ATSU-CHC holds 2025 Central Coast Physician Assistant program commencement
Posted: September 22, 2025
A.T. Still University’s College for Health Communities (ATSU-CHC) honored 86 students from its Central Coast Physician Assistant (CCPA) program class of 2025 with a commencement ceremony on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara, California.
“We’re honored to be here in this historic building, built in 1892,” said O.T. Wendel, PhD, president, ATSU Arizona & California campuses, “the same year our university was founded in Kirksville, Missouri.”
Jackie Carrera, president and CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF), delivered the commencement address. Prior to her remarks, Carrera was presented an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by ATSU Chancellor Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84, and ATSU-CHC Dean Eric L. Sauers, PhD, ’97.
SBF is the California Central Coast’s oldest and largest community foundation. In her role, Carrera has been a strong advocate for advancing access to healthcare, promoting healthy communities, and helping ATSU-CHC build and strengthen community relationships on the Central Coast.
“Under her guidance, the foundation has flourished, growing its assets such that they were able to award over $51 million in grants in 2024 alone. These investments reflect not just financial stewardship, but a deep, abiding commitment to equity, empathy, and impact,” Dr. Sauers said. “For ATSU, Ms. Carrera has been a trusted partner and advocate, helping us strengthen our community ties and further our mission to prepare a diverse, compassionate healthcare workforce for underserved communities. Her life’s work embodies the values of service, stewardship, and social responsibility that we seek to instill in every graduate within the College for Healthy Communities.”
Carrera spoke about her visit to ATSU-CHC’s campus in 2023, where she first felt the class of 2025’s determination.
“What I remember about that visit is a campus full of happy, healthy, smiling, hopeful students. The feeling was infectious,” Carrera said. “This campus was filled with beaming pride, excitement, and perhaps even a little touch of attitude. That attitude said, ‘We have an ability to change healthcare, and in doing so, maybe even change the world.’ Optimistic? Yes, and audacious, absolutely. And that’s one of the many things that sets you all apart from the others. You, graduates, will change lives.”
ATSU is a nonprofit university with campuses in Arizona, California, and Missouri. The CCPA program is a 24-month master’s program with a goal of educating community-oriented physician assistants (PA) who will provide whole person primary care to underserved communities along the Central Coast and across the nation.
ATSU-CHC is committed to expanding higher education pathways on the Central Coast and focused on growing the healthcare workforce by educating the next generation of diverse professionals who will provide essential care locally.
Speakers included ATSU Chancellor Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84, and O.T. Wendel, PhD, president, ATSU Arizona & California campuses. Efren Torres, PA, ’24, led the alumni induction.
Watch the full ceremony and view more photos below!
