When Methodist University Physician Assistant student, Ly Nguyen got the news that she was selected for the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants (NCAPA) Endowment Scholarship, she was surprised and humbled. The award is given to just one student per PA program in the entire state, and it recognizes those who are dedicated to patient care and excel academically and professionally.
When Methodist University Physician Assistant student Ly Nguyen got the news that she was selected for the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants (NCAPA) Endowment Scholarship, she was surprised and humbled. The award is given to just one student per PA program in the entire state, and it recognizes those who are dedicated to patient care and excel academically and professionally.
Nguyen has made a lasting impression on her faculty and staff and MU. Her teachers describe her as dedicated, empathetic, and professional throughout her clinical rotations.
“She is a great student, she is a mom and a wife, and she has tackled every challenge over the past 24 months with dedication and determination,” said April Martin, director of the Physician Assistant Program at Methodist University. “I am proud of how well she has managed, and I admire her work ethic and her ability to navigate her many roles with such seamless devotion. She is a very deserving recipient of the NCAPA Endowment.”
The NCAPA Endowment’s selection process is competitive. Applicants are reviewed by a panel of trustees and judged on academic achievement, professional goals, and financial need. Caroline Purdy, director of membership for the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants says, Nguyen’s application stood out for more than her grades.
“The reviewers were particularly moved by her commitment to public service and her passion for encouraging good nutrition in her community,” Purdy said. “They were equally impressed by her plans to continue that work by focusing on the nutritional needs of vulnerable patients in her professional career.”
For Nguyen, those characteristics are rooted in her core. She talks about her passion for patient care; with the same enthusiasm she uses when describing her garden. Both, she says, are labors of love that require patience, care, and an understanding that growth takes time.
Nguyen’s approach and perspective to wellness and medicine is not limited to the classroom and clinic. She gives all the credit to her mother, who farmed in Vietnam before their move to Fayetteville, where she still tends to a thriving garden. Her mother’s approach to gardening shaped her views on the importance of health and healing.
“My mom’s always been holistic. She’d say, ‘Food is medicine,’” Nguyen shared. “When we were kids, she’d tell us not to eat anything that didn’t come from the garden. I used to complain, why can’t we just get pizza or hot dogs? But now, as a mom myself, I’m doing the same thing.”
Gardening is more than just a hobby for Nguyen; it’s a mirror of her values as a healthcare professional. “It’s hard work, but it’s worth it. You’re outside, you’re moving, and in the end, you get something good for your body,” she said.
That same care and patience shines through her as a student, qualities her professors say make her a standout representative of the PA program.
“Ly is an exceptional student who represents the very best of what our program stands for,” said Bernadette Shilling, assistant professor of Clinical Medicine. “This recognition is a reflection not just of her talent, but of her compassion and professionalism. We’re so proud to see her honored with this scholarship.”
For Nguyen, the NCAPA Endowment Scholarship is both an honor and a reminder of her journey to a future rooted in service. “It means a lot to be recognized for doing something I love,” Nguyen said. “That’s the best feeling.”
For more on the Physician Assistant program at Methodist University, visit methodist.edu/academics/paprogram.