Campbell’s Physician Assistant Program celebrated National PA Week on October 12 in Carrie Rich Hall. Observed annually on October 6–12, PA Week celebrates the significant impact PAs make in health care and the tremendous growth of the profession by saluting the contributions PAs make every day.
“Campbell has arrived as part of the PA heritage,” said Program Director Tom Colletti, MPAS, PA-C, to the University’s inaugural PA class, faculty, staff and community members in attendance. “We are really pleased to be able to do this today.”
The celebration featured comments by Colletti, Wallace Horne, MD, Vice President Medical Affairs, CMO at Harnett Health System and David Coniglio, MPA, PA-C, PA Program Academic Coordinator. The speakers reflected on the changes ahead in the health care industry, and the history of the PA profession, providing students exposure to changes in the field.
The PA Class honored Jerry Brenneman, who is the practicing physician assistant at Campbell’s Student Health Services, with the inaugural Wallace Student Society Outstanding PA Award.
“We decided to create the award to honor a different PA each year that demonstrates commitment to the Campbell PA Program and community, and proves to be a good role model for current and future PA students,” said Ashley Green, 2013 class president. The Wallace Student Society is a community service and fundraising student organization within the PA Program.
The class selected Brenneman as the first recipient because of his commitment and service to the profession. Following his retirement from the Army as a PA, Brenneman and his family relocated to Harnett County where he currently practices at Coats Medical Clinic. In addition to his work at the clinic, Brenneman still finds the time to serve the Campbell community as a PA serving at the University’s Student Health Service and for the Sports Medicine Program.
Following the presentation, PA faculty and students held a blood pressure clinic for all Campbell faculty and staff as a community service project. The screenings provided students with their first opportunity to interact with patients while in the PA Program.