The Association of Family Practice Physician Assistants is pleased to announce that seven PA student members have been awarded AFPPA scholarships. Two are the first-ever recipients of the Meeks Scholarship, established recently in memory of the late Jim Meeks, who served as president of AFPPA in 2008-09. There were also two Senior Scholarship winners and two Junior Scholarships winner. The Meeks and Senior scholarships are both valued at $1,500 each, and the Junior scholarship is valued at $1,000. The Rose Lorfing scholarship was also awarded for $500. We congratulate each of our scholarship winners, who have each demonstrated a special interest in primary care medicine, and are current in good academic standing.

Rachel Alpern
University of Utah’s Physician Assistant Program
Colorado
Meeks winner, $1500

Rachel Alpern is a second year Physician Assistant student at University of Utah’s Physician Assistant Program (UPAP) and is currently completing her clinical rotations in Denver, CO. She received her bachelor of arts in Physics from The Colorado College. She began her medical career as a paramedic/fire fighter with the Aurora Fire Department. While working for the fire department she was involved with the Shots for Tots program and volunteered with the 9 News Health Fair on an annual basis. To enhance her level of medical knowledge she also worked as an ER Tech at Sky Ridge Medical Center, as a paramedic for the Denver Health & Hospital Authority and as a clinical skills instructor for Swedish Medical Center’s paramedic program, before being accepted to UPAP. As a PA student she has continued volunteering in the community and has tried to promote the PA profession by contacting her representatives regarding health care reform. She is currently completing her family medicine rotation at the Lowry Clinic, one of the Denver Community Health Service Clinics, which provides health care services for a large refugee population. She hopes to remain involved with this underserved population upon graduation.

Enid Martinez
Hodges University
Florida
Meeks winner, $1500
Born in Puerto Rico, Enid Martinez moved to Florida when she was 13 years old. Martinez began the physician assistant program in 2008, and plans to graduate in 2010. She is currently doing clinical rotations. Martinez is the proud mother of a three-year-old daughter, and looks forward to dedicating her time to helping others feel better and get healthy.

Julie Taylor
Nova Southeastern University
Florida
Rose Lorfing winner: $500
Julie Taylor is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. Her goal is to return to her small hometown in southwest Florida to work in a family practice setting upon graduation. She is a member of AAPA, AFPPA and FAPA, and enjoys traveling and volunteering.

Veronica Victorian
Nova Southeastern University Southwest Florida
Florida
Senior winner: $1,500

Veronica Victorian is a second year physician assistant student at Nova Southeastern University Southwest Florida. She received her bachelor of science in kinesiology exercise science from the University of Houston and later worked as a pediatric exercise specialist for Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX. She was nominated class of 2010 vice-president in her PA program. She is also an active member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants - student member and the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants - Cultural Diversity Committee member. She is married and the mother of two beautiful children. Veronica enjoys volunteering for multiple organizations including HOPE Worldwide/HOPE for Kids, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Susan B. Coleman Breast Cancer Walk.

Kristen Lazarini
UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
Texas
Junior Winner: $1,000
Kristen Lazarini is a first year student in the UT Southwestern Physician Assistant Program.  She grew up in a small town in East Texas where she fell in love with medicine working in her father’s family practice clinic.  She graduated from Texas A&M University in 2007 were she received a bachelor of science in genetics.  After college she worked for two years as a medical assistant and became actively involved in Southwestern Christian Fellowship with her husband, currently a third year medical student.  Through this organization, she helps plan and participates in medical mission trips, where medical care is provided, under physician supervision, to patients in need in communities around the world. She has taken several trips overseas to countries including China, Mexico and Costa Rica to work in both medical and educational settings.  When she graduates, she hopes to work in family practice. She and her husband eventually plan to move overseas to provide healthcare to a community in need.

Alexis Poduska
Iowa
Junior winner: $1,000

Alexis Poduska graduated in 2007 from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where she studied biology and studio art. While at Creighton, she had the opportunity to volunteer at the Nebraska AIDS Project as well as travel to South Africa to learn about HIV/AIDS and public health. Her experiences, family, mentors, and friends continue to influence her desire to provide healthcare to underserved populations in the future. Some areas of healthcare she would like to explore during and after PA school include homelessness and health and women’s health. Alexis grew up in the small farming community of Pocahontas, Iowa, where her childhood summers were filled with swimming and county fairs. During high school she enjoyed participating in music activities, dance team, and mock trial. Her interests outside of medicine include drawing, painting, jogging, cooking, and music. She also enjoys good movies, trying new foods, and traveling to new places.

Kelly Olsen
UW-La Crosse - Gundersen Lutheran - Mayo PA Program
Wisconsin
Senior winner: $1,500

Kelly Olsen is a second year student at the UW-La Crosse - Gundersen Lutheran - Mayo PA Program. She graduated with a degree in theology from the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University in Minnesota and worked for two years in Northern California as an AmeriCorps volunteer at a mobile health clinic targeting transient, uninsured, difficult populations. She tries to maintain balance between her studies and her family (her husband is a high school science teacher and they have a 2 year old son). She professes to untangling the web of medical knowledge in her head while mountain biking or snowboarding and makes time to breathe and be inspired by the curiosity and limitless learning of her toddler. Kelly enjoys learning everyday and looking forward to graduating so she can once again contribute her skills and knowledge to the service of others and the betterment of her community.

Click here to view Past Recipients >