Franklin Pierce University - MPAS - AZ

✨ Class of 2025 ✨ We may be spread across the US in a hybrid learning model, we still feel close as ever as we lean on each other to get through this FINAL DIDACTIC TERM - Term 4!


Hybrid learning doesn’t mean you’re alone learning! 💻 📚


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Introducing Class of 2025 Diversity, Equity, and inclusion Chair, Kay! ✨

Hi everyone! My name is Kay Williams and I am the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion chair for the class of 2025! I was born and raised in Jamaica 🇯🇲 before migrating to the United States at 12yrs old. I completed middle and high school in Savannah Georgia, then attend Georgia College and State University where I earned my bachelors in Exercise Science. I worked as a CNA for over a year, then moved to Miami Florida where I worked in corporate health and wellness before attending PA school.

It’s been my dream to become a PA for years because I’ve always had a passion for anything related to the human body. I have a strong fitness background but always had an interest in medicine as well and my goal is to bridge the 2 communities together. The lateral mobility of the PA profession allows the ability to do that and thats what attracted me the most about this career.

I ran for DEI chair because as an immigrant and black woman I strongly believe that representation matters and I want to be someone little kids all over the world can look up to. I want them to know that there is a space in this world for them and that they can achieve whatever they set their minds to!

Fun stuff 😁: I love going to the beach, playing soccer, traveling, and doing all the outdoor activities! 😎 I enjoy working out and it has definitely been keeping me sane throughout PA school so far!

Most importantly, I am a cat mom to the sweetest kitty, Milly who is the absolute best study buddy!

🦴 We’re wrapping up Term 3 - and some Arizona based students got to take advantage of our labs on campus in Goodyear, AZ! 💪

Getting together, whether in person or via zoom, is a huge component to PA school learning and success! Working together, learning together, and building forever bonds!

We love our AZ based students!

🩺Last Saturday - 4/6 /24 - some of CO2025 (including our Community Outreach Chair and our Secretary!) attended the Path to Wellness event with the National Kidney Foundation in Arizona!

The foundation provided free screenings to assess risk for Diabetes, Heart and Kidney disease!

It was a great turnout turnout with over 40 people able to participate and get their blood pressure, blood and urine tested and speak with a physician on chronic disease management and what their results mean!

This was a great way to help our community as well as meet other PA students! There were a few 2nd year ATSU students and we were able to talk to them about didactic year and clinicals!

Hybrid doesn’t mean at home- it’s a a perfect mix of it all!

Introducing Class of 2025 Secretary, Megan! ✨
Hi I am Megan, I attend a hybrid (didactic online/ clinicals in-person) Physician Assistant program to which I am the class of 2025 Secretary.

I have a background as a Manager of Cardiovascular Ultrasound. I love working with patients, educating and assisting as an integral team to their care. I wanted more autonomy with my patients, thus i opted to further my healthcare career.

I am a mom of an 11 y/o and an 8 y/o. This didactic year, being a non-traditional student, has granted me the freedom to care for my children with little change to our home-life schedule. The beauty is that I get to study anywhere. On the road to see family for holidays or at my kids sports practices. I am grateful for my position here with FPU and look forward to my continued education!

👏 👏 3 of our CO 2025 Student Senate members and our interim program director attended the conference a few weeks ago representing us 🙌🏽👏


We have:
our amazing Community Outreach Chair ✨
our wonderful ASAPA Representative ☀️
Megan our talented and superstar Secretary ⭐️
& Dr. Melinda Rawcliffe our ultra supportive program director!



Even in a hybrid program, students find ways to connect, meet up, support each other and represent our school- just like a traditional program! 🌟

🖥️ Being in a hybrid program means being able to pick where you want to attend lectures 📚 🏝️

With your doggies 🐶 , while hiking and camping 🏕️ , or at a local coffee shop ☕️


Set your schedule, AND STICK TO IT, and you can enjoy still the wonderful views during PA school medical🩺⚕️.

Introducing class of 2025 Vice President, Samantha! ✨

Hi I’m Samantha Gelperin, class of 2025 FPU MPAS hybrid Vice President.

I’m a non traditional student in that I’ve already had a couple amazing careers, one as a DOD firefighter for the last 15 years which was so incredibly fun but I felt the itch to move on and grow into a Physician Assistant with my sights set on emergency surgery and an open mind to whatever strikes my interest along the way. I love traveling with my amazing husband and two pups which is still possible during school since I can study and attend class anywhere🥰😎🏔️. Since starting this program in August 2023 I’ve been able to take a few long trips into the mountains and desert which I NEED to stay even slightly sane 👀🫣 the program is fast paced. Lots of information but I’ve made some indispensable friendships in my study group that help keep my head above water and my heart light🥰. Eyes on to term 3👀

✨ What some hybrid study sessions and student senate meetings look like!

- Even though we are a hybrid program, we are on zoom with each other enough to feel like we know each other so well, create relationships with each other, lean on each other during hard times, and laugh with each other to get through the tough days!

- Study groups are key in PA school, and being comfortable while doing them is a huge plus of the hybrid style of learning ✨

Introducing class of 2025 President, Jaclyn! ✨

Hi everyone, I’m Jackie Shuman, the Class President for the CO2025! I am from Philadelphia, PA, a mother to two amazing children, ages 7 and 6, and I am a former financial services professional with over ten years in the securities and financial compliance space. The reason I decided to walk away from a lucrative career is because I felt the call to help others - something I had ignored for many years.

After going through four painful spine surgeries (three cervical, one lumbar spine) in a two-year time span, it helped me realize that if I didn’t have answers as to why I was going through these painful experiences, I could use that experience to help others through their pain. In January 2020, I quit my job as a compliance manager and started working in a hospital. Little did I know COVID was about to take the world by storm, and it was through my inpatient experience as a patient care technician that I felt like I made the right decision to change careers and that I truly was where I was meant to be.

Applying to PA school was not easy as it took three cycles(years)of applications, but I found my way to FPU! Hybrid PA school is challenging but it lends itself well to making PA school possible for the non-traditional student.

I ran for Student Senate President because my background in business lent itself well to helping the cohort establish structure, collaboration, teamwork, and ultimately, I wanted to be an advocate for our class to helps us all have the best two years imaginable. “

Materna foundation raised over $3,000 which will support 200 mothers of infants living in poverty by providing them with a Materna Kit (which includes hygiene items, manual breast pumps, baby blankets/plate set). We had students drop off donations of baby clothes, buy items on the amazon wish list, and had a few students help in preparation for the event. It was a great turn out! Thank you Dr. Contreras, our Program Director for coming out!

Behind the scenes of our White Coat Ceremony with Class of 2025! So proud of you all!!
Congratulations!

🍩What’s better than doughnuts? Doughnuts that you can order while supporting a good cause!🤍

By ordering an Original Glazed Dozen from Krispy Kreme using our link, you will be helping our c/o 2025 cohort send students to conferences, purchases necessities, and alleviate the financial burdens associated with PA school 📚

Click the link in our story, event highlight, or down below to get started! 👇🏽

https://www.groupraise.com/oc/16050-krispy-kreme/5T6VHW?utm_source=offers_promo&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=krispykreme&utm_content=a
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✨Meet our FPU PA-AZ Class of 2024 AAPA Student Representative Cecilia Carlson!✨

“Hi! My name is Cecilia and I’m a non traditional student from ☀️ AZ. Prior to entering the program, I was an Air Force medic (go 4Ns!). Before leaving the military, I managed a primary care clinic and worked in EMS and pediatrics; they were all my favorite for different reasons. Having worked in multiple specialties, I realized that I enjoy constantly learning new things, which is the main reason I chose the PA profession.

I chose FPU because I have lived with a fair amount of uncertainty being in a dual-military marriage and craved some stability since we have a baby and a dog. FPU gives me the flexibility to stay where I live and be a mom when I need to. During the application process, it was FPU or nothing for me. Learning at home has been better than I could have ever imagined.

I chose to run for AAPA rep because I want to be a part of shaping our profession and sharing the PA concept with everyone who will listen. I wanted to share all AAPA’s ongoings with my classmates and demonstrate the importance of being involved. I believe that we can optimize the healthcare system if we advocate for change. PAs are the future of healthcare, and I am thrilled to be a part of it one day with my new life-long friends.”

We love the community we have created within our inaugural cohort and can’t wait to introduce you to some new faces in the coming weeks! Stay tuned to meet the class of 2025 🩺

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Help us support Circle the City and their mission of providing hope and healthcare to thousands of those in need! 🩺

Circle the City offers a wide variety of healthcare services to meet the individual needs of men, women, and children that are facing homelessness in Maricopa County, Arizona. This year, FPU PA-AZ students will be contributing to Circle the City’s efforts by putting together “Kindness Kits” that include snacks, water, personal care supplies, and handwritten notes to help support our local community 🫶

If you would like to participate, just venmo -Abrantes and specify the number of kits you are contributing towards in the note section. Each kit will cost about $4.50 to create, so a little goes a long way towards helping someone in need 🫶

Stay tuned for some more community outreach content from us as we begin our November immersion week in just a matter of days!!
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Celebrating the conclusion of PA Week as our Class of 2024 students complete their second week of early clinical experiences 🩺 Thank you to our amazing preceptors for donating their time and knowledge to educate the next generation of PA-Cs 🎉
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Happy National PA Week! 🥼 Every October 6-12, we celebrate, recognize, and discuss the PA field and all of its contributions.

Before National PA Week, National PA Day was first celebrated on October 6, 1987, in honor of the 20th anniversary of the first graduating class of PAs from the Duke University PA program. Since then, hundreds of thousands of PAs have made an impact on healthcare, practicing medicine, treating patients and expanding access to care. Be sure to thank a PA this week!🩺
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Curious about how OSCEs work in a hybrid program? The answer is a lot of teamwork, finding the right camera angle, and video calling! ✨

Here we have Professor Kobald and a team of local students who graciously donated their time to record instructional videos for the rest of the cohort. These videos are then uploaded for all of the other students to learn from and practice their physical exam techniques. Once they are ready, students must then submit their own recorded OSCE for faculty evaluation 🩺🥼 Cumulative OSCEs are then performed in person at each immersion week to ensure proficiency and give the opportunity for additional feedback 📝

Have any other questions about the FPU Hybrid curriculum? Drop your questions below in the comments! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
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Interested in how our hybrid MPAS program came to be? Swipe left to learn more! ⬅️

We are so proud to be a part of such an impressive and expansive program that will only continue to grow from here!
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✨Meet Our FPU-PA AZ Class of 2024 Community Outreach Chair Brooke Abrantes✨

“My name is Brooke and I am from San Diego, Calif. where I grew up on a small island called Coronado with a clear view of Mexico to the south! I chose to become a PA because I want to be a part of a new healthcare model where I can make the system more efficient and improve my community's health outcomes. Franklin Pierce's hybrid PA program was a top choice for me because it is innovative! I see hybrid formats as the future of PA education, and I wanted to be a part of a something that makes becoming a physician assistant attainable for more individuals.

Serving as the Community Outreach student representative is something that I am very enthusiastic about. I hope to help our program build a prosperous bond with local organizations in Goodyear while facilitating our students' engagement in their hometowns. That is the beauty of this program - our students can serve all around the country and in their own communities!

Before finding myself at FPU, I gained my introduction to medicine through cytopathologic laboratory medicine where I assisted in various biopsy procedures with oncologists, pathologists, and physician assistants too! Since then, I became a certified EMT, volunteered vaccinated thousands of people against COVID-19, worked as an ophthalmic technician, and most recently served as a medical assistant in primary care pediatrics (my favorite!). Envisioning where I will after just 24 months in this program gives me goose bumps, because at the end of this journey I will be fulfilling my dream of becoming a PA-C.”

Love having so many passionate, dedicated and hardworking members of student senate! Stay tuned to learn more about the people that make up our amazing Class of 2024 cohort! 🩺
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✨Meet Our FPU-PA AZ Class of 2024 Vice President Matt Warner✨

“My name is Matt and I'm from Eagle Mountain, UT. Growing up, I knew that I wanted to be involved in medicine but changed my mind several times until I realized that the providers that I admired the most were PAs. I saw the passion that they had and the enjoyment that they took from their work and decided that I too wanted that! I have loved getting to know several wonderful PAs in my journey to PA school and look forward to becoming one soon.
I started my college career later than many, after spending two years on a service mission. Once I got started, I completed a large portion of my undergraduate work via online and hybrid courses while working as a paramedic. It made perfect sense to me to continue my education in a hybrid setting, leading me to choose FPU-PA AZ. The mix of synchronous and asynchronous classes allows for me to study at my pace.
After starting PA school, I chose to run for Vice President of our cohort because I truly enjoy serving others. I feel that the purpose of the student government should be to serve your classmates. As Vice President, I feel like I am able to help fill gaps where others need help. Whether it is my fellow members of student government, or any of my fellow classmates, I am always willing to lend a helping hand.

A little about me: Prior to beginning the program, I worked as a paramedic for six years in both a 911 setting as well as a critical care setting. I have been a non-traditional student for most of my college career, working full time while studying and helping support my lovely wife Kaitlyn, and our two children, Averie and Hunter.”

Follow us at to watch the Class of 2024’s journey to becoming PA-Cs and learn more about the people that make up our amazing cohort! 🩺
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Happy International Women’s Day to all of the amazing women that make up our faculty, students, and community 🤍 May you all feel appreciated today and everyday!
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Some fun “behind the scenes” shots of yesterday’s white coat ceremony! 📸 We are so proud of our Class of 2024 cohort and can’t wait to see the official photos of the ceremony!

We’re crushin’ it!!! Your PA faculty and staff smashing our team bonding!!

It was so great to meet everyone at our Class of 2024 Cohort Meetup to kick off Immersion Week! 🩺

‼️Spread the word‼️ The PA students of Franklin Pierce University-Goodyear are offering FREE health assessments this Friday at The City of Goodyear Community Recreation Center! 🩺

Interested? All you need to do is show up Friday between 8am to 12pm and look for the Franklin Pierce flags!

See you there!
📍420 Estrella Parkway Goodyear, AZ
🕐 8am-12pm Friday March 3rd

✨Meet Our FPU-PA AZ Class of 2024 President Mariah Mundt✨

“My name is Mariah and I'm from Paradise, California. I chose FPU because it was the absolute perfect program for me. The hybrid style is not only flexible, but financially conducive. I thought joining a newer program would bring everyone close together and help us develop critical thinking skills that we can carry with us as providers. (I was right!). I chose to run for President because I wanted to help shape this new program into the best it could be. I also wanted to make meaningful, long-lasting relationships with my peers as well as the faculty and believed that running for president was the best way to do that. During undergrad I interned on the medical surgical department as well as in a sports physical therapy clinic. I also worked as a research assistant at a lab on campus. After graduating I worked as a Medical Assistant and Scribe in Dermatology and a Medical Assistant and Cast Technician in Orthopedics.
A fun fact about me is I love the outdoors especially hunting and fishing!”

It’s so cool to be a part of a program with so many talented individuals from all over the US! Stay tuned to learn more about the people that make up our amazing Class of 2024 cohort! 🩺
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Help Us Better the Future of the PA Profession 🩺

HB 2043 is a PA practice modernization bill sponsored by Rep. Selina Bliss here in AZ. This bill aims to improve patient access to care by removing constraints on experienced PAs and allowing them to practice with greater flexibility!

To learn more about this bill visit https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/1r/bills/hb2043p.htm
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Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day ♥️

A day to acknowledge the progress in HIV prevention and care among Black Americans, while also recognizing the work still needed to be done. In order to , we must first address HIV stigma and the barriers to prevention as clinicians and a community. Check the link in our story to learn more!
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FPU’s Hybrid PA-Goodyear Students Are Celebrating Black History Month Today and Everyday!

As a university that prides itself on prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion on our campuses and within our communities, it is of the upmost importance to us to take the time to reflect on the accomplishments and advancements of the Black community.

Follow along with us all month long as we celebrate past and present influential members of our local and medical community on our stories 😁