UK Physician Assistant Studies Program to Celebrate 50th Anniversary with Gala
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 17, 2025) — The University of Kentucky’s Physician Assistant Studies Program is marking 50 years of education, service and innovation with a formal celebration this fall.
The UKPA 50th Anniversary Celebration Gala will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at The Signature Club of Lansdowne, located at 3256 Lansdowne Drive in Lexington.
Black tie is optional, and seating is limited. Tickets are priced at $125, with proceeds benefitting student scholarships.
Guests are invited to reconnect with classmates, faculty and staff while celebrating five decades of excellence in physician assistant education.
“Celebrating 50 years is a significant milestone,” said Virginia Valentin, DrPH, PA-C, associate professor and Chair of the Physician Assistant Studies Department. “We have over 1,900 alumni, with over half of them directly serving the people of the Commonwealth. This five decades of experience grants us the privilege to be seen as leaders in PA education and the capability to be innovative. We look forward to 50 more years of providing health care to the people of Kentucky.”
Valentin reflected on the growth of the program, from its early days to its future in a new facility.
“One of my favorite images on our UKPA history webpage shows the old hotel that once held classes, along with our current building in CTW and our planned new building, the Michael D. Rankin MD Health Education Building,” she said. “This visual shows me how much we have grown and changed. At the same time, we haven’t changed that much as we have remained true to our mission to improve the health care of Kentuckians.”
“It is important because we have taught so many students, and celebrating our alumni is critical,” she added. “Additionally, it is important as we look forward to the RHEB and move to more disciplinary learning to appreciate the past — and appreciate all who have partnered with us and gotten us to this place.”
Kevin Schuer, DrPH, PA-C, program director and associate professor, emphasized the program’s enduring legacy and far-reaching impact.
“Very few PA programs nationally have been around as long as the UK PA program has,” Schuer said. “This is an extraordinary time and event where we honor and celebrate the hundreds of graduates who have not only influenced healthcare across Kentucky, but have also become leaders and innovators in the field. Here’s to five decades of shaping compassionate, skilled professionals and to many more years of impactful service and leadership in healthcare.”
Scott Lephart, PhD and Dean of the College of Health Sciences, expressed pride in the program’s contributions over the past 50 years.
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate such a significant milestone for a program that has made a profound difference in the lives of countless Kentuckians and beyond,” Lephart said. “This anniversary is not only a time to reflect on a legacy of excellence and service, but also to look ahead to a future of continued leadership in health care education.”
Interested in more information about the PA 50th Anniversary Celebration Gala? Email Loralyn Cecil at laceci2@uky.edu or visit https://chs.uky.edu/physician-assistant-studies/50-years
