Called to Care for Central New York: Physician Assistant Maggie Narrigan ’06, PA ’07 Heals with Purpose and Heart
As a surgical physician assistant, Maggie Narrigan ’06, PA ’07 finds deep meaning in assisting with delicate procedures, monitoring her patients’ recoveries, and helping them manage potential complications. However, it is often the simple, unexpected moments that most resonate with Narrigan. She recalls spending much of one shift simply sitting with a patient who was alone, talking to him, keeping him company and, she hopes, lifting his spirits. That desire to be present for others drives Narrigan as a clinician, educator and mentor to those entering the field.
A native of Adams Center, New York, Narrigan earned both her undergraduate degree in biology and her master’s degree in physician assistant studies at Le Moyne. Today she is one of thousands of Dolphins working in healthcare in Central New York (CNY) and beyond. Narrigan has spent the past 20 years caring for patients in the region. Every interaction she has is guided by her expertise in clinical medicine – and by her commitment to honoring the Jesuit principle of cura personalis and seeing the individual in front of her as a whole person.
Beyond caring for and advocating on behalf of her patients, Narrigan dedicates herself to helping train the next generation of healthcare professionals. She is a professor in Le Moyne’s Department of Physician Assistant Studies Program and serves as a coach for PA students in the College’s Healthcare Opportunities for Professional and Educational Success (HOPES) program. The program helps graduate students in healthcare address whatever challenges they may face in being successful in their programs, whether those challenges are academic, financial or personal. Narrigan also developed a program in CNY that aids new PAs and family nurse practitioners in making the transition from graduate school to full-time practice, and serves as the president of the New York State Society for Physician Associates. Narrigan calls it a privilege to be able to use her skillset not just to practice medicine at a high level and care for her sickest patients, but to grow the number of qualified caregivers in the region.
I love being able to still see patients, engage with them and their families, and also, to help equip future healthcare professionals. I tell my students that I have been working long enough that I have been able to see medicine and surgery evolve, and it is great to share what I have learned with them.”
In addition to her degrees from Le Moyne, Narrigan earned a master’s degree in organizational management and will soon be completing a doctoral degree in business with a concentration in organizational management. Her doctoral work focuses on the transition to practice models that are needed to help professionals launch their careers in healthcare.
This is part of a series of stories about the Le Moyne College Dolphins who are using their Le Moyne educations to power Central New York.
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