South College Asheville Physician Assistant master’s program celebrates first graduation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 24, 2025
The inaugural class of the South College Asheville Master of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies program graduated on March 22 with a cohort of 77 students.
“The graduation of the first cohort is a milestone for the success of the Master of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies program,” South College Asheville President Dr. Danielle Kwasnik said. “Our region has a high demand for a workforce with advanced degrees in healthcare fields, and we celebrate the first cohort and the program moving forward.”
Officially launched on Jan. 23, 2023, the program can be completed in as little as 27 months, with 15 months in didactic instruction followed by 12 months in supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs).
The 2025 graduates are now eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) computer-based exam to earn certification to practice.
In addition to the commencement ceremony, 84 students in the second cohort of the program participated in the White Coat Ceremony, which marks the completion of five quarters in 15 months of classroom education.
The ceremony signifies the transition from the classroom phase to the clinical phase that will include a rotation through eight different specialties, including internal medicine, surgery, family medicine, emergency medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health and an elective, and the completion of a Capstone Research project.
“This competitive program demands the best of our students, and this cohort has persevered and thrived,” said Dr. Alan Gindoff, who serves as program director for the South College Physician Assistant Studies program in Asheville. “Everyone connected to the program in Asheville is elated to see this first cohort graduate and the third cohort move to the clinical phase. We look forward to being back here in 2026 to celebrate the graduation of the second cohort.”
Students in the Master of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies program develop essential skills, including cardiopulmonary pharmacology; mechanical ventilation and airway management; emergency and critical respiratory care; neonatal and pediatric respiratory care; pulmonary rehabilitation and home care; and cardiopulmonary testing and sleep studies.
The Asheville campus is located at 140 Sweeten Creek Road in Asheville. Interested students may call the admissions team at 828-630-8104 or visit south.edu/asheville.
About South College
South College serves more than 15,000 students and is proud of its more than 17,000 graduates. The institution offers academic programs at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dallas, Texas; and Orlando, Florida, as well as Online and CBE. South College focuses on ensuring high standards and quality educational offerings, maintaining multiple authorizations and accreditations.
South College’s programs span diverse fields such as business, criminal justice, dental hygiene/assisting, diagnostic medical sonography, nursing, occupational therapy, paralegal studies, physical therapy, radiography, respiratory therapy, physician assistant studies, pharmacy and surgical technology. The institution is dedicated to preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed for the professional opportunities ahead of them. For more information, visit south.edu.
# # #