Students Ready for PA Residency Celebration

PA students in classroom

By Ryan Clark

CHS Communications Director

Ever since she was a little girl, Onieta Stewart wanted to work in medicine.

And over the course of her academic career, which included a Physician Assistant Studies degree here in the College of Health Sciences, the Winchester, Ky., native realized she wanted to stay in a rural area to help her community and state.

“We have a lot of health disparities in Kentucky, especially in rural areas, and we just don’t have the resources or the manpower to help,” Stewart said. “Some people think, ‘Why would you want to live in a rural area when you could have the city life?’ It’s because you can help.”

On Thursday, from 6-8 p.m. at The Campbell House, 12 students will celebrate the end of their residencies.

Many, like Stewart, will be continuing their careers in rural places, providing much needed care to those who need it most. Stewart, DMSc, PA-C, completed a residency in Hospital Medicine/Critical Care, with a specialization in pulmonary critical care at St. Claire HealthCare in Morehead.

St. Claire is a hospital that serves six counties.

Stewart said the residency was like “getting a fast-pass on the career roller coaster,” but now that it’s coming to an end, she realizes her learning will be done — and that moment is bittersweet.

“Now, I’ll transition into being a mentor,” she said. “I can help teach and be a part of their journey, just as other UK alumni were a part of mine.”

And the circle will continue.

“The experience has been wonderful and life-changing,” she said.

Residents:

Jana Chadwell: Neurology UK Healthcare

Aubrey Eubanks: Critical Care, UK Healthcare

Hannah Goodrum: General Surgery, St. Elizabeth

TJ Gray: Cardiac Surgery, Baptist Health Louisville

Andrea Marchyn: General Surgery, Baptist Health Lexington

Kelly McCormick: Neurology, UK Healthcare

Waliah Muhammad: Hospital Medicine, UK Healthcare

Genna Petrey: Critical Care, UK Healthcare

Thomas Saylor: Acute Care Surgery & Trauma, UK Healthcare

Onieta Stewart: Hospital Medicine, St. Claire

Jordyn Underwood: General Surgery, St. Elizabeth

Ana Zapata: Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, Baptist Health Hardin