by Sarah Mummert, Student Public Relations Writer
An attempt to remove the Cedarville University physician assistant (PA) program’s accreditation failed after the national convention of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) voted to drop a proposed resolution.
The resolution in question, titled “Inclusivity in PA Education,” was proposed by the New York Society of PAs, and it would have kept faith-based institutions like Cedarville from having admissions criteria in line with their mission and beliefs.
In May, Cedarville’s PA program director Jason Grahame, along with second-year PA student Alex McCollum, traveled to the national convention in Houston to speak on behalf of Cedarville.
“Cedarville is the only school that was mentioned in their rationale for the resolution,” Grahame said. “And no one had reached out to me for a statement or clarification on Cedarville’s stance. Instead, they took it to a public forum at a national convention.”
A variety of entities stood behind Cedarville, including the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), the Fellowship of Christian Physician Assistants and the Alliance Defending Freedom.
If the resolution had passed, it wouldn’t have only been a concern for faith-based institutions.
“The implications for institutions down the road would have been huge,” Grahame said. “Are we saying that women’s colleges and historically Black colleges and universities wouldn’t be allowed to run accredited PA programs? Followed to its logical conclusion, the resolution didn’t make sense.”
Cedarville’s PA program is known for its Christian distinctives, seeking to disciple their students and foster a love for God and others that shapes how they care for future patients well.
Alex McCollum, a second-year PA student at Cedarville University, received a bachelor’s degree in public health and administration from Georgia College & State University. He spoke at the convention on why Cedarville’s values matter for his profession and why he chose Cedarville’s program to further his education.
“In my search for PA programs, I quickly recognized the importance of aligning myself with an institution whose core values mirrored my own,” said McCollum in an op-ed he penned in Higher Ground Times. “Cedarville University teaches that all people have been gifted with one unique thing, ‘the Image of God.’ This inclusive approach shapes us as future medical professionals, ensuring we provide care that transcends boundaries of religion, orientation, and race. It is not just about medicine; it’s about embodying empathy and love in every interaction, reflecting our commitment to serving others as an extension of our faith in God.”
McCollum’s speech at the convention was also recorded as a video after the fact.
In withstanding this attack on its mission, the Cedarville PA program has emerged undaunted and with the same conviction to continue training PA professionals to serve people with excellence — physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is a Baptist university with undergraduate programs in arts, sciences, and professional programs, and graduate programs. With an enrollment of 6,384 students in 175 areas of study, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio and is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including its Master of Medical Science in PA Studies (M.M.Sc.-PA), and high graduation and retention rates. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.