Elon was represented with two teams, comprised of both didactic and clinical year students.
Elon University’s Physician Assistant Studies students traveled to the Trent Semans Center at Duke University on May 10, 2025 to compete in the second-annual NC Scan competition, earning third place.
The event was organized by a small group of Duke University’s PA students and modeled after the national iScan competition which is held annually by the Society of Point-of-Care Ultrasound during the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) conference.
The NC Scan competition took place just a week before the AAPA iScan event, so it was a chance for students to get a taste of the competition and a great opportunity to learn more about the clinical significance and abilities of ultrasound testing.
Seven PA programs from across North Carolina showed up on Saturday, with a total of 10 teams. Elon was represented with two teams, comprised of both didactic and clinical year students.
The competition was designed to challenge students while fostering collaboration and learning. It featured six interactive stations, each focused on a different aspect of ultrasound knowledge. Teams had 15 minutes at each station to answer clinical questions and practice scanning under the guidance of experienced facilitators. In a creative twist, the organizers added a “phone a friend” option, available twice per team, which helped reduce the pressure and encouraged learning without the expectation of perfection.
Although Duke’s student team claimed first place, the true value of the day lay in the hands-on experience, peer collaboration and opportunity to refine essential ultrasound skills in a supportive environment. This competition served not only as a platform to test knowledge, but also as an excellent warm-up for Elon PA’s upcoming appearance at the AAPA National Medical Challenge Bowl and AAPA iScan competition, further highlighting the strength of Elon’s clinical education and student preparation.