This Valentine's Day, Mercy celebrates couples who found love while enrolled in the College’s Physician Assistant Program. See below for a Q&A with two couples who are grateful – in a personal and professional sense – for their Mercy experiences.
Carlie Totten Magner ’14 and Michael Magner ’14
Answers by Carlie
How did you meet?
We met during our first week of didactic year in May 2012. Mike lived with two of his classmates and I also lived with two of my classmates. When we were preparing for our first exam, our roommates coordinated a study group and we started studying together.
What are some dates that are important to you?
We graduated from the Physician Assistant (PA) Program in August 2014. After graduation, we went to dinner at Harvest on Hudson to celebrate with family. We were engaged in May 2017. Mike proposed at Harvest on Hudson. He surprised me - both of our families came to New York for the engagement.
We were married in April 2018 in Pittsburgh. Our first son was born in April 2019 in New York and our second son was born in October 2020 in Pittsburgh.
What are your current occupations?
We both continue to work as clinical PAs at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mike works in cardiac surgery, and I work in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.
Where do you currently live?
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Can you share a favorite Mercy memory related to your love story?
Some of our favorite memories include long nights studying and eating pizza, anatomy cadaver lab, and our class mission trip to Nicaragua in 2013.
Anything else you would like to share?
We both loved our time at Mercy College and are beyond grateful that we met in graduate school. It is truly an indescribable feeling to know that your spouse understands both the benefits and hardships of being a PA, and we have an even deeper understanding of each other and the profession since we've been through it together since the beginning.
Kiera Keller ’17 and Michael Booth ’17
Answers by Kiera
How did you meet?
We met on the first day of PA school. Mike gave me a ride to school because we both lived in New Jersey, and I needed a ride that day.
What is your current occupation?
I am a physician assistant in plastic surgery at Redstone MD Plastic Surgery in New York City and New Jersey. Michael is a physician assistant in orthopedics at Kayal Orthopedics in New Jersey.
Where do you live?
We currently live in Mountain Lakes, NJ and have a shore house in Lavallette, NJ — we love spending time at the beach here!
Do you have any pets?
We have the cuddliest little puppy, Hazel Grace.
Can you share a favorite Mercy memory related to your love story?
We always think back to our medical mission trips we went on through the Mercy PA program. We went on two. One to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and one to Ghana, Africa. They were rewarding and humbling experiences. We were honored to provide medical assessments and treatments for so many children and adults who lived there. Their appreciation was so heartwarming. We also loved learning about their culture and way of life. We hope to go on another medical mission!