Photo By Amy Gregorski | Command Sgt. Maj. Yveline Symonette, USMEPCOM senior enlisted advisor, and Col....... read more read more
Petty Officer 2nd Class Kristy Fricks, Houston MEPS medical specialist, continues to have a year of achievements while at USMEPCOM.
She was recently recognized as 2025 USMEPCOM Junior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year at the headquarters in North Chicago. During the same week, she was notified through All Coast Guard Officer (ALCGOFF) Message that she was selected on the 2026 Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) – a program she has been striving to get into the past two years.
The IPAP is 29 months and broken into two phases. Fricks will complete coursework in medical and clinical sciences as well as clinical rotations and will be awarded a master’s degree upon completion. She will then register to take the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) before assignment to her first unit as a Coast Guard PA.
For Fricks, selection into the IPAP has been a goal since a wellness visit for her niece while in Puerto Rico.
“A PA student, conducting a thorough exam, noticed an abnormality her supervising provider had overlooked,” Fricks said. “She trusted her instincts, voiced her concerns and this led to the discovery of a tumor that my niece has since been treated for. It was that level of confidence, attention to detail and patient advocacy that I hope to bring into the profession.”
She will begin her journey in August 2026 when she relocates from Houston to San Antonio. She will then complete an Oath of Office upon reporting to IPAP and receive a temporary commission to the rank of Ensign. Fricks is confident that her prior Coast Guard training will help her excel in school and clinicals.
“PA’s must be able to operate calmly and decisively in high-pressure environments, something I have come to value through my work as a Coast Guard EMT,” she said. “These experiences have prepared me to handle stress with focus and composure, traits that I believe are essential for a PA and a Coast Guard officer.”
With her remaining time in Houston, she hopes to help other service members look at the many opportunities that their respective services can offer.
“I see the Interservice Physician Assistant Program as an opportunity to expand my own capabilities and deepen my service,” she said. “We have a lot of young and talented military here that should be looking at similar programs within their job fields.”
| Date Taken: | 11.13.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.13.2025 15:42 |
| Story ID: | 551044 |
| Location: | HOUSTON, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 35 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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