Kelci Koch, a resident of Lehighton, received a master's degree in physician assistant studies from King's College, Wilkes-Barre, during the college's recent summer commencement ceremony.

A physician assistant (PA) is a dependent mid-level health professional licensed by the state to practice medicine as delegated by and under the supervision of a physician. Physician assistants perform physical exams, diagnose illnesses, develop and carry out treatment plans, order and interpret lab tests and assist in surgeries.Upon successful completion of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), graduates can practice in almost any field of medicine, including family practice, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry and orthopedics. King's PA graduates have achieved placements throughout the country and many are working in medically underserved areas.The King's College physician assistant program has been preparing students for the profession through sophisticated didactic and clinical training in all areas of general medicine for more than 30 years. King's students have an almost 100 percent pass rate on the PANCE since the program's inception.