PA History Society Student Representative Service Award recipient Kara Lyn-Wallace Denz with Dawn Colomb-Lippa, educational coordinator and assistant professor of the physician assistant program. See more photos below.

The 12th annual Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant Program Certificate Award Ceremony was punctuated by a number of firsts on Aug. 11 at Alumni Hall, including a marriage proposal and the induction of students into the University’s new chapter of Pi Alpha, the PA national honor society.

The keynote speaker was Rear Admiral Michael R. Milner, assistant surgeon general of the United States, the first PA to hold the flag officer rank in any uniformed service and the first assistant surgeon general to address the University’s PA graduates.

“Each of us can do things in our personal lives and in our communities to make ourselves and our families healthier, to transform the health care system to one that values prevention and intervention…before we need disease management and treatment,” said Milner, who is one of five national pandemic influenza senior federal health officials and the only PA with this designation.

“It’s great to see him in such a high leadership role. It makes you proud to be a PA and to be a part of the profession,” said Kyla Barajas, winner of the Professional Involvement Award for demonstrating exemplary commitment and dedication to the PA profession, which included volunteering to provide healthcare to inmates at a Connecticut prison for men.

Barajas, who graduated from Quinnipiac with a bachelor’s of health science in 2005, was one of 49 graduates who received their certificates and white coats during the ceremony. Barajas has applied for work at community health centers in hopes of working with underserved and homeless populations.

Milner said, “There’s no question that science and technology are wonderful, but we are a human-helping profession and what we do impacts people one at a time, so as you move into your professional role and you practice, you assume an awesome responsibility, the responsibility for caring for those who trust in you, who trust in your knowledge, who trust in your skills, and who also trust in your compassion.”

Cynthia Booth Lord, director of Physician Assistant Program and president-elect of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, reminded graduates that their days of learning have not ended. “Every patient encounter is your teacher,” she said.

Class President Perrin Hickey said the words she heard frequently from her father in her childhood echoed in her mind during the certificate ceremony. “He always talked to me about pride of ownership when I was a kid. We should take pride in ownership of our education, our knowledge, the profession that we are now entering, and all the friends and memories that we’ve made,” said Hickey, who will work in the surgical ICU at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford.

Christopher Berube decided to add another memory to the special day, closing the ceremony by proposing to long-time girlfriend Lauren Cincotta. Both met as undergraduates at Quinnipiac. Cincotta graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in business management and received her MBA from Quinnipiac in 2005.

Berube called Cincotta to the stage. “All I want to say is, Lauren, I love you with all my heart, and with 400 people as my witness, including a rear admiral and assistant surgeon general, I wanted to know if you would be my wife?”

Then he got down on one knee, and as the audience cheered and applauded, slipped a diamond on Cincotta’s left ring finger. “I thought it was the best time to do it because her family would be here and my family would be here,” he said.

“I’m excited and overwhelmed. I’m still shaking,” Cincotta said, 10 minutes later.

Other awards were distributed as follows:
The Professional Excellence Award: Rosie DeAngelis
Medical Writing Award: Heather M. Mulherin
Bruce Fichandler Community Service Award: Kara Lyn-Wallace Denz
Leadership Award: Caroline O. Smith
Distinguished Alumni Award: James Lunn
Director’s Award: Sarah Ann Adams

Photos from the ceremony:

Rear Admiral Michael R. Milner, assistant surgeon general of the United States.	Leadership Award recipient Caroline O. Smith with William Kohlhepp, director of the ELMPA (entry level masters physician assistant) program and assistant professor of the physican assistant program.
Director’s Award recipient Sarah Ann Adams with Cynthia Booth Lord, director of the physician assistant program and assistant professor of the physician assistant program.	Professional Excellence Award winner Rosanne DeAngelis with Cindy Rossi, clinical coordinator and assistant professor of the physician assistant program.
Christopher James Berube and new fiancee Lauren Cincotta '03, '05.	Professional Involvement Award winner Kyla Marie Barajas with John McNab, clinical coordinator and assistant professor of the physician assistant program.
AAPA House Of Delegates Representative Jason Michael Reese with daughter Kilian.	Kate B. Johnson receives her white coat from Milner.
PA students each raise their right hand and recite the Physician Assistant Professional Oath.	Ed O'Connor, dean of the School of Health Sciences, left, Milner, and Cynthia Booth Lord.