There is one final “Class of 2024” to celebrate at The College of Idaho – the graduating class of the College’s physician assistant program. The program is a unique collaboration between the College and Idaho State University and has locations in Pocatello, Meridian and Caldwell. The commencement ceremony will be held on Friday, August 2nd, at 1 PM in the Jensen Grand Concert Hall at the Stephens Performing Arts Center at ISU’s Pocatello campus.
This year marks the 28th graduating class of the ISU Physician Assistant (PA) Program. Seventy-three students will receive their Masters in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) and be honored at the white coat and graduation ceremonies. This cohort includes 24 students from the Pocatello campus, 36 from the Meridian location, and 12 from The College of Idaho’s campus. The program expanded to Caldwell in 2014, marking the 9th class of graduates this year. Expanding the program not only allowed twelve more seats, but added a new special flavor to the program that is especially unique from the other two locations, including the close-knit community at The College of Idaho.
Marvin Sparrell, Associate Program Director, compares this diverse setup to “Neapolitan ice cream.” He explains, “Each location is its own unique flavor, distinct from the others, yet it is all still ice cream, just like it is all still PA curriculum.” Despite the varied environments, the curriculum remains consistent, ensuring that every student experiences the essence of the PA program.
To unite its three distinct locations, the ISU PA Program has effectively leveraged and mastered distance learning technology. Regardless of where the instructor is based, students across all campuses receive consistent instruction, enhancing the collaborative learning experience. In addition to advanced distance learning, the program excels in many other ways. Notably, the ISU program places a strong emphasis on their Rural Track. Because Idaho is known for its rural make-up, ISU is dedicated to strengthening the skills of their PAs to gain experience with underdeveloped or rural communities that can be found right here in their back yard.
Krystan Welborn, one of the program’s distinguished graduates, exemplifies this core value of the program. Welborn spent the past two years studying at the Caldwell campus. After earning her undergraduate degree in biology from Boise State University and gaining patient care experience, she chose to continue her education by pursuing a MPAS degree. “I always knew I wanted a career in medicine and healing. Originally, I wanted to become a veterinarian. While working as a veterinary technician, I loved the medicine and physiology component, but I always felt like something was missing, which turned out to be the human connection.” Born and raised in McCall, Welborn’s deep-rooted love for Idaho mixed with her passion for helping others made ISU’s PA program an ideal choice. Through the Rural Health Track, she acquired essential skills and experience in delivering quality healthcare to underserved communities, including several clinical rotations in rural areas. “Growing up in a small town, I was able to witness firsthand how important quality rural healthcare is. I always knew I wanted to get back to a rural community to help provide needed healthcare in those places,” Welborn shared.
After a rigorous and demanding past two years, Welborn is planning to resume her passion for the outdoors by taking a much-needed break in the Tetons. She is already interviewing for and narrowing down career choices to try and find a clinic that aligns best with her and her career goals.
The College of Idaho has a 133-year-old legacy of excellence. The College is known for its outstanding academic programs, winning athletics tradition, and history of producing successful graduates, including eight Rhodes Scholars, three governors, and countless business leaders and innovators. Its distinctive PEAK Curriculum challenges students to attain competency in the four knowledge peaks of humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and a professional field—empowering them to earn a major and three minors in four years. The College’s close-knit, residential campus is located in Caldwell, where its proximity both to Boise and to the world-class outdoor activities of southwest Idaho’s mountains and rivers offers unique opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. For more information, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu.
Story produced by College of Idaho student Kahea Figueira