Students, staff, faculty and friends filled the University of South Florida School of Music auditorium to welcome 50 new physician assistant students during the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program Class of 2028 Commitment to the Profession Ceremony.
In groups of six, students took center stage to don their white coats for the first time, marking their formal entry into PA training. The class also recited the Physician Assistant Oath, led by Larry Collins, PA-C, ATC, associate professor and associate program director. The event and the coats each student received were sponsored by Tampa General Hospital.
Graysen Panganiban and her father Rudolfo Panganiban, MD, Morsani College of Medicine Class of 1997.
For Class of 2028 student Graysen Panganiban, the ceremony held a special family connection. Her father, Rudolfo Panganiban, MD, a 1997 graduate of Morsani College of Medicine, joined her on stage and put her first white coat over her shoulders. Nearly three decades after her father graduated from USF, Graysen is carving her own path in patient care. Although their roles in healthcare differ, the father and daughter share a commitment to caring for others.
“Receiving my first white coat from my father makes this moment truly special,” Panganiban said. “As a USF alumnus himself, I feel empowered to continue his legacy while beginning my own journey in healthcare.”
At the ceremony, Jessica Tharpe, PA-C, a 2021 graduate of the program, also received the 2026 Outstanding Alumni Award. Speaking to the new class, she recalled the long hours of studying, applications, interviews and sacrifices that ultimately led her to USF Health.
Before turning their attention to clinical rotations, board exams and graduation, she encouraged the students to appreciate the moment in front of them — and then “go MAD”: make a difference.
“So many of your dreams have culminated in this moment,” Tharpe said. “To truly make a difference, you just need to remember your ‘why’ and look for opportunities to care for other people. No matter what team you’re on, what specialty you choose or what patient population you choose, there are infinite ways for you to make a difference. We can’t wait to see what your future holds.”
In his address, Todd Wills, MD, aassociate dean and program director, reminded students that becoming a physician assistant carries a responsibility to seek answers for patients and to stand beside patients with humility when those answers are unclear. He also emphasized that joining the profession connects each new class with generations of physician assistants who have worked to build the profession into what it is today.
“When you wear this coat and commit to this profession, you are committing to always doing your best to ensure the questions patients have are answered; and when they can’t be, to make sure your patients know that you are still there for them,” Dr. Wills said. “The way you treat your patients reflects not only on you, but on all of the PAs who worked tirelessly to grow this profession into its respected place in our healthcare community.”
