The Miami Dade College’s Physician Assistant (PA) team, competing in the National Challenge Bowl Competition, has won the National Championship. The competition is sponsored by the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the national organization that represents the physician assistant profession across the U.S. and occurred as part of the American Academy of Physician Assistants Annual Conference in Boston.

 

MDC’s PA program students had previously won the Florida region championship four times. The team prepared throughout the year, mastering a curriculum and practical applications that cover the full range of medical topics. This year’s team of Cecilio Padrón, Arián Pupo and Leopoldo Catalá are second-year PA students who will graduate later this year. They arrived at MDC from diverse backgrounds and experience, and prove, again, the value of “opportunity changes everything.”

 

Congratulations to the team and all the students, faculty and staff who contribute to the excellence of our PA program. Special thanks are due to the team’s coach, Nicolás Massimini, who worked with the team throughout the past year, and PA Program Director Dayne Alonso.