On December 10, 2016, twenty-three students completed commencement exercises to receive a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.

During the ceremony, Brady Griffith ’16 spoke on behalf of his fellow classmates as the class representative.

Dr. Keith Wenda, OB/GYN and long-standing preceptor for the program, delivered the commencement address.  The start of his gradual retirement in 2017 will be truly bittersweet for the Augsburg PA Program, as Dr. Wenda has mentored over 180 PA students since 1995.

Carissa Carlson, PA-C received the Clinical Instructor of the Year Award, as voted upon by the graduates.  Carissa is also an Auggie alumna, graduating from the PA Program in 2009.

The faculty and staff of the program congratulate these twenty-three men and women on their achievements.  We wish them well as they prepare to sit for the national certifying exam in the upcoming weeks and months.

The class of 2016 is the twentieth class to graduate from Augsburg’s PA Program since its founding in 1995.

Augsburg PA students attended the National Kidney Foundation conference on Saturday, December 3rd.  Participating students had the opportunity to hear from local nephrologists, primary care doctors, and even a patient who had received a kidney transplant. The conference focused on prevention and screening of chronic kidney disease, especially among the population of patients with Type II Diabetes.

Visit https://www.kidney.org/CKDinform for more information about kidney disease prevention and screening.

The Augsburg PA Program held a Winter Coat Drive that received twenty winter coats for those in need.  Students also collected and donated cinch bags that will serve as backpacks to help protect belongings from the elements.

It is expected that the number of people who require shelter still surpasses the amount of available space in shelters.  By supplying them with warm attire, Augsburg PA students are hoping to help prevent frostbite and illness that will only further their displacement and struggle.

Items were donated to ACCESS Homeless Outreach and Joseph’s Coats.

On September 26, the Class of 2018 participated in the annual White Coat Ceremony held by the Augsburg College Physician Assistant (PA) Program. The White Coat Ceremony joins the symbol of the white coat with the principles of humanism in medicine which include professionalism, altruism, responsibility, respect, and compassion. Thirty PA students, faculty and staff from the program were joined by nearly 100 friends and family members at the event. The White Coat Ceremony is held early in the academic phase of the Augsburg PA Program, and is an opportunity for students to share their commitment to the study and practice of medicine. In addition, each student received a “Keeping Healthcare Human” pin provided as a gift from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, initiators of the first White Coat Ceremony in 1993 as a visible reminder of the key principles of humanism in medicine.

The Augsburg PA Student Society recently hosted a booth at the College Health and Wellness Fair. The Student Society distributed handouts about the process of getting into a PA program, as well as information about the role of a Physician Assistant within the healthcare system. Many undergraduate students and community members stopped by the booth to ask current PA students about their experiences and recommendations for the PA school admissions process. A current Augsburg PA student stated “We wish everyone luck in reaching their goals and hope that some prospective students learned more about the responsibilities and skills that PAs possess.”

A first year student said “we volunteered this weekend at Community Meals and once again had a positive experience.  Many of the guests had stories about how Augsburg has helped them.  They were very excited to see us, and the other volunteers were especially kind.”

The student volunteer went on to say that the guests engaged them in many good conversations about the students’ future healthcare careers.

There have plans in place to continue volunteering at Community Meals as the fall semester continues.

What: Augsburg PA Run for Your Life 5k
Where: Central Park Victoria West – Lions Shelter in Roseville, MN
When: Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 10:30 a.m.

Please visit http://www.augsburg.edu/pa/program-news/run-for-your-life-5k/ for more information and event details.

The official 5k registration link is located at https://runsignup.com/Race/MN/Roseville/AugsburgPARunforyourLife5k

Questions?  Email paprog@augsburg.edu.

The spring 2016 edition of Augsburg Now, a publication of Augsburg College, is available now in print and on the web.  Several Augsburg College physician assistant alumni were featured in a portion of the magazine called Auggies Connect — a section dedicated to alumni highlights and stories.

Read more about how PA alumni are helping current Augsburg PA students by sharing their time and talents in clinic and in the classroom.

For more information about Augsburg Now, or to read other stories, visit: http://www.augsburg.edu/now/

On March 16 – 18, the Minnesota Academy of Physician Assistants held its 2016 Spring Conference in Brooklyn Park, MN.  Among the various annual recognitions awarded by MAPA, a new award was added for 2016.  MAPA sought nominations for this new award — Clinical Preceptor of the Year — in late 2015.

The Augsburg Physician Assistant Program put forth a nomination for the new award based on the graduating class of 2015’s chosen recipient of the Clinical Instructor of the Year (see story dated December 7, below).  Dr. Joseph McRaith was ultimately recognized as MAPA’s 2016 Preceptor of the Year as a result of Augsburg’s nomination.  Dr. McRaith has precepted many classes of Augsburg PA students in internal medicine, and we are so thankful for his commitment to our program.  Although Dr. McRaith was not available to receive his award on March 18, Dr. Quella graciously accepted the award on his behalf.

To read more about MAPA and the other 2016 award winners, visit: http://www.minnesotapa.org/

Congratulations, Dr. McRaith!

“The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) Awards Committee has announced the recipients of the 2016 AAPA Awards.  These awards are the highest recognition bestowed on Academy members and are awarded to PAs who have distinguished themselves in service to patients, the community, and the PA profession.”  — aapa.org news release dated 3/18/16

Augsburg College Physician Assistant Program Director, Dr. Alicia Quella, received the 2016 AAPA Publishing Award for her in-depth analysis of PA compensation and influence of PAs and NPs on the healthcare market.

To learn more about the American Academy of Physician Assistants, visit: https://www.aapa.org/

Congratulations, Dr. Quella!