ATSU Central Coast PA student Gianna Novelli builds community ahead of her clinical year
Posted: September 16, 2026
Gianna Novelli, PA, ‘27, is a student in A.T. Still University-College for Healthy Communities’ (ATSU-CHC) Central Coast Physician Assistant program (CCPA), pursuing her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies with an expected graduation of September 2027.
A graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she earned her bachelor of science in nutrition science with a minor in biology, Novelli has stayed rooted in the Central Coast community throughout her education. Beyond the classroom, she serves as her class’s California Academy of Physician Associates (CAPA) student representative, a Still-Well Health Ambassador, and a Student Ambassador for the program. As she transitions into her clinical year, she’ll complete rotations locally with Bravo Pediatrics, Dignity Health Pacific Central Coast Health Centers, French Hospital Medical Center, and Bishop’s Peak Women’s Health Center.
Why did you choose ATSU-CHC?
“I chose A.T. Still University because its mission and values closely aligned with the kind of physician associate I hope to become. I was especially drawn to ATSU’s commitment to educating culturally humble, medically competent, and empathetic providers who are prepared to serve communities with limited access to healthcare. The osteopathic philosophy of caring for the whole person resonated most with me. As a future PA-C, I hope to look beyond a patient’s immediate complaint and consider the social, mental, emotional, and environmental factors that influence their health.
“Choosing ATSU also gave me the opportunity to continue my education on the Central Coast, a community I had already grown to love through my undergraduate education, healthcare experience, and the relationships I built here. Being able to attend PA school and continue serving this community made ATSU feel like a natural fit for me.
“Now that I am a student, I am even more grateful for that decision. I have built meaningful relationships with my classmates and faculty while staying involved with the local Central Coast nurse practitioner and physician associate community.
“As I transition into my clinical year, I am especially excited and grateful to continue my training locally through rotations with Bravo Pediatrics, Dignity Health Pacific Central Coast Health Centers, French Hospital Medical Center, and Bishop’s Peak Women’s Health Center. It feels extremely special to learn from providers and care for patients in a community that has already given me so much. Staying local will also allow me to remain involved with ATSU as our program begins its next chapter at the new San Luis Obispo campus, which I am really looking forward to.”
What do you enjoy about being an ATSU student?
“What I enjoy most about being an ATSU student is the sense of community within our program. I feel fortunate to learn alongside 89 other classmates with such unique backgrounds, healthcare experiences, and perspectives on medicine. I have also really appreciated our supportive and accessible faculty, who take the time to know us as individuals and are genuinely invested in our growth.
“Some of my favorite parts of student life are the little moments between the bigger milestones: late-night study sessions fueled by Urbane Cafe, getting through challenging weeks together with Costco cookies, taking our daily walks around campus between classes, going for weekly runs at Waller Park, enjoying the Central Coast sunshine on the weekends, and always finding reasons to laugh together during a demanding year.
“PA school moves incredibly fast, which has made me appreciate these experiences and relationships even more. I feel very fortunate to be pursuing a career I am passionate about in a community I love, surrounded by classmates and faculty who have made my time at ATSU so meaningful.”
What do you hope to achieve professionally, and how is ATSU helping prepare you for your career?
“Professionally, I hope to become a well-rounded, compassionate physician associate who patients can trust and who approaches each person with curiosity, empathy, and respect. I loved my previous experience working in primary care and am especially interested in exploring women’s health and pediatrics as I enter my clinical year. At the same time, I look forward to keeping an open mind and using my clinical rotations to learn from different specialties, patient populations, and healthcare teams as I discover where I can make the greatest impact.
“ATSU has prepared me by challenging me academically while reinforcing that being a strong provider requires more than medical knowledge alone. Our education encourages us to see the person behind the diagnosis and understand how a patient’s background, environment, well-being, and access to resources can influence their health. Through hands-on training, I have also been able to bridge what we learn in the classroom with patient care and develop my clinical reasoning, communication, and procedural skills.
“As I enter my clinical year, I am grateful for the foundation our faculty have helped me build and excited to continue learning through direct patient care. Ultimately, I hope to remain curious, practice with humility and compassion, and continue serving the Central Coast community that has played such an important role in my education and growth.”
Why did you choose to join different student organizations?
“One of the most meaningful parts of my experience at ATSU has been finding ways to positively contribute to our cohort’s overall student life experience. PA school moves incredibly quickly, and with so much of our time dedicated to studying, I believe it is especially important to create opportunities to connect with one another, support each other, and enjoy this chapter while we are in it.
“I initially campaigned to join our Student Government Association (SGA) after seeing the meaningful experience my mentor in the cohort above had through student leadership. I saw the friendships she developed within that smaller group and the impact they were able to have on their larger cohort. That inspired me to become involved in our own SGA and find a way to contribute to the experience of my classmates.
“I was especially drawn to serving as our CAPA student representative because I am passionate about keeping our cohort connected to the PA profession beyond the classroom. I enjoy updating my classmates on California advocacy and legislative efforts affecting our profession, as well as sharing scholarships, conferences, networking events, and other opportunities to become involved. One of my favorite experiences was traveling with eight of my classmates to Monterey for CAPA’s 50th anniversary conference in February. It was an incredible opportunity to learn alongside practicing PA-Cs. I have also enjoyed helping coordinate our participation in the CAPA Challenge Bowl and encouraging my classmates to become involved professionally early in our careers.
“Serving as a Still-Well Health Ambassador has given me another way to support our cohort, with a particular focus on student wellness. One of my favorite experiences was helping put on our ‘Paint the Stress Away’ event, which gave students an opportunity to step away from studying, be creative, relax, and spend time together. I also enjoyed tabling for Mental Health Awareness Month and helping connect students with available wellness resources. These experiences closely reflect the biopsychosocial and osteopathic principles we learn throughout our program. As we learn to recognize the physical, mental, emotional, and social factors influencing our patients’ health, I think it is equally important to recognize and support those dimensions of wellness within ourselves and our classmates.
“I also really appreciate being part of a cohort of 90 students because there is so much to learn from the people around me. Everyone entered PA school with a unique background, perspective on life and medicine, and path that ultimately brought them here. Getting to know those stories and learning from my classmates has been one of the most rewarding parts of the program.
“Some of my favorite involvement has happened informally as well. A group of students meets after class about once a week to run together, usually with five to ten of us joining. It has quickly become one of my favorite parts of the week. After spending so much time studying indoors, it gives us a chance to get outside, enjoy the sunshine, decompress, and continue building friendships beyond school.
“I hope sharing these experiences resonates with prospective students who are looking not only for an excellent PA education, but also for a program where they can build genuine friendships and a community of future colleagues.”
Why did you become a Student Ambassador, and what do you enjoy about serving in this role?
“As an ATSU Student Ambassador, it has been especially meaningful to continue the cycle of mentorship that helped shape my own path to PA school. While working as a medical assistant in primary care in San Luis Obispo, I was fortunate to have incredible guidance from my lead medical assistant and coworkers who went on to become ATSU PA students, who generously shared their experiences, answered my questions, and encouraged me throughout the application process. Their willingness to invest their time in me showed me the lasting impact mentorship can have, and I am grateful to now offer that same support to others.
“One of my favorite full-circle experiences was helping connect ATSU with my former Nursing and Physician Associate Club at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and returning as a PA student to speak with students who are now where I once was. I enjoy welcoming prospective students, sharing my experience honestly, and strengthening relationships between ATSU, local colleges, students, and healthcare professionals.
“Another rewarding part of serving as a Student Ambassador has been representing ATSU at the Cal Poly Grad Fair, where I had the opportunity to connect with students and share more about ATSU’s programs and mission. More recently, I joined a meeting with incoming students from the class of 2028 to answer questions, share perspectives from my own experience, and offer advice as they prepare to begin PA school. This has been one of my favorite experiences as an ambassador because it gave me the opportunity to support students at the very beginning of their journey while also reflecting on how much I have grown since I was in their position.”
What are some of your interests, hobbies, or achievements outside of ATSU?
“Outside of PA school, I love staying active, spending time outdoors, and taking advantage of everything the Central Coast has to offer. Some of my favorite ways to recharge are hiking, spending time at Pismo Beach and Montaña de Oro, wakesurfing on California lakes, and exploring places like Morro Bay, Los Osos, Big Sur, and San Luis Obispo.
“Music is also one of my favorite ways to de-stress and has led to some really fun memories during PA school. I was grateful to see Chris Stapleton perform at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles and watch Jack Johnson’s “SURFILMUSIC” documentary with members of my cohort during some of our free time.
“Most importantly, I value spending time with my family and friends. PA school can become all-consuming if you let it, so staying connected with the people I care about, visiting my family in Northern California, getting outside, and continuing to enjoy the community around me have been important ways for me to recharge and maintain balance throughout school.”
