By Frank Campailla
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Cynthia Lord, center, director of the physician assistant program, congratulates physician assistant students Kathleen Swift and Andrew Turczak, president of the society. |
Students accepted the award at the 36th annual American Academic of Physician Assistants conference in San Antonio, Texas, May 23 to 29. The award recognizes outstanding service to the profession in public education, public service, promotion of diversity and professional involvement during the 2007-2008 academic year.
Quinnipiac students raised the most money, $10,000, of all student societies nationwide for the American Academy of Physician Assistants Host City Prevention Campaign. The funds benefit an organization in the host city of the academy's annual conference. The 2008 beneficiary is The Children's Shelter in San Antonio, which promotes child literacy. Students raised the $10,000 from the society's annual Run for Your Life 5K Road Race and annual cow chip bingo fundraiser.
The society also received a certificate of recognition for donating 103 new children's books to the book drive for the Host City Prevention Campaign. Students also advocated for child literacy with visits to the children's clinic at the Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven, Conn., and Mill Road School in North Haven, Conn., where they read to children.
Other student projects included volunteering for the National Kidney Foundation to screen people for kidney disease and holding health fairs throughout Connecticut to conduct eye screenings, blood pressure checks and blood glucose screenings and to offer advice about oral care.
Students also volunteered for the American Liver Foundation's Football Walk for Liver Wellness. Students registered participants, handed out water and cheered for walkers.