The School of Medicine Physician Assistant Studies program hosted a white coat ceremony for 25 students in the Okey Patteson Auditorium, marking the students’ transition from classroom instruction to the clinical phase of their education.
Health
Zyiah and Zakiah Bailey, Fairmont natives who always knew they wanted to become midwives, are preparing to graduate with their bachelor’s degrees in nursing.
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Sidney Fix is preparing to graduate with a degree in dental hygiene.
Graduate and enlisted U.S. Army soldier Katharine Swesey plans to use her public health knowledge in a place beyond the traditional setting — the U.S. Army.
The Ellis Island Honors Society cited Dr. Ali Rezai’s pioneering work in neuroscience using technologies such as focused ultrasound and deep brain stimulation to unlock new potential in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, addiction and other conditions. Viewed by both Houses of Congress as one of the nation’s most prestigious awards, this annual award celebrates “inspiring Americans who are selflessly working for the betterment of our country and its citizens.”
Each step is a choice. For Katelin Zapolnik, a May 2025 graduate with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, that phrase isn’t metaphorical — it’s reality. Every movement she makes comes with deliberation and determination.