麻豆传媒 (PBA) welcomed the second cohort to its听Master of Medical Science in Physician Associate听(PA) program on August 19. This year鈥檚 cohort,听comprising听56 students,听began their journey this fall toward a common goal: learning to treat patients and carry out their calling to care for others and serve the community.听听
听The PA program鈥檚 second cohort brings experiences from not only across Florida, but across the country: from military service and emergency medicine to athletics, women鈥檚 health, orthopedics, assisted听living听and community service. Some听students听grew up听just miles from PBA, while others traveled from听other听states including Utah and Alabama. What unites this diverse group of students is听a听desire to serve others through听health听care听and medicine.听听
Supportive Staff Made the Choice Simple听
For Ryan McMichael, that journey began in听Coalville, Utah. After earning a degree in exercise science from Utah Valley University, McMichael gained experience in operating rooms and anesthesia before spending three years working toward his goal of becoming a PA. After applying to multiple PA programs across the country, he said his experience interviewing at PBA听ultimately made听the听University stand out. 鈥淚 felt that Dr. Tobin and the faculty and staff really cared for us as individuals,鈥� McMichael said. 鈥淚t felt like a place filled with people of genuine care and desire to connect with us and help support us in achieving our goals.鈥澨�听
Mit Patel comes to PBA from Gulf Shores, Alabama, after studying biomedical sciences at Auburn University. Patel听shared it听was the听supportive nature of PBA’s faculty and staff听that听played听an important role听in听his听decision to attend the听University. Patel is currently interested in dermatology and hopes to become a provider who is both clinically knowledgeable and compassionate.听
Other members of the cohort have found their way to PBA through experiences closer to home.听Annika Miller, a Vero Beach native, a PBA听alumna听and former member of PBA’s women’s golf听team, is听also entering the cohort. She earned a degree in exercise science and gained experience through internships at chiropractic and physical therapy offices. Today, she is interested in functional medicine and hopes to help patients address the underlying causes of illness while focusing on overall health.听
Preparing to Serve听Fellow Veterans听
West Palm Beach native Devin Richie is entering the program after serving听nearly three听years in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. After his military service, he attended fire school and was training to be a paramedic when he discovered the PA profession through a guest speaker at school.听听His long-term goal is to work at a specialty clinic at the VA to support his fellow veterans. 鈥淚 would very much like to continue serving those who served,鈥� Richie said.听听
A听Family Affair听
Brianna Thompson, who grew up in Valrico, Florida, earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from the University of South Florida. Her interest in becoming a PA was influenced by her family, including her cousin鈥檚 wife, who is a PA. She chose PBA after touring the facilities and meeting the staff and some of the students. 鈥淭he program is faith–听based and I want my career to overlap with my faith,鈥� Thompson said.听Thompson is also entering the program听alongside her听twin sister. The sisters are the first set of twins accepted into PBA鈥檚 PA program.听
Her twin sister Arianna鈥檚 journey to PBA similarly reflects the importance of family and community. Arianna Thompson became interested in health听care after having听a good experience听with her grandfather’s PA while he was battling dementia. 鈥淧BA鈥檚 focus on serving the community really spoke to me,鈥� Thompson said.听鈥淚 aspire to give back to my community when I become a provider.鈥�听
Jessica Rodriguez, originally from Lake Worth, Florida, earned her degree in health science from Florida Atlantic University and spent three years working as a medical assistant at an OB-GYN clinic. Rodriguez is a first-generation Cuban American and the first person in her family to pursue higher education. She hopes to carry the perseverance and gratitude she learned from her family into her career as a PA.听
PBA鈥檚 PA program officially kicked off fall 2025 and currently has 112 students enrolled. This full time, in person program is now accepting applications until November 2026 for the fall 2027 cohort.听
听NOTE: The ARC-PA has granted听Accreditation-Provisional听status to the听Palm Beach Atlantic Physician Assistant Program听sponsored by听麻豆传媒.
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program鈥檚 ability to meet the ARC-PA听Standards听or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the听Standards听as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.
The program鈥檚 accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at听.
Click听here听for more information听about the听Physician Associate program at PBA.
