����app�ٷ���վ�� newest cohort of physical therapy graduate students represents undergraduate institutions such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, The Ohio State University, Auburn University, and ����app�ٷ���վ��. The average age of these new ����app�ٷ���վ�� students is 25 years old, and they hail from 14 states including New York, Florida, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. These students have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.52 and an average GRE score of 303.

����app�ٷ���վ�� Doctor of Physical Therapy program has built a reputation for excellence. In 2016, the program was reaccredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE) and was commended for its Self-Study Report. The Department of Physical Therapy Education was created in 1996 offering a master’s degree, and enrolled its first doctoral students in 2003.

Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2022

The Physician Assistant Studies program welcomed its newest class of students who represent undergraduate institutions such as Clemson University, Duke University, North Carolina State University, Syracuse University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The students have an average age of 26 years old and start the program with a variety of health care experience, with each bringing an average of 3,500 hours worked in health care. Their average undergraduate GPA is 3.82 and the average GRE score is 311. These new students come to Elon from 17 states including California, Indiana, Wisconsin, Florida, and Massachusetts.

The Class of 2022 is the ninth class for ����app�ٷ���վ�� Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program, which enrolled its charter class in January 2013. In 2016, the program achieved a major milestone with recognition and continued accreditation by The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, the national accrediting body.

Johnson is a 2018 graduate from Liberty University with a bachelor of science degree in public health and minors in biology and health promotion. Her dedication to working with underserved communities began with medical mission trips to Guatemala and Haiti. Through her recent work as a CNA in rural Virginia, she saw first-hand the challenges for people with limited access to health care.

Citing the Elon PA program’s commitment to preparing primary care PAs to serve in medically underserved areas, Johnson saw an alignment with her professional goals. “I knew that this program would prepare me for exactly what I feel called to do,” Johnson said. Once she graduates, she “is excited to strive to make a difference in underserved areas of the state of North Carolina where I grew up.”

She joins five Elon alumni who are recipients of the NHSC scholarship program who are currently serving as PAs in health professional shortage areas across the United States.

The NHSC is a Federal government program administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Bureau of Health Workforce that since 1972 has been placing primary health care providers in areas of the United States with limited access to care. The program pays students’ tuition, books, and other costs, and provides a living stipend, while students train to become a primary care provider. In exchange, graduates commit to serving for at least two years at an NHSC site within in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).

Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2022

Elon’s newest cohort of physical therapy graduate students represents undergraduate institutions such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the College of William and Mary, University of Georgia, and ����app�ٷ���վ��. The average age of these new ����app�ٷ���վ�� students is 24 years old, and they hail from 12 states including New York, California, Colorado, and Pennsylvania; and 2 students from China. These students have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.62 and an average GRE score of 307.

Elon’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program has built a reputation for excellence. In 2016, the program was reaccredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE) and was commended for its Self-Study Report. The Department of Physical Therapy Education was created in 1996 offering a master’s degree, and enrolled its first doctoral students in 2003.

Physician Assistant Studies Class of December 2021

The Physician Assistant Studies program has welcomed its newest class of students who represent undergraduate institutions such as Clemson University, Ithaca College, Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The students have an average age of 25 years old and start the program with a variety of health care experience, with each bringing an average of 3,500 hours worked in health care. Their average undergraduate GPA is 3.75 and the average GRE score is 308. These new students come to Elon from 17 states including Oregon, Texas, Utah, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

The Class of December 2021 is the eighth class for Elon’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program, which enrolled its charter class in January 2013. In 2016, the program achieved a major milestone with recognition and continued accreditation by The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, the national accrediting body.

Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2021

Elon's newest cohort of physical therapy graduate students represents undergraduate institutions such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Ithaca College, James Madison University and ����app�ٷ���վ��. The average age of these new ����app�ٷ���վ�� students is 24 years old, and they hail from 14 states including New York, California, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. These students have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.60 and an average GRE score of 305.

Elon's Doctor of Physical Therapy program has built a reputation for excellence. In 2016, the program was reaccredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE) and was commended for its Self-Study Report. The Department of Physical Therapy Education was created in 1996 offering a master's degree, and enrolled its first doctoral students in 2003.

Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2021

The Physician Assistant Studies program has welcomed its newest class of students who represent undergraduate institutions such as Clemson University, the College of William and Mary, Michigan State University, the University of Wisconsin, and ����app�ٷ���վ��.

The students have an average age of 26 years old and start the program with a variety of health care experience, with each bringing an average of 3,200 hours worked in health care. Their average undergraduate GPA is 3.69 and the average GRE score is 311. These new students come to Elon from 15 states including Oregon, Texas, Connecticut, Maryland and Ohio.

The Class of 2021 is the seventh class for Elon's Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program, which enrolled its charter class in January 2013. In 2016,  by The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, the national accrediting body. 

The three-year, full-time Doctor of Physical Therapy program enrolled 46 students while the 27-month, full-time Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program enrolled 38 students.  

Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2020

Elon's newest cohort of physical therapy graduate students represents undergraduate institutions such as the University of South Carolina, Michigan State University, the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and ����app�ٷ���վ��. The average age of these new ����app�ٷ���վ�� students is 24 years old, and they hail from 17 states including New York, California, Michigan and Arizona. These students have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.64 and an average GRE score of 308.

Elon's Doctor of Physical Therapy program has built a reputation for excellence. In 2016, the program was reaccredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE) and was commended for its Self-Study Report. The Department of Physical Therapy Education was created in 1996 offering a master's degree, and enrolled its first doctoral students in 2003.

Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2020

The Physician Assistant Studies program has welcomed its newest class of students who represent undergraduate institutions such as Furman University, the College of William and Mary, University of Wisconsin, Wake Forest University and ����app�ٷ���վ��. The students have an average age of 26 years old and start the program with a variety of health care experience, with each bringing an average of 3,500 hours worked in health care. Their average undergraduate GPA is 3.64 and the average GRE score is 309. These new students come to Elon from 16 states including Connecticut, Florida, New Mexico and Virginia.

The Class of 2020 is the sixth class for Elon's Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program, which enrolled its charter class in January 2013. In 2016,  by The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, the national accrediting body. 

Fourteen physician assistant students from classes of 2018 and 2019, four faculty members and an alumna participated in events at the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) National Conference, held May 16-20, 2017 in Las Vegas. 

Elon’s PA curriculum allows academic and clinical phase students the opportunity to participate in the annual national conference for the PA profession. This year’s conference had about 7,400 attendees. The conference offers learning and networking opportunities for all participants, and provides resources for professional development as well as continuing medical education. 

Elon once again participated in the AAPA 2017 Student Challenge Bowl. Team members were: Phia Caccavale (captain), Anna Parr, Hillary McDonald, Brittany Hall-Potvin and Rheadon Remy. Second-year student Will Phillips served on the AAPA Student Academy Assembly of Representatives; Jacquelyn Visser served as alternate and led a resolution passing during the Assembly.  

Faculty Presentations included:

Pharmacogenomics for Primary Care – Melissa Murfin, PA-C, PharmD, BCACP
Thyroid Nodule Workup – Melissa Murfin, PA-C, PharmD, BCACP
Occupational Medicine – Shaun Lynch MS, MMSc, PA-C
Non-Statins in Management of ASCVD – Tracey Thurnes, MPAS, PA-C
Fostering Empathy in Physician Assistant Students – Alexis Moore, MPH, PA-C, Brittany Wiseman, PA-C, ’17

The  will take place in New Orleans, LA.  

El Centro empowers students to better communicate in Spanish to develop stronger relationships with patients, reducing miscommunication and improving cultural understanding.

Carleigh High, DPT Class of 2017, is the first student to accrue 70 hours of medical Spanish class time and be awarded a stipend toward her airfare to Peru as part of her DPT clinical education experiences.

Carleigh’s reflections on her time spent with El Centro are below:

“It comes as no surprise that the first week of graduate school is filled with new faces, new information, and new opportunities. The opportunity to attend medical Spanish classes during lunch almost seemed like an additional burden for an increasingly busy schedule.

“What I didn’t realize is that these classes would become a welcomed change of pace allowing me to practice Spanish in a relaxed manner and provide me additional educational and social opportunities. Perhaps what surprised me the most was the interdisciplinary interaction of discussing different patient populations with physician assistant students.

“Through the various medical Spanish worksheets and conversations with Diana we not only expanded our vocabulary but also conversed about different approaches within each discipline (PA and physical therapy) and how we could work together to benefit patients. I was already fluent in Spanish, but I still got a lot out of these classes—so no matter your proficiency (novice to native) there’s great value to be gained from these classes. I really enjoyed these conversations and they were only the beginning of my experience with El Centro.

“In addition to lunch conversations at the Francis Center, I participated in several scheduled and impromptu events at El Centro including cooking classes, dinners at local restaurants, country presentations, workshops and documentary and film viewings. I also spent time studying and conversing with others about films we’d seen, travel plans, politics, future goals, or anything else that was on our minds. Whenever I felt the pressures of grad school building I could go to the couch at El Centro, get wrapped up in conversations sharing different opinions, listen to the upbeat music and unwind from a long day.

“Practicing Spanish with El Centro has also allowed me to be more confident when conversing with patients who speak Spanish. While not substituting for a medical translator, my ability to converse in Spanish has allowed me to gain the confidence and trust of some patients increasing my ability to treat them and address their needs.

“I have been able to help patients who speak Spanish during my clinical rotations and also at the H.O.P.E. clinic (Elon’s student run pro bono physical therapy clinic). In a couple months I have the opportunity to spend several weeks at a hospital in Peru and am thankful for the medical Spanish classes as I know they are great preparation for this experience.

“While practicing Spanish is at the front and center of my time spent with El Centro, the experience has also reminded me the importance of listening. Everyone has different viewpoints, beliefs, customs, and experiences. It’s crucial to remember to pause and actually listen to what others have to say- not simply hear them, but truly try to understand where they are coming from in order to work together for a common goal.

“This is vital for patients, coworkers, friends, acquaintances, and everyone with whom we come in contact. Everyone is unique in their own way, and it’s a beautiful thing. As you enter El Centro a sign reads, “Zona ‘happy’ sonríe antes de entrar” (happy zone, smile before entering). Truthfully, I couldn’t help but smile whenever my eyes caught a glimpse of that sign, but I think the sign had it backwards- I was always smiling when I left El Centro. Whether I was there to converse, cook, or watch a movie I knew I was amongst friends, even if we’d never previously met.

“I am truly grateful for this experience and know it will continue to inspire me in the future.”

The presentation was called “Effects of Different Perturbation Levels During Fall Risk Assessment for Older Adults at Higher Fall Risk.” 

Authors included Vallabhajosula, Jane Freund, Victoria Flood, Mary Cameron Hamilton, Lucas Boyd and Stephen Bailey.

Elon’s curriculum is set up so students have the option to participate in the annual conference. Those who chose to go made the most of their time attending presentations, perusing the exhibit hall and networking. 

Second-year Brittany Pjetraj served on the AAPA Student Academy Assembly of Representatives; Cassandra Bogdan served as alternate. Nicole Fajardo, Elon PA Class of 2015 alumna, served as the Southeast Regional Representative for the past two years and also attended the conference.

Pete Guertin, Betsy Joyner (captain) and Andy Tillary served as Elon’s Challenge Bowl Team Members in the AAPA 2015 Student Challenge Bowl. Cheered on by classmates, they not only made it to the stage, but also to sudden death. The students also managed to find time to take in a few sites, have some fun and eat great food.

Committee members work during the conference to ensure a top-notch experience for attendees. Additionally, Elon PA Program Director Patti Ragan attended a planning meeting for the 50th anniversary of the PA profession, which will be celebrated in 2017.

Faculty presentations included:

• Polly Pharmacy and Beer Man – Melissa Murfin
• Risky Business: Understanding Risk and the Application of Number-Needed-to-Treat – Patti Ragan
• Avoiding “Testorrhea” and Practicing Evidence-Based Evaluation in the Clinical Setting – Patti Ragan​​

The will take place San Antonio.

This award honors a PA or PA student with an interest in leadership and advocacy. Nelson has a passion for working with patients with substance abuse and will use her award to attend a conference in Asheville, North Carolina.