2027 Orientation Letter

May 15, 2025

Dear ECU PA Class of 2027,

Welcome to the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at East Carolina University (ECU) in the College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS)! Our faculty and staff are excited to see you again in August. Over the next 27 months, we will provide the educational and clinical experiences that allow you to become an outstanding physician assistant. Below you will find information regarding the program and what you need to accomplish prior to the start of classes. At the end of this letter, you will find a list of important websites as well as a student check list for reference.

Classes begin on August 25, 2025. There will be a mandatory PA Studies orientation on August 21 and 22 at the Health Sciences Building on the ECU Health Sciences Campus (where interviews were held). Attendance is required. You can expect Orientation to last from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Thursday and Friday with a one-hour lunch break each day. Please dress professionally on August 21 as individual photos will be taken. You may dress business casual on the second day of orientation. A complete agenda will be available prior to the start of Orientation on our ECU PA website in the “Resource Links” section.

The PA Program has pre-registered students for the Fall semester of 2025; subsequently, there is no need for you to contact the Program about registration. Please log into PiratePort (see link below) to view your tuition statement and select payment options.

If you completed prerequisites in the Fall of 2024, do not assume CASPA forwarded these results. Please assure your record is up to date and shows completion of your bachelor’s degree by making sure your official transcript(s) are sent to the Graduate School on/or before August 1, 2025. Contact Theresa Cartwright (cartwrightt@ecu.edu) at the Graduate School if you have questions about graduate admissions.

Most of our assessment is done by computer and all course materials are posted on Canvas, a web-based learning management system. For this reason, a laptop computer (not a tablet) is required by the program. The PA Program requires certain specifications for laptop computers (please see link below), and only the laptops with these specifications are supported by the university for technological support. Your computer must have an integrated or free-standing webcam and microphone of sufficient quality to participate in live teleconference meetings. For both days of Orientation, bring your charged, working laptop as the availability of electrical outlets in the classroom is limited.

In addition to your laptop computer, you will also need to secure adequate internet access and speed to participate in live online meetings, download and upload large video files, and participate in proctored testing should the need arise.

The Graduate School requires compliance with ECU Student Health Services (SHS) policies for admission. ECU requires that all students be in full compliance with the North Carolina immunization law and have completed all immunizations listed under “College/University Vaccine Requirements & Number of Doses” on the SHS website. Please read the website carefully for submission instructions and requirements. You will need to upload one of the acceptable records of immunization to myPIRATEchart. You are subject to additional ECU fines if you fail to submit the immunization requirements.

The PA Program requires additional immunizations in compliance with the CDC guidelines for healthcare workers. A list and explanation of all required vaccinations can be found on our Physical Assistant Studies website. Important – please note that we are currently transitioning from CastleBranch, the program mentioned on our website, to a new system that will be implemented before you matriculate to ECU. For now, your obligation is to obtain all necessary immunizations per both ECU SHS and ECU PA Requirements and then submit your immunization information to SHS via myPIRATEchart. Please obtain and maintain proof of all health requirements, as these will also be submitted directly to the PA program at a later date. We highly suggest you obtain all immunizations by August 1, 2025.

Students are responsible for maintaining personal health insurance throughout the entire PA program. Students are eligible for health care by appointment or on an urgent care basis at SHS clinics as a part of their general university fees, but personal health insurance is still required. The costs of services of off-campus providers and at agencies other than SHS clinics are not included in the ECU health fee. The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) may be purchased through ECU SHS or you may secure health insurance elsewhere. You must waive out of SHIP if you are covered by a different health plan. For further information and instructions, visit the SHS health insurance website. Please secure proof of health insurance as this will need to be submitted to the PA program at a later date.

Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers (American Heart Association) certification is required for enrollment and is to be maintained for the duration of the Program. No other CPR course will be accepted. As a reminder, two of our faculty members are offering the required AHA BLS (CPR) course on August 20. You are free to enroll in that course or obtain your AHA BLS certification elsewhere by the start of classes in August. Please secure proof of completion as this will need to be submitted to the PA program at a later date.

A medical terminology exam is given during the first week of classes to demonstrate basic competence. We recommend that you review terms this summer. We have included a free, online medical terminology resource for your use on the attached checklist.

A textbook list for the first Fall semester is included with this letter. You may order your books from ECU Dowdy Student Store or online from a retailer of your choice. Many of the required books you will use in the first four semesters are available online at no cost through ECU Laupus Library. Please note
that some of the books, however, are only available in print form and you are required to purchase those texts. Please have your textbooks prior to the start of class. Students are encouraged to compare costs with various vendors when purchasing textbooks.

A list of required medical equipment and supplies is also included with this letter. You are free to purchase your supplies wherever you choose. The ECU Dowdy Health Sciences Store here on campus will also have the required supplies if you choose to purchase from them. You are each required to purchase 2 sets (top and pants) of navy blue scrubs. The scrubs may be whatever brand you choose, as long as they are basic matching scrubs in solid navy blue color. Scrubs are required attire for labs and other events, and many students choose to wear them to class also. The ECU Health Sciences Store carries several options of Landau brand scrubs, which you can try on and purchase directly from them, if desired. The bookstore also offers (optional) name embroidery on scrubs for an additional charge. Please note, the short white lab coat must be Meta style 738 or 739.

You may choose between the 3 stethoscope types listed on the supply list and are free to customize your stethoscope colors. I suggest you visit the Littmann website to review the features of each stethoscope before purchasing one. A stethoscope is an investment that will serve you for many years in your PA career!

Please visit the links provided below. If you have any further questions, please email Mr. McKezion Williams at williamsmc22@ecu.edu.

Congratulations, and we look forward to seeing you soon. Go Pirates!
Sincerely,

Tina Seemann, MHS, PA-C
Director of Didactic Education
East Carolina University
Dept. of Physician Assistant Studies

ECU PA Studies Program Checklist
Class of 2027

• Transcripts to Graduate School by August 1, 2025
  • Theresa Cartwright – cartwrightt@ecu.edu
• Obtain immunizations required by both ECU and ECU PA; obtain proof of immunizations
• Submit required documentation to ECU Student Health Services
• Complete American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers (only course allowed) CPR course OR enroll in the course offered by ECU PA Faculty on 8/20/25 (see info previously sent by Ms. Audrey Eaves); obtain proof of course completion
• Secure personal health insurance; opt in or waive out of ECU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
• Obtain laptop computer with PA Program and University specifications
• Orientation information (to be posted this summer)
• Purchase textbooks at Barnes and Noble College store prior to first day of class
• Purchase lab coats, patches, medical instruments, scrubs and stethoscopes by the start of the second week of classes (see attached list)
• Contact the Financial Aid office early to make any necessary arrangements
  • Deana Summerlin – summerlind@ecu.edu
• Contact the Cashier’s office about payment plans
• Review Medical Terminology (Proficiency exam will be given week 1 of classes)
  Nelson, A., & Greene, K. (2021). Medical Terminology for Healthcare Professions. University of West Florida Pressbooks
• Register your PirateID and create your password
• Explore PiratePort to locate important information and services at ECU
• Website for admitted graduate students on preparing to start Graduate School at ECU

ECU Physician Assistant Program Supplies List – 2025

Or purchase items individually.

*Examples of acceptable bp cuffs include: ADC Diagnostix 760, MDF Instruments MDF808M11 or similar

**SCRUBS & WHITE COAT: Scrubs may be any brand as long as they are basic matching scrubs in solid navy blue. You may choose to have your scrubs and/or white coat embroidered. ECU Health Sciences Store has the embroidery requirements of the department. You must utilize them for consistency in embroidering. Please order early so you will have them before or shortly after classes begin. White Coats must be Meta style 738 or 739.

Optional stethoscope case example

Booklist: Fall 1 Semester 2025