Physician Assistant Center is subject of legislative tour

Three members of Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives visited the college’s true-to-life physician assistant labs this week, learning more about how Penn College educates future health care practitioners.

Melissa E. Sedor, physician assistant program director, led state representatives Jamie Flick (83rd PA House District and a Penn College graduate), Joe Hamm (84th PA House District) and Clint Owlett (68th PA House District and a Penn College Board member) through the Physician Assistant Center’s realistically equipped labs, where students study for 12 months before entering 12 months of clinical rotations, ultimately earning a master’s degree.

“All of the equipment is very similar to what you see in a health care facility, and that was done so that, when students go to a clinical site, if they can show they have some comfort level, our hope is that they will get to do more sooner,” Sedor said.

The college’s physician assistant studies degree is also differentiated by the amount of hands-on time students spend in labs, including a cadaver lab that is unique among physician assistant programs.

Also helping to guide the visitors were students Ethan J. Barlett, of Wellsboro; Gianna O. Edkin, of Muncy; and Chylee A. Stroup, of Hughesville; as well as Lindsay M. Moyer, clinical coordinator of physician assistant studies; Tina R. Strayer, coordinator of physician assistant studies; Tanae A. Traister, assistant dean of nursing and health sciences; Valerie A. Myers, dean of nursing and health sciences; and Dr. Gregory R. Frailey, medical director for the PA program.

It is the second visit the legislators made to the campus this week, also getting a closer look at the college’s emergency management & homeland security major.

Learn more about the college's Master of Science in physician assistant studies, one of several Penn College programs equipping graduates to alleviate the health care workforce shortage, at www.pct.edu/pa.