Physician Assistant Studies New Student Orientation

Congratulations!

The Department of Physician Assistant Studies welcomes and congratulates you on your admission to The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

New Student Orientation is designed to help answer questions you may have, and provide you with information about campus resources, programs and services. You will also get the opportunity to build a network of resources that can help you start your UTMB journey on the right path. All Students are required to participate.

What to expect at orientation

  • Information about the University and the school will be provided.
  • Key university and school officers will be introduced.
  • Information about various UTMB services will be provided. Representatives of the areas will be introduced, and they will provide information about the services offered.
  • Students will have the opportunity to meet other new students, as well as faculty and staff in their areas of study.

Orientation Schedules & Additional Information

Orientation Date : June 30 - July 3, 2025

Location: William C. Levin Hall Dining Room, 2nd floor
Attendance is MANDATORY at Orientation

  • MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2025
    1:00 pmSTUDENT ID PHOTOS
    Levin Hall 4.444
    (Students must wear white coats in photo)
    TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2025
    7:45 amCLASS PHOTO
    Wear your white coat
    The photo will be taken promptly at 7:45 am
    Steps of "Old Red" – Ashbel Smith Bilding (Bldg #1, Campus Map)
    8:00 amBREAKFAST
    8:30 amWELCOME TO THE UTMB PA PROGRAM
    Dr. Michael Whitehead, Professor & Chair ad Interim, PA Studies
    8:45 amGETTING TO KNOW YOUR FACULTY
    UTMB PA Faculty
    9:45 amBREAK
    10:00 amWELCOME FROM JSSOM OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS & STUDENT AFFAIRS / ACADEMIC SUPPORT & CAREER COUNSELING
    Reginald Toussant, Senior Specialist for Learning & Career Counseling
    10:30 amOFFICE OF STUDENT LIFE
    Michelle Conley, Director of Student Life
    Katie Pfeuffer & Noelle Hargis-Milford, Student Life Program Specialists
    11:00 amACADEMIC POLICIES: DISCUSSION & Q/A SESSION
    Dr. Michael Whitehead, Professor & Chair ad Interim, PA Studies
    11:30 amSTUDENT WELLNESS AND COUNSELING
    Abi Akinpelu, Director of Student Wellness
    Barbara Calvert, Psychologist
    12:15 pmLUNCH with FACULTY COACHED LEARNING TEAMS
    Class of 2027 Students and UTMB PA Faculty
    1:30 pmENROLLMENT SERVICES / REGISTRAR
    Michael Engles, Director of Admissions & Records
    Randi Richardson, Associate Director of Admissions & Records
    Sarah DeWitt, Senior Enrollment Services Specialist
    2:00 pmINFORMATION SERVICES
    John Flores, Associate Vice President Information Security
    2:30 pmBREAK
    2:45 pmINTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
    Katherine Branch, Vice President of Interprofessional Education & the Health Education Center
    3:15-5:00 pmUTMB PROGRAM OVERVIEW & EXPECTATIONS
    UTMB PA Faculty
    WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2025
    8:30 amBREAKFAST
    9:00 amWELCOME
    W. Scott Boeh, Associate Vice President for Student Services & Registrar
    9:30 amDEAN'S WELCOME
    Dr. Antonio Bianco, Interim Senior Vice President and Dean, John Sealy School of Medicine and Chief Research Officer
    9:45 amMOODY MEDICAL LIBRARY
    Tara Atkins, Reference Librarian
    10:10 amBREAK
    10:30 amFINANCIAL AID / SCHOLARSHIPS
    Anne Hale, Director of Student Financial Services
    11:00 amADA ACCOMMODATIONS
    Lela Lockett-Ware, Institutional ADA Officer
    Tammie Collins, Student Conduct Compliance Officer & Deputy Student ADA Officer
    11:30 amTITLE IX AND EEO
    Tia Vance, Manager & Clergy Officer, Department of Internal Investigations
    12:00-1:30 pmLUNCH AND STUDENT PANEL
    1:30 pmCAMPUS SECURITY
    Corporal Curtis Dorsey, UTMB Police

    Orientation Schedule

  • STUDENT ID BADGES:

    We hope to distribute your Student ID badge before Thursday, July 3. We will know the exact time and date during orientation week. You must pick up your ID badge in person and bring a photo identification.

  • PARKING for June 30, through July 2:

    You are strongly encouraged to secure your student parking prior to orientation. Tentatively, we do have plans for a shuttle service. More information to come.

    Student Parking Information

New Student Checklist

Orientation Shuttle / Parking

Student Parking Instructions, Shuttle Parking Lot and Shuttle Schedule for June 30, through July 2

Parking will be available at a UTMB Free Shuttle Lot which is located at located at 706 Holiday Drive. Please note that this lot has a pay station, however students attending orientation will not have to pay to park.

From there, the shuttle buses will transport students to campus where they should exit the shuttle at the 11th Street drop off near the Health Education Center and the SHP Building. Students utilizing the Shuttle Lot should allow for extra time to reach campus. The buses will run in the afternoon to return students to their vehicles.

It is highly recommended that students who do not have student parking secured utilize the shuttle lot to avoid parking tickets.

Orientation Shuttle Schedule

The shuttles will run from the Shuttle Lot to the 11th Street Drop Off/Pick Up spot during the dates and times provided below. Please be sure to be back on the shuttles before the last run of the day.

Day / DateTimesCampus Drop Off / Pick up Location
Monday 30, June 202512:15 pm - 1:15 pm11th Street at HEC Building
1:30 am - 3:30 am11th Street at HEC Building
Tuesday 1, July 20256:30 am - 7:30 am11th Street at HEC Building
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm11th Street at HEC Building
Wednesday 2, July 20257:30 am - 8:30 am11th Street at HEC Building
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm11th Street at HEC Building

Student Parking Information

Student Guide for the UTMB Immunization System

Visit the UTMB Student Health webpage to review the immunization requirements ( https://www.utmb.edu/studenthealth). Look specifically under Student Information then FAQs Immunizations and Titers.