Northwestern College to graduate fifth physician assistant cohort Aug. 8

The fifth cohort of students in Northwestern College’s physician assistant studies program will graduate Saturday, Aug. 8, during a 10 a.m. commencement ceremony in Christ Chapel. Master’s degrees will be awarded to 28 graduates representing eight states and Manitoba, Canada.

“This year’s commencement is especially meaningful as we celebrate our fifth graduating class,” says Jill Van Otterloo, director of Northwestern’s physician assistant studies program. “Over the past five years, we’ve had the privilege of preparing physician assistants who are serving patients with skill, compassion and integrity. We’re proud of this class and excited to see the difference they will make in their communities.”

The commencement address will be delivered by physician assistant Hannah (Powell) Myers, who earned undergraduate degrees in biology and health sciences from Northwestern in 2018 before returning as a member of the PA program’s inaugural cohort. A 2022 graduate of the program, Myers is a nocturnist hospitalist and critical care physician assistant with Inpatient Physician Associates at Bryan Health in Lincoln, Nebraska. She also serves as a clinical preceptor for Northwestern PA students and received Bryan Health’s inaugural Outstanding APP Award and the Overnight Anchor Award in 2024.

Northwestern’s physician assistant studies program continues to produce outstanding outcomes. Members of the class of 2025 achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), compared to the national first-time pass rate of 91%. In addition, 100% of the program’s 2025 graduates secured employment within six months of graduation, with approximately 35% accepting positions in Iowa.