Celebrating 30 Years of the Springfield College Physician Assistant Studies Program
The Physician Assistant Studies Program Class of 2026 and Faculty.
By: Damon Markiewicz
The Springfield College Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program recently celebrated the graduating Class of 2026 while at the same time paying homage to the 30th anniversary of the PA program at the College.
Alumna and chair of the PA program, Meghan Migeon, G'05, DMSc, MS, PA-C, served as the master of ceremonies for the Class of 2026 Certificate of Completion Ceremony. Migeon has been a faculty member at the College since 2008, and she understands the importance of connecting the history of the PA program with its most recent graduates.
“Thirty years ago, the PA program was built on a foundation focused on compassionate and excellent health care,” explained Migeon. “The Class of 2026 is another living embodiment of that vision, and the cohort represents the next chapter of the PA program’s story.”
Representing the Class of 2026 at the ceremony was student speaker Anna Russo. Russo highlighted the cohort’s years of sacrifice, resilience, and determination in making sure they carried the torch of the PA program in a successful manner.
“Life as a PA student has taught us that medicine is not just science, but it is also about humility, generosity, and respect for those who came before us,” explained Russo. “Class of 2026, I remind you that we earned this. We are capable and we worked very hard to earn the privilege of wearing the long white coat. As future health care providers, we strive to lead with compassion, listen carefully to our patients, we strive to stay curious, ask questions, and never be afraid to ask for help. We have learned that medicine is a lifelong journey of learning.”
Russo was joined by a proud member of the Springfield College PA alumni family, Kate Pearson '18, G'20, PA-C. An esteemed colleague, Pearson was the keynote speaker, and she returned to Alden Street as a hospitalist on the inpatient oncology floor at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass. Since her own graduation, Pearson has remained connected with the PA program, serving as a preceptor for many current students, while also returning as a guest speaker for multiple classes and ceremonies.
“I am very appreciative to have the opportunity to address the Class of 2026,” explained Pearson. “We have learned through our Springfield College PA program education that patients will remember if you look them in the eye, they will remember whether you listen, whether you made them feel safe when they were scared, and whether you treated them like a person instead of a problem to solve. That is your super-power Springfield College graduates. Medicine is a career based upon being humbled. Your greatest strength is your ability to connect and your ability to earn trust. No Agi rhythm can replace the feeling a patient gets when someone generally cares about them. No technology can substitute for human connection. That is what matters, that is what makes the difference. Patients will remember your empathy. Never forget the human side of medicine is not secondary to the science, it’s the most important part.”
Migeon, Russo, and Pearson’s comments during this year’s ceremony reflected 30 years of excellence for the PA program. Developed by Dr. Joel Coen through a partnership with Baystate Medical Center in the early 1990s, John Hangasky was appointed the first PA program director in 1993, which eventually led to the first graduating class in 1996. Over the last three decades, the PA program has successfully achieved continued accreditation at every re-accreditation cycle and maintained an excellent national board pass rate.
The Class of 2026 will strive to emulate the Class of 2025, which had 100 percent of its graduates pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) on their first attempt to become certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. The PA program graduates have a 98% pass rate over the last 16 years and strive to achieve a pass rate at or above the national average for first-time test takers. PANCE is a computer-based, multiple-choice test consisting of questions that assess basic medical and surgical knowledge. To be eligible for PANCE, students must have graduated from a physician assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant.
“From the program’s founding, the program has been guided by the College’s Humanics philosophy, educating the whole person in spirit, mind, and body for leadership and service to others. It’s the foundation of how all PA alumni have been trained,” explained Migeon. “This milestone would not have been possible without the vision and dedication of the many leaders who have supported the program.”
The education of a PA student doesn’t just happen in the classroom alone. It happens in exam rooms, on hospital floors, and in communities. It’s guided by dedicated educators and preceptors, who give their time, expertise, and mentorship so generously.
“Class of 2026, the career path you have chosen, it’s not just a job, it’s a calling and a commitment to serving others,” concluded Migeon. “Donning that white coat, you send a powerful message to the rest of the world that you are willing and ready to dedicate your time, knowledge, and your heart to the people who will need you most. You must always put your patients first and commit to providing the very best care, no matter the circumstances. Never underestimate the power of empathy and compassion. Offering genuine human connection can make all the difference. It’s those qualities that separate the Springfield College PA program apart from others. Remember to pay it forward, mentor, advocate, and never stop striving to make a positive impact on the world.”
