Nutritional Sciences alumna represents OSU’s commitment to rural medicine as a physician assistant

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Media Contact: Kirsi McDowell | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-8320 | kirsi@okstate.edu

From outstanding senior to outstanding professional, Keely Ratcliff has proven herself to be a true embodiment of Oklahoma State University’s medical programs.

A fourth-generation Cowboy, Ratcliff graduated in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences and was honored as an OSU Senior of Significance. Today, she has two OSU degrees and works as a physician assistant, playing a vital role in providing medical care to Cowboy and Cowgirl student-athletes.

To get to where she is now, Ratcliff worked above and beyond in school, which made it easy for her undergraduate advisor, Laura Price, to recall their time together.

“[Keely] has always maintained the Cowboy spirit, and she has bled orange since the beginning,” Price said. “She really was such a great student with a strong work ethic and positive attitude. She set really high goals for herself and worked the whole time to achieve them.

“I think she embodies everything it is to be a Cowboy.”

Positivity is something Price said she significantly remembered from Ratcliff. No matter the occasion, Price said Ratcliff always had a smile on her face.

Although Ratcliff was enrolled in rigorous courses, she was determined to succeed. Her work ethic was noticeable from the moment she walked into Price's office as a freshman.

“I remember meeting her, and she was already so driven and committed,” Price said. “I knew she was going to be very academically inclined, but she was also so kind and easy to work with.”

During Ratcliff’s undergraduate studies, she served on the College of Education and Human Sciences Student Council. 

“She really was a champion for the college when she was in that role,” Price said. “She worked hard to lead the organization, and she put in a ton of time and effort into it.”

Ratcliff said her experience participating in extracurricular and leadership positions helped her learn skills essential in both her graduate studies and career.

Along with her involvement on campus, Ratcliff gained experience in the medical field by volunteering with OSU Sports Nutrition, where she primarily assisted the football team.

After completing her bachelor’s degree, Ratcliff enrolled in the PA program at OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Ratcliff credited OSU for not only preparing her for graduate school but also the professional world, noting OSU didn’t just value a passing test score but emphasized the importance of empathy and human connection.

“Anyone can gain knowledge and learn information, but it’s really about knowing how to listen to people and respond to them — that’s the real skill,” Ratcliff said. 

“I think OSU really values character, and [faculty] want to encourage students’ growth and provide opportunities to serve other people.”

Today, Ratcliff serves residents of rural Oklahoma at OSU Family Medicine in Mannford, Oklahoma. 

Ratcliff values her work in Mannford, given her own upbringing in Amber, Oklahoma.

“One of the best parts of rural medicine is that the [patients] know everyone in the office. They’re all involved in the community,” Ratcliff said. 

Another unique aspect of rural health care is a lack of access in many communities. Ratcliff, who completed a Master of Science in Physician Assistant studies in 2023, said she felt prepared to join the team in Mannford, Oklahoma, because OSU’s physician assistant program emphasized practicing medicine in these underserved communities.

PA school students are required to do rotations in rural settings throughout the state. Of the 15 rotations Ratcliff completed, she said only five were in urban communities, highlighting the program’s commitment to this work.

As a means of expanding care options for rural residents, Ratcliff said OSU connects specialized medical professionals with practitioners to adequately treat patients. Although providing health care to every Oklahoman is not a problem that can be fixed overnight, Ratcliff appreciates what OSU does to expand its reach.

“If there is someone in Beaver, Oklahoma, who has a patient with HIV, and the local medical provider has never treated that before, or they don’t have a lot of experience, that physician could present a case to a specialist and then be instructed on how to manage [the patient],” Ratcliff said.

“Now, that patient can be taken care of by their own medical provider without traveling outside their community.”

Not only is Ratcliff giving back to rural communities, but she has also become a vital part of the OSU Sports Medicine team. 

Dr. Jason Moore, a team physician for OSU Athletics, said he first met Ratcliff during one of her rotations during PA school, and he immediately noticed the positive energy she radiates.

Ratcliff's attitude made Moore’s decision to hire her a no-brainer when the athletic department decided to bring a female physician to the team. 

“We feel it's important for the female student-athletes to have a physician they can relate to,” Moore said. “Keely’s personality was just spot on for this type of position. She’s just lovable and always joyous, but she is also super intelligent.”

Moore said there isn’t a better person to represent the Cowboy Code.

“Her legacy is being involved with OSU in general, but now she's taking it to the next step by caring for the kids that are now a part of the OSU family as undergraduates,” Moore said. “It’s just a neat cycle to see.

“She is the epitome of what we hope OSU graduates will be, and how they’ll give back to their community.”

 

Story By: Annie Ross | annie.ross@okstate.edu