August 29, 2011 To Whom It May Concern: It is with great pleasure that I recommend Punam Patel for admission

into your Physician Assistant Program. Her outstanding leadership, character and poise have helped her to stand out from her peers as an exceptional student at The University of Tennessee. Punam has truly exemplified the standards of a model young professional in all that she does; not only as a student, but also as a student leader within her campus community. I have had the opportunity to work with Punam in her role as an Ignite Team Leader in the Office of Student Orientation and Leadership Development. In this capacity, Punam has served as an exemplary leader and role model for her fellow college students. As an Ignite Team Leader, she was chosen for a selective leadership program offered to only 24 University of Tennessee students per year. The purpose of the program is to develop the academic potential, leadership, and institutional affinity of incoming UT freshmen. Punam was not only a participant of this program, but because of her outstanding initiative and dedication she was selected to return as a leader. Through her involvement in this program I have come to admire Punams initiative, responsibility, and ability to work well within a team. These are all charachteristics that would not only allow her to thrive in your academic environment, but these are certainly traits that will make her an outstanding leader within your professional community. Additionally Punam has demonstrated her leadership and professional promise through her involvement in Clinic Vols, Student Government, the Undergraduate Deans Advisory Board and as serving as a Tutor for the Office of Minority Student Affairs. Additionally, Punams experience in serving as a Doctors intern and as a Pharmacy Technician has helped her to have a holistic experience as a promising young professional that will surely translate into her future practice. All the while, Punam has maintained an impressive grade point average and in my experience as one of her course instructors, she has set the bar very high for her fellow classmates! I could hardly imagine a more perfect candidate for your program. The combination of Punams experiences in addition to her warm demeanor and empathetic nature make her a natural fit for this profession. Her positive attitude and her willingness to learn make her a joy to work with. She is an exemplary leader, a thoughtful student, and an impressive young professional with a very bright future ahead! Good luck in your selection, and please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance. Sincerely,

Sally Gates Assistant Director & Emerging Leader Course Instructor Student Orientation & Leadership Development sgates@utk.edu (865) 974-2313