A big welcome to all our new PAGH members in June!
We had about 30 new members and it was one of our busiest months to date! We are getting very excited about our upcoming conference in September.
We have decided to post the profiles of select new members each month as a way to help you learn about your fellow PAGH members. We appreciate everyone who takes the time to tell us a bit about themselves, upload a photo or detail your past experiences. It is wonderful to know that so many PAs are out there in the field doing amazing things.
I encourage everyone to reach out to fellow members in the community forums, groups or members section. It is a great place to connect with others, share experiences or post global health questions you may have.
Now lets meet some of last months new PAGH members:
Name |
Zehra Ahmed |
| About Me | I have been a PA since 2004 and have had some wonderful opportunities to finally realize my dream of working in Global Health through many people I have met. I've lived in several countries in South East Asia and my own family background has given me an insight into the cultural aspects of health care and I have been learning and teaching about cultural competency for the past 6 years. I am a tenured faculty member in the PA department at NYIT as well as Assistant Director of Cultural Competency & Community Education, Center for Global Health and the site coordinator for El Salvador. The Center offers a certificate in Global Health to all graduate students from any discipline and I teach the Cultural Disparities in Global Health component of that. I continue to practice clinically and have done so in many different disciplines such as emergency medicine, nuclear medicine, family practice and most recently in Hematology/Oncology. |
| Global Health Experience | As a faculty associate in the Center for Global Health, I have been a part of the team that travels with students to Ghana and El Salvador for the past 4 years. I am the VP of a local non-governmental organization (NGO) CHISPA Global. [Community Health InitiativeS and PArnterships Global]. We work in Perquin, Morazan, El Salvador with the local physicians, nurses and health care promoters to support them with their initiatives. I am also the leader of the Women's Health Initiative. We concentrate on education of both the health care professionals and the communities. I am also a member of a non-profit called MilleniumSistahs. Inc who works in Trinidad and Tobago as well as in underserved communities in NY. |
Name |
Terrin Phillips |
| About Me | I am a current MEDEX PA student with expected date of graduation August 2013. My interests include environmental conservation and expansion of health care services, including preventative medicine, to underserved and marginalized populations around the world. I currently live in Alaska and have spent most of my life here. |
Name |
Megan A. Linney |
| About Me | I am currently applying to Physician Assistant school at the University of Colorado. I have known that I want to be a PA since high school and am feverishly chasing that dream! I am currently working in Oncology Services as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. I have spent the last 6 years preparing myself for PA school with graduate courses in Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University, and obtained certifications in Phlebotomy, QMAP, CNA, BLS, CPR, and AED. I worked in a family practice office prior to working in Oncology and with each new field I am more and more convinced of my calling for International work! I volunteer within my community for a safehouse for victims of domestic violence, Habitat for Humanity, and No One Dies Alone. I enjoy the outdoors, reading, and travel! |
| Global Health Experience | I have taken several graduate courses in the field and have an interest in pursuing International Trauma work once finished with PA school. A documentary "State of Emergency" completely changed my perspective on the dire medical problems and lack of quality healthcare in many third world countries. I have traveled abroad to Africa, Portugal, Spain, and Mexico, and have seen the need of many residents, and am exhilarated by the prospect of helping. I have researched several volunteer opportunities with Projects Abroad and am interested in learning more about the opportunities within PA's for Global Health. |
Name |
Larry Mack-Wilson |
| About Me | PA working in the Washington DC area. Former middle and high school teacher. Grew up in Indiana. Since leaving my home State, I have been on the move. |
| Global Health Experience | Worked in Caracas, Venezuela where my interest in global health started. Afterward I found myself in Sofia, Bulgaria, where I volunteered at the Ministry of health working on HIV/AIDS issues. |
Name |
Brittany Krantz |
| About Me | I am 27 and recently accepted in to the PA program at Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke, VA. I am both excited and anxious to begin this next life journey. Prior to applying to PA school I grew up in a small VA town playing softball and enjoying Sunday afternoon's at my Nanny's. I graduated from The College of William and Mary in 2008 (BS Biology) and from Liberty University in 2011 (MA Human Services). My passion for patient care was sparked by a chance meeting with a young girl named Grace. Grace invited me into her life and forever changed mine. She was born with hydrocephalus and conquers life's challenge, with a smile daily. After William and Mary I began work at an Adult Day Health Program for elderly and special needs adults. In my free time I volunteer with the local volunteer rescue squad. Above all I am a Christ follower and yearn daily to better emulate his love, grace, justice and mercy both professionally and personally. Although I strive I recognize fully I FAIL but trust His atoning Grace covers my many selfish shortcomings. |
| Global Health Experience | I traveled abroad the first time after my Junior year at WM. I spent 3 months in Eastern Europe (Moldova, Ukraine and Czech Republic) working with local churches to offer outreach, vacation bible schools and health education. I was impacted by the vast difference between standards of living abroad and in my home state.I have since traveled to Haiti, Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Philippines on international missions/health outreach trips. |
| Name |
Andy Olesen |
| About Me | I hold a USCG Certificate of Registry as a Marine Physician Assistant. |
| Global Health Experience | Currently serving in a community free clinic. Speak Spanish fluently. Lived in Puerto Rico, Arizona, Denmark, New York, Utah, Tennessee and California. |
Name |
Wai-Yee Leung |
| About Me | I'm currently a second year PA student at Nova Southeastern University located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. My parents are from Hong Kong, and I was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and raised in Fort Lauderdale for the majority of my life. I look forward to the global opportunities available in PA's for Global Health! |
| Global Health Experience | I'm interested in clinical rotations in the United Kingdom, particularly Edinburgh and London. |
Name |
Adam Abudra |
| About Me | I am a current PA student at Midwestern University, Glendale. I have a bachelor's in exercise physiology from the University of California, Davis and a master's in exercise physiology and health promotion from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. |
| Global Health Experience | I have worked as a refugee health specialist with the International Rescue Committee in the underserved areas of Sacramento County which primarily catered to Iraqi, Bhutanese, and Eritrean refugees and asylees. I've volunteered with Sahaya International, which aims to support socio-economic and educational development projects in developing countries, particularly in India. |
A big thanks to everyone within the community who take the extra time to fill out their profile information. Again, I encourage you to reach out to members in our community forums and groups or just post a status update. It is a great way to interact with other members who share a similar passion or to tell a quick story about a current, past or upcoming trip!
If you would like to be featured in next months profile section please drop me a line.
