Northwestern College physician assistant students to graduate Aug. 10

The third cohort of students in Northwestern College’s physician assistant studies program will graduate Saturday, Aug. 10. Master’s degrees will be awarded to 31 students during a 10 a.m. ceremony in Christ Chapel.

Northwestern’s 2024 physician assistant graduates hail from nine states, ranging from Washington to Wisconsin and North Dakota to Kansas. During their commencement, they’ll hear a reflection from Mariah Nathan, a member of their class, and listen to an address given by Dr. Gregory Kosters, an osteopathic family practice physician in Sibley, Iowa.

Northwestern President Greg Christy will confer degrees and present diplomas, assisted by Dr. D. Nathan Phinney, the college’s vice president for academic affairs, and Dr. Chester De Jong, medical director for the physician assistant studies program. Hooding of the master’s degree recipients will be done by Jill Van Otterloo, program director, and Jaclyn Freese, professor of practice in physician assistant studies. Lori Anderson, another professor of practice in physician assistant studies, will lead the graduates in reciting the Physician Assistant Professional Oath.

This year’s commencement speaker has practiced full-scope osteopathic family medicine in rural Iowa for almost four decades. Dr. Kosters is a graduate of the Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery and completed his postgraduate training at Des Moines General Osteopathic Hospital. During his career, he has served in many hospital and health system leadership positions, as well as in leadership and on committees of the Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association and the Iowa chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.

Dr. Kosters currently serves as the chair of the Osceola County Board of Health, as the medical examiner for Osceola County, and as a pathophysiology instructor for Northwestern College’s physician assistant master’s degree program. He also serves as the regional director of medical quality for Avera Medical Group, based out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Since welcoming the first cohort in 2020, Northwestern’s physician assistant program has played an important role in serving our nation’s health care needs. Northwestern PA students who graduated last year achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the certification exam administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

Northwestern's master's degree program in physician assistant studies gives students practice-based training to prepare them to provide exceptional, compassionate health care in a variety of settings.