Students from Middle Tennessee State University’s Physician Assistant Studies program are showcasing research projects at the annual Capstone and Poster Symposium, set for the end of the month.
The public is invited to attend the free presentations, which will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, July 31, in the Academic Classroom Building, 1751 MTSU Blvd. Off-campus visitors will need a parking permit, which can be obtained by visiting https://parking.mtsu.edu/visit/. Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Academic Classroom Building.
“The poster symposium is the final academic presentation for our first-year students before they transition into clinical rotations and the Capstone is the final research project required of all students before graduation,” said William “Brad” McCrary, assistant professor in Physician Assistant Studies and director of didactic education with the program.
Physician assistants, also called PAs, are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting. Trusted, rigorously educated and trained healthcare professionals, PAs are dedicated to expanding access to care and transforming health and wellness through patient-centered, team-based medical practice.
People who attend the symposium can expect a wide variety of topics, from original research on issues such as the effects of social media on health literacy, future study proposals and literature reviews of timely medical topics such as GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.
“We believe many of these topics have real value beyond the classroom,” McCrary said. “Our students are exploring questions that matter to patients, clinicians, and communities, and this event gives them the opportunity to share that work with a broader audience.”
Guests can peruse the posters — on display in the ACB atrium — which distill semester-long Critical Appraisal course projects into bite-sized insights. Capstone presentations will take place every 20 minutes in adjacent classrooms.
“Students will be available to answer questions about their research,” McCrary explained. “I would encourage those attending to ask students why they chose the topics and how the research would affect patient care. Those kinds of questions allow students to explain not only their findings, but also why their work matters.”
Faculty will also be present to discuss the MTSU PA program curriculum and the role of physician assistants in the healthcare system.
“We welcome any chance to educate the public about our profession, our students, and the impact they are already making,” McCrary said. “Our students are deeply committed to volunteerism and community service. Each cohort collectively contributes hundreds of hours of service each semester at organizations such as shelters for unhoused individuals, equine therapy centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, community gardens, the Salvation Army, and many others.”
The symposium is a come-and-go event. Members of the public can attend one or all of the presentations.
“More than anything, I want people to know that this event is a celebration of our students’ growth, curiosity, and commitment to patient care. They have worked incredibly hard, and this symposium gives the community a chance to see the depth of their education, the quality of their research, and the future clinicians they are becoming,” McCrary explained.
— Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu)
