Physician Assistant Students Win Statewide Competition

Nov. 18, 2009 - 6:18 p.m.

The Penn College physician assistant program won the 10th Annual Student Challenge Bowl, which was held by the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants during its state conference in Pittsburgh on Nov. 6. The team consisted of members of the Class of 2010: Melissa N. Dobson, of Elysburg; Danielle M. Bennett, of Laceyville; and Ross W. Trent, of Towanda. Daniel J. Parks, of Cogan Station, served as the alternate. Paula D. Holmes, program coordinator for the Penn College physician assistant program, served as the team’s adviser.

Penn College Adds Powerful Punch to Little League Lineup

Aug. 26, 2009 - 4:28 p.m.

Penn College, which last week ushered in the 63rd Little League World Series  with a cookout and an impressive presence in the Grand Slam Parade, continues to be a most valuable player on the event's support team. Students  from the School of Health Sciences again are staffing the stands and the infirmary, and college students and employees frequently are spotted among fans attending the homegrown phenomenon.
Photos by Jessica L. Tobias, student photographer

College Presents Teaching Awards to Three Faculty Members

May 16, 2009 - 5:45 p.m.

Penn College honored three faculty members with Distinguished Teaching Awards at Spring Commencement ceremonies held May 16 at the Community Arts Center. The college’s highest level of recognition for a faculty member − the Veronica M. Muzic Master Teacher Award − was presented to Christine M. Kessler, assistant professor of physician assistant. Excellence in Teaching Awards were presented to Dottie M. Mathers, associate professor of medical/surgical nursing; and Frank M. Suchwala, instructor of hospitality management/culinary arts.

'Springle Run' to Benefit Penn College Physician Assistant Club

Feb. 25, 2009 - 2:53 p.m.

Penn College's Physician Assistant Club will greet the new season by sponsoring the aptly named 5K Springle Walk/Run at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 21, on main campus. The event, a club fundraiser and seasonal follow-up to December's 5K Jingle Walk/Run, will begin and end at Hagan Way (the campus entrance off Maynard Street). Registration is $20 and will be held on-site from 8:30-9:45 a.m. that day – the first full day of spring.

'Jingle Walk/Run' Honors Program Founder, Boosts Scholarship Fund

Dec. 9, 2008 - 9:37 a.m.

About 40 participants braved Saturday's 25-degree temperatures for the first-ever Russell M. Trapp Memorial/Scholarship Jingle Walk/Run, honoring the founding director of Penn College's Physician Assistant Program and raising money for a scholarship fund in his honor. A summary of the event – compiled by students Larissa D. Kryder, Physician Assistant Club vice president, and Nadja M. Politza, club secretary – follows:

[View PDF file]

'Jingle Walk/Run' to Benefit Physician Assistant Scholarship

Dec. 3, 2008 - 11:46 a.m.

The Russell M. Trapp Memorial 5K Jingle Walk/Run, benefiting the scholarship fund that honors the former director of Penn College's physician assistant program, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, on the college’s main campus. The race, which replaces an annual golf tournament as the program's scholarship fundraiser, will begin and end at Hagan Way (the campus entrance off Maynard Street). On-site registration is $18, and awards will be given to the top two runners and walkers of each gender. Nonparticipants wishing to contribute can purchase a T-shirt for $15. For more information, consult the event flier:

[View PDF file]

Students to Assist at 2008 Free Flu-Shot Clinics in Lycoming County

Nov. 5, 2008 - 4:10 p.m.

Students enrolled in the School of Health Sciences at Penn College will partner with state and local organizations to administer free flu shots throughout Lycoming County in November. Nursing, paramedic and physician assistant students will administer free flu and pneumococcal vaccine and will distribute educational materials regarding the immunizations at the seven clinic sites.

PA Student's Article Published in Professional Digest

Oct. 17, 2008 - 9:41 a.m.

An article  by Penn College physician assistant student George L. Fichter recently was published in Cath Lab Digest. Fichter is a registered cardiovascular invasive specialist for Susquehanna Health. The article, “Personal Growth Is a Lifetime Journey,” describes Fichter’s decision to continue his education and advance his career to become a physician assistant, detailing the opportunities for physician assistants in catheterization labs and other cardiology settings.

Little League Volunteers Spotlighted in WBRE Report

Aug. 25, 2008 - 10:48 a.m.

Health Sciences students who volunteered throughout the Little League Baseball World Series were featured in a WBRE news report that aired Wednesday on the local NBC affiliate. Jeremy Deebel interviewed physican assistant students Katherine P. Ordonez-Fall, of Williamsport, and Sylvia A. Graczyk, of Allentown, who were among the 60 Penn College students from the emergency medical services and PA majors who helped area medical staff at the international event in South Williamsport. "I personally speak Spanish," said Ordonez-Fall, pictured at left. "I just had a patient who spoke Spanish. He didn't know any English, so that was very rewarding for me to be able to use my skills to help him."

Students Return to Little League to Assist With World Series

Aug. 18, 2008 - 4:26 p.m.

Sixty Penn College students have joined other area medical staff to help with the Little League Baseball World Series through Aug. 24. Students enrolled in the emergency medical services and physician assistant programs at Penn College are volunteering throughout the series. Emergency medical services students are serving alongside paramedics from Susquehanna Regional Emergency Medical Services in order to respond to emergencies among the thousands of fans attending the international event.