ALLIANCE, Ohio – For the third time in the program’s history, the University of Mount Union’s Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program had a graduating class achieve a 100 percent first-time passage rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).

The 2018 class is the largest class of students the PA program has had earn this honor, as 37 students passed the exam. The two previous instances, in 2014 and 2015, each had 30 students take the PANCE and pass on the first attempt.

“This is an awesome accomplishment,” said Betsy Ekey, associate professor and chair of the PA Studies program. “The faculty really pushed the students to realize their full potential and the students rose to the challenge. I am so proud of all that this class of students has accomplished and look forward to their impact on patient care as they embark on their first positions as practicing PAs.”

Mount Union currently has the top-ranked PA program in Ohio according to U.S. News and World Report. For more information on the program, visit mountunion.edu/pa.