UND Physician Assistant Program announces awards and scholarships

Document Type

News Article

Publication Date

5-22-2014

Campus Unit

School of Medicine & Health Sciences

Abstract

GRAND FORKS, N.D.— The winner has been announced for the Scholarly Project Poster Display hosted by the University of North Dakota Physician Assistant (PA) Program on April 30 at the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Jessica Hale of Kintson, N.C., had her work selected by a consensus of her peers for the Best Scholarly Project Award.

In addition, faculty evaluators from the School of Medicine and Health Sciences selected eight individuals to present their posters on May 1 at the annual North Dakota Academy of Physician Assistants Conference held in Fargo, N.D. The students selected were Pete Baker, Palm Harbor, Fla.; Lisa Froemke, Wahpeton, N.D.; Kathryn Gray, Fargo, N.D.; Jessica Hale, Kintson, N.C.; Theresa Koppal, Florence, Ariz; Chris Seil, Bismarck, N.D.; Jonathan Spellmeier, Holton, Kan.; and Kevin Swenson, Perham, Minn. The following 2014 PA graduates earned scholarships from the program:

  • Eric Sadler, Evansville, Ind.; Patrick Riley, Wrenshall, Minn.; and Pamela Rangen, Bismarck, N.D.—Katherine Maryann Rasmussen Scholarship ($1,000). The Rasmussen endowment provides scholarships to one or more high-achieving and qualified students enrolled within the Physician Assistant Program at the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Recipients shall be of high moral character and demonstrate the potential to lead successful lives and careers.

  • James Ramos, Sioux Falls, S.D.—Mickey Knutson Scholarship ($750). The Knutson endowment provides scholarships to UND students, allowing them the opportunity to complete their studies and pursue careers in the health field. The Knutson endowment is awarded to a graduate who will be working in primary care in a rural or underserved area.

The Physician Assistant Program is located in the Department of Family and Community Medicine in the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Since its inception in 1970, the PA program has had continuous accreditation by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. Over the course of the program, students rotate between the classroom on the UND campus in Grand Forks and a physician's practice in the student's home community. The medical school has more than 1,600 graduates from the PA program. Physician assistants are health professionals who practice medicine collegially with and under the supervision of physicians, especially in primary care in rural areas of North Dakota and other rural and underserved areas within the United States. The University of North Dakota Physician Assistant Program is one of 149 PA programs in the United States and is the only PA program in North Dakota.

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