Meet Ryan Kamanu, a 2018 graduate of PTECH from Amsterdam. Kamanu says he was attracted to PTECH for a number of reasons, most notably the opportunity to earn an associates degree at no charge.
“I am the first in my family to attend college and the chance to do it for free was really appealing. The fact that I did it means the world to me and comes with great pride,” says Kamanu. “I also really liked the idea of project based learning.”
PTECH completer Ryan Kamanu (second from right) poses for a group photo after receiving an award from the U.S. Army.
Kamanu, who chose the Health Studies pathway, earned his associates degree in Applied Science from SUNY FMCC. Upon graduation, he decided to enlist in the Army National Guard and currently holds the rank of an E-6/SSG.
In 2020-21, Kamanu deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. He served as a combat medic and completed leadership and advanced trauma training.
Today, he is part of the military’s Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP), a top 10% PA program in the world, which according to Kamanu is ranked 27th out of 311 PA programs worldwide. The program is a dual degree program in which he aims to earn both his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Physician Assistant Studies degrees.
Upon graduation from the IPAP in 2026, he will be a commissioned officer, 2nd Lieutenant, and will be a fully trained mid-level provider/clinician.
He says that his time at PTECH played a big role in his professional life by preparing him for real-life situations and noted the huge advantage their resume building and interview prep classes gave him.
“PTECH really helped me develop a lot of versatility, it made me think more ‘big picture’ and have a positive outlook on many things. All of this has helped me with perseverance and resilience,” he stated.
Kamanu also touched upon his favorite things about the PTECH program.
“PTECH was very good at inspiring pride,” he said. “As we say in the Army, ‘Esprit de corps’. The spirit of the program and the motto, ‘The future depends on what you do today’, which was easily my favorite part. I also enjoyed the networking and real-world experiences, working on presentations and the project-based learning.”
Kamanu believes that students who thrive in hands-on education styles, coupled with given autonomy, will always thrive at PTECH.
Ryan Kamanu poses for a photo with his wife Vivian and daughter Sophie.
He said he will always be very grateful for the experience granted to him at PTECH, and for all the ways it has impacted his life and contributed to the person he is today.
As for his future goals, the sky’s the limit, he says.
“I plan to graduate from the IPAP, pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), and apply for a one-year PhD program to earn my Doctorate in Medical Sciences and possibly complete an Emergency Medicine Fellowship,” says Kamanu.
Ryan and his wife Vivian have been married for nearly five years. They are the proud parents to a beautiful daughter, Sophie, who is 2 ½ years old.
