Introducing a New Era in PA Healthcare Education at Keck Graduate Institute
April 16 2024 - 1:10PM
March 20, 2024 marked a new era for Keck Graduate Institute (KGI)
as its Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA)
program has changed its name to the Chan Family Master of Science
in Physician Associate Studies (MSPA), named for Dr. Tony Chan, Dr.
Virginia Chan, and their family.
KGI held a special naming ceremony to commemorate the name
change on March 20. In attendance were members of the KGI
community, including students and faculty in the MSPA program,
Claremont community members, and members of the Claremont City
Council. The City presented the Chan family with a certificate of
recognition from the City of Claremont. KGI presented them with a
framed lab coat bearing the named program and a family portrait to
recognize their support.
“The inspiration behind naming the program after my family stems
from the values instilled in me by my late mother, who emphasized
the importance of giving back to the community and supporting
education,” said Dr. Tony Chan, owner and CEO of ABC
Pharmacies and a long-time Claremont resident.
Chan said the program's investment aims to “support the next
generation of compassionate and skilled healthcare professionals
who will go on to make meaningful contributions to patient
care.”
"Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the Chan family, KGI
reaffirms its commitment to pioneering healthcare education that
prioritizes both innovation and community service. This support for
our PA Studies program not only enables a leap forward in how we
prepare our students for the rapidly changing healthcare landscape
but also embodies the spirit of giving back that the Chan family
has so graciously demonstrated,” said Sheldon Schuster, president
of Keck Graduate Institute. “We are deeply honored to partner with
them in this endeavor, fostering a new generation of healthcare
leaders poised to make meaningful impacts across the globe.”
Since the launch of the program, the results have vastly
exceeded expectations.
“Our initial cohort of 40 students began their journey with us
in Fall 2022 and have entered clinical rotations as of two months
ago, said Christy Eskes, Program Director for KGI’s Master of
Science in Physician Associate Studies. “The preliminary feedback
we have been receiving from their preceptors has been nothing short
of phenomenal. They have shared that our PA students are more
advanced in some areas than their MD residents. Others are asking
how they can get more KGI students. Students are even getting job
offers during their first clinical rotation, which is quite
uncommon.”
Chan remembers receiving scholarships and support from mentors
and educators and the transformative power of educational
assistance. These experiences drive him to help students reach
their career and healthcare goals. “These individuals believed in
my potential and provided me with the resources and guidance I
needed to succeed,” he said. “Their unwavering support instilled in
me a deep sense of gratitude and a strong desire to pay it forward
by supporting future generations of students.”
“These funds will truly equip us to train the next generation of
PA leaders, whose impact will extend to all with whom they come
into contact, positively affecting the communities around them and
advancing health equity for all,” said Eskes, who has been with the
program since 2020 and was thrilled to be part of its launch
alongside a team of Master of Science in Physician AssociateStudies
faculty and staff.
A New Vision For PA
It isn’t just the Chan Family’s name that graces the program
name but a shift from PA standing for physician assistant to
physician associate. Recently, professional PA groups have voted to
change the name to “Associate” to provide clarity to the role of
the PA in an evolving healthcare system. Although this change is
still being rolled out nationwide, the change reflects where the
program is in spirit and philosophy.
The school’s third cohort of 40 students, chosen out of more
than 1,300 applicants for the program, will begin in August. The
MSPA students at KGI have a special family to thank for the
additional advantages and opportunities this group will have due to
their support.
“With the Chan family’s incredibly generous donation,” said
Eskes, “this is the time for us to further align with our mission
as a future-focused institution with innovation at our core.”
ABOUT KECK GRADUATE INSTITUTE
Founded in 1997, Keck Graduate Institute is a private, nonprofit
graduate school focused on educating tomorrow's biotech, life
sciences, and healthcare leaders. As part of the seven Claremont
Colleges consortium, KGI educates students through concentrated and
hands-on approaches to learning that bring them together to work on
real-world problems in real-world settings that allow students to
gain the experience and knowledge to transform healthcare.
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- The Chan Family-Keck Graduate School Master of Science in PA
Studies Naming Ceremony
Nick Simonton
Keck Graduate Institute
(909) 607-2308
media@kgi.edu