Mississippi College Physician Assistant Students Organize Jingle Jog 5K

Mississippi College physician assistant students are organizing the Jingle Jog 5K road race in Clinton.

Runners should gear up for a fun experience while getting plenty of exercise at the Jingle Jog 5K. Mississippi College physician assistant students are sponsoring the December 9 race in Clinton.

The fee to enter is $30, and that includes post-race snacks, a shirt with long white cotton sleeves and the chance to receive door prizes. The race begins at 8 a.m. that Friday at First Baptist Church Clinton and it ends there as well. Kids under age 10 are invited to participate in a fun run starting at 9 a.m.

The MC PA Donald Fisher Society serves as the official sponsor of the second annual road race. Funds raised will send MC PA students in the Class of 2019 to the American Academy of Physician Assistants Conference. It takes place May 19-23 at the Ernest Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

Last year’s physician assistants’ national convention in Las Vegas attracted 7,000 guests to a blitz of informative meetings with medical leaders in the fast-growing field. It opened doors to lots of networking opportunities for medical professionals and students. There are 115,500 physician assistants located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.

Packets for the Jingle Jog race can be picked up on Friday December 8 at the Baptist Healthplex on the Clinton campus.

Mississippi College leaders welcomed the state’s first Physician Assistant program in 2011. The program began with 30 students and today enrolls more than 90 graduate students at its Baptist Healthplex headquarters. The 30-month program gives students the professional tools to work under the supervision of physicians.

A race organizer, and physician assistant student LaKendra Wiley, predicts a solid turnout for the upcoming holiday season event. There were 100 runners at the 2016 PA road race. The 31-year-old Mobile, Alabama resident expects more Mississippians will lace up their running shoes and compete in this year’s activities. The race is open to the public.

For more information, contact LaKendra Wiley at lcwiley@mc.edu or Renee Kendrick at the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at 601-925-7371 or jrkendrick@mc.edu