Students, staff, faculty and friends filled the University of South Florida School of Music auditorium to welcome 49 new physician assistant students during the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program Class of 2027 Commitment to the Profession Ceremony, Oct. 3.
Students were greeted with thunderous applause and cheers as they gathered in groups of 6 to don their white coats for the first time, officially marking the start of their health care careers. Together, the new class recited the Physician Assistant Oath, led by Larry Collins, PA-C, ATC, the program’s associate director.
Kameron Faulkenberry, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program class of 2027.
Kameron Faulkenberry’s journey to the program reflects a rich history of civilian and military experience working in emergency medical services. He spent a year as an emergency medical technician and two more as a paramedic with a private ambulance company, before devoting four years of service with the U.S. Army, where he worked in trauma care and patient stabilization. For Faulkenberry, a veteran of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, the moment was a deep realization that the white coat is not a reward for what has already been accomplished, but a symbol of belonging and a reminder of the long road ahead.
“Receiving my first white coat doesn’t feel like something I’ve earned yet. I’m only just beginning,” Faulkenberry said. But it does feel like a formal acknowledgment of acceptance into the program, a tangible buy-in that says ‘I’m here for the duration.’ I couldn’t be prouder to be a student here and look forward to what the future holds.”
Mary Raymond, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program class of 2027, with her sisters Sarah (right) and Hannah.
For Mary Raymond, her path to the profession is personal and part of a family tradition. As the third sibling to attend the program, she continues her family’s connection with USF and the PA Program. During the ceremony, her sisters, Sarah MPAS ‘21 and Hannah MPAS ‘25, stood proudly by her side to present her with her first white coat.
“I can’t put into words what it was like to celebrate this moment with my sisters, two people whom I look up to personally and professionally,” Raymond said. “Receiving my first white coat is only the first step of many in my career, and it’s very reassuring to know that I have two family members to lean on as I continue on my journey as a student.”
Ayesha Keitzman, PA-C, who was the event’s keynote speaker and 2025 Alumni of the Year honoree, reflected on the journey from being a member of the program’s inaugural class to shaping the next generation of practitioners. Sharing her personal story of perseverance and mentorship, Kietzman, emphasized the growth of the program and the meaning behind the ceremony’s signature symbol.
“For me, it represents taking the time to make sure your patients understand why you are making your decision,” Kietzman said. “It’s accepting the responsibility and privilege of talking to patients about the most vulnerable parts of their lives and weaving it into the big picture of their health.”
As physician assistants across the country prepare to celebrate National Physician Assistant Week, Todd Wills, MD, associate dean and program director, reminded them that the journey ahead extends beyond mastering medical knowledge.
“Remember, students, that your job here at USF and going forward is not only to become a great PA, but to grow as a person — a person who engages in routine self-reflection and one who goes out of your way to establish trust, respect and a sense of belonging here at USF and beyond,” Dr. Wills said.
Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, emphasized the significance of the white coat ceremony, a rite of passage that symbolizes both achievement and accountability. For the students donning their first white coats, the moment marked the start of medical training and the acceptance of the values that will define their careers as physician assistants.
“The white coat you will receive today is a great privilege but carries with it great responsibilities,” Lockwood said. “It conveys and confers respect, but it also obligates you to put the needs of your patients at the center of all that you do, commit to empathetic and compassionate care and embrace lifelong learning.”
