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2008 Student Scholarship Recipients
Mercedes Dodge Mercedes Dodge is a junior student at University of California, Davis Campus. She is the winner of this year's Rose Lorfing Scholarship. Her program director had these comments about her: "Ms. Dodge is particularly interested in rural health care and has sought out specific training opportunities in rural communities. She is bilingual and bicultural, able in particular to meet the needs of the Hispanic community. Her primary preceptorship is in a rural community, serving a large farm worker population."
Alisha Burt is a junior student at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - School of Health Related Professions - PA Program in Piscataway. Her essay contained this paragraph "Having had these experiences within my community, I have learned the importance of spending time with persons, understanding who they are and how to best address their concerns. As a future PA, I would have the ability to implement the various lessons I have learned into the way in which I practice medicine. As I share with persons, who inquire about my future career aspirations and explain to them the role of a PA, they often respond with excitement. This is due in part to the fact that PA's take the time to get to know their patients and serve as a patient educator and advocate."
Brett Feldman is a senior student at DeSales University, Pennsylvania. This is Brett's second AFPPA scholarship award and it is well deserved. His faculty advisor had great praise for Brett. "There are two characteristics that put Brett head and shoulders above his fellow students. The first is his concern for his fellow man. He worked in volunteer clinics prior to becoming a student and, when he came to DeSales and couldn't find an outlet, he created one himself. This drive is his second characteristic that allows the first to flower. Many have great ideas, but most fail to act on them. Brett came to us with an idea to set up a free clinic and already had spoken with a homeless shelter. He convinced the faculty, and then the University, to allow this clinic and make it part of the PA curriculum. He shepherded the idea through the administration. He rallied the students to raise money so that we could open and, in fact, the student funding is all that we have through official channels. He volunteers extra time at the clinic when other students are on vacation. He has joined a local group that is working on Access to Care. He has changed his post-graduation plans to stay in the local area to be able to continue to volunteer and even took a job partly because the supervising doctor is interested in the clinic. He has been an outstanding example of the best of the Physician Assistant profession and tradition."
Erica Renner is a junior student at Des Moines University, Iowa. Her essay related her dedication to her future patients. "In the future I see myself associated with a group of physicians and physician assistants in a small community health center. My practice focuses on family medical care with an emphasis on meeting the needs of the aging population. I am actively involved in the state and national physician assistant associations. Community involvement and volunteering remain important aspects of my life. I serve on the board at the local long-term care facility and work on its quality assurance committee. On a regular basis, I meet with junior high and high school faculty to foster a team approach to preventing and treating common concerns of preteens and teens, including eating disorders, obesity, mental health issues, and sports injuries. On Career Day, I share my experiences as a physician assistant with students and encourage those who are interested in the health field to job shadow me. I strive to be a role model for good health by eating right, maintaining a healthy weight, and being physically active."
Nate Madsen is a senior student at Arcadia University, Pennsylvania. His faculty advisor gave high praise for Nate's efforts. "It is my pleasure to recommend Nate Madsen for your AFPPA scholarship. As you will see from Nate's application he has been a dual-degree student in our program one year and is currently entering his second year. His work in the PA program has been very good as has his work in the public health portion of our Department. I believe Nate says it well when he refers to the unique perspective obtained by someone in a dual-degree program. In fact, I have often said that public health/PA students tend to have a global perspective when dealing with patients. In other words, Public Health Students see the patient as a whole - as a member of a family, a community, rather than just another medical problem. Nate has dedicated himself to these degrees and this career path and I feel certain he is deserving of this scholarship to help him meet these goals." 2007 Student Scholarship RecipientsRita Estanol Rita describes herself as Mexican-American, originally from Oxnard, California. She received her Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from UC Davis. She is in her second year in the Yale University Physician Associate Program. After she graduates, she plans to work in Family Practice in an underserved community. Her program director states: "She has devoted herself to her studies as a Physician Assistant and is well on her way to becoming a strong voice for the profession. It is clear that Rita's passion is for helping the under served patient for whom she could be a great advocate. Her determination to work in the Student-run Free Clinic in Fair Haven, CT and to do her required Family Practice rotation within an under served population demonstrates her desire to work in this arena. Rita's fluency in Spanish is also a great asset for her future patients and for the medical community." Alice Hildebrand Alice grew up in San Angelo, TX. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelors of Science in Community Health. She is currently in her third year of PA school at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX. Upon graduation in December of 2006, Alice plans to work in Primary Care in the Dallas area. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, running, and traveling. She is looking forward to an exciting career as a Physician Assistant. Her recommendation letter proclaimed: "Let me begin by saying that Alice Hildebrand is outstanding in many ways. In PA education there is a saying that the right applicants "have PA written all over them," and Alice Hildebrand is that student. The characteristics that stand out most about Alice include friendliness, happiness, humility, honesty, intelligence, loyalty, perseverance, inquisitiveness, and overall ability and potential. I am not exaggerating when I say I can't think of anyone nicer than Alice. I have never seen or heard her display any negativity toward anyone for any reason, even in difficult circumstances. It seems like "hard work and no whining" is her mantra." Brett Feldman Brett Feldman is a second year student at DeSales University in Center County, Pennsylvania. After helping his wife, Corinne, through PA school he attended the PA program himself and has since dedicated his life to public service and the PA profession. Brett is the President of his class, External Affairs Chair and also the Student- Faculty Liaison at DeSales. He is also a member of the PA State Championship Challenge Bowl Team. Brett contributes an online PA school diary to ADVANCE Magazine regularly, and has also been featured in the print version of ADVANCE. He is currently realizing his dream of opening a free medical clinic for the homeless population of Lehigh County, PA. The open date is January 2007, which is very exciting for Brett, DeSales University and the community. His program director had this to say: "Brett has the maturity, professionalism, and dedication to serve others that is vastly needed in our profession. He goes out of his way to help others, is a leader inside and outside of the classroom, and has the respect of fellow students and faculty alike. Brett will make an ideal PA in family practice. He likes to spend time with patients and to get to know them on a personal level. He has genuine concern for the entire patient and he has a caring, empathetic attitude. I would have no hesitancy in choosing Brett as my primary care provider." Heather Nicholson I grew up on a farm near Webster, ND. I received a Bachelors of Science degree in Food and Nutrition with an emphasis in Dietetics from North Dakota State University. Upon graduation, my husband and I moved to Hawaii where we lived for three years. Following the birth of our son, we moved to Minnesota to be closer to family. In both Hawaii and Minnesota, I worked as a dietitian for the WIC program for a total of five years. I developed a passion for working with low-income families in culturally diverse, underserved communities. I am currently in my second year of studies at Augsburg College PA Program in Minneapolis. Last year during fall semester, I gave birth to our second child, and we are expecting our third child in June. While the next few years of my life are definitely going to be busy, I am enthusiastic about working as a physician assistant, in family practice, where I can demonstrate to my children the importance of caring for others. Her letter of recommendation included: "The greatest asset that Heather brings to the PA profession is that she has worked with disadvantaged children and families for several years while employed as a registered dietitian in an underserved area of the Twin Cities. She has shared some interesting case experiences with me and the class when appropriate to our discussion. I believe that one of the major factors that has attracted Heather to the PA profession is the sincere desire to be able to give more and provide a greater scope of medical services to her patients. Heather is taking advantage of every opportunity within the Academic Phase to enrich her knowledge in clinical medicine and hone her skills and history and physical exam." Rosalyn Rosas Rosalyn is the winner of the 2006 Rose Lorfing Scholarship, dedicated to an individual who desires to work with an underserved population upon graduation. Rosalyn is a senior physician assistant student at John Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County PA Program. Rosalyn is in her clinical year of PA education concurrently pursuing the Master of Medical Science degree at St. Francis University in Loretto, PA. Her degree in Biology, Psychology & Criminal Justice and background in Nursing prepared her well to meet the highly demanding and challenging clinical training at Cook County Hospital. Prior to PA school, Rosalyn was involved in a wide array of community health service activities. She plans to work as a PA in areas where people do not have immediate access to physicians. One of her goals is to provide health care services to underserved communities in Illinois. Rosalyn's ongoing clinical research is "Screening for Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis for the Prevention of Stroke". She supports that screening and early detection of carotid lesions, a major cause of stroke, can greatly reduce medical care system expenses. Her recommendation stated: "Rosalyn is a very dedicated student with an excellent facility for self directed learning. She is focused and extremely conscientious about her studies. She is devoted to the practice of medicine, and has an excellent fund of medical knowledge. She works well with others and also demonstrates leadership capabilities." 
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Alisha Burt
Brett Feldman
Erica Renner
Nate Madsen
