Coming Home: A Fourth-Generation Student’s Journey Through HSU’s PA Program

Claire Preston during a mission trip in Peru.

For most Hardin-Simmons University physician assistant students, choosing the program means embracing a new community. For Class of 2025 President Claire Preston, it meant coming home.

“As a fourth-generation Hardin-Simmons student, my connection to this university runs deep,” she said. “My great-grandmother graduated in 1941 with an education degree, and my grandfather, Harold Preston ’69, served as CFO for much of his career. Both my parents are HSU alumni who were married in Logsdon Chapel, as well as my aunt and uncle.”

Despite her family’s deep roots at HSU, Preston initially chose Texas A&M University for her undergraduate education. But the pull of a smaller, more personal learning environment eventually brought her back.

“While I’m incredibly grateful for my time at Texas A&M, I missed being part of a close-knit community where people know your name and your story,” she said. “HSU always felt like home. And if I ever forgot, my grandfather made sure to remind me!”

Finding the PA Path

Coming from a family of healthcare providers, Preston knew medicine was her calling but wasn’t sure in what capacity — until a mentor intervened.

“I had a mentor, Dr. Candace Wicks, who taught biology at HSU,” she said. “She was the first to introduce me to the PA role and its flexibility across specialties. I resonated with the relational aspect of being a PA as well.”

Working as a medical assistant for Chad Walters, an HSU PA graduate, sealed her decision.

“Watching him deliver high-quality, compassionate care affirmed everything Dr. Wicks had shared,” she said. “Seeing the way Chad was trained and the difference he made convinced me that the HSU PA Program was exactly where I belonged.”

Leading Texas’s Smallest PA Class

With the smallest PA class size in Texas, HSU’s program offers an intimacy that larger programs can’t match. As class president, Preston helped cultivate that environment.

“The Class of 2025 is full of natural leaders committed to supporting each other and serving the community,” she said. “My role as president allowed me to build close relationships and create moments of encouragement throughout rigorous training.”

Each week, the officers highlighted a student with the “MVPA” (Most Valuable PA) award. Preston and Vice President Madeline Dorris also organized class events, including a Thanksgiving dinner in 2023 and a PA Prom this past weekend.

“Both events brought together our cohort, faculty, and staff for an evening of celebration and fellowship,” she said.

More Than Just Faculty

The program’s “family culture” extends beyond classmates. Shortly after classes began in fall 2023, a student developed a medical condition requiring an emergency room visit.

“Our Program Director, Dr. Tina Butler, and Medical Director, Dr. Kathryn Norton, met her at the hospital and stayed until her family arrived,” Preston said. “They have families and practices of their own, yet stepped in without hesitation. This is what it means to be the HSU family—showing up for one another.”

That personal investment carries into daily life in Abilene.

“I’m frequently greeted by faculty and staff around town—at the Paramount Theatre, a football game, or the grocery store,” she said. “They’re friendly and take time to check in with me. That connection has motivated me to succeed in my studies.”

Service at the Heart

While the program requires 50 hours of community service, students regularly exceed that. The Class of 2025 has volunteered with Meals on Wheels, Boots on the Ground, local schools for health fairs, and service dog training.

For the past two summers, PA students spent their week off serving as buddy counselors at Joni and Friends Family Retreat in Navasota, Texas, providing Christ-centered care to children with special needs and their families.

Her most memorable experience came earlier this year on a medical mission trip to Lima, Peru.

“We provided medical care to 550 patients, led CPR training, offered eye exams, distributed glasses, administered medications, and delivered wellness education,” she said. “Those we treated embodied deep gratitude, rekindling my calling to medicine and reminding me of the goodness of the Gospel.”

“The 50-hour community service requirement has reminded me of my ‘why’ for becoming a PA,” she added. “Volunteering has taught me the importance of stepping away from my world to build relationships with people I might not otherwise meet.”

Academic Excellence in Small Packages

HSU’s PA program consistently exceeds the national Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam pass rate, something Preston attributes to its size.

“Because we’re a small class, faculty can better identify students who need extra support and those ready for more advanced work,” she said. “They dedicate more time to each of us to meet our individual learning goals and ensure we’re prepared to pass the boards.”

The physical layout of the program also supports accessibility.

“Unlike other PA programs, our faculty offices are in the same building as our lecture and study halls,” she said. “Being together every day in Mabee Hall fosters friendships and creates a learning environment you won’t find at a larger school.”

Prepared for the Future

As graduation approaches, Preston reflects on what makes the program distinctive.

“HSU’s PA Program has trained me to value academic excellence, leadership, and community service,” she said. “This program recruits lifelong learners and leaders who genuinely care for their neighbor. I feel encouraged to embody these qualities and prepared to live out the mission as I step into my PA career.”

For a fourth-generation student, the circle is complete — but the journey is just beginning.

National PA Week is celebrated annually in October to recognize the contributions of physician assistants to healthcare.