Sacred Heart Celebrates 41 Physician Assistant Graduates

State’s lieutenant governor recognizes group’s dedication under difficult circumstances

Sacred Heart University recently celebrated the graduation of 41 physician assistant (PA) students in the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts. Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz served as the keynote speaker.

Father Anthony Ciorra, vice president of mission, integration, ministry and multicultural affairs, opened the ceremony and told the graduates, “Each and every one of you is a prayer and a blessing.”

Bysiewicz noted their hard work under difficult circumstances. “I want to thank each of you for the dedicated work you’ve put into this program. Twenty-seven months of very hard work began in a different world when COVID-19 hit,” Bysiewicz said. “You were there to help and work alongside doctors and nurses to serve patients. Each one of you played a key role in a health-care crisis. You adapted, learned and persevered.

“I want to leave you with a quote from Joseph Campbell: ‘A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.’ You chose this path to make a contribution to the greater good, and you will do so every day,” Bysiewicz said.

Former program director Teresa Thetford flew in from California to celebrate the graduates’ success.

Maura Iversen, dean of the College of Health Professions, congratulated the group via Zoom. “I look forward to you joining me as a colleague in the health profession,” Iversen said.

Graduate Victoria Ho reflected on her experience in the program. “PA school has been a whirlwind over the past 27 months. It’s been a time where we all not only reflect, but have grown as students, so being able to have this day and graduate is something that we all have been personally affected by, and it’s just a big accomplishment, not only for me but for our entire class,” Ho said.

Additional presenters at the ceremony included Thomas Havens, class president; Reynold Jaglal, program director of PA studies; Jody Bortone, associate dean for faculty affairs and new initiatives; and Henry Yoon, medical director and clinical associate professor.

If you are unable to view the photos below, visit the 2021 PA Graduation gallery on Flickr.