School of Health Sciences and Education

Tori Martin, a fourth-year Master of Occupational Therapy student, was awarded the prestigious Ann Eppard Scholarship and congressional internship presented at the Presidents Awards Convocation on April 26. Tori is currently completing her internship in the office of U.S. House Representative Bill Shuster R-PA 9th district on Capitol Hill. Tori has so far learned the ins-and-outs of the voting process, met many staff and legislators, and is now trained to provide tours to visitors to the Hill. She talks to constituents about their concerns and if this is not enough, it's only her first of four

Heather N. McHenry, PA-C, ’08, MPAS, ’09, has been selected as the speaker for the 2016 Graduate Commencement ceremony on May 8. About Ms. McHenry Heather McHenry says she knew immediately—on her first trip to Honduras as a Saint Francis undergraduate—that she was hooked on medical missions. “It opened my eyes,” says McHenry of the experience. Even though she was not a licensed provider at the time and could only assist the physical therapy team in charge of the trip, she says she found the work immensely gratifying. After earning her master’s in physician assistant science and licensure

In 2012, Saint Francis University launched a new program: Public Health . This past December, the program celebrated its first two graduates, William Myers and Austin Potts. A recent addition to the School of Health Sciences at Saint Francis University, Public Health develops professionals to promote health and the prevention of disease through research, community-based interventions and public policy. Put simply, public health professionals strive to keep people healthy by battling against deadly, contagious diseases and working to reduce incidences of preventable diseases or disasters. As

Danielle MacMurtrie, a newly minted Doctor of Physical Therapy , finished off her final years at Saint Francis University creating an anatomy painting series for the School of Health Sciences. Project Background: While some youth dream of being doctors or nurses, Danielle set her sights on physical therapy. She was first exposed to physical therapy when she was 13 after sustaining a back injury caused by years of gymnastics. “I wore a back brace for two years and received frequent PT.” she recalled “It was the first career in which I could picture myself working. Being in the PT gym just felt

Mr. Tim Fish Education Major, Class of 1990 Titusville, New Jersey Tim's Story The path that led Tim Fish to his current job as an associate headmaster at a private school in Maryland was full of twists and turns. Fish excitedly and gracefully embraced each opportunity and setback he faced. With guidance and self-determination, he has carved out an impressive and eclectic career for himself. When Fish entered his freshmen year at Saint Francis, he began his studies as a chemistry major. He was doing well and sailed through his chemistry classes—until organic chemistry. The course was more

Elisha Fleig, Class of 2013, shares how her double major in Spanish and Physician Assistant Science prepared her to land her dream job as a PA-C at the Cleveland Clinic Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. Elisha Fleig, PA-C Physician Assistant Class of 2013 First-Year Convocation 2016 Elisha's Story Elisha's Advice "No, it's not a popular vacation spot, a well-known town, or even a bustling community. Most people living in Pennsylvania probably haven't even heard of it, unless they have driven on Interstate 22 heading to Penn State or elsewhere. While those people didn't even think twice when passing

“My mom got sick when I was a sophomore in high school. The PA that took care of her was amazing and really inspired me. So things sort of changed gears after that, and I’m really glad that they did. I wouldn’t trade being a PA for anything. The relationships that I get to form with my patients is everything that I ever wanted out of a career.”

From the time she was a little girl growing up in Portage, Pa., Karly Link '14 was always interested in medicine. She expected to grow up to be a doctor or a pharmacist, but after talking with a physician assistant when she was 16 she decided to take a different path. “Instantly I knew that this job would be perfect for me,” Karly said. “I would get to treat patients, write prescriptions, perform procedures, etc., and the five-year program made it very appealing.” Once Karly fell in love with the idea of becoming a PA, she just needed to find a school with a reputable program. “SFU has such a

Ms. Beth Wheeler Middle Childhood Education, Class of 2013 Bellwood, PA Entering Saint Francis University as a middle childhood education major, Beth Wheeler never even dreamed about studying abroad. The thought of being alone in an unfamiliar place terrified her. But one little bite from the travel bug, and her life changed forever. During her time as a student at Saint Francis, Beth participated in both the Springtime in Italy and Semester in France programs. Following her graduation in May 2013, she moved to Auch, France where she has been teaching English as a second language to grade