Inside Wake PA Winter 2019

INSIDE WAKE PA PG 4

Levine Hall: Beaver College of Health Sciences PG 6

Medic to PA Program

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CONTENTS

INSIDE WAKE PA Winter 2019 • Volume 2 • Number 3 Department of PA Studies, Wake Forest School of Medicine Associate Professor and Chair L. Gail Curtis, MPAS, PA-C Associate Professor and Program Director Suzanne Reich, MPAS, PA-C ED I T O R

Tanya Gregory, PhD MA N A GING EDITOR

Jamie Blalock, MA C O NT R IBU TORS

Tanya Gregory, PhD Carol Cooper, MEd Jamie Blalock, MA Chris Thiede Wylder Fondaw (’20) Myah Hicks (’20) P HO T OGRAPHY

Carol Cooper, MEd; Emma Breu (’18), MMS, PA-C; Rachel Conklin (’13), MMS, PA-C; Tanya Gregory, PhD; Myah Hicks (’18); Wylder Fondaw (’20)

FEATURES 3

New home for the Boone cohort

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Medic to PA program

OF NOTE 8

Compassion makes a difference

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Department leaders receive military award

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Precepting – Shaping the future

DEPARTMENTS 13

Alumni News

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Faculty Facts

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New Faces: Chris Gillette, PhD, Jean Peacock

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Alumni Profile: Rachel Conklin

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Student News

21 Photo Album 23 Contact Information INSIDE WAKE PA is a digital quarterly publication for students, faculty, staff, alumni, preceptors, and friends of the Department of PA Studies, Wake Forest School of Medicine.

Please send correspondence to: PA Studies, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27157 or email PAAlumNews@ wakehealth.edu.

The Wake Forest School of Medicine and the Department of PA Studies are committed to diversity, inclusion and the spirit of Pro Humanitate. In adherence with applicable laws and as provided by School of Medicine and Department of PA Studies policies, the School of Medicine prohibits discrimination in its educational programs, admissions, and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and veteran status.

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@WakePAStudies

F E AFTEUARTEU RS E T OSRT Y ORY

Boone cohort moves into state-ofthe-art new home

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Dedicated space: Levine Hall opens in Boone, helping fulfill an important mission Leon Levine Hall comes with all the trappings of a brand new academic building. Fresh paint, new carpet, big windows, new technology and gadgets. All the benefits of modern design. But the best part just might be the coffee shop.

Or more accurately, it’s what will happen in the coffee shop, as well as the lounges and other common areas where students will gather. That’s where Sarah Garvick, MS, MPAS, PA-C, said “the unscripted, unscheduled moments between students” will occur.

Garvick, assistant professor and associate program director for the PA program on the Boone campus, envisioned students from various health studies backgrounds learning from each other in the building’s gathering spaces. “By sharing knowledge and ideas, they’ll set the stage for future collaborations, and ultimately be better health care providers,” she added.

As the new home for Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), Levine Hall houses students across multiple disciplines of health studies, including Wake Forest PA students. For the first time since the college began, all of those students share one dedicated space.

The five-story, 203,000 square-foot Levine Hall officially opened for classes with the semester beginning January 2019.

Prior to Levine Hall opening, health studies students at BCHS were spread across App State buildings in Boone and separated from each other. Now with a place to call home, these students will be able to intermingle. “It will reduces the barriers to networking, learning together and even socializing,” said Garvick.

That is a particular benefit to the PA students, according to Sue Reich, MPAS, PA-C, associate professor and Wake Forest PA program director. “By definition, PAs are team-based health care providers,” she said. “We need to be really good communicators, and that requires understanding what others do.”

Being exposed to other students will allow Wake Forest PA students to broaden their knowledge and sharpen their communication skills, which will help them collaborate with physicians, nurses and other members of the health care team.

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Garvick echoed Reich’s comments, stating that the proximity Levine Hall provides is critical part of the learning process. “For the PA students, just being with other students is very helpful,” she said.

With the founding of BCHS in 2010, App State established a reputation for excellence in health sciences education.

Levine Hall continues that reputation, providing a state-ofthe-art facility that contains the latest in health care teaching technology.

It is, after all, an academic building. While its inviting and accommodating common areas are nice, the majority of the space is devoted to classrooms, labs and lecture halls.

Some of the building’s facilities include a simulation laboratory that uses digital technology to enhance learning with cadavers, a patient care lab that lets students practice patient examinations and a microbiology lab where students study infectious diseases and other pathogens.

The classrooms themselves feature flexible, moveable seating and interactive technology to encourage group-based learning and face-to-face collaboration between students and instructors.

In every sense, Levine Hall reflects the latest in modern medicine and instruction.

“The building was designed with the future of health care delivery in mind,” said Rebecca Moore, MA, distant campus coordinator for the PA program in Boone.”

One of the technologies built into Levine Hall is instrumental in helping fulfill a core mission of the PA Studies. “One of our goals is to extend into the rural communities,” said Moore. “Telemedicine is an important tool for that mission.”

The teleconferencing technology offered in Levine Hall allows students and faculty to extend their impact. They are able to communicate with practitioners in remote areas, share images, discuss treatments and learn how the technology can help them in the future. Students also can participate in teleconferences held anywhere in the world without having to leave Boone.

With the provisions for current and future telemedicine technologies in place, Levine Hall is an important facility in educating future PAs, who will provide health care to underserved populations. The building is a manifestation of the partnership between App State and Wake Forest, and a significant milestone for Appalachian State University, made possible by the foresight and years of work to establish BCHS.

But for all of Levine Hall’s technology, Reich, Garvick and Moore all agree it’s the students and faculty that make it a special place. By providing ample spaces for students from different disciplines to be in one place, Levine Hall offers a truly enhanced educational experience.

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The Beaver College was the first new school established by the university in decades, and it quickly became one of the largest. Unsurprisingly, Levine Hall is App State’s largest academic building.

A large number of students study, learn and communicate under its roof, training future generations of health care providers to serve the people of North Carolina and beyond. Along with nutritionists, nurses and social workers, some of the students who fill the classrooms in Levine Hall will ultimately become PAs, due to the partnership between App State and Wake Forest.

Although the facility houses several undergraduate-and graduate-level health sciences programs, App State officials involved Wake Forest officials and faculty in the planning phases.

The classrooms, labs and other teaching areas were all created with the needs of PA students in mind. “We were brought in to ensure the needs of our students were covered,” recalled Reich. “They were open to accommodating the specific needs of the Wake Forest PA curriculum.”

“For students to be able to learn together, play together, relax and do service projects together – it will help them to understand each other,” Reich concluded. “It’s amazing how well that translates to the services they will later provide to the community.”

The partnership between Wake Forest and App State, which is now represented by Levine Hall, was born out of a recognition of a looming crisis.

“Many health care providers in rural areas are retiring, with no one to replace them,” said Reich. “There are a lot of underserved people in places like Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee.”

Placing more PAs in these underserved areas will give people living there access to health care, quickly. That’s why the App State/Wake Forest partnership is so important, and Levine Hall is a crucial part of that mission.

Each year, 20 to 30 students will study at the PA program campus in Boone. “We need to get more health care providers into places they’re needed,” said Reich. “That is happening because of this partnership. And now, it starts in Levine Hall.”

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Medic to PA program helps military medics become PAs Growing up, R.J.* always wanted to join the military, but his family discouraged him. “I was told it’s a job people do when they don’t know what they want to do,” he recalled.

Reluctantly, he took his family’s advice and went to college as a pre-med major.

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 reignited R.J.’s desire to serve. He knew he should be helping the soldiers and first responders who put themselves in harm’s way in defense of their country.

But he was just a year away from graduating, so that desire continued to smolder as he followed the path toward a civilian medical career. When he scored well above the national average on his MCAT, everything seemed to be falling into place for him.

R.J. still couldn’t shake the feeling he was on the wrong path. “I thought about medical school, but I didn’t have the money, and I was afraid of going into debt,” he said.

Instead he visited an Army recruiter, a step toward fulfilling his dream of combining his medical knowledge with military service. Soon he joined the Army, putting his pre-med training to work as a Special Forces medic.

The program was created to help medics like R.J. make the challenging transition to a civilian career and to allow them to use their skills and training while continuing to serve.

Army Special Forces medics receive outstanding training that prepares them well for civilian medical careers, said L. Gail Curtis (‘81), chair of the Department of PA Studies.

“The problem is that much of their training doesn’t easily translate to credit in PA programs,” she added. “They have a difficult time getting into PA school.”

As a result, military medics who want to enter the PA profession have been faced with the choice of delaying their civilian careers to attend school or leaving the service early. This negatively affects operational readiness for the military, according to Curtis. “They were losing these really highly trained people sooner than they would need to,” she said.

Through the Medic to PA program, active duty Special Forces medics can be stationed at the Wake Forest School of Medicine campus, where they can complete the first year of the PA program. The second year of clinical rotations can then be extended to as long as two years to accommodate scheduled deployments.

Today, after more than a decade serving in the Army, R.J. is thinking about separation from the military and the need to find a civilian job. For most military medics, that would mean either becoming an EMT or retraining for a medical career in the civilian world.

For R.J., thanks to a new initiative in the Department of PA Studies called Medic to PA, the path in front of him is clear and he’s excited about the next chapter in his life. When he retires from the Army, R.J. will be able to transition directly into practicing as a PA. R.J. is the first active duty soldier to participate in Medic to PA, a pilot program developed through a partnership between the Wake Forest Department of PA Studies and the Department of Defense. The program allows Special Forces medics to enroll in PA school while they are still actively serving in the military.

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Army Special Forces insignia

The goal for the program is to make it beneficial for both the Armed Forces and Wake Forest. For the military, the program can make it easier to recruit, train and retain medics, who can be confident in an easy transition to a civilian career when the time comes. For Wake Forest, getting more military personnel into the PA program is an important part of their mission. “We have always been very keen on supporting our military veterans who want to become PAs,” said Curtis. “It really is a win-win.”

The Medic to PA program is grounded in the history of the PA profession itself, according to Ian Smith (‘11), director of admissions for the Wake Forest PA program.

Smith said the experiences of the first PAs, who were combat medics returning from Vietnam, are similar to today’s Special Forces medics. “They had the increased field experience but none of the civilian credentials to put it into practice,” he said, adding that today’s medics also have a great deal of experience. “We recognized the need for these medics to be able to utilize their incredible experience once they entered civilian life.”

The Medic to PA program is currently in its launch phase, with R.J. being the first and sole student. But he is just the beginning of what could ultimately be a nationwide program, open to other elite combat medics from across the Department of Defense, including Navy Seals and Air Force Pararescue.

Thanks to the efforts of Sen. Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), the 2019 John McCain National Defense Authorization Act includes language about the program. It gives the Department of Defense the authority to conduct the program and includes funding to cover students’ tuition and other costs.

That will open the possibility, Curtis said, for the partnership between Wake Forest and Fort Bragg to expand. The program could also be duplicated as partnerships between other schools and military bases across the country.

But what this program is really about is helping people who have sacrificed so much in service to their country.

“We have a huge obligation to the military, and we’re dedicated to taking as many of these medics as we can,” said Curtis, emphasizing the connection the PA profession has to the military. “We don’t want to lose this important part of our history.”

Smith agreed. “If we can help out some of these medics, it gives them a better way of life once they’re out of the military,” he said. “To give them a little extra benefit for everything we’ve asked of them, it’s the right thing to do.”

For R.J., it means even more.

From a professional standpoint, R.J. said he’s looking forward to applying the patient care skills he learned in the Army as well as those he’s learning at Wake Forest. He’s seen the impact PAs have with patients, and he’s excited about continuing to help people. “We see a lot of PAs in the military, how versatile they are,” he said. “They’re awesome.”

R.J. will retire from the military having given two decades of his life to serve his country. He’s proud of that service, and he’s thankful for the opportunity to become a PA. “I’ll have a job I can be proud of and my family can look up to,” he said. “I don’t know what I’d do without this program.”

*R.J. is still an active-duty Special Forces medic, so his identity was disguised to protect him and his family.

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Compassion makes a difference Volunteering experience teaches a recent graduate how to overcome barriers

The children who come to Shepherd’s Field typically have difficult, rare or chronic conditions, including hydrocephalus, spina bifida and Down syndrome, and require around-the-clock care. In her official role, Breu had five children who were her patients, and she was responsible for tending to their daily medical needs and therapies.

For Breu, a significant language barrier made working with the kids difficult, despite her minoring in Chinese in undergraduate school at the University of Florida. “My Chinese is okay,” she admitted. “I can communicate basic ideas, but I’m nowhere near fluent.”

Emma with three other volunteers and a child resident

Emma Breu (’18), MMS, PA-C, was anxious about her future.

As she entered the workforce as a newly minted PA, she knew barriers would be waiting for her throughout her career. These barriers would challenge her confidence and affect her ability to provide the best care for her patients.

Every PA faces those barriers, but Breu, 23, wasn’t sure how she would overcome them.

Then she went to China. It was there she learned she has the right tools to face any obstacles she will encounter.

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Her medical knowledge was also put to the test, as many of the children at Shepherd’s Field had very specialized needs. “These kids had conditions you don’t see every day,” Breu said, adding that some of the children in her care were nonverbal, compounding the communication problem.

In addition to her official role, Breu also had unofficial duties that extended far beyond medicine. “We would help with setting up events, transportation and any special needs,” she recalled. Since the facility had events nearly every day, Breu was always busy. “It was really wherever help was needed.”

The answer, she found, was simple. It all comes down to truly caring about, and loving, your patients. “The effort and the compassion you show makes such a difference,” she said.

That allowed Breu to spend a great deal of time with her patients as well as all of the children at the facility. She got to know them as more than just patients, tending to their needs for socialization and friendship as well as medical care.

Breu learned about her capacity for compassion, and the power it has to help and heal patients, during a four-week period in the summer of 2018. During that time, just a couple months after graduating from the Wake Forest PA Studies program, she worked as a medical assistant at the Shepherd’s Field Children’s Village in Tianjin, China.

Through that experience, Breu learned that the universal language of caring and compassion helped her get past any communication barriers. “Just loving on these kids made such a difference,” she said. “You can make such an impact through your generosity and just being there to help people and spend time with them.”

Shepherd’s Field was founded by Tim and Pam Baker to provide a safe haven for children who are considered “broken” and have been cast aside because of their special needs. Its mission is to provide for the kids’ medical needs and ultimately place them in permanent homes with loving families.

The decision to go to China after graduation was an easy one for Breu, who is passionate about pediatric medicine.

Adopted from China by American parents, she had visited Tianjin and Shepherd’s Field on a previous occasion and knew she would go back after graduation from Wake Forest.

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“I’ve always wanted to do this to give back to the pediatric population,” said Breu, who now works at the Renuka Harsh pediatric clinic in Asheboro, North Carolina.

Through her volunteering, Breu was able to make an impact on the kids she worked with, but she feels she came back having gained so much more than what she gave. She said her experience in Tianjin has given her confidence as she starts her career.

“It helped me feel reassured,” she said. “There will be barriers working with patients in the future, but the effort and the compassion you show them really shines through.”

According to Breu, volunteering is a humbling, rewarding experience that she would recommend to any of her fellow PA program graduates. “Find something you’re passionate about. Something that’s bigger than yourself,” Breu advised. “It doesn’t have to be overseas in developing countries. It can be in your community.”

Breu believes it’s important for PAs to find ways to give back and help others, even if it doesn’t involve health care. “It connects us to people,” she said. “It reminds us about what’s important and why we decided to practice medicine.”

Emma with a child resident on his 10th birthday

Group photo of the volunteers and children while on a fieldtrip to the Beijing Aquarium. Emma is on the right in a grey shirt.

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OF NOTE

Patriot bosses: Wake Forest PA administrators receive military award As a civilian, one of the last things you expect is to receive a formal commendation from the United States Military.

That’s what happened to three members of the Wake Forest PA Studies program faculty. Gail Curtis (‘81), Suzanne Reich, MPAS, PA-C, and Dorothy Carter each received the My Boss is a Patriot Award.

The annual award is given by the North Carolina Support of the Guard and Reserve, an office of the Department of Defense, to recognize employers’ contributions to military service.

“It’s a formal way of saying ‘Thank you’” said Ian Smith (‘11), MMS, PA-C, a captain in the 1-151st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion in the South Carolina National Guard.

Smith, who is also director of admissions and a faculty member in the Wake Forest PA program, nominated the three recipients.

He said he nominated the trio for their unwavering support of him during his deployments and for their commitment to helping active-duty and reserve soldiers.

“They’ve just been overwhelmingly supportive,” he said.

During his deployment, Smith said it was a relief to know that his job was waiting for him, his benefits were intact and that he had full support back home. “They even sent a care package while I was gone.”

Curtis, Reich and Carter were surprised when they learned of the award.

“I certainly didn’t anticipate it,” said Curtis, who is chair of the Department of PA Studies. “It was a great honor to be recognized as a patriotic employer, for my little piece in what we’re doing to help members of the military.”

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Reich, Wake Forest PA program director and an associate professor, also said she didn’t see the award coming. “I had no idea there was even an award,” she said. “I think it’s fantastic that the military has an agency that recognizes employers.”

All three recipients were humbled to be recognized because they think it’s important for employers to support the military, especially reservists, who are crucial to the armed forces’ operational readiness.

“We sometimes don’t have enough full-time deployed military to do everything that needs to be done, so reservists are important,” said Reich. “But these folks have civilian jobs, so they need to be supported when they’re called up.”

Carter, the department administrator for the Department of PA Studies, added she’s inspired by the service mindset soldiers typically have. “They have this courageous military appearance, but underneath that they’re very caring people.”

Curtis added that as a PA, she feels it’s especially important to recognize the military’s role in the formation of the profession. “I wouldn’t have a career if it hadn’t been for what they’ve done,” she said.

Smith said he was happy to be able to make sure Curtis, Reich and Carter received the recognition they deserved.

During deployments, reservists have a lot on their minds, on top of the mission at hand. Their responsibilities to their families, paying bills and other facts of life don’t stop, so not having to worry about their jobs takes a weight off their shoulders.

“It’s a huge relief not to have to worry about that,” he said Most of all, Smith was happy to show his appreciation for the support he received. “It really means a lot to be able to express my gratitude,” he concluded. “They’re just good bosses.”

“They’ve just been overwhelmingly supportive,” he said. During his deployment, Smith said it was a relief to know that his job was waiting for him, his benefits were intact and that he had full support back home. “They even sent a care package while I was gone.”

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Precepting – Shaping the future Shaping the future: Preceptors share why teaching is important, rewarding and fun If you didn’t know better, you might assume that Jeff Katz, PA-C, DFAAPA, is ready to slow down.

At 64, he’s certainly getting close to hanging up his stethoscope for the last time and retiring from being a family medicine PA. But he said he feels as enthusiastic about his work as ever.

He attributes much of that passion to his involvement as a preceptor, teaching second-year PA students during their clinical rotations. “After a while, we all tend to get into a rut,” admitted Katz, who works at the Family Care Center in Taylor, North Carolina. “I love precepting students because it energizes me and makes me think.”

Katz’s statement reflects a commonly held belief that in the teacher-student relationship, the teacher gets at least as much benefit as the student, if not more. It’s a notion that seems to be especially prevalent among PA preceptors.

Kat Mercer, MMS, PA-C, who works in the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina., said precepting actually makes her a better PA. “You don’t want to teach students the wrong thing,” she said. “I have to think and explain about why I’m doing things a certain way. It makes you examine your practice.”

She added that working with students fresh out of the classroom, and being several years removed from school herself, keeps her on her toes. It helps her make sure she doesn’t fall into bad habits. “You want to be sure you’re doing everything by the book,” she said.

Mercer said she was interested in becoming a preceptor because of the experience she had as a second-year PA student. Through precepting, she hopes to inspire the next generation of PAs. “The preceptors I had made the experience so wonderful for me, I wanted to do that for other people,” she continued.

Sunnie Flowers, MMS, PA-C, who works at Salem Chest Specialists in Winston-Salem, also enjoys sharing her knowledge to help students learn. “When you work with students to identify what they need to work on, then see how much they grow in four weeks,” she said, “it’s really rewarding.”

Through the course of teaching the next generations of PAs, preceptors are also having a much larger impact.

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They’re helping to grow the profession itself, which is still relatively young.

That’s a key motivation for Flowers, who is eager to make an impact on the future. “The PA profession has come a long way in a short period of time,” she continued. “Being an integral part of that is exciting.”

Heather Yates, MMS, PA-C, took it a step further, saying that PAs have a duty to serve as preceptors. “I think we need to be invested in the students,” said Yates, who is a PA at Primary Care in Lexington, North Carolina.

By teaching, you’re not just helping to shape a new PA, you’re having an effect on what the profession will look like for generations to come, according to Yates. “Part of being a preceptor is being invested in what the profession is becoming, and how it will continue to evolve.”

Katz echoed that sentiment, urging any PA to consider becoming a preceptor as a way to give back. “Think back to when you were a student. People took time out of their daily work to help train and mentor you,” he suggested.

“You need to give that back to help the profession grow.”

Of all the motivations to serve as a preceptor – sharing your knowledge, giving back to the profession, staying sharp – Katz, Mercer, Flowers and Yates all agreed on another, even more compelling reason.

“It’s kind of fun,” smiled Katz.

Each agreed that the act of teaching, interacting with young people, and watching them develop is satisfying.

“It’s rewarding to be able to watch somebody grow and figure out the process of taking care of a patient,” said Yates.

“Students are surprisingly refreshing,” Mercer remarked, adding that working with students can help PAs reignite their passion for practicing medicine. “Teaching adds a whole new dimension to your practice, and it can help you stay enthusiastic about what you’re doing.”

To be sure, precepting involves a commitment of time and energy on the part of the PA. But it’s time and energy extremely well-spent, according to Katz. He noted that PAs make the best teachers for PA students. “When you teach, you emulate good behaviors,” he said. “So when the students graduate and go into the workforce, they follow the right practices and represent the profession well.”

ALUMNINEWS 1980s After successful 31 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Tate Simpson (‘84) retired as a Senior Director with Astra Zeneca in June 2016. Tate and his wife, Terri, are living in St. Simons Island, Georgia and enjoying a new career selling real estate for Deloach Sotheby’s International Realty.

In their free time, they enjoy playing golf, tennis and spending time with their two grandchildren. Tate also enjoys volunteering and serving on the local Alzheimer’s Foundation Annual Walk committee, and participating in mentoring program for one the local elementary schools. He and Terri also volunteer at Manna House a local church sponsored soup kitchen.

2000s

2010s

Jocelyn Craft-Whitley (’00) transitioned from inpatient medicine at Forsyth Medical Center to Inpatient General Surgery at Forsyth Medical Center.

Rachel Jordan (’18) married Garrett Shields on September 29, 2018 and celebrated with several Class of 2018 members.

(From left to right: Jane Dart, Mary Katherine Prince, Rachel Jordan, Tori Hitz, Melanie Williams, and Keri Church)

Let us hear from you!

Alumni are interested in hearing from you. Send us a note about your professional activities, any changes in your life (marriage, family, moves), honors or anything else you would like to share.

Send your note to:

PAAlumNews@wakehealth.edu

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FACULTYFACTS Gail Curtis (‘81) MPAS, PA-C, spoke at the November 2018 AAPA Center for Health care Leadership and Management Executive Leadership Conference on “Leadership Pathways: What are they and how do I get there?”

Alisha De Troy (‘04) MMS, PA-C, presented “Hot Topics: PA Student Consultants Confront the Opioid Epidemic” at the October 2018 PAEA Education Forum in Anaheim, California. Sobia Hussaini, MHA, and Robert Wooten (‘81), MS, PA-C were co-authors for this poster.

As one of eight inaugural Employer of Excellence Award winners, DeTroye served on a panel at the November 2018 AAPA Center for Health care Leadership and Management Executive Leadership Conference.

She also was elected president of the North Carolina Academy of PAs, with her term as president-elect beginning this month, and participated in a panel discussion during the NCAPA Student Leadership Retreat at the Stead Center in Durham in November titled “Hiring PAs – What Companies Are Looking For.” Sarah Garvick, MS, MPAS, PA-C, and Brain Robinson, MS, MPAS, PA-C, were keynote speakers for the second annual Appalachian State Pre-Health Conference held on October 27 in Boone. They spoke on interprofessional education. Garvick is

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the associate program director on the Boone campus, and Robinson is a Wake Forest PA faculty member based in Boone.

Erich Grant (‘04) MMS, PA-C presented “Novel Interprofessional Simulation: Improving Collaboration and Self-Assurance with Family Conferences” at the October 2018 PAEA Education Forum in Anaheim, California. Coauthors for this poster included Tiffany Hiatt (‘07), MMS, PA-C; and Sonia Crandall, PhD. Tanya Gregory, PhD, and Jill Grant (‘05), MS, MMS, PA-C, published “Reflective Spaces”: PA Student Responses to a Health Humanities Elective” in the December 2018 issue of the Journal of Physician Assistant Education.

Sobia Hussaini, MHA, participated in a panel presentation titled “From the Hidden Curriculum to Brave Spaces: Intentional Integration of Diversity and Inclusive Practices for Faculty, Staff, and Students” at the October 2018 PAEA Education Forum in Anaheim, California. Hussaini also presented the poster “Silo-Busters: Interprofessional Strategic Alignment to Improve Diversity and Inclusion” in Anaheim.

Hussaini has been selected to participate in a 9-month Educator Certificate Program with Wake Forest Baptist Health Academic Affairs. The certificate is focused on educational theory, curriculum development and scholarship.

Courtney Perry, PharmD, presented the poster “Impact of Individualized Remediation on Competency within a Pharmacology Course” at the October 2018 PAEA Education Forum in Anaheim.

Suzanne Reich, MPAS, PA-C, has been invited to join the Wake Forest School of Medicine Office of Global Health in the role of Affiliate Faculty.

N E W FA C E S

Jean Peacock Jean Peacock has joined the Department of PA Studies as a part-time secretary on the Boone campus. Originally from San Diego, California, Peacock moved to Boone, North Carolina in 1992, along with her extended family.

“We visited the area during the summer of 1991 and loved it,” says Jean. “We got back home, had a family meeting and decided to put our houses on the market. Three families, three houses, 11 people!” Jean jokes that when she first told her neighbor about the move, the neighbor assumed Jean and her relatives were in the witness protection program!

Jean is no stranger to the health care field. While finishing her BS in Health Promotion/Health Education at Appalachian State University, Jean worked evenings at a local hospital in the emergency admissions department.

Following graduation, Jean worked in public health for several years as a health education specialist. “I worked on public health initiatives such as Smoke-Free Restaurants and maternal health outreach programs for minority populations.” As a certified CPR and first aid instructor, Jean also presented to various audiences on topics such as stress management, smoking cessation and other health-related issues.

After changing career paths in 2007, Jean joined the College of Education at Appalachian State University where she coordinated the International Student Teaching program. “I advised students in our Transition to Teaching program, assisting them through their teacher preparation program of study,” says Jean. She was also the licensure specialist for App State’s secondary and higher education majors.

Jean says that retiring from App State was a big step for her, but the position in the PA Studies program at Wake Forest made it a very easy decision. “I knew I didn’t want to stop working altogether, so this part-time position is perfect. My parents are elderly and the reduction in hours allows me to spend even more time with them, helping them with their needs.”

Chris Gillette, PhD Chris Gillette is the newest addition to the PA Studies faculty. Gillette joined the department in early September as an associate professor and assistant director of research and scholarship.

You could say this is a homecoming for Chris, as he is originally from Winston-Salem and grew up in High Point, North Carolina. Chris attended High Point University for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and, in 2012, he completed a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences at the University of North Carolina Eshelman School Of Pharmacy.

His dissertation focused on how health care providers talk about side effects and benefits of medications with children who have asthma, as well as whether those discussions are related to how children actually use the medicines.

Since graduation, Chris has held positions in pharmacy education as well as adjunct positions in public health. He has published numerous peer-reviewed, original articles regarding clinical research and pharmacy education research. Chris’s research interests are in pediatric and adult asthma, provider-patient communication, risk communication, health policy and suicide prevention.

“I am excited to join the Department of PA Studies to contribute to the school’s excellent reputation in both education and research,” says Chris. “The resources for research at Wake Forest will enable our department to take advantage of all of the knowledge that is being generated

by Wake Forest School of Medicine faculty.”

Outside of work, Chris likes to spend time with his wife, daughter and their pets. His favorite hobbies include hiking, running and cooking.

We are excited to welcome Dr. Chris Gillette to PA Studies team!

Jean is married with two children and an 11-year-old granddaughter who she says is the love of her life. “Most of my free time is spent with my husband working on our house or reading. We also have two dogs that we love… most days.” a local advocacy project by September 2019.

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ALUMNI PROFILE

Rachel Conklin, MMS, PA-C The mission of the Wake Forest PA program is to produce highly capable, compassionate PAs who deliver patient-centered care, make significant contributions to the health care community and continually advance the PA profession. Wake Forest PA alumna, Rachel Conklin (’13), MMS, PA-C, checks all of the boxes. Conklin has a faculty appointment in the Vanderbilt School of Medicine and currently practices in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Conklin leads the Radiation Oncology Survivorship Program and supports web-based patient education initiatives. “Helping patients maximize their quality of life and improve overall self-management related to their cancer history and risks are two main areas of focus of my survivorship program,” said Conklin.

Over the past year, Conklin has expanded the survivorship program at Vanderbilt’s main campus to include patients who receive care at various satellite radiation treatment facilities via telemedicine. “Few of the patients who receive radiation therapy at the satellite treatment facilities receive survivorship care because they decline to travel to Nashville where the survivorship program is located,” said Conklin.

“Using telehealth offers these services in a more familiar setting, closer to home.”

In addition to clinical practice, Conklin is currently the principle investigator on a study with the Radiation Oncology Institute to evaluate her team’s application of telehealth technology for survivorship care for satellite patients. “Our aim is to demonstrate feasibility and acceptability of the telehealth care model and benefit of the program with completion of disease surveillance, 16

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implementation of healthy lifestyle and behavior changes by participants,” said Conklin.

As if her research and clinical commitments didn’t keep her busy enough, Rachel is passionate about promoting the role and contributions of advanced practice providers (APPs) in the field of radiation oncology, especially PAs. She is currently helping plan the agenda for the next American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) conference and will present sessions related to APP-led care models and survivorship care.

A typical day for Conklin includes developing treatment summaries survivorship and care plans for Survivorship clinic patients and then seeing these patients for their visits. “I also do a great deal of administration work related to leading the survivorship and telemedicine services, as well as professional writing and research-related activities throughout the day,” said Conklin. “I am often working on study protocol and regulatory documents, developing databases and surveys, and networking with APPs at other institutions to map out how best to integrate survivorship and APP follow-up into the cancer care continuum.”

Reflecting back on her days as a student, Conklin’s my most vivid and fond memories of the Wake Forest PA program include working very hard, getting to know and learn alongside brilliant PA student peers and SPA weeks. “In hindsight, SPA week was an incredible experience that was very effective for my learning and training,” said Conklin.

“I always found inspiration from my fellow students and friends when stress was high and deadlines were close.”

Conklin also had kind words for the faculty, stating that they “really encouraged me and helped remind me of my potential during the most trying moments.” She emphasizes that her PA education was fundamental in allowing her to chart the path for achieving her career goals. “I was very fortunate to have the support of Dr. Reamer Bushardt and our entire faculty in pursuing dual research training with the Clinical and Population Translational Science program in the Division of Public Health Sciences,” said Conklin. “Integrating this clinical research training into my second year of PA school was not easy. Many staff and faculty worked with me to make this a possibility, and I will forever be grateful for this effort because it was pivotal in helping me achieve my goal of practicing clinically while leading research.”

In addition to the research training she received at Wake Forest, Conklin also appreciated the emphasis on quality clinical care – which is intentionally integrated into curriculum. “The skills I learned about breaking bad news, helping patients with coping and distress and working on health-behavior modification are very useful given the population of patients that I see,” said Conklin. “Many of my patients have had a long and scary experience with cancer and treatment. Having training that emphasized the art of medicine and compassionate approaches to patient care prepared me well for this role.”

When asked what advice she has for current students, Conklin said she hopes they will take advantage of the resources Wake Forest School of Medicine has to offer.

“As alumni and students, we are very fortunate that the Department of PA Studies is a highly valued and a well-integrated part of the Wake Forest School of Medicine,” said

Conklin. “My PA training was influenced by every faculty member from whom I had the opportunity to learn, and I did my best to take advantage of every unique opportunity that was a good fit for my interests.”

Specifically, Conklin participated in the Student Wellness Program with the institution, and this helped her connect with other medical learners. “I would encourage each student in the PA program to work very hard in their studies and to make sure that they are also finding personal balance by exploring opportunities that support professional and personal goals and development.”

These days, continued opportunities to help patients in unique ways are what sustain Conklin’s passion for the medical profession.

“I appreciate that I am able to spend more time with patients and address sensitive, important issues that are sometimes not reviewed during cancer treatment,” said Conklin. “When I can tell that I have helped someone feel more comfortable living as a cancer survivor at the end of their treatment, it is enormously reaffirming.”

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys practicing yoga and spending time with her two children, Everett (4) and Marlowe (2), as well as her husband, Dave (Wake MD, c/o 2014). Their chocolate lab, Dally, rounds out the family. “As a family, we enjoy listening to music, playing and dancing together, going on walks around the neighborhood, traveling to Colorado and skiing, or really anything together.”

Rachel’s bucket list includes planning and taking some really amazing international vacations with her family – locations to be determined!

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STUDENTNEWS

National Health Service Corps Scholarship winners Pedersen and El Tannir awarded National Health Service Corps scholarships Congratulations are in order! Wake Forest PA students David Pedersen (’20) and Ziad El Tannir (’20) were chosen as recipients of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) scholarship. This scholarship provides them with full tuition coverage and a monthly stipend, followed by two years of clinical practice in a medically underserved area. Typically, more than 2,000 medical learners apply for approximately 222 scholarships awarded each year.

Pedersen was born in Germany and has lived in Japan, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Colorado and Hawaii.

He studied Biology at the University of North Carolina – Pembroke. Prior to PA school, Pedersen worked in the automotive industry for 12 years. “After working the gamut of automotive environments - selling used cars out of a trailer in Morrow, Georgia, to managing three luxury car dealerships in Honolulu, Hawaii - I decided to switch careers to something more fulfilling,” said Pedersen.

“Some of my automotive clients were health care providers; their stories rekindled my desire to go to university and to become a PA.” Pedersen says it feels incredible to have been awarded the NHSC scholarship, and that this opportunity further confirmed that his decision to pursue his passion of becoming a PA was the right choice. He is currently working with Wake Forest PA faculty to secure rotations at NHSC-approved clinics. “Our aims are to get an early start with providing care for underserved communities while seeking out potential employers after graduation,” said Pedersen.

Following graduation, Pedersen can see himself staying in the area serving in a NHSC clinic. Ultimately, he hopes to be near the east coast to be close to the beach and his family.

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Ziad El Tannir was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. He came to the United States when his family moved to North Carolina in 2006. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2013. In addition, El Tannir is a student in the PA Studies Emerging Leaders Program in Business (ELP). As such, he hold a master’s degree in management from Wake Forest University.

Before PA school, El Tannir worked as a laboratory assistant and then transitioned to a client support role with the American Red Cross. He later served as a health educator for Hepatitis C patients undergoing treatment. “These experiences made me realize that I wanted to have a larger role in the management of patients,” said El Tannir. “I want to be in charge of patients’ health and well-being, and being a PA allows me to do that.”

El Tannir was inspired to apply for the NHSC scholarship because the idea of medically underserved areas hits home for him. “I grew up in a medically underserved area and know first-hand the effects that limited medical resources have on a population,” said El Tannir. “I wanted to start out my PA career working with populations that need help the most, and this scholarship will allow me to do that.”

He is also thankful that he will not have the financial burden that usually accompanies medical education. He says this freedom allows him to pursue areas of medical education he enjoys. “This scholarship connects me with hundreds of providers and institutions that will guide me along the way and help me become a better medical provider,” said El Tannir. “For that, I am very thankful!”

Following graduation, El Tannir plans to practice in rural North Carolina before settling into a primary care clinic.

He eventually hopes to pursue an administrative role in a hospital system, combining his passions for medicine and business.

STUDENT NEWS

Self-care now a course requirement for first-year PA students PA students now required to practice self-care The Wake Forest PA program’s VITALS of Being a PA course has added a “self-care passport” to the curriculum for the PA Class of 2020. According to course directors Jill Grant, MS, MMS, PA-C, and Tanya Gregory, PhD, the passport requires students to demonstrate that they are taking care of themselves while learning how to take care of others by engaging in a required number of self-care activities. Students are offered suggestions for self-care, such as going on a nature walk, celebrating a holiday or practicing meditation, but are also encouraged to come up with their own self-care practices.

Nearly everyone said they practiced some form of outdoor activity for self-care. Additionally, some students are utilizing university resources such as cycling or yoga classes, joining local running groups, or biking on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Virginia Creeper Trail. Other practices include volunteering at local food pantries, doing road or trail cleanup or helping collect school supplies for local children.

The role of the passport is to encourage students to take care of themselves and engage in grounding practices. “For me, it was a sign that faculty care about our mental health as well as our education,” said Megan Todd-Thompson (’20). She described the passport as having encouraged her meditation practice. “I started a five-day meditation trial as one of my passport activities, which led to a 30-day streak!” The passport also reminded Todd-Thompson why she wanted to attend PA school to begin with. “I enjoy interacting with people outside of the program, and it served as a reminder of what I want to accomplish as a PA – interacting with people and caring for others.”

The class of 2020 took to the self-care passport eagerly and in a variety of ways. While each student’s passport is unique, many students described gaining similar insights from the assignment. For many PA students, the self-care passport reminds them to do things they used to enjoy but have forgotten about with the demanding curriculum of PA school.

A recurring theme among students was succinctly stated by Philip Rutledge (’20), who remarked, “there are weeks where I don’t take breaks, and I notice that I study more and learn

less.” Rutledge has two young children and is very intentional with his time. “The passport encourages me to get out and do something fun and active,” he said. For Rutledge, these breaks include hiking with his family or taking naps in the hammock with his son, Lewis.

With the daunting amount of work PA students have to do, they can easily be tempted to study for long, continuous hours.

This is inefficient, however, and leads to mental exhaustion as well as unintentional breaks fueled by being distracted. What students have found is that practicing self-care and taking intentional breaks is a more fruitful practice.

A presentation in the VITALS course by Paige Bentley, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and director of Counseling and Wellness Services at Wake Forest School of Medicine, said something very similar. Dr. Bentley discussed the importance of taking intentional breaks, the many forms of self-care, balancing emotional and physical health with school work and the importance of not comparing oneself to others —all concepts that resonated with Wake Forest PA students.

These lessons are vital not only for students, but also for practicing clinicians. Burnout in medicine is known to diminish patient satisfaction and quality of care and to increase medical errors and provider turnover. Burnout may also lead to substance abuse and suicide among clinicians.

Studies have consistently found that habits leading to burnout include workaholic tendencies, feeling pressured to know the answer to all questions and perfectionism –habits that can also develop during medical training. Students and practitioners are rewarded for putting in extra hours and showing no weakness or uncertainty. Self-care is an important strategy for combating these habits.

Although students have approached the VITALS course mandatory self-care component in a variety of ways, reflecting their diverse backgrounds, all have realized that taking intentional breaks improves focus and efficiency and promotes a healthy mindset The self-care habits students are building now will ultimately prepare them for the challenges and stresses of working in medicine.

While many medical providers state their burnout-tendencies began during their medical education, the Wake Forest PA program is equipping students with the tools to practice medicine sustainably.

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STUDENT NEWS

Boone students hosting the first pre-PA club at App State mentee. “We have so much in common and meet about once a month to catch up and see how classes are going.”

Other student mentors report the full spectrum of interactions with their mentees, ranging from meeting in person to intermittently texting encouragement or advice. When Michela Wernlé got coffee with her mentee, they discussed top PA schools choices, prerequisite courses and application timelines.

Class of 2020 Boone student Olivia Wilkins still remembers when experienced PA students came to her undergraduate university’s pre-PA club. The stories they shared made PA school seem more real and attainable. Their advice helped her guide her studies and prepared her for the application process.

Wilkins remembers deciding that, “when I become a PA student, I will give back, just like the students who visited us.”

Having been through the process and grown from mistakes and successes along the way, Wilkins decided it was time to fulfill her promise to serve the next generation of PA students.

She reached out to Appalachian State University’s pre-PA club to see how Wake Forest PA students could get involved.

A group of eight Boone-based first-year PA students volunteered to be the keynote speakers for the first meeting of App State’s pre-PA club and presented a brief PowerPoint about the Wake Forest PA program. Additionally, Will Kabrich and Wilkins had spent the past week recording 15-second clips of their daily routine, which they showed to the assembled students. The videos featured a day in the life of a Wake Forest PA student. Specific highlights included waking up, exercising, attending lecture, participating in IBL and group or self-study.

The goal was to give a realistic view of what PA students do on a normal day.

A Q&A followed the presentation, and Wilkins was impressed with the caliber of questions and the number of students in attendance. “We weren’t sure how the turnout would be since it was the first meeting of the year,” she said. “Much to our surprise, the turnout was great and there was a lot of participation!” Questions centered on the daily life of PA students, what current PA students did prior to matriculation and the PA school application process.

After the meeting, each pre-PA student was matched with a PA mentor from the Boone class of 2020. Wilkins discovered that she shared a mutual interest in medical mission work with her

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“I would’ve loved to have had a mentor during this process,” said Wernlé, “and it is encouraging to see my mentee’s enthusiasm. This is a great way to influence and encourage students who clearly have what it takes to work in medicine.”

Many of the current PA students echoed Wernlé ’s wish that there had been mentors available to them. “I think there’s a real hunger for mentorship because applying to PA school is intimidating,” said Harrison Rose. “We all see the acceptance numbers, and many of us have spent enough time on the PA student forums to know that it is no small feat to be accepted to a program.”

Wilkins intends to give pre-PA students a tour of the new facilities at Leon-Levine Hall after the holidays. She also plans to continue encouraging undergraduate students to seek guidance as they prepare for upcoming application cycles.

All the PA mentors describe their role as beneficial in that it prompts them to reflect on practices that have helped them navigate in PA school. Mentoring gives Wake Forest PA students perspective on their progress from when they were pre-PA students to where they are now – rapidly developing first-year graduate students.

In the coming years, the App State pre-PA students will hopefully mentor undergrads during their PA school years, just as the Wake Forest Class of 2020 will mentor new PAs who graduate and enter the medical community. Continuing to foster relationships with potential and early career PA students represents a dedication to helping others. Ultimately, this process will expand and strengthen the PA profession.

In a matter of months, the Wake Forest Class of 2020 will be developing relationships with new mentors as the didactic year ends and rotations begin. Until then, being the big brother or sister to a pre-PA student allows PA student mentors to actively encourage the growth of the profession and, according to Wylder Fondaw, “remind us how lucky we are to be part of the Wake Forest PA program.”

PHOTO ALBUM

PA studies’ faculty Sarah Garvick, MS, MPAS, PA-C, and Brian Robinson, MS, MPAS, PA-C, were the keynote speakers at Appalachian State University’s Pre-health Conference

Wake Forest PA students attend the annual Spooky Duke race in Boone, NC

Wake Forest PA students host a bake sale to raise to raise funds for Camp Kassem. The proceeds will help provide a great experience for children whose parents are battling cancer.

Specifically, the attendees enjoy a free weeklong summer camp in Greensboro, N.C.

Class of 2020 students celebrate Onesie Day!

1st year PA Student Olivia Wilkins practicing her suturing skills during the Unit 2 suturing lab

Wake Forest PA students and faculty after completing a Spartan Race

Class of 2020 dressed in 60’s attire to celebrate the decade in which the PA profession was founded

Class of 2020 PA students and faculty celebrate during the 2018 Holiday Sweater Extravaganza

Class of 2020 celebrate Halloween

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PHOTO ALBUM

Class of 2020 celebrating their first Friendsgiving. Boone and Winston cohorts were able to gather for the first time since Unit 1

Class of 2019 PA students during their graduate project presentations

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Save the Date

10.19.19

Wake Forest School of Medicine PA Program 50th Anniversary Celebration

Happy Spring from the Wake Forest School of Medicine Department of PA Studies!

We are always available to help. Please use the quick reference guide below when you need assistance.

We are grateful your support contributions.

Students from thefor 2020 Boone cohortand at the grand opening of Levine Hall, Beaver College of Health Sciences at Appalachian State University.

A R E A

C O N TAC T P E R S O N

EMAIL

P H O N E

Departmentchair chair Department

L. Gail GailCurtis Curtis

gcurtis@wakehealth.edu gcurtis@wakehealth.edu

336-716-2027 336-716-2027

Departmentadministrator administrator Department

Dorothy Carter Dorothy Carter

dncarter@wakehealth.edu dncarter@wakehealth.edu

336-716-2026 336-716-2026

PA Program Program PA

SuzanneReich, Reich,program program director Suzanne director

suzreich@wakehealth.edu suzreich@wakehealth.edu

336-716-2035 336-716-2035

Preceptoreducation education Preceptor

Lori Cook, Cook,program program coordinator, clinical

Lori coordinator, clinical year year

lcook@wakehealth.edu lcook@wakehealth.edu

336-716-2023 336-716-2023

Admissionsinformation information Admissions

EliseGmuca, Gmuca,student student admissions administrator Elise admissions administrator

egmuca@wakehealth.edu egmuca@wakehealth.edu

336-716-4358 336-716-4358

EmergingLeaders Leaders Program Emerging Program

SobiaHussaini, Hussaini,director, director, academic partnerships Sobia academic partnerships

ssharif@wakehealth.edu sshariff@wakehealth.edu

336-716-2167 336-716-2167

Boonecampus campus Boone

Sherrie Spear,associate distant campus Sarah Garvick, program coordinator director

shspear@wakehealth.edu smaloney@wakehealth.edu

828-262-7366 828-262-6148

Completionofofenrollment enrollment CamilleJones, Jones,registrar registrar Completion

Camille verification forms, transcripts, verification forms, transcripts, credentialingand and licensure credentialing licensure documents documents

camjones@wakehealth.edu 336-716-7068 camjones@wakehealth.edu 336-716-7068

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All other otherrequests requests questions All oror questions and tojoin joinour ourmailing mailing and to list list

tcapshaw@wakehealth.edu 336-716-2031 336-713-0820 jamie.blalock@wakehealth.edu

Teri Capshaw, departmental project manager Jamie Blalock, departmental project manager

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