MCPHS Student Minh Tran Recognized for Leadership and Innovation in PA Field

Tran is one of 15 students nationwide chosen for the PAEA fellowship, which supports aspiring educators in the PA profession.

Minh Tran, a student in the Physician Assistant Studies program at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), is one of 15 recipients nationwide selected for the prestigious Future Educator Fellowship from the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA).

“One of many things that I'm looking forward to in this fellowship is getting the knowledge and the training I need to be a competent educator in the future,” Tran said.

The fellowship, which launched in October at the PAEA Education Forum in Washington, D.C., brings together physician assistant students and educators nationwide to explore leadership, mentorship, and teaching in the PA profession.

Her selection for the fellowship is one of several recent accomplishments. Tran is also a student representative on the Board of Directors for the Association of PAs in Oncology (APAO), where her duties include working on the Education and Membership Committees to enhance resources for PA students and develop educational content, including podcasts. At MCPHS, Tran served as a peer mentor while completing her undergraduate degree, an experience she credits with motivating her to become an educator.

“One of the most fulfilling aspects of being a peer mentor was seeing the students I mentored in the pre-PA program get accepted into PA school. Watching them achieve the dreams they worked so hard for was truly inspiring,” Tran said. “That sense of accomplishment drives my passion to become a PA educator in the future."

Tran’s research on high-grade gliomas, an aggressive form of brain tumor, was recognized at the APAO’s annual oncology symposium this summer in Nashville. Her project, which focused on the importance of early neurocognitive assessments in pre-treatment patients with high-grade gliomas, earned one of the top presentation honors. Tran’s faculty mentor, Dr. Afsoon Moktar, has guided her research. Tran is also a recipient of a Mini Grant from the MCPHS Center for Research & Discovery, which supports her work on this project.

As a Constituent Organization Leader for APAO and state representative for Massachusetts Tran participated in the AAPA’s Leadership and Advocacy Summit, joining colleagues on Capitol Hill to advocate for policy changes to improve access to care and remove barriers to PA practice. Last year, she returned to Washington, D.C. to support legislation benefiting injured federal workers seeking medical care and enhancing the continuum of healthcare service. Tran said advocacy is an important part of her work.

“As clinicians, we make a difference by providing care for each patient, but when we engage with decision-makers shaping healthcare policies, our impact grows exponentially. By advocating for systemic change, we can transform the healthcare system for the better,” she said.

Tran credits the support of her MCPHS program, clinical preceptors, mentors, and family for helping her balance her studies, research, and professional roles. As she progresses through the fellowship, she aims to further develop her skills as an educator while continuing her contributions to the PA profession and oncology community, noting that her interest in education is rooted in her upbringing.

“Both my parents were educators, and as a kid following them to their classrooms, I felt a deep calling to do the same,” Tran said. “As a clinician, education is just as important as treatment—in the clinic, we help our patients understand their condition, and in a classroom setting, the same principles apply when knowledge fosters confidence and growth. In my future career, both roles will be inseparable and shape the way I care and teach.”

Tran hopes to focus on neurosurgery or neuro-oncology in her future career. After graduating, she plans to seek more training opportunities to help her meet the challenges of working with special patient populations.

“I want to have all the tools and all the training that I need to in order to be a good practitioner,” she said.