PA Residency Marks Six-Month Milestone with Evaluations, Simulation Training and Team Building

By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

Residents in the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences Physician Assistant Academic Residency Program marked their six-month milestone April 3 with a full day of assessments, simulations and team-building activities designed to measure progress and strengthen clinical skills.

The day began with specialty-specific written evaluations using AMBOSS, followed by a review of oral exam procedures in preparation for upcoming exit interviews. Residents also participated in two simulation cases aimed at testing clinical decision-making in realistic healthcare scenarios.

The structured assessments were paired with opportunities for reflection, allowing both faculty and residents to evaluate growth halfway through the program.

“These past six months have been crucial to my development as a new PA,” said Seth Croll, a resident in hospital medicine at St. Claire HealthCare. “This program has presented endless opportunities for me to grow and become a more confident and competent provider.”

Croll said the milestone offered a clear look at how far residents have come since starting the program.

“The six-month check-in highlighted just how much progress I have made compared to when I first started,” he said. “It’s a great tool for faculty to assess our progress, but also for us as residents to really grasp what advancements we’ve achieved.”

The day concluded with a team-building outing at Countdown Games, where residents participated in an escape room experience, followed by a group dinner.

Program leaders say the combination of evaluation and camaraderie reflects the program’s broader goal: developing skilled, confident physician assistants prepared to meet the evolving needs of patients across Kentucky.

Emma Li Mathews said she was able to actively learn clinically in a structured environment, “which blends clinical work with a reinforced educational support system.” 

“I am deeply appreciative and proud to have been a part of this residency program,” Mathews said. “I believe that it will serve to aid any individual who has the true intent to grow as a clinician eager to learn more about the art of medicine.

“This time has allowed me to bolster my confidence in clinical decision making, understand management, and feed my curiosities and augment my critical thinking,” she continued. “If I had to do it all over again, I would, without hesitation, choose — and advise — this program to any individual after graduation of PA school.”