STEPHENVILLE, Texas — A cohort of 59 students made Tarleton State University history on Saturday as the first class in the Physician Assistant Medicine program to participate in a White Coat Ceremony.
The ceremony recognized an important milestone in the students’ professional education as they received their white coats and reflected on the responsibilities that come with a career devoted to caring for others.
“Today, we celebrate the first White Coat Ceremony for Tarleton State’s Physician Assistant Medicine program,” said Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley. “They will receive their white coats, recite the professional oath and begin their journey into one of our nation’s most trusted professions. I am so proud of the impact our Texans will have on the state of Texas and beyond.”
The inaugural class is part of Tarleton State’s Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Medicine program, which welcomed its first cohort in April. The program prepares students to become highly skilled physician assistants with an emphasis on addressing healthcare disparities in rural and underserved communities.
For members of the first cohort, the ceremony represented both an individual accomplishment and the beginning of a tradition future physician assistant students will share.
“Today represents an important milestone, not only for the students we are here to celebrate, but also for Tarleton State and the future of healthcare education at our institution,” said Dr. Elizabeth Palmarozzi, Vice President for the Division of Health Sciences and Executive Dean of the proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine (applicant status — seeking accreditation). “The white coat they receive symbolizes much more than entering the healthcare profession. It represents the responsibility they are accepting to serve with compassion, practice with integrity, pursue excellence, and always remember the person, not just the patient.”
Dr. Palmarozzi also recognized the families, friends, faculty and mentors who supported the students through the work, determination and sacrifice required to reach the milestone.
“Because this is our inaugural ceremony, we have the unique privilege of doing something very special,” she said. “We are beginning a Tarleton State tradition.”
The Physician Assistant Medicine program received accreditation-provisional status from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant in 2025. Its curriculum incorporates patient safety, health policy and community intervention while preparing graduates to help expand access to quality healthcare.
For President Hurley, the inaugural class represents both the growth of health sciences education at Tarleton State and the university’s commitment to meeting a critical workforce need across Texas.
In his message to the inaugural cohort at the ceremony, Dr. Hurley said, “Years from now, future graduates will know there was a first class. They will know there were students who believed in this program and Tarleton State. That class is you. You trusted this university to prepare you for a career dedicated to improving the lives of others, and today we celebrate that decision together.”
As Texas continues to grow, the demand for healthcare professionals, particularly in rural communities, continues to increase.
“Communities, especially rural communities, need compassionate, highly skilled providers who are committed to meeting people where they are,” President Hurley said. “That is exactly why this program matters.”
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of more than 27,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 127 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real-world learning and address regional, state and national needs.