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Enosh Ishman G’26 has received the PA Education Association (PAPE) Health Policy Fellowship, which recognizes 20 students nationwide each year looking to make an impact in the physician assistant field and education for future generations.

“This will be an amazing opportunity, not only to push forward in developing leadership skills, but to be able to converse with lawmakers,” said Ishman.

Ishman attended the University of North Carolina Charlotte and earned a Bachelor of Science in biology before joining ���ϲ�����’s PA program. Since joining ���ϲ�����, Ishman has taken in the stories and experiences that peers and professors have to offer.

“Throughout their teaching, our professors share their personal stories, career paths, and unique experiences,” Ishman said. “It made me realize that my goal isn’t just to earn straight A’s or a perfect GPA, it’s to grow into a well-rounded clinician and advocate.”

Associate Professor of Physician Assistant Studies, Kim Stokes, noted Ishman’s potential for this fellowship following a presentation he did in class regarding leadership and advocacy in the profession.

“I knew after that presentation that he would be a person I would encourage to apply for this type of opportunity,” Stokes explained. “It seemed like something he was passionate about and took a natural interest in.”

Ishman will join his peers in the 2025-26 cohort to participate in a virtual workshop designed to expand his understanding of healthcare policy. On Sept. 10, the fellowship recipients will put their learning into practice by speaking directly with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

“Taking care of patients is the most important,” Ishman said. “But for me, it was also important to develop an overall understanding of the environment I’ll be working in, the policies enforced in and out of the hospital setting and being able to advocate for them both in and outside.”

After teaching many of his courses, Stokes has noted that Ishman’s interest in equitable healthcare is symbolic of the values ���ϲ�����’s PA program strives for students to acquire.

“His intellectual curiosity, compassion and desire to serve make him an ideal representative for the PA Education Association Health Policy Fellowship,” Stokes explained. “Enosh exemplifies the kind of leadership our profession needs—grounded in lived experience, driven by equity and fueled by a genuine desire to improve healthcare access.”

This fellowship experience is one of the many opportunities made possible through the education at ���ϲ�����’s Physician Assistant Program. By encouraging students to engage in and experience the real-world implications of the healthcare profession, they are equipped with the necessary tools to thrive in their chosen industry.