Concordia University Ann Arbor

At Concordia University Ann Arbor, learning to care for patients goes beyond the classroom.
Students in CUAA’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies program recently put their faith and professional skills into action through the Hands and Feet to Serve Jesus Project, created by Dr. LaKreese Johnson, assistant professor of Physician Assistant Studies.

Inspired by Matthew 25:40, the project challenged students to learn more about underserved populations and partner with local organizations to serve people in need. In July, students collected and organized donations for residents at a women’s shelter and served breakfast through a local meal program.

The experience gave students an opportunity to see compassion and service from a new perspective.

“Although we often hear about homelessness and women in need through social media, seeing the impact in person created a deeper sense of empathy and awareness,” student Dena Haidous wrote in her reflection.

For students Lauren LaClair, Adrienne Gilson, Matthew Lozancich and Sierra Gulli, the experience offered a lesson they can carry into their future careers: “Compassionate healthcare begins with presence, humility and service.”

For these future physician assistants, learning to care for others means learning to serve them, too.

Choosing where to apply for PA school is about more than curriculum. It is about the faculty who will teach, mentor, challenge, and encourage you along the way.

This year, six Concordia University Ann Arbor Physician Assistant faculty were recognized among CUWAA’s Top 10 in Excellence in Teaching, and five PA faculty were recognized among the Top 10 in Faith and Learning.

Congratulations to Dr. Kristin Shuman-Donnelly, Professor Kendra Osann, Dr. Dale Russell, Dr. Emily Sliger, Professor Noah Britton, and Dr. LaKreese Johnson.

These awards reflect the strength of CUAA’s PA faculty and their commitment to preparing future healthcare professionals with clinical skill, ethical leadership, and Christ-centered compassion.

For applicants discerning their next step, CUAA offers a PA education shaped by rigorous academics, whole-person care, and faculty who are deeply invested in learner success.

Learn more about CUAA’s Physician Assistant Studies program: https://www.cuaa.edu/academics/programs/physician-assistant-masters/index.html



ALT TEXT: Six Concordia University Ann Arbor Physician Assistant faculty members stand side by side against a beige wall, smiling and holding Concordia University award certificates recognizing excellence in teaching and faith and learning. Blue chairs and a table are visible in the foreground.

Concordia University Ann Arbor is pleased to recognize students named to the Dean's List and President's Honors List for the spring semester.

The Dean's List honors full time undergraduate students with a semester GPA of 3.6 or above who completed at least 12 undergraduate credits. The President's Honors List recognizes full time undergraduate students who completed a minimum of 12 combined undergraduate and graduate credits in a 16 week semester with a GPA of 3.75 or above.

Congratulations to all honorees on this well earned achievement.

https://www.cuaa.edu/academics/_assets/cuaa-honors-2026-spring.pdf

Falls can affect confidence, independence, and daily life for people living with Parkinson’s. The good news is that prevention can begin with education, practice, and support.

The No Falls Festival is a free community event and hands-on fall prevention experience for people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers.

Join the Michigan Parkinson Foundation, the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness, and Concordia University Ann Arbor’s Department of Physical Therapy on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness.

Participants will learn practical strategies to help reduce fall risk and support safer movement. A follow-up assessment will also take place at the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness.

Please share this with someone living with Parkinson’s, a caregiver, or a family who may benefit.

Concordia University Ann Arbor physical therapy students and faculty are teaming up with the Michigan Parkinson Foundation and the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson's Wellness for the second annual No Falls Festival on September 19.

This free community event gives people with Parkinson's hands on support through balance and mobility assessments, safe transfer demonstrations, and a personalized fall prevention plan, plus a follow up assessment on October 17.

Our PT students get a meaningful opportunity to put their training into practice through real service to the community. Registration is free and open now.

Finding the right healthcare program starts with asking good questions — and seeing the learning environment up close.

Last week, CUAA welcomed prospective learners and their families to the School of Health Professions Open House. Guests met with professors, toured our state-of-the-art simulation and skills labs, and learned more about the health sciences programs that best fit their goals.

For undergraduates, it was a chance to imagine what their next step could look like: hands-on training, faculty mentorship, and preparation for meaningful service in healthcare. For parents, it offered a glimpse into the supportive, Christ-centered community that helps Concordia learners grow academically, professionally, and personally.

If you missed the Open House, there are more ways to connect. Use the visit schedule portal to see future visit days, or schedule a one-on-one visit with our admissions team.

Clinical confidence is built through practice.

CUAA Physician Assistant learners recently completed their annual Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support certification class, gaining hands-on experience in the skills needed to respond during cardiovascular emergencies.

Inside a simulation hospital room, learners practiced CPR, monitored vital signs, listened to expert instruction, and worked through the kind of high-pressure scenarios they may encounter in clinical settings. Even more meaningful: they are now officially ACLS certified while still completing their PA training.

For future applicants, this is the kind of real-world preparation that helps learners grow into capable, compassionate providers. For future employers, it is a glimpse of the readiness, professionalism, and clinical judgment CUAA PA graduates are developing long before graduation.

At Concordia, hands-on learning is more than an activity. It is preparation for lives of service in healthcare.

Considering a career in physical therapy, occupational therapy, or physician assistant studies? 🩺

Join us for the School of Health Professions Visit Day on Wednesday, July 23, from noon to 4 p.m. at Concordia University Ann Arbor. You will meet faculty and admissions representatives, tour our health sciences facilities and simulation labs, and learn how Concordia prepares skilled, compassionate healthcare professionals grounded in faith and service.

Registration is required, so save your spot today: https://blog.cuaa.edu/health-professions-visit-day-on-july-23/

There’s something special about summer on campus.

The sidewalks are quieter, the future feels brighter, and the season gives us a chance to remember what makes Concordia University Ann Arbor feel like home: a community rooted in faith, care, and purpose.

At CUAA, learners are known by name, supported by faculty and staff, and encouraged to grow into the people God has called them to be. Our campus is more than a place to attend class. It’s a place to build relationships, ask big questions, and prepare for a life of service.

Whether you’re visiting for the first time or already part of the Concordia family, summer is a beautiful time to see what makes this community uncommon.

Come experience CUAA for yourself.

Summer may bring a slower rhythm, but purpose keeps moving.

At Concordia University Ann Arbor, we believe every learner has God-given gifts that can make a difference in the Church and the world. That’s why our academic programs are designed to prepare learners not only for meaningful careers, but for lives of service, leadership, and compassion.

From hands-on healthcare training to flexible education programs and mission-centered learning across disciplines, CUAA helps learners connect what they study with who they are called to become.

So whether you’re taking classes, exploring programs, preparing to apply, or simply praying about your next step, summer can be a season of clarity.

Your calling matters. CUAA can help you pursue it with confidence and purpose.