ATSU-ASHS Physician Assistant program student chose school for passion in serving underserved
Posted: September 5, 2025
Madeline Greenlief, PA, ’26, has always been passionate about serving underserved communities. When she was looking for a place to pursue her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (PA) degree, A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) was in sync with her priorities.
“I chose ATSU because of its commitment to underserved populations,” she said. “I have always been passionate about underserved medicine since my undergraduate years, and it was a top priority to attend a PA school that incorporated this into the curriculum.”
Greenlief, from Huntington Beach, California, is a graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara and has a bachelor of science in biological sciences, with a minor in Spanish language and culture.
At ATSU-ASHS she has taken on several support roles, serving as a Peer-Assisted Learning program tutor and student ambassador.
“I became a student ambassador because I have always loved mentorship roles, and I was so excited to help prospective students by giving tours, offering application advice, and being present at the PA interviews,” she said.
In her free time, Greenlief enjoys swimming, hiking the nearby Superstition Mountains, and finding the best coffee shops around.
Her goal is to become an emergency medicine PA and work with underserved populations in her hometown and beyond, through work and volunteering in her free time.
ATSU-ASHS is providing a positive environment for her to prepare for that future.
“I really enjoyed meeting my classmates at the beginning of the year and going through didactic year with them. I have formed incredible friendships within my class and rely on my friends to get me through the week. I can’t wait to see where we all end up after we complete our clinical year,” she said.
