Gardner-Webb PA Students Advance Their Clinical Training at World‑Renowned MD Anderson

Immersive Experience Helps Students Become More Skilled, Compassionate, and Career‑Ready Providers

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—For the sixth year in a row, Physician Assistant (PA) students from Gardner-Webb University have been selected for clinical rotations at one of the world’s most respected providers of cancer patient care. From the PA Class of 2026, Tanner Hendricks, Confidence Paul, Baylee Short, and Diana Welliver have been invited to train at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. This research-driven facility has affiliation agreements with over 200 PA schools across the country. Applicants are evaluated in the areas of academic excellence, passion for oncology, volunteerism, interest in working at MD Anderson, and interest in postgraduate training.

Gardner-Webb Assistant Professor LaDonna Clark, director of Clinical Education for the Department of PA Studies, noted that MD Anderson offers an exceptional learning environment. “The institution’s commitment to education allows students to learn alongside nationally-recognized clinicians while developing specialized clinical skills in oncology,” she affirmed. “This immersive experience not only enhances clinical competence but has also led to successful employment opportunities for many of our graduates following completion of their rotations.”

Gardner-Webb PA students complete a total of nine supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs). To provide high-quality training opportunities for students, Clark collaborates with a team that includes Stephanie Fraccola, clinical scheduling manager; Missy Ware, clinical administrative coordinator; and Patrick Williford, clinical/didactic faculty. Each rotation is five weeks in duration. Seven of these are considered core rotations: women’s medicine, emergency medicine, internal medicine, surgical medicine, behavioral medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics. Additionally, they complete one elective rotation and one underserved medicine rotation.

“Gardner-Webb’s comprehensive curriculum integrates early and meaningful clinical exposure with a strong focus on service, professionalism, life-long learning and care for underserved populations,” Clark asserted. “I especially enjoy watching our students grow from novice learners during the didactic phase of the program into confident, capable clinical students with each supervised clinical practice experience. Seeing their knowledge, skills, and professional identity develop as they prepare for independent practice is one of the most rewarding aspects of my role.”

The four students selected to attend MD Anderson have various reasons for applying to the program. Short, of Bostic, N.C., has been assigned to the MD Anderson Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Center. She obtained her bachelor’s in exercise science from Gardner-Webb in 2022 and applied for the PA program because of her rewarding undergraduate experience. “Seeing my patients go through oncology experiences, as well as my own life experiences with cancer, fuels my desire to contribute to the field of oncology,” Short shared. “My aunt passed away when I was younger with esophageal cancer, and my grandpa passed away in 2023 from multiple myeloma.”

Welliver, of Gaffney, S.C., has also cared for friends and family members who have battled the disease. Her assignment is Solid Tumor Neurology. “I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the overall care and treatment of oncology patients,” Welliver expressed. “MD Anderson Cancer Center is ranked as the No. 1 cancer center in the United States, so this will be a wonderful opportunity to train with some of the best oncologists in the country.”

Her dream of working in healthcare began when she was a child. During her sophomore year of college, she shadowed physicians, physical therapists, and PAs. “I found myself drawn to the PA profession because of its emphasis on a collaborative environment, the ability to work in various areas of medicine, and the opportunity to build strong patient relationships,” Welliver affirmed.

Hendricks, of Lake Junaluska, N.C., is also a graduate of Gardner-Webb, earning his bachelor’s in exercise science in 2022. Grateful for the opportunity to learn at a top-ranked cancer hospital, Hendricks feels prepared because of the education he’s received at Gardner-Webb. “The professors are top notch and really push us to be the best we can be,” Hendricks assessed. “Gardner-Webb’s PA program truly emphasizes our school’s mission to be for God and humanity. I believe a healthcare provider needs to understand the patient beyond the condition they may be treating. It is important to have compassion, kindness, gentleness, and strength in this field. We must always rely on God for these as we work. Gardner-Webb helps to instill those values and beliefs.”

Gardner-Webb’s emphasis on patient-centered care is also the reason that Paul, who lives in Greensboro, N.C., chose to attend GWU. “The program’s supportive learning environment and commitment to developing compassionate, well-rounded physician assistants aligned closely with my personal values and professional goals,” she acknowledged.

A clinical rotation at MD Anderson allows her to engage with experts in the field, learn about cutting-edge treatments, and provide care to complex patients. “Gardner-Webb’s PA program has been deeply supportive and genuinely invested in student success, encouraging and preparing students to pursue unique and highly-competitive clinical opportunities,” Paul asserted. “I am thankful for the opportunity to represent GWU at MD Anderson and look forward to gaining meaningful experiences that will further shape and strengthen my future practice as a PA.”

GWU Students Selected by MD Anderson

Every year since 2021, a PA student from Gardner-Webb has been selected by MD Anderson. The previous students are:

• Taylor Jernigan and Orian Bar, Class of 2025.
• Nathan McVey, 2024.
• Milan Trisic, 2023.
• Julia Murtha Woody, 2022.
• Tiana Gomes, 2021, selected for rotation but because of COVID restrictions, she wasn’t allowed to complete.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at gardner-webb.edu.