Elon Physician Assistant Studies program well-represented at American Academy of Physician Assistants Conference

Elon University had a strong presence at the 2018 American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) National Conference, held May 19-23 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Eleven physician assistant students from the classes of 2019 and 2020 attended and four faculty members presented at the conference.

Elon’s Physician Assistant Studies curriculum allows for and encourages students to participate in the annual conference, which offers opportunities for networking and provides continuing medical education and professional development sessions. This year’s conference had approximately 6,600 attendees consisting of students, educators, and practicing providers from multiple disciplines.

Out of 94 teams, the Elon Student Challenge Bowl Team was one of 36 teams that made it to the big stage, a point of pride for Elon’s program. Team members were Morgan Bestenlehner, Laura Gardner, Brittany Hall-Potvin, Kevin Nguyen and Dylan Plocki. Second-year student Jacquelyn Visser served on the AAPA Student Academy Assembly of Representatives, continuing her work on legislation that was passed last fall on educating physician assistants on human trafficking.

Faculty presentations included:

Dr. Diane Duffy: “Shellfish, Peanuts, Gluten? Oh, My! What Do I Tell My Patients to Feed Their Infants?”

Assistant Professor Shaun Lynch: “Essentials of Occupational Medicine”

Associate Professor Melissa Murfin:

• “Geriatric Pharmacotherapy: Polypharmacy and the Beers Criteria”
• “Thyroid Nodules and Thyroid Cancer: What to Do When You Find Them”/
• “Pharmacogenetics 101: Preventing Medication Problems Before You Prescribe”

Assistant Professor Tracey Thurnes: “Management of Patients with Valvular Heart Disease: 2017 AHA/ACC Focused Update”

The 2019 AAPA Conference will take place in Denver, Colorado.