On Aug. 6, 2025, we welcomed eight new Pathologists’ Assistant (Path A) students at the annual White Coat Ceremony in the Duke South Amphitheater in Durham, North Carolina. Speakers at this year’s ceremony included Johnston-West Endowed Department Chair of Pathology Jioati Huang, MD, PhD, Program Director Michelle Johnson, MHS, PA(ASCP)CM. We were honored to have guest speaker Heather Manternach, MHS, PA(ASCP)CM from Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories. Manternach graduated from the Duke Path A Program in 1998.
The brief ceremony included words of advice for completing the Program and discussion about the crucial work that Path As do behind the scenes to care for patients. Johnson also shared a brief history of the origins of the Program to present day. Following the ceremony, students and their families enjoyed a brief meet and greet with refreshments.
Following the white coat ceremony, the Path A Program hosted its annual Welcome Event for incoming students on August 16th at the Durham Bulls game. In attendance were Program students and a few staff Path As, including Johnson, Jonathan Chen, MHS, PA(ASCP), Jessica McMahon, MHS, PA(ASCP), and Nicole Tomsho, MHS, PA (ASCP)CM. Everyone had a great time enjoying the game and stadium food.
The first-year Path A students begin their didactic portion of the program this year, which includes taking classes with the Duke medical students. After completing the year of didactic education, they will complete their clinical rotations in surgical pathology and autopsy in their second year of the program.
Congratulations to our incoming class:
- Shelby Allison
- Wendy Hays
- Luke Holmes
- Brynn Irwin
- Meara Plesh-Gill
- Brenna Turner
- Hannah Turner
- Auburn Wilmoth