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GAPA pulse Georgia Association of Physician Assistants • Promoting the PA Profession in Georgia Since 1975
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Obesity in America By Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD
Obesity … We see it every day and everywhere. We all know someone – our patients, family members, coworkers, maybe even ourselves – whom we consider overweight. We are known all over the world as “those lazy, fat Americans.” According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, more than one-third of adults and one sixth of children in America are obese. Additionally, in the past twenty years, obesity rates doubled for adults and tripled for children. If these trends continue, by the time today’s generation reach adulthood, obesity will be the norm for all Americans. During the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States and rates remain high. In 2010, no state had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-six states had a prevalence of 25% or more; twelve of these states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia) had a prevalence of 30% or more. Obesity is often associated with an increased risk of frequent illnesses, disability and death. Two RAND researchers, health economist Roland Sturm and psychiatrist Kenneth Wells examined the comparative effects of obesity, smoking, heavy drinking and poverty on chronic health conditions and health expenditures. Their findings: Obesity is by far the most serious problem. It is linked to a big increase in chronic health conditions and
significantly higher health expenditures. And it affects more people than smoking, heavy drinking or poverty. As healthcare providers, we know obesity is a serious health issue, and we understand we’re obligated to make patients aware of any risk factors that could lead to a deterioration of their health. But when is the time right to start having “that” conversation with our patients?
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GAPA Members Help Patients Get Fit with Free Georgia State Park Passes As winter turns to spring, many Georgians begin thinking about getting outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather. The Georgia Association of Physician Assistants (GAPA) and Georgia State Parks have teamed up to help people across the State jump start their fitness efforts by making healthy living a bit more fun for everyone. Through a new joint “Rx for Fitness” program, GAPA members are prescribing healthy hikes in the great outdoors, and that includes a free Georgia State Park pass! “We’re so pleased to be working together with the State Parks system to encourage outdoor recreation as part of a regular exercise program,”
said GAPA President Mary Vacala, ATC, PA-C, MSPAS, DFAAPA. “Exercising on a step machine or treadmill might not appeal to everyone but exploring a canyon, strolling along a nature trail or hiking up to a waterfall seems like fun!” “Rx for Fitness” is just one component of the collaboration between GAPA and Georgia State Parks that enables physician assistants (PAs) to help their adult and pediatric patients get off the couch and on the road to fitness. Georgia’s PAs will be staffing free health check tables at a number of upcoming “Tons of Fun” events at Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites. continued on page 6
focus on:
Obesity Inside this Issue: President’s Letter ............................. 2 Legislative Update ........................... 3 Medical Board News ...................... 4 Annual Bike MS Ride ...................... 5 Summer Conference ....................... 6 Diversity Committee ........................ 8 Return to Haiti . ................................. 9 Winter Conference .......................... 9 New PA Student Resources . ....... 11 GHSU Update . ................................ 12 Emory Update ................................. 13 South University Update ............... 13 Mercer Update ............................... 14
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Board of Directors President................................................Mary Vacala , ATC, MSPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA President-elect.................Tina Hood , PA-C, MPAS Past President.................................Jeff Chambers, PA-C, ATC Secretary ........Lori Gaylor , PA-C, MPAS, FAAPA Treasurer ...........................scott dickerson, PA-C Board Member at Large..............Dustin Carter, MPAS, PA-C Board Member at Large..................Harris Patel, PA-C, ATC, MMSc Board Member at Large......................Ben taylor, PA-C, PhD Board Member at Large...........Christy Wilson, PA-C Executive Director..............Charles B. Dillehay, MBA, CAE Editorial Board Editor............ Susan Bose Stempek, MMSc, PA-C Editor...............................Mike Rayburn , MMS, A-C president................................................Mary Vacala , ATC, MSPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA Board Member at Large......................Ben taylor, PA-C, PhD
ASSOCIATION & EVENT MANAGEMENT
www.dillehaymgt.com Management GAPA Pulse is the official publication of the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants. The mission of the GAPA is to promote high-quality, cost-effective, accessible health care as part of a Physician directed Physician Assistant/Physician team; to provide for personal growth and professional development of Physician Assistants; and to promote and represent the PA profession in Georgia. GAPA Pulse is published by the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants and Dillehay Management Group. Subscriptions are available as a benefit of membership in the Association. Statements of fact and opinion are made on the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the officers or the members of GAPA. GAPA does not endorse any advertisements included in the publication. Jobs advertised by the association do not constitute endorsement of positions or prospective employers. GAPA is not responsible for and does not confirm the accuracy of any information received and does not review employers or candidates. All positions listed are expected to be in accordance with applicable laws regarding non-discrimination and identity and employability prior to employment. GAPA reserves the right to reject or edit any article received for publication. GAPA Pulse ©2012 by Georgia Association of Physician Assistants.
GAPA Headquarters 1905 Woodstock Road • Ste 2150 • Roswell, GA 30075 P: 770.640.1920, 888.811.GAPA • F: 770.640.1095 E: info@gapa.net For a complete list of GAPA’s Leadership, programs and services, visit gapa.net
Letter from the President It’s spring and once again the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants (GAPA) is moving and shaking. We have come a long way as we continue to strive for advancing the profession and our association. The GAPA Winter Conference was hosted at a new location this year. Lake Lanier proved to be an awesome destination to earn CME and fellowship for our participants. Once again our guest speakers presented interesting topics that captivated the audience, and attendee feedback was extremely positive. The GAPA leadership retreat was another fantastic learning experience and opportunity for fellowship. Our leaders unselfishly dedicated a weekend to brainstorm ideas about the future of GAPA. Dillehay Management Group, our management team, coordinated this event back-to-back with our Winter Conference, which also enabled many of us to catch up on continuing medical education (CME). Our student leaders represented each of their respective schools, and they continued to prove they are an asset to the future of GAPA.
I would be remiss if I didn’t brag about our Legislative committee. We have been very involved in advancing our Practice Act, to include laws enabling us all to practice more effectively and efficiently. Speaking of students, our website now has a new section dedicated strictly for PA students. It serves up a fantastic introduction to GAPA’s student offerings, and includes resources for scholarship, educational and leadership opportunities. The students have a blog and an entire section informing them how to make the transition from PA-S to PA-C. Of course, the pictures are exciting as well.
GAPA has also recently teamed up with the Georgia State Parks to make healthy living a lot more fun. Through the new “Rx for Fitness” Program, physician assistants can prescribe healthy hikes in the great outdoors, and patients can turn in their “prescriptions” for free park passes. GAPA also will be staffing free “health check” stations at “Tons of Fun” events at Georgia State Parks and historic sites. GAPA volunteers will provide basic services such as blood pressure checks, along with family counseling and recommendations on healthy eating and exercise programs. This program will culminate with an award at the summer conference for the PA with the most innovative exciting fitness program or event. We’ve also issued a challenge to PA students to come up with a healthy fitness or food event for their campus or community with an award of a healthy lunch for the winning team. I would be remiss if I didn’t brag about our Legislative committee. We have been very involved in advancing our Practice Act, to include laws enabling us all to practice more effectively and efficiently. While Schedule II is still in the trenches, we believe we have made some headway with the legislators and physician groups. I am proud to announce that we will continue to work on these issues until we believe we have exhausted all resources and have accomplished our goals. We are all getting excited about our Summer Conference. Sandestin is a fabulous location to enjoy friends, CME, beaches and all the social activities. This year promises to be another great experience. We have added new workshops, lectures and fun activities for the entire family. I look forward to seeing everyone there.
Mary Vacala, ATC, PA-C President, Georgia Association of Physician Assistants
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2012 Georgia General Assembly Concludes By Tom Bauer, Legislative Consultant
The 2012 Georgia General Assembly convened on Monday, January 9. It was a slow year, particularly in the State Senate. In the House, Sharon Cooper remained as chair of the Health and Human Services (H&HS) Committee, and in the Senate, Renee Unterman was still chairman. At the time of writing this report the 2012 Georgia General Assembly had one more day, with final adjournment scheduled for Thursday, March 29. Since much can occur on the final day, this report only briefly mentions a few key issues from the legislature. GAPA members are encouraged to log into the members-only section at gapa.net and click on the “Legislative Blog” tab for additional information. There also will be a more comprehensive report in the next newsletter. The highlight of the session was the introduction of HB 1303, which allows physician delegation of the authority to PAs to prescribe Schedule 2 medications.
Legislative Issues
Pill Mill (Pain Management Clinics): Rep. Tom Weldon introduced HB 972, which allows the Georgia Composite Medical Board to license “pill mills,” where controlled substances are believed to be readily accessible to patients. It defines such clinics and medical practices (50% or more devoted to treatment of chronic pain with controlled substances) and allows the Board to establish additional education or certification. HB 972 is consistent with current Medical Board rules, and it also requires the presence of a physician, physician assistant (PA) or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) when the facility/ practice is open. One other provision of particular interest is a GAPA members are encouraged requirement that pain management clinics be wholly owned by a physician. Despite much discussion to log into the members-only about allowing non-physician owners and minority section at gapa.net and click on partners (e.g., a PA), this provision stayed in HB 972. the “Legislative Blog” tab for This requirement is especially troublesome, because additional information. it affects practices which are not set up specifically for pain management (e.g., an oncology practice) but which nevertheless will be regulated as a pain management clinic (due to the 50% criterion noted above). However HB 972 contains GAPA language “grandfathering” PA-physician partnerships in pain management clinics/practices in existence on July 1, 2012.
Delegation of Schedule 2 Prescribing: Representative Rusty Kidd introduced HB 1303 the final week of the General Assembly. It will allow the physician delegation to PAs the authority to prescribe Schedule 2 medications and also has a provision requiring insurance companies that cover PA services to include a PA’s name in its records. While this bill cannot be enacted this year, GAPA introduced it in order to provide a frame of reference for discussion in the interim. Concussion “Return to Play:” HB 673 (Rep. Billy Mitchell) was extensively discussed, passed by the House Health and Human Services (H&HS) Committee, and made it to the House floor before being “recommitted” to the Rules Committee. The original bill would have applied to public and private schools, youth athletic leagues and public recreation facilities. It required these entities to develop policies on coaches educating coaches, volunteers and players about concussions and require the signing of a head injury information sheet as a condition of participating in athletic activities. The bill also requires immediate removal from activity until the student-athlete has been evaluated and cleared for return to play. PAs, as “licensed providers” (through language submitted by GAPA) are allowed to remove the player from and approve the return to play. However HB 673 will not pass this year.
GAPA 2012-13 Elections
Elections are currently underway for the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants 2012-13 Board of Directors. Positions on the ballot include president-elect, treasurer, two at-large positions and five positions for AAPA House of Delegates. GAPA members were notified by email in March to submit their self-declarations for candidacy by April 15. The election ballots will be posted at gapa.net by May 15 and voting will close on June 15. Election results will be distributed by email soon afterwards and will also be posted on the GAPA website. The new Board will be installed at the Board of Directors meeting at the GAPA Summer Conference in Sandestin, FL.
The new Board will be installed at the Board of Directors meeting at the GAPA Summer Conference in Sandestin, FL.
APRN Ordering of Radiographic Tests: SB 386 (Grant) was passed by the Senate, but appears unlikely to pass the House this year. The bill would remove the provision which allows APRNs to order radiographic imaging tests only in emergency situations.
Medical Board
This spring the Physician Assistant Advisory Committee and Medical Board will continue working on an update of the general PA job description. Please contact Tom Bauer, GAPA Legislative Consultant, at TBauer23@aol.com or Jeff Chambers, LGA Committee chair, at jchamberspa@bellsouth.net with any questions or comments.
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Medical Board News By Kathy Kemle, MS, PA-C, DFAAPA
Welcome Our New PA Advisory Committee Member The Medical Board
The mission of the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants (GAPA) is to promote high quality, cost-effective, accessible healthcare as part of a Physician-directed PA/ Physician team, to provide for personal and professional development of PAs, and to represent the PA profession in Georgia. Since 1975, GAPA has represented the PA profession among state and national legislators, helped PAs find jobs in Georgia, promoted public awareness and understanding of PAs among prospective employers and the general public, kept PAs up-to-date on reimbursement and legislative news, given PAs chances to earn CME credits and more. Now, GAPA offers the general public a place to learn more about hot health topics and serves as a gateway to more resources on health. Furthermore, the Association offers Physicians, hospitals and clinics a way to advertise PA job openings, and a place to learn the benefits of hiring a PA. And of course, all PAs in Georgia benefit from GAPA’s reimbursement and legislative news, CME creditearning opportunities, regional meetings and legislative representation. If you’re a PA in Georgia and you’re not a member of GAPA, join today!
reluctantly accepted the resignation of long-time committee member, Dr. Bill Paulsen, who has been an invaluable resource for all of us, especially in matters related to anesthesia assistants. Dr. Paulsen took another position outside of Georgia and we wish him every success in his new home. Fortunately for us and for the Physician Assistants (PAs) and Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAs) in the State, we received several applications from very well-qualified individuals to fill the vacant position. After interviewing candidates, the Board voted to appoint Sandra Bergeron, who holds credentials as both an AA and PA. Sandy has already attended a committee meeting and is “hitting the ground running.” I asked her to provide an introduction to the PAs of the State for this newsletter and it is pasted into this section as follows: I have had the honor of recently being selected to serve as a PA-AA member of the PA Advisory Committee to the Georgia Composite Medical Board. The desire to serve in this capacity comes from my PA training at South University under the leadership of Mary Vacala, PA-C. She demonstrated dedication and love for her profession in a way that made a lasting impact on me. After graduating from South University’s Physician Assistant program, class of 2004, I went on to work with Southeastern Orthopedic Center as an orthopedic PA for several years. With the help of other motivated colleagues, we formed a professional group dedicated to the encouragement and education of female PAs in our area – the Women’s Association of Physician Assistants or WAPA. Through my work with the Orthopedic Center and WAPA, I enjoyed the privilege of working with some of the most talented and diverse individuals. My role as a surgical PA also taught me my love for working in the operating room and led to my interest in anesthesia. I graduated from AA school in September 2010 and sat for my PA recertification exam three months later. I currently hold both licenses and am employed at the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon, GA as an anesthetist. I am also staying actively involved in the PA profession, working on a part-time basis in Emergency Medicine. My husband and I reside in Forsyth, GA with our three handsome boys. The PA-AC is currently revising the job descriptions for PAs and AAs and looks forward to Sandra’s contribution to this, as well as in other committee responsibilities.
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New Rules Please visit the Board’s website to review new rules on sampling. The Rules Committee is working on revising the section on disciplinary action to mirror changes which eliminate the need to keep a separate log of samples given to patients, allowing for documentation in the medical record. These changes should be posted for public comment soon. It is important to periodically visit the law and rules to stay current with updates. Another great resource is the Board’s newsletter, which you should be receiving electronically if you provided an e-mail address. DON’T forget to update address information with the Board so you will not miss any critical information.
Pill Mills The problem of illicit prescription of narcotics and other controlled substances by unscrupulous healthcare providers continues to be a major issue for the Board. If a job sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. These clinics typically advertise pain management and provide large quantities of substances for individuals with little or no documentation of a need for the drugs. One such operation had over 40,000 doses of oxycodone on-site! Popular drugs include oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam and Soma. “Patients” acquire and then sell them on the street at a large profit.
After interviewing candidates, the Board voted to appoint Sandra Bergeron, who holds credentials as both an AA and PA. You must perform a good history and physical examination on patients who receive such agents. This sounds elementary but is often neglected. You must pursue diagnostic studies where appropriate and consider/attempt other non-pharmaceutical options for treatment. Obtaining drug screens is useful to help assure that the patient is using the medication appropriately. You must document the effect of each therapy on pain and on the function of the patient. It is unfortunate that criminal activity tarnishes the use of opioids for patients with clear indications for their use. It is certainly not our intent to deny access to these critical medications for hospice or other patients whose need is clearly established. Most healthcare providers are occasionally fooled by a drug seeker. The Board and other regulators are looking for patterns of inappropriate prescribing, not an infrequent mistake.
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Mark Your Calenders - BIKE MS: September 15-16, 2012 By Sheri Chazen, PA-C
It started in December 2010. Mike Tremmel, Charmaine Faucher and I were trying to figure out something we could do with GAPA where we could get involved as a group and actively make a difference. We decided on Bike MS. Last year, we formed a group of 11 cyclists who spent two days riding out of Callaway Gardens. Some rode up to 166 miles over those two days and together we raised almost $5,000! We also had numerous other volunteers from GAPA helping with our breakpoint and cheering riders on. This was such an amazing experience for everyone involved that the question was never even raised as to whether we would do this again, only, “When can we sign up?” Now that we have the first year under our belt, we know what to do to make this year the best year yet! The first thing we need is YOU!!! Mark your calendars! The 26th annual MS Bike ride is coming to Callaway Gardens September 15-16. We would love to have you join our team either as a rider or as a cheerleader. While we will not be sponsoring a breakpoint this year, we will have a tent to cheer on all of our riders as they ride off and when they return after their amazing journey. If you are unable to attend but would like to contribute, please go to the website below to sponsor us. Why Bike MS? Approximately 400,000 Americans have Multiple Sclerosis, and every week about 200 people are diagnosed with MS. Worldwide, MS affects about 2.5 million people. MS is a chronic, unpredictable, neurological disease of the central nervous system. It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. MS is one of the few disease processes that affect most of our practices, despite the different fields we work in. Funds we raise for BIKE MS promote new research and advances that give new hope to people affected by MS. Our GAPA presence unites us closely with patients and families living with MS. Join us! Here is the website: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/GAPA2012
Upgrade Your “Find a PA” Listing
“Find a PA” is GAPA’s latest tool to help you connect with new patients and expand your practice. If you joined GAPA or renewed your membership in 2012, you are already listed in our “Find a PA” database. This service benefits you as a GAPA member and also benefits Georgia healthcare consumers, helping them locate medical services and PA providers near them. We encourage you to check your membership listing at gapa.net (in the Members Only section) to make sure your information is complete and up-to-date! In addition to receiving this free service, a number of GAPA members have indicated they would like to include additional information in their listings, so GAPA is now offering the following upgrades: Level I: $250/year. Includes your name in bold type and a link to your practice website (you provide the URL). Level II: $350/year. Includes all features of level one, plus up to 250 characters of information that you provide about your practice or service. Level III: $650/year. Includes all features of levels one and two, plus your practice or facility logo, linking to the URL of your choice. This is a great choice to promote a large hospital network or group of medical services.
Team GAPA!
This service benefits you as a GAPA member and also benefits Georgia health care consumers, helping them locate medical services and PA providers near them. Your standard listing will remain active find a pa as long as you are in your area! a GAPA member. If you opt for one of the enhanced listings, it will remain active until the end of the current membership year, and you may opt to renew it annually. We encourage you to visit your profile page to ensure that your contact and practice information is up-to-date. click here to
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Cross the Finish Line at GAPA Summer Conference
GAPA Members Help Patients Get Fit with Free Georgia State Park Passes
“We’re committed to improving the health and fitness of our patients, as well as reaching out to the medically underserved,” Vacala continued. “A simple blood pressure check could help save someone’s life.”
Make plans to “Cross the Finish Line” at GAPA’s 2012 Summer Conference and you could win a FREE 2012 Summer Conference registration and more. Simply develop case studies or events that promote healthy eating and exercise. Submit your success stories to GAPA by May 31, 2012, and if yours is chosen as one of the top three entries, you will win a FREE 2012 Summer Conference registration plus either a laptop computer or cash prizes! Through the new joint “Rx for Fitness” program with Georgia State Parks, Georgia PAs are prescribing healthy hikes in the great outdoors, including a free Georgia State Park pass. Please also consider volunteering for GAPA’s health check table at upcoming Georgia State Parks’ Tons of Fun events. Learn more at gapa.net/fit and sign up today!
GAPA member PAs are being urged to guide their patients toward getting more fit and healthy to help reduce the growing obesity epidemic, particularly in children. During the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in childhood obesity in the United States. According to the American Obesity Association, 32% of all US kids are now overweight, 70% of obese adolescents are still obese when they mature and the number of obese children is continuing to grow at an alarming rate. Obese kids also have a higher risk of developing serious illnesses like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and asthma. Obesity not only affects a child’s physical health, but can also damage them psychologically. Overweight kids are more likely to get bullied, which may lead to depression and more overeating as they cope with their feelings.
Make plans to “Cross the Finish Line” at GAPA’s 2012 Summer Conference – you could win a FREE 2012 Summer Conference registration and more!
Come for the Sessions, Stay for the Florida Sunshine!
The best way to help patients fight obesity is to encourage them to combine moving more with eating less. In general, a healthy diet is one that affords balanced nutrition and includes these actions: • Make smart choices from every food group. • Find your balance between food and physical activity. • Get the most nutrition out of your calories. Learn more about “Get Fit with GAPA” initiatives, including the “Rx for Fitness” prescription program and “Cross the Finish Line” contest for PAs at gapa.net/fit. GAPA members are also encouraged to sign up for GAPA’s health watch table at Georgia State Park events.
Get ready to update your CME requirements while you also enjoy a family vacation in the Florida sunshine this summer! Join colleagues for GAPA’s 2012 Summer CME Conference July 9-13 in beautiful Sandestin, FL. Don’t miss awardwinning author Brad Cohen and specialty focus sessions in Emergency Medicine, Orthopedics and Dermatology. Register today at gapa.net.
Sandestin - Your CME Vacation Destination GAPA’s 2012 Summer Conference will be held at one of the Southeast’s most popular vacation destinations, the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, rated the #1 resort by Emerald Coast Magazine. Discover white sandy beaches, oodles of lodging options and more fun activities than you can imagine, all in the perfect location for an unforgettable family vacation. The Conference will be held in the Grand Complex, just a few steps from the Village of Baytowne Wharf where happenings abound with street performers, concerts, festivals and family-friendly attractions. Book online at gapa.net with group code 21X9Z8 to receive GAPA’s special discounted rate starting at $215 or call 866.668.1948 and mention that you are a GAPA conference guest while making your reservation.
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GAPA Presents Team-Building Events at Summer Conference Make plans to have
a little fun while in Sandestin! Mark your calendar for these social events, proudly hosted by GAPA. • Poolside Family Ice Cream Social – Tuesday July 10, 4:30 PM • 5K Fun Run & Walk – Wednesday, July 11, 7:30 AM • Annual GAPA and American Red Cross Blood Drive – Wednesday, July 11, 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM • Swim Safety Program – Date & Time TBA • Annual Golf Tournament – Thursday, July 12, 1:00 PM • Volleyball Tournament – Thursday, July 12, 5:00 PM • Annual Student Medical Challenge Bowl – Friday, July 13, 12:45 PM For details on these events, please visit gapa. net, click on the Summer Conference tab and download the Conference brochure.
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GAPA Welcomes AwardWinning Author Brad Cohen to Summer Conference Hello Friends, I’m honored to be one of your guest speakers at your conference this year. My presentation will be one you all need to hear because, like your own patients, there is more to me than just a medical condition. I didn’t choose to have Tourette syndrome, but I did make the choice to accept it. I plan to share my life story of the ups and downs of living with a neurological disorder called Tourette syndrome. I make loud barking noises and funny faces known as tics. To the outside world I’m weird. But on the inside, I just want to be treated like everyone else, with respect. I had no friends, was beaten by my family and wasn’t sure who to turn to. But then I learned about the power of education. I knew I wanted to be that teacher I never had. But in order to follow my dream, I had to convince others to believe in me too. Even after 24 interviews, I still had principals refusing to hire me because they said I couldn’t teach kids because I had Tourette’s. But on my 25th interview, I was hired as a 2nd grade teacher. I went on to win “Teacher of the Year” awards. I wrote a book, Front of the Class. It was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie that aired on CBS. I was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show. I started the Brad Cohen Tourette Foundation. Today I remind my students to believe in themselves and go out and follow their dreams much like I was able to follow mine to be a teacher. I also teach them that your disability or weakness in life doesn’t define you as a person. I’m not a medical condition. I have strengths. And when I can find the right people who believe in me and are willing to listen, I have a chance to shine. When you leave my session, you will leave inspired, motivated and determined to take that extra step for the clients you work with. Each of them has a story similar to mine, have you ever listened to it? You will leave knowing that a positive attitude can change lives, perseverance can move mountains and a passion for life can make others around you feel like they are special. It is what I like to call the “Power of One.” All it takes is for one person to make a difference in the life of others. Are you that person?
Learn more about Brad Cohen at: Bradcohentourettefoundation.com Classperformance.com
Summer Conference Keynote Speaker Brad Cohen
Living with Tourette syndrome can be a challenge, but Brad Cohen believes he has overcome his disability by living life to its fullest. Brad has been a highly respected teacher for 14 years and is currently an assistant administrator in Cobb County, just outside of Atlanta, GA. Brad has not only taught reading, writing and math, but he also teaches his students how to accept people for who they are, no matter what their disability may be. One of Brad’s biggest honors was receiving the Sallie Mae First Year Teacher of the Year Award for the State of Georgia. His first book, Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had, was named the Education Book of the Year and made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. Brad has since appeared on Oprah and CNN and has been featured in People Magazine and the New York Times. Following his keynote session on Tuesday, July 10 at the GAPA Summer Conference, attendees will have an opportunity to meet Brad and get autographed copies of his book. Learn more about this event and register for the Summer Conference at gapa.net.
Yes, you will learn more about Tourette syndrome, but you will also learn about what it takes to make a difference in your community. I’m excited to have you join me at this year’s conference.
Brad Cheers,
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GAPA’s Diversity Committee and the Victory of Stomping Out Cancer Join Hands... By Barbara Burk, PA-C
to provide HOPE! One of GAPA’s philosophies is to provide personal attention and high quality healthcare to our patients. There is no better way for me to accomplish these goals than to help a patient win their battle against cancer. Many of you know that I am a cancer survivor. As a matter of fact, I have beat cancer every decade of my life at ages five, 14, 23 and 30. At age 30 I was told that my only hope at winning this battle once and for all would be to have a bone marrow or stem cell transplant from a donor. Our siblings are our greatest chance at having a perfect match for transplant and although my brother was a match, he too also has health concerns that prevented him from being my donor. So I had to turn to a world of strangers compassionate enough to participate in the process of being a donor. I was very fortunate that three non-related donors were found for me in the national registry, Be The Match. However, not everyone has the success story I did. As is often the case, part of cancer treatment is a battle against time and many may run out of time before a match can be found. Just today I met with a group of ladies who fight this battle (of finding donors for individuals) every day as a full time job. They shared a story of a young Indian patient who had lost his battle just last night, due in part to not finding a compatible donor in time.
Speaking as a survivor, no patient ever deserves to have to face losing a battle due to a “statistic.” I included the ethnicity of that young person because the National Registry, Be the Match, has approximately nine million individuals willing to save a life, but unfortunately less than 10% are Hispanic, 7% are African, 7% Asian and 4% mixed race. Since tissue types are inherited, a patient’s best chance of finding a compatible donor is within his/her own ethnicity or race. These disparities mean that many minority patients die every year for the lack of finding a compatible bone donor. As a practitioner and survivor this is not acceptable!
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The Diversity Committee has joined forces with The ICLA DA SILVA Foundation, which is a recruitment center for Be the Match Registry. This organization helps patients with leukemia and other blood diseases treatable by a bone marrow transplant by increasing the diversity of the national bone marrow registry, so that every patient, regardless of race or ethnicity, will have a better chance at a second chance for life. It also provides education and support to patients and their families. One of the group’s fearless leaders is Alina Carbonell who fights this battle for personal reasons, as well. Alina’s sister, Katy, lost her battle to leukemia, as a compatible bone marrow donor could not be found within the Hispanic community. Speaking as a survivor, no patient ever deserves to have to face losing a battle due to a “statistic.” Therefore, as a team, we are planning on several activities for the year of 2012, including but not limited to: speaking, educating, fundraising, recruiting donors from different communities and educating potential donors and patients who do not understand the transplant process. We plan on having several fundraising opportunities and bone marrow/stem cell drives all over Georgia and, hopefully, nationally. We plan on attending several campuses, organizations and communities. If you have an event or organization that we can come be a part of, please let us know. We are in the process of organizing the main Fundraising Gala around September. We’ll provide more details on that later, but for now, we need larger numbers of donors and donations of money as well to help with expenses of healthcare that these donors and patients face, such as travel, food, lodging and health equipment. It costs an average of $100 for each donor who is added to the registry. Donors are never turned away for lack of money; however, every financial donation allows us to continue with our lifesaving mission. On behalf of the Diversity Committee, I hope that you as a healthcare provider, a mother, a father, a sister, a brother or a friend to a cancer survivor who has won the battle, currently fighting the battle, or who may have lost their battle will join forces with us for one united cause:
GAPA Annual Awards Do you know a colleague who goes beyond the call of duty?
Would you like to show them how much they mean to you, your practice and profession? GAPA is accepting nominations for the GAPA Annual Awards through May 15. Nominations are open for: • PA of the Year • Distinguished Service Award • Humanitarian of the Year • Rural PA of the Year • Physician/PA Partnership Award • Physician of the Year The GAPA Awards help demonstrate the impact physician assistants have in their communities and in improving the lives of people in impoverished areas here in Georgia and other parts of the world. Please consider taking the time to shine the GAPA spotlight on your deserving colleagues. A nomination form and awards criteria is on the GAPA website at: http://www.gapa.net/ awards.html.
“Help patients win more battles against cancer.” Please stay tuned for details on our future events and contact me for more information or with any questions, including how to be a volunteer or donor, providing resources and suggesting partnerships. My email address is rhubarb30@ hotmail.com. Please include “Be the Match” in the subject line so I recognize your mail. You can also contact Alina Carbonell at Alina@icla.org. By the way, you don’t have to travel to an event to help. You can register as a donor or donate online at http://join.marrow.org/LIFE. Also please visit www.icla.org for more information.
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GAPA Supports Haiti Medical Mission Trip GAPA member Jeff Chambers, PA-C, ATC, returned to Haiti recently for another Medical Mission Trip with fellow PA-C Karl Kline and other medical professionals. This effort received financial support from the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants and was also featured on February 12, 2012 in the Athens Banner Herald. Here is an excerpt from that article by April Burkhart: Helping people is something that Trey Scott does every day, but it’s not often that he’s able to help hundreds of people in a single week.
technologists and radiology technologists to Haiti Jan. 26 through Feb. 3 to perform surgeries at Fort Liberty Hospital. Pre- and post-op care was provided in partnership with Clinique Espérance et Vie, a healthcare clinic that serves 30,000 residents in Northeast Haiti. The doctors worked through Bethlehem Ministry, a nonprofit created a quarter century ago to help Haitians. Committed to working in the lesserknown and less serviced parts of the country, the nonprofit “adopted” Terrier Rouge as its home and has established a Montessori-based pre-K through eighth grade school, an income generating, sustainable agricultural project and Clinique Espérance et Vie.
2012 Winter Conference and Leadership Retreat GAPA’s Winter Conference was held February 1-4, 2012 at the Legacy Lodge & Resort at Lake Lanier Islands, GA. It was a great success, surpassing all previous attendance records for the winter meeting and the event received a high level of satisfaction remarks by attendees. GAPA also combined the conference with its leadership retreat, which helped the Association keep expenses down while providing cost savings and convenience for those who needed to attend both events.
Scott, a physical therapist at Athens Orthopedic Clinic, and his wife have been involved with Bethlehem Ministry since 2007 and took over as the co-executive directors in September. This was Scott’s seventh visit to the town of Terrier Rouge. During Scott’s fourth trip after the earthquake in 2010, Jeff Chambers, a physician assistant at Athens Orthopedic Clinic, traveled with him for the first time. While there, Chambers saw how much good an orthopedic specialist could do in Haiti. Above: The medical mission team. Below: Carlton Guthrie, CRNA, Jeff Chambers, PA-C, ATC (holding a child) and Chip Ogburn, MD
Scott and Chambers returned in June to assess orthopedic problems and search for potential operating rooms that would be available to American volunteers and surgeons. “We discovered several people with poorly managed fractures. We also found infected limbs due to metal hardware, and others with injuries un treated due to an inability to pay for medical care,” Scott said.
The Athens Orthopedic Clinic’s Foundation for Health & Wellness recently traveled to Terrier Rouge, Haiti to provide medical services to people who otherwise would not have received healthcare and, while there, the affected hundreds of people. Athens Orthopedic Clinic, along with Anesthesia Consultants of Athens, sent surgeons and other physicians, physician assistants, nurses, surgical
The group performed a mixture of acute trauma and revisions of past surgeries that had either failed or were infected. A man came in with amputated fingers that the team tried to repair, while a woman sought help with a leg fracture from a motorcycle crash. The acute trauma that stood out the most to the team was a 4-year-old boy who was brought in by his mother after he was run over by a motorcycle. “A 4-year-old boy was brought to us minutes after he had been struck by a motorcycle. Several
Top: Zip-lining fun at Lake Lanier Middle: Motivational speaker and comedian Jeff Justice wows the lunch crowd Bottom: GAPA leaders meet to plan the year ahead
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Obesity in America
Definitions for Adults Overweight and obese are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater
Mark Your Calendars for GAPA’s 2013 Conferences
GAPA will be “springing forward” in 2013, moving the winter conference from early February to late March. This time of year is typically more convenient for most attendees to schedule a CME event and usually more suitable for outdoor activities such as boating and zip-lining. GAPA’s 2013 Spring Conference will be held March 20-23. We’ll be returning to the Legacy Lodge & Resort at Lake Lanier Islands, GA, which was our new Winter Conference destination this year. GAPA also will be heading back to another favorite location, Hilton Head Island, SC, for the 2013 Summer Conference the week of July 15-19. Mark your calendars and pre-register for both events at gapa.net today.
Get Fit With GAPA in 2012!
For less than 50 cents per day, you could be a member of the State’s only organization actively promoting the PA profession, helping you connect with patients and enhancing the availability of healthcare through effective legislation. Join or renew your membership with the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants today to better serve your patients, provide outreach to the medically underserved, strengthen your profession, network with colleagues and celebrate your accomplishments. Your membership will allow you to take advantage of all GAPA has to offer, including our new “Get Fit With GAPA” patient outreach program. Click on “Member Benefits” at gapa.net to learn more. Money Back Guarantee – if you’re not satisfied with your membership at the end of 12 months, we’ll refund your money!
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than what is generally considered healthy for a given height (usually 20% or more over an individual’s ideal body weight). Being overweight means having an excess of body weight, by comparison with set standards. This excess weight may come from too much muscle, bone or body fat. In contrast, being obese means having an abnormally high proportion of body fat. So, someone can be overweight without being obese, as in the example of a bodybuilder or other athlete who has a lot of muscle. However, in practice, many people who are overweight are also obese. Overweight and obesity ranges are typically determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the “body mass index” (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat. An adult who has a BMI between 18.5 and 25 is considered normal. An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. An example of this would be as follows: Height
Weight Range
BMI
Considered
5’9”
124 lbs or less
Below 18.5
Underweight
125 lbs to 168 lbs
18.5 to 24.9
Healthy weight
169 lbs to 202 lbs
25.0 to 29.9
Overweight
203 lbs or more
30 or higher
Obese
Why Crash diets don’t work The foods we eat every day contribute to our wellbeing. Foods provide us with the nutrients we need for healthy bodies and the calories we need for energy. If we take in more calories than we burn, the extra food turns to fat and is stored in our bodies. If we overeat regularly, we gain weight, and if we continue to gain weight, we may become obese. Caution your patients that reversing obesity is a slow and steady process and should never involve crash diets. Crash dieting is bad for the body in that it has a negative impact on metabolism. Being overly restrictive and severely limiting calories can send signals to the body to go into conservation mode. When the body is in conservation mode, the tendency is to hold onto fat, so it becomes much more difficult to lose weight over time. What are some of the worst crash diets that have been hawked and are sure NOT to work? The American Diabetic Association (ADA) has labeled these five diets as the worst of the worst: 1. Diets that focus on only a few foods or food groups (like the cabbage soup diet, grapefruit diet, strict vegan diets, raw food diets and many low-carb diets). Beware of any diet that rules out entire food groups. We need to eat a variety of food groups to get all the daily nutrients we need. 2. “Detox” diets (like Master Cleanse, the Hallelujah Diet and The Martha’s Vineyard Diet Detox). Extreme regimens calling for procedures like liver flushes, bodily cleanses, colonics, hormone injections and more are always highly suspect, experts say. 3. Diets with “miracle” foods or ingredients (like supplements, fructose water, bitter orange, green tea, apple cider vinegar). Dieters are always searching for the food, pill or potion that will help them lose weight, but unfortunately, there is no such miracle. Be leery of any plan that recommends a shelf full of supplements, enzymes or potions (especially if you purchase them from the diet book author or company). 4. Fasting and very low-calorie diets (like the “Skinny” vegan diet, Hollywood Diet and Master Cleanse). Fasting has been a cultural and religious tradition for centuries, and is fine for a day or so, but fasting for weight loss is counterproductive. Low to no calorie dieting slows your metabolism making it progressively more difficult to lose weight and keep it off. Quite simply, your body goes into “starvation mode.” This mechanism means the body becomes very efficient at making the most of the calories it does get from food and drink. The main way it does this is to protect its
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fat stores and instead use lean tissue or muscle to provide it with some of the calories it needs to keep functioning. 5. Diets that sound too good to be true (like The Weight Loss Cure ‘They’ Don’t Want You to Know About.) If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Diet plans that claim to have a “secret,” that make dramatic statements against respected health authorities, or make recommendations that contradict those of scientific organizations are suspect. Crash diets will never work. Yes, the average person may lose a few pounds quickly, but as soon as they go back to eating normally, the weight will come right back on within a few days (over 90% of dieters regain the weight they lost). When a person diets, their metabolic rate slows down; when they finish dieting their metabolic rate is still slow even though they’ve returned to their old eating habits. If your patients are serious about losing weight, they will need to make a lifestyle change and choose a diet they can maintain. It’s better to pick a diet to lose the weight gradually and still enjoy eating. Some healthy tips in regards to dieting include: • Stop eating junk food and make fresh fruit and vegetables the main part of your diet. • Replace red meat with fish. • Reduce dairy products as much as possible and if not possible, switch to the low fat version of whatever you are eating. • Avoid fried food. • Choose energy sources such as complex carbohydrates found in vegetables and fruit. • Avoid simple carbohydrates such as sugar and honey, which can increase your weight. • Eat food with enough fiber to fill you up. The best way to lose weight and lose it for good is to eat a diet consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains like brown rice, oats and quinoa, and three-to-four ounce portions of lean protein at every meal. It’s also best to eat five smaller meals every day instead of three large meals. That way your patients will keep their metabolism burning at a steady, even pace. Remind them to keep hydrated by drinking seven to eight glasses of water a day to help flush out toxins. And last, but not least, prescribe exercise. A half hour of cardio every day and 15 minutes of yoga type stretching will make a big difference if done on a consistent basis.
New PA Student Resources
GAPA has recently launched two exciting opportunities for Georgia PA students. The student section of the GAPA website has been updated with a brand new look and features. GAPA has also issued an exciting challenge for students at Georgia’s four PA schools to get involved in the “Get Fit with GAPA” initiative. GAPA has updated the PA Student section at gapa.net with more information than ever before, including an online scholarship application form, a student blog and a photo gallery. GAPA student leaders will be posting blogs and uploading photos about milestone PA program events as well as some of the fun times they are sharing along the way. All PA students and prospective students are encouraged to visit this area of the GAPA website, located under the “About GAPA” tab. Don’t forget, GAPA memberships are free for Georgia PA students! GAPA has also issued a challenge to students at each of Georgia’s four PA schools to help their campus and community “get out, get dirty and get fit” this spring by participating in the “Get Fit with GAPA PA School Challenge.” This challenge offers students a way to get involved in the “Get Fit with GAPA” initiative, and also offers a little reward!
If your patients are serious about losing weight, they will need to make a lifestyle change and choose a diet they can maintain.
GAPA Calls for Scholarship Entries
The Georgia Association of Physician Assistants is currently accepting scholarship applications through June 15, 2012. Those eligible for scholarships must be GAPA student members enrolled in an ARC-PA Accredited Program who have successfully completed the didactic portion of the PA program by May 31. Two recipients will each receive a $1,500 scholarship, to be awarded in August. Applications are currently being accepted online and by mail. For more information and to apply, please visit the PA Student section of the GAPA website by clicking on the “About GAPA” tab at gapa.net.
The challenge has three goals. Schools can choose to go for one, two or all three: • Staff a health check table at an upcoming “Tons of Fun” event. • Host a campus event for students and hand out “Rx for Fitness” prescriptions (for a FREE State Park admission). • Get a booth/table at a community event or the local shopping center and distribute “Rx for Fitness” prescriptions to the public. Additional details and an online submission form are available in the Student Blog. Entries must be submitted by May 31, 2012. GAPA will award the winning team with a healthy lunch to say thanks for their hard work, and faculty team leaders can also submit success stories to GAPA’s “Cross the Finish Line” contest on behalf of the team. gapa.net 11
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Georgia Health Sciences University PA Program
By Amanda Ness, PA-S, Amanda Brehm, PA-S and Kathy Dexter, PA-C
Meet GHSU’s New Faculty Member By Stevie Redmond, MPA, PA-C
In November 2011, I became the newest faculty member in the Physician Assistant Department at Georgia Health Sciences University (GHSU). Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed that someday I would be teaching physician assistant students at a Masters level! I always knew I wanted to work in the healthcare field, but it wasn’t until I was a young college student that I made my decision to become a PA. I worked hard to earn good grades and graduated from Mercer University in 2008 with a degree in industrial management. Some may question this degree, but I knew my strengths were in Math and Science so I decided this was the perfect fit for me. Two days after graduating from college, I began my journey in the physician Assistant program at GHSU (formerly the Medical College of Georgia) as a PA student. Over the course of the next 27 months, I was challenged academically in many ways. Like many of my fellow students, I had subjects in which I excelled and struggled. No matter the difficulty, I always respected the faculty for challenging me because I knew this would ultimately make me the best PA possible. From a student’s perspective, I remember how much it meant to me to receive the PA faculty’s support and encouragement. These are traits I hope to emulate during my time as an assistant professor with my own students. continued on next page
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Spring semester is in full swing for us at Georgia Health Sciences University (GHSU). While the class of 2013 is in the middle of their third semester of the didactic year, the class of 2012 is eagerly rounding out their year of rotations. First-year students are finetuning their history and note-taking skills by transitioning to seeing patients in hospitals and clinics. This interaction with patients is giving the second-year students the confidence to apply everything we have been learning over the past year! The class of 2013 has expanded their community health outreach to a second location in Augusta. In addition to the Christ Church clinic, a second clinic is now carrying out the same purposes of providing basic health screening and education to a greater area of the medically underserved in the community. This new clinic was developed in conjunction with Mercy Ministries in Augusta, an organization that provides the homeless with resources necessary for daily living. For the first time ever, students administered free flu shots to patients at both clinics. It is extremely gratifying that we had the opportunity to offer flu vaccinations to people who otherwise may not have access to this important preventative measure. Jennifer Chapman, the student director of both clinics, expressed the need for such a service in the community by saying, “These patients don’t have money to fill prescriptions, they don’t have money for clothes, and they don’t have money for food, so the last thing they are going to do is spend money on a flu shot.” Another first for our program at GHSU was our first annual 5K Resolution Run, held on January 21, 2012 at the North Augusta Greenway. This event was organized to raise money for the aforementioned clinics. There were over 90 participants who braved the cold to kick-start their New Year’s resolutions! The success of the event leaves us with hope to make the Resolution Run an annual tradition for our PA program. Across the globe in Cuzco, Peru, three members of the class of 2012 participated in a campaign to screen indigenous women for cervical cancer as part of their OB/GYN rotation. Peru has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in the world. Assistant Professor Kathy Dexter accompanied PA students Emily Berry, Kimberly Walker and Christie Wells. Daron Ferris, MD, of GHSU, led the group into the Andes Mountains surrounding Cuzco to set up temporary clinics to screen local women with the Papanicolaou test. It proved to be an incredible experience for all. Our volunteer work serves as an excellent distraction from our coursework, while also adding meaning to what we are striving to become as PAs. Outside of the classroom, the students remain active on campus by participating in soccer and softball intramurals this spring. The girls’ soccer team won their championship! Despite the vigorous coursework, these activities help to keep our days as students balanced. In the meantime, we are all looking forward to GAPA’s summer conference.
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Emory PA Program Update – Class of 2013 By Nathan Ingle, PA-S
Class of 2013: When we began PA school in August 2011, the class of 2013 felt the normal anticipatory fear, along with excitement, at being chosen to pilot the new modular curriculum at Emory University. We have finally settled in and the new curriculum has proven to be quite successful. It incorporates a modular-based learning style, wherein each module is on a different body system. Multiple monthly patient encounters are catered toward the body system in study, as well as integrated evidence-based case studies. In addition, this was the first year that Emory PA students were able to do a full anatomy dissection instead of studying prosected cadavers. These opportunities are providing us with great experiences to carry forward into our much-awaited clinical year. Aside from all the studying, students still find time to organize and attend community service events, such as the Healing Community Clinic and the Good Samaritan Health Clinic, which gives valuable experience in both patient interaction and care. We are currently preparing for our upcoming 11th annual Emory PA Fiesta 5K, scheduled for May 5, which will benefit the South Georgia Farmworker Health Project, the Good Samaritan Health Clinic and the Henry W. Grady Foundation. We are also gearing up for the South Georgia Farmworker Health Project, scheduled for June 15 – 29. Through the new curriculum and many volunteer opportunities, the class of 2013 is gathering invaluable skills that will aid us, not only in our clinical year, but in our careers as well. With the summer semester quickly approaching, we are looking forward to all of the upcoming events and embrace the challenges and learning opportunities to come.
South University PA Program Update – Class of 2014 By Jamie L. Simpson, PA-S2 and Beckie S. Hayes, MSPAS, PA-C
The first quarter of the year welcomed the class of 2014 to Savannah. The class quickly took hold of the reins to perpetuate leadership and community involvement including volunteerism at the Ronald McDonald House and Savannah City Mission. Within the first two months, they had also served in two local health fairs including a communitybased health fair and a larger-scale health fair with Memorial Health University Health Center’s screening booth at the Southern Women’s Show. They administered blood pressure evaluations, blood sugar readings and lipid readings. The Student Council was elected in March. Among them, representing the class as GAPA representative is Kartik Gopal. Kartik’s longtime state of residence is Georgia and he is excited about his new role. Other officers elected were: President Trish Baldwin, Vice President Chris Edenfield, Secretary Erica McDaniel, Treasurer Heetal Patel, Historian Jamie Stepp, Social co-chairs Vivian Chen and Gitte Schimmelmann, Diversity Co-Chairs Dennis Lai and Ifeoma Ezeh, SUPAid Rebecca DeZouche and Nicole Suarez and AAPA Representative Paul Brown. continued on page 15
Connect with GAPA in Your Region!
GAPA Region Update
Please contact the GAPA Regional Liaison in your area to see when the next meeting is scheduled. Regional meetings provide a great opportunity to network with fellow PAs, learn about new products, and help grow your profession. Click on the RCL map at the bottom of the homepage at gapa.net for more information.
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Meet GHSU’s New Faculty Member When I was a PA student, I quickly learned that I loved anything that had to do with surgery. I completed rotations in three different surgical specialties and loved them each in turn. After graduating from PA school and passing the PANCE in 2010, I started my first job in vascular surgery. I absolutely loved the procedures involved with this specialty and the time I got to spend with my patients. I am so grateful to the physicians who took so much time to help me improve my surgical techniques and for giving me the opportunity to work with them. I am excited about this new chapter in my life and I am looking forward to teaching surgery and emergency medicine to our students. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first three months of teaching and am so thankful to my colleagues who have helped me during this transition. I hope to be able to encourage and inspire at least one student’s life as the PA faculty encouraged and inspired me when I was a student. I feel so honored to be working for such a well-known and prestigious university in my hometown of Augusta, GA.
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GAPA Merchandise and Spirit Wear Show your GAPA spirit and help tomorrow’s PAs by ordering customized merchandise from GAPA’s Advance Healthcare online store. We are pleased to be able to offer a convenient shopping experience through the Advance Healthcare Shop. Get lab coats, shoes, professional equipment, custom apparel and more while helping to support GAPA’s scholarship program. Visit the GAPA Advance Healthcare stop at gapa.net!
Shop GAPA’s Amazon Store Shop for textbooks, reference manuals and much more at GAPA’s Amazon store and a portion of your purchases will help benefit the organization. Visit the Amazon store at gapa.net today.
GAPA’s Career Center
Access GAPA’s Career Center to find a new employee or look for your next job on gapa.net in the PAs section.
Mercer Class of 2012 Update By Jamie Givens, PA-S3
they faced together. The members of the class of 2012 are grateful for the faculty members that have guided them, the guest lecturers who have enlightened them, and the preceptors that have empowered them. The input of these individuals has led the Mercer Physician Assistant class of 2012 to the brink of an exciting future.
The class of 2012 is eagerly anticipating the May 12 graduation date as each member completes the final graduation requirements. The students have completed nine core electives and will have completed two elective rotations in April. The class will return to campus for capstone presentations and board review prior to hooding and graduation.
Mercer Class of 2013 Update
The students in the class of 2012 find it hard to believe that the time of graduation has finally come. The matriculation date of January 2010 seems both so long ago and also seems like only yesterday. The class of 2012 has seen many changes in the Mercer Physician Assistant program during their enrollment, from the graduation of the first class of 2010 to the admission of the newest and largest class of 2014. The students have also had to say goodbye to several dear faculty and staff members, but have welcomed some great new additions to the Mercer program. Through leadership of the Godsey-Matthews Student Society, the class helped implement many new traditions for the Mercer Physician Assistant program, including PA Week projects and the first win for Mercer at the AAPA Challenge Bowl. The students in the class of 2012 look forward to the continued successes of the Mercer University PA program.
The Mercer PA Program class of 2013 has found themselves at a busy juncture in their education. Early on in the semester, the class welcomed new, eager faces at the class of 2014 White Coat Ceremony. This was a great reminder of how far the students have come in one year. The spring semester began with a rigorous five-week “minimester” which, at its end, marked the completion of the class’ didactic phase. Upon receiving their first rotation assignments, the students bid the classroom setting adieu and anxiously embraced the beginning of the clinical phase. The students are now applying all of the medical skills and knowledge they gained over the last year to real patients. Much to their surprise, they are learning more than they ever imagined possible. At the end of the semester, the students will proudly say farewell to the class of 2012, which always served as a source of guidance and encouragement, at the Graduation Ceremony.
As graduation nears, the Mercer PA class of 2012 prepares to go their separate ways, some staying in Georgia and others moving as far
Mercer Class of 2014 Update
By Negin Bauer, PA-S2
By Mary Elizabeth Tekesky, PA-S1 The class of 2012 on one of their last end of rotation days with favorite guest lecturer, Ms. Freda Wall, PA-C.
away as Minnesota, California and New Jersey. Despite the distance, the classmates will always share memories of the trials and the triumphs
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Hello from Mercer University! I am Mary Elizabeth Tekesky and I am so excited to serve as the GAPA representative for our class of 2014. Classes began in January and with our White Coat Ceremony to get the ball rolling within our first week of class, we have been eagerly learning and practicing our skills on each other. We have also been given the invaluable opportunities early on in our new journey to interact with patients in the metro Atlanta area under the care of skilled and compassionate healthcare providers. Early on in our new endeavors, the class of 2014 elected class officers to represent the various aspects of our program. They include: Rosemary Bloom-President, Peter Whatley-Vice President, Alex Camp-Secretary and Rose Griggs-Treasurer.
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Several other well-qualified representatives have already proven their dedication to the program and PA profession in various positions. In addition to our rigorous class schedule, we have continued to carry out the goals set by the classes before us to educate those in our community about the PA profession. In February, a group from the class of 2014 attended the Georgia Tech Pre-Healthcare conference, and the class also hosted students from the University of Georgia who visited Mercer to learn more about our program. We have several health fairs and information sessions planned in the near future so we can continue to give back to our community. With our increased knowledge base and abilities, we look forward to providing care to those in need and enlightening those individuals who may be the next generation of PAs in our area.
GAPA Supports Haiti Medical Mission Trip
teeth had been broken or knocked out, along with a 21⁄2-inch laceration across his forehead,” Scott said. “Upon X-raying his leg, he was found to also have a fractured tibia. Jeff Chambers stitched his forehead, Michael Shuler set and splinted his tibia fracture, while Leland Karas ran the X-ray machine. His mother was extremely grateful, and our team was thankful for the opportunity to use our skills to change a life.” Scott and Chambers also were moved by a 10-year-old girl who had painful metal hardware removed from her upper thigh.
With the largest class in Mercer’s young history, 50 personalities from the class of 2014 have all come together nicely to create a positive and supportive family dynamic. We look forward to the adventures ahead!
“The (metal) plate had to come out and her family didn’t have the money to (pay). In Haiti, you could go to the hospital on death’s door, and they won’t do anything to you until you pay,” Chambers said. “We (removed) her plate and the family was grateful to us for doing this for them. That was a good feeling, being able to help these folks who otherwise would not have had anything done because of finances.” The team stayed at the school that is run in conjunction with the clinic, saw patients in the clinic in Terrier Rouge and performed operations at Fort Liberty Hospital about 15 miles away. Bethlehem Ministry plans to expand the clinic in Terrier Rouge, and the Athens doctors want to be a part of that project. “We’d like an operating room where we could do not only orthopedic work, but also OB/GYN and general surgery as well,” Chambers said. “Our goal would be to build an OR there where we’re not having to use one of the hospitals.” Reprinted with permission of the Athens Banner-Herald and OnlineAthens.com. To read the entire story go to: http://onlineathens.com/faith/2012-02-10/doctors-travel-haiti#. T2KekDtRxzZ.email
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South University Class of 2014
After refreshing between quarter and holiday breaks, the second-year cohort, the class of 2013, resumed and completed their final phase of didactic training. The quarter was packed and included evaluation of the geriatric patient in the nursing home environment. Orientation to the operating room and scrub training were also conducted. In addition, class members stepped out of their many required duties in order to serve in a class service project. The Jeans for Genes Project was successful in raising and donating more than $800 to the organization of the same name in honor of Stone Smith, son of Seth and Kathryn Smith (Kathryn is a second year SUPAP student) and Sara Beth Coogler. Stone is affected by a rare mitochondrial disease. Additionally, during the quarter, Fallon Lotson, PA-S2 and her husband, Roger welcomed a beautiful daughter, Kadence Arianna. After a combined 27 months of didactic and clinical training drew to a close, the class of 2012 formally convened late in the quarter for board review and general end-of-program tasks. They received their certificates of completion and look forward to a formal graduation ceremony during June to become South University alumni. They are currently either colleagues in the PA profession or are in the certification and licensing process. On the departmental front, the program welcomed faculty member Lisa Z. Davenport, SA, PA-C, MSHS and adjuncts, Susan Fahy, MSPAS, PA-C and Theresa Morris, MPAS, PA-C. The program also delights in having Charlesetta Blake, M.Ed. in the clinical coordinator position and Vashonna Braxton in a clinical administrative role. gapa.net 15
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July 9-13, 2012 Sandestin, FL
Relax and renew at Sandestin this summer. Mark Your Calendars for these Upcoming Conferences: 2013 Spring .............................. March 20-23 • Legacy Lodge & Resort, GA 2013 Summer ........................... July 15-19 • Hilton Head Island, SC
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