Students Reaching Higher
Lisa Moser
Lisa Moser, a clinical year physician assistant student, received the SFU Student Service Award. Moser created Make A Patient Smile (M.A.P.S.), an organization that makes get well cards for hospital patients. MAPS members make three hospital visits each semester to Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown. At the visits they deliver cards and spend time talking with patients and listening to stories. This is a great way for the students to learn how to interact and communicate with patients which will help shape them into better, well rounded care providers. On average 6-7 MAPS members go on each visit and they will spend the evening at the hospital visiting over 100 patients!
MAPS sponsors card making days on campus which gives everyone a chance to get involved and make a patient smile. There are about 6 card making days each semester. On each visit MAPS members take about 400 cards with them to deliver. The cards that are left undelivered are given to Memorial Medical Center or sent to Altoona hospital to put be put on meal trays to help brighten a patients day. so total, we make and deliver over 1,000 cards each semester.
Clinical Rotation in South Africa
In January of 2012, two of our clinical students completed a five-week rotation in South Africa. The students stayed with a host family in Vangaurd estate. Rosemarie Tyger was in the Ortho Clinic. She applied and removed casts, checked wounds, removed sutures, read x-rays, saw patients, got a history and did physicals. She also assisted during surgery. She saw about 60-70 patients per day in the clinic.
Awards & PA Honor Society
Numerous students have received awards and/or have been inducted into honor societies during the Spring of 2012. Five clinical year students were inducted into Pi Alpha. Pi Alpha is the national PA honor society organized for the promotion and recognition of both PA students and graduates. Membership signifies the inductees’ significant academic achievement and honors them for their leadership, research, community/professional service, and other related activities. The society also encourages a high standard of character and conduct among students and graduates.
Alumni Reaching Higher
Two of our alumni were recently featured in the Saint Francis University Magazine.
Christy Roos
Kendra Sacks
Faculty & Staff Reaching Higher
Tracy Wright
Mrs. Tracy Wright has been a member of the department faculty since 2000. Mrs. Wright is an Assistant Professor/Clinical Coordinator for the Department. She is a certified physician assistant who has been practicing clinically in correctional medicine one half-day a week since 2006. She is on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants and serves as a member to the House of Delegates for the American Academy of Physician Assistants. To learn more about Mrs. Wright, see the faculty page.
E. William McGrath, Jr., MD
Dr. McGrath at North Florida Ob & Gyn Associates in Fernandina Beach, Florida was awarded Preceptor of the Year in 2012. He has been a preceptor for us since 2003. He typically will take two students a year. A student commented that Dr. McGrath “had been the most dedicated, well spoken, intelligent, great teacher and overall exceptional doctor that I had encountered during clinical year and quite possibly my entire life." Another student comments that "he is a wonderful teacher and person in all."
Lawrence Glad
Dr. Lawrence Glad at Laurel Highlands Ob/Gyn in Hopwood, Pennsylvania has been a preceptor for us since 2006. He takes a student for nearly each rotation and has been voted Preceptor of the Year. Students comment that Dr. Glad “truly cares and takes time out of his hectic schedule for his students.” Another student comments that he provides excellent care to his patient. “Franciscan values are seen every day, not only with his students, but his patients and colleagues as well.”