AWARD NOMINATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED

“It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can.”
Sydney Smith, English scholar and writer

You must know someone who has made a difference in your life. I’m sure there is someone who has allowed you or encouraged you to practice medicine more effectively, inspired you to become the dedicated, well trained Physician Assistant that you are, or moved you with their selfishness towards mankind. If you know someone like this, why not recognize them and thank them for their inspiration and accomplishments.
Nominations are now being accepted for:

• Humanitarian of the Year Award
• PA of the Year Award
• Physician + PA Team Award
• Michael J. Habeck Life Achievement Award
• Physician Assistant Educator of the Year Award

Nomination is very easy and can be completed in 4 easy steps:

1. Nominator contact information, i.e. name, address, phone, email address. Please state whether you like to remain anonymous.
2. Nominee’s contact information, i.e. name, address, phone, email address.
3. Name of the award.
4. A brief description why this individual should receive the selected award.

For more information about the nomination process and a description of each award, please visit the About Us page.

HEY STUDENTS…

Wouldn’t it be nice…
…to have $1000 to apply towards your educational expenses?
…to be recognized for the community service work you perform?
…to set a shining example for your peers?

If the answer to any of these questions is “YES”, then I heartily encourage you to apply for the Nathaniel Alston Student Achievement Award. Each year the PSPA honors six senior Physician Assistant students at their Annual Conference. This year the conference will be held in Harrisburg, PA. Furthermore, each recipient of the Nathaniel Alston Student Achievement Award is presented with a $1000 honorarium.
Applying is easy. Log on to www.pspa.net and select the ‘Members Only’ button. Once you are in the ‘Members Only’ section, select the ‘Student Issues’ button, then click ‘Submit your Nate Alston Award Application’.

The deadline for essay submission is June 30, 2009. To date I have received zero (0) submissions, so the odds are in your favor to win!

“Everything is out there waiting for you. Everything you want also wants you.
But you have to take action to get it.” Pierre-Jules Renard, French author

For more information on the Nathaniel Alston Student Achievement Awards, please check out www.pspa.net/studachieve.htm, or feel free to contact Helen Hiserman, PA-C at hohpac@windstream.net.

Public Health: The Future is in Our Hands
By: Jane R. Arenas, MS, PA-C, as published in the Spring 2009 PSPA News

Public Health is an issue that we as Americans should have an interest in. Our efforts to protect our communities from preventable disorders and health threats include promoting our community-based health center and preventive health services. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: epidemiology, drug and alcohol services, family and community health services, public health preparedness, prevention of communicable and chronic diseases, HIV/AIDs services, and injury prevention. Dr. Eugene Stead’s vision in promoting the physician assistant profession was born out of his desire to meet the growing demands for patient care services. Fittingly, he credits the success of the profession to Physician Assistants themselves.

Looking ahead to our new president, we have the opportunity to further advance our profession by taking part in public health. Our communities are diverse and they need us to rise to the occasion by serving as agents of public health. There are many resources available to help us better understand public health and the role we can play to further advance our role. As Physician Assistants, we can provide public health services through leadership, education, and preventive care. Our efforts can improve outcomes in population health and disease prevention. Our participation in the development of policies and health surveillance will help us better understand issues such as the prevention of certain mortalities and chronic diseases in particular populations. Our economy can benefit from the improvement of quality of life that public health aims to offer.

Please join the Diversity Council as it strives this year to participate in the promotion of Public Health. Please consider participating in this year’s diversity writing competition. Let us hear about your ideas as well as the work you are doing to help provide better care for our communities.

Links to Public Health sites:
http://www.apha.org/
http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/site/default.asp

Congratulations 2009 Scholarship Winners

Chad Jackson, PA-S, Lock Haven University
Heather Chidiac, PA-S, Lock Haven University
Kathryn Gates, PA-S, Lock Haven University
Lauren Egee, P-S, Drexel University
Bradley Haveman Gould, PA-S, Drexel University
Megan McElroy, PA-C, Philadelphia University

Congratulations 2009 Diversity Writing Contest Winners
(Click on title to see essay)