Pfeiffer University is proud to introduce our most recent Physician Assistant (PA) Class of 2028, a highly accomplished and diverse cohort that reflects the program’s academic excellence and commitment to preparing compassionate healthcare professionals.

Students enter the program with an average of 3,125 direct patient care hours, acquired through positions including medical assistant, scribe, EMT/paramedic, certified nursing assistant, phlebotomist, patient care technician, and athletic trainer. The cohort also averaged 180 physician assistant shadowing hours.

Students range in age from 22 to 31, with anaverage age of 25. The class is 72% female and 28% maleand includes six first-generation college students. One student is a Pfeiffer University graduate.

The cohort reflects both strong in-state representation and national reach. Twenty-three of the 28 students are North Carolina residents, with others coming from California, Florida, Illinois, and Michigan. Twenty students earned undergraduate degrees from North Carolina institutions, and the program received applications from 40 of the 50 U.S. states during the most recent admissions cycle.

Common undergraduate majors include Biology, Health Science, Exercise Science, Biological Sciences, and Psychology, with one student entering the program holding a master’s degree. Top feeder institutions represented include UNC–Chapel Hill, NC State University, UNC Charlotte, East Carolina University, and UNC Wilmington. UNC Charlotte has historically been the program’s leading feeder institution.

Caylee Clayton, from Norwood, NC, and a recent graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, stated, “I chose Pfeiffer University’s Physician Assistant program for its strong community and excellence in PA education, and I look forward to expanding my clinical knowledge as I grow to become a capable and compassionate provider for my future patients”

“This class reflects the academic strength, depth of character, clinical readiness, and commitment to service that defines Pfeiffer’s Physician Assistant Program,” said Dr. Christopher Boe, Dean of the Graduate School. “We are proud to welcome these students and look forward to supporting them as they prepare to serve patients in and around the community.” The Pfeiffer University Physician Assistant Program is based in Albemarle, NC, at the Center for Health Sciences, and prepares graduates for patient-centered clinical practice through rigorous academics, hands-on training, and a mission-driven approach to healthcare education.