Physician Assistant Graduate Leads with Advocacy and Service

Lamiyah Rajai of Cresskill, N.J., will graduate on May 15 from Seton Hall’s dual-degree B.S. in Biology/M.S. in Physician Assistant program. As part of the University’s competitive six-year (3+3) track, she completed three years of undergraduate study in the College of Arts and Sciences, followed by three years of intensive clinical and academic training in the School of Health and Medical Sciences to earn both degrees.

“Lamiyah has a rare combination of intelligence, initiative and heart,” said Abby Saunders, Ph.D., PA-C, associate professor in the M.S. in Physician Assistant (M.S.P.A.) program. “She leads with humility, motivates those around her and exemplifies what it means to be a servant leader in healthcare.”

A Track Record of Service and Advocacy

A leader both in and out of the classroom, Rajai steadily built a reputation for service, mentorship and national advocacy during her time at Seton Hall.

She was selected for the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Student Health Policy Fellowship in 2023 and received the 2025 Michael Powe Leadership in Advocacy Scholarship from the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) — an award given to only five PA students nationwide for excellence in advocacy and academic achievement.

Rajai applied the scholarship to support her attendance at the 2024 AAPA Leadership and Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., where she worked with fellow PA students and professionals to advance federal policy initiatives.

One of the bills she helped advocate for — the Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act — was successfully passed.

She brought that same passion back to Seton Hall, creating a presentation and panel discussion for second-year M.S.P.A. students focused on advocacy. The session, now a recurring event on campus, features prominent voices from the PA profession and policy community.

“What has inspired me most during the M.S.P.A. program is the passion I see from my classmates,” she said. “Their dedication to serving the community has fueled my desire to create opportunities for future Seton Hall PA grads to raise their voices and drive progress in our profession.”

“Her experience in Washington, D.C., and her earlier work as a PAEA Student Health Policy Fellow really drove her presentation this year,” added Saunders. “She was so confident and engaging. Every conversation with Lamiyah sparks a contagious excitement for helping others through advocacy.”

As an undergraduate, Rajai co-founded the Seton Hall chapter of Project Sunshine through the Buccino Leadership Institute, organizing pediatric outreach visits at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center. She also launched a Seton Hall chapter of Project Access to promote diversity and inclusion in the PA profession and held multiple leadership roles within the Physician Assistant Student Society (PASSSHU).

Rajai completed a clinical elective in women’s health during her rotations and is currently interviewing for OB-GYN physician assistant positions. She remains committed to working in underserved communities and hopes to continue her advocacy work on a broader scale.

“From my time in the Buccino Leadership Program as an undergraduate to serving in PASSSHU as a graduate student, I’m grateful to Seton Hall for the constant opportunities it provided me to grow as a servant leader,” Rajai said.

Categories: Education, Nation and World