ve seen first-hand the impact that a PA can make. I wanted to become a PA so I can one day help my patients and reduce wait times and the other issues we have in rural medicine.” – Shelby Page

What are you most looking forward to?

“I would consider myself a people’s person. Going back to my year-and-a-half in the Emergency Medical Service, I realized my passion for helping, mentoring, advocating for patients and that’s something I’m eagerly looking forward to.” – Sem Moreno

Is there a specific area of health care you want to specialize in?

“Personally I have a lot of experience with different specific health-care specialties. I’m interested in general medicine, emergency medicine and maybe [have] an inkling toward cardiology. I think I’ll really get to know what I want to do when I’m in the clinic and on the rotations. I have an open mind. As I go through I feel like I’ll have a calling towards something specifically.” – Avery Clavio

In addition to his Bachelor of Respiratory Therapy (BRT) degree, 28-year-old Coley received a Gold Medal award for attaining the highest degree grade point average in the program, and did so while balancing a very busy home life. Three weeks before graduating, he and his wife, Katherine, became first-time parents.

“My wife was truly amazing in supporting me through my journey back to school,” he says, noting that his workload increased in his last year of schooling – the same time that she became pregnant. “I believe my biggest challenge was to find a balance between spending time on school and contributing to work around the house.”

Coley was one of 16 BRT graduates and 126 Rady Faculty of Health Sciences graduates in total that received degrees at the convocation, including Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT), Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) and Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) programs.

Scott Coley accepts the College of Rehabilitation Sciences Medal in Respiratory Therapy award from instructor Ken Chambers.

Since launching in 2008, the MPAS program has graduated 106 physician assistants (PAs). Of them, 90 per cent are employed in Manitoba. This fall, 16 MPAS graduates join the ranks, helping to meet health-care needs across the province and in diverse settings including primary care clinics, hospitals, community settings and emergency and operating rooms. One of this year’s MPAS graduates is returning to Alberta, while the rest plan on staying in Manitoba, including five who have accepted positions in rural communities.

Among the MPAS graduates was Alexandra Abt, who won the medical directors choice for outstanding Capstone project for her research and investigation into enhancing access to prenatal care. Ian Jones, MPAS program director, says Abt’s work is a great example of the exceptional quality of work and effort shown by the U of M’s PAs. 

“These graduates consistently display their intelligence, problem-solving skills and dedication to patient centric reflective practice,” Jones says. “The PA model and these amazing individuals are well suited to supporting and optimizing patient care in Manitoba’s health-care system.”

For the first time, the convocation took place in Brodie Centre atrium at Bannatyne campus. Dr. Catherine Cook, Vice-Dean, Indigenous Health, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences congratulated the graduates on being part of this milestone.

Cook also reminded the group they are at the forefront of new interdisciplinary and collaborative care models in rehabilitation sciences and health care in general.

“I hope you are learning to shed some aspects of what might be called our ‘guilds’ and move forward with your focus on finding the best way to serve your patients as a member of an interdisciplinary health team,” she said. “This is a positive evolution that will ultimately benefit patient care and impact the way all health professionals work together.”

President and Vice-Chancellor David Barnard told the graduates they will always be part of the University of Manitoba family, and that they will play a vital role as the university evolves to better serve the world in clinical and research settings.

“Ultimately, if we have done our jobs as educators and mentors well, tomorrow, this world will be in better hands,” he said.

Also notable was the Distinguished Professor honour, which was awarded to physiology professor Grant Pierce, OM, B.P.H.E.(Hons.)(Lakehead), M.Sc.(Dalhousie), PhD (Manitoba). Dr. Pierce’s transformative research has improved the well-being of people with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes around the world. As executive director of research at St. Boniface Hospital, he played a key role in establishing the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences. He also established the Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine, a unique collaboration bringing together Manitoba universities, the St. Boniface Hospital and the federal government (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada).

“Dr. Pierce is internationally recognized for his research on cardiovascular diseases and diabetes,” said Provost and Vice-President Dr. Janice Ristock. “Through his scholarly contributions, he has improved the well-being of people across the globe.”

Prior to the convocation ceremony, 21 awards were presented to 17 Rehabilitation Sciences graduands at a luncheon. Multiple award winners included Naomi Hatherly (MOT), Meagan Sparrow (MOT) and Vincent Francisco (MPT). Click to view the full list of winners.

To view more photos from the convocation and awards ceremony, click here.

The award, presented by the Canadian Physician Assistant Education Association and the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants, recognizes Bellas for his significant impact on the education of PAs in Canada. He received it in Ottawa on Oct. 28.

Dr. Jonathon Bellas

“It’s nice to have my dedication to teaching recognized,” said Bellas, a U of M alumnus. “It’s also very humbling, because there are a lot of wonderful teachers out there.”

Bellas is an assistant professor of medicine at the Max Rady College of Medicine in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and an internal medicine specialist at Health Sciences Centre.

He started coordinating academic courses and clinical rotations in the MPAS program in 2009 and has been strongly committed to PA education ever since.

“Physician assistant students are mature, curious and motivated learners,” Bellas said. “It’s inspiring as an educator to teach students like that. It keeps you enthusiastic.”

Ian Jones, director of the MPAS program, said the national award for Bellas reflects well on the U of M program.

“Dr. Bellas’s contribution to the program since its inception is a prime reason our graduates are outstanding medical clinicians,” Jones said. “Perhaps his greatest contribution is modelling what a great medical provider should be.”

Physician assistants are clinicians who work under the supervision and direction of physicians. They perform duties such as assessing patients, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, providing therapeutic and clinical procedures, and prescribing medications.

The U of M’s physician assistant program is the only one in Canada at the master’s level. It consists of one year of biomedical science and medicine courses, followed by 13 months of clinical rotations.

“The greatest challenge of educating PAs is the short timeframe for teaching the vast amount of knowledge they need to learn,” Bellas said. “It requires a group of dedicated clinician-educators to guide them.”

The award recognizes Bellas for his contributions to both the academic and clinical components of the program. Students have praised Bellas for effectively distilling complex subject matter and for bringing course material to life by discussing relevant clinical cases.

Bellas, who grew up in Brandon, earned his medical degree at the U of M in 2003. He completed his residency in general internal medicine at the U of M and joined the faculty in 2007. He assumed the role of medical director of the MPAS program in February of this year.

The awards committee said Bellas exemplified positive qualities such as communicator, advocate, collaborator and scholar.

There were 197 applications for 15 spots in the program, up from 166 last year.

On Sept. 1 on the Bannatyne campus, the 15 accomplished students who were accepted into the two-year Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program took part in Inaugural Exercises.

For the first time, the event included a Stethoscope Ceremony as well as the traditional recitation of the Hippocratic Oath.

“Formally presenting students with their first stethoscope symbolizes that the most important part of health care is listening to the patient,” said Ian Jones, director of the program.

A group of practising physician assistants (PAs) acted as presenters at the ceremony, placing stethoscopes around the incoming students’ necks and giving each three books.

The first book, Jones said, represented wisdom. The second honoured the art of medicine. The third reminded the future PAs that they will be impacted by the health-care journey ahead, but will never be alone.

Physician assistants are clinicians who work under the supervision and direction of physicians. They are qualified to perform duties such as assessing patients, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, providing therapeutic and clinical procedures, and prescribing medications.

In Manitoba, PAs work not only in family medicine, but in more than 30 specialties, assisting doctors in fields ranging from psychiatry to oncology.

The MPAS program is offered through the Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Graduate Studies. It consists of one year of biomedical science and medicine courses, followed by 13 months of clinical rotations.

Incoming student Justine Bucko, 32, earned her bachelor of science in microbiology at the U of M, then worked in pharmaceutical sales. Her background includes volunteering at a hospital in Nepal.

“The PA program is the perfect blend of academic study and patient care, and I love that it’s a team-based career,” Bucko said after the ceremony.

Amanpreet Singh, 31, holds a master’s in microbiology from the U of M. His graduate research centred on the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. He has volunteered at Health Sciences Centre.

“It was a great honour for me to accept the stethoscope from somebody who’s actually working in the profession,” Singh said.

Lauren Girard, 24, received her bachelor of science in biochemistry and microbiology from the Université de Saint-Boniface. She has worked as a research assistant and volunteered at St. Boniface Hospital.

“I’m very passionate about our health-care system,” Girard said. “PAs are really showing that they are part of the answer to some of the inefficiencies we see, like wait times. PAs are also shown to be very cost-effective to the health-care system. So I know I’ll be making a difference.”

On Sept. 2 on the Bannatyne Campus, 15 students recited the Hippocratic Oath as part of Inaugural Exercises for the two-year Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program. This is the largest class since the program’s inception in 2008.

Physician Assistants are clinicians who work under the supervision and direction of physicians. They are qualified to perform duties such as assessing patients, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, providing therapeutic procedures and prescribing medications.

“Physician Assistants are part of the solution to improving health-care delivery in Manitoba,” said Ian Jones, director of the MPAS program. “We have increased the class size from 12 to 15 students to address the demand for PAs, whose work with physicians provides a successful patient-centred model of care. With the support of the government of Manitoba, our graduates have made a difference in communities such as Brandon, The Pas, Thompson, Dauphin, Steinbach, Morden and Winnipeg.”

Physician Assistants play a growing role in team-based multi-disciplinary care, said Dr. Brian Postl, dean, Max Rady College of Medicine; dean, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences; vice-provost, health sciences. “Increasingly, we’re all recognizing the importance that the team brings,” he told the new students. “Your future potential is enormous.”

The MPAS program is offered through the Max Rady College of Medicine (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences) and the Faculty of Graduate Studies. It consists of one year of biomedical science and medicine courses followed by 13 months of clinical rotations. The in-demand program received 166 applications this year, representing every province. Nearly half the students accepted into the Class of 2018 have rural backgrounds.

Of the MPAS program’s recent graduates (2013-2016), 45 out of 47 are currently working in Manitoba.  Since launching in 2008, the program has graduated 81 students, with 86 per cent currently employed in Manitoba.

This year’s students arrive with degrees in fields such as human development and family studies, genetics, kinesiology, microbiology, sociology and pharmacology.

Dana Baker, a master’s student in the class of 2018 and Ian Jones, the director of the program, spoke with Richard Cloutier on CJOB about the program.