3. Community public service During a three-day CAPA conference in Palm Springs, California SJVC PA students contacted and organized a two-day benefit at Indio Seventh Day Adventist Spanish Church. Public service included: Collecting and delivering food to the church-run community service food bank. This center feeds over 700 homeless and needy families every month.
4. Community public service 2. Cleaning, fixing, and painting a run down community center that was not in use due to its condition. The center is now being used as a local day care center for working parents in need.
6. Community/public service PA students, along with San Joaquin Valley College Associated Student Government, held a canned food drive to benefit students throughout the campus who were unable to provide Thanksgiving meals for their family. Through this program, over 50 families were provided healthy holiday meals.
7. Community/public service SJVC PA students took part in the 2nd annual Race Against Hunger benefiting Visalia Emergency Aid. Over 3,000 runners and walkers were able to raise over $56,000 to benefit those in our community. Every year VEA helps over 14,000 families and every month helps provide meals and clothing for over 2,700 children.
8. Community/public service SJVC PA students volunteered for the student organized blood drive with the American Red Cross. SJVC PA class organized a canned food drive to benefit Visalia Emergency Aid. Over $200 was raised in food and donations.
9. Community/public service SJVC students organized a coat and clothing drive to benefit Visalia Woman’s Shelter. Over 600 coats, sweaters and clothing were collected and donated
10. Community/public service SJVC students celebrated PA week by honoring local PA’s all across San Joaquin and Tulare County by delivering coffee and pastries. Providers were also invited to PA celebration at a local venue.
12. Public education In collaboration with Anjelica Rogers, SJVC students taught local school children the importance of hand washing. Mrs. Rogers is the only Nurse serving 14 public schools, all of which are in the medically underserved community of Farmersville. Throughout the Central San Joaquin Valley, four public schools were entertained with creative skits emphasizing not only the importance of hand washing, but also on proper techniques and the importance of using soap. Over 600 students were educated with hope of preventing the spread of the H1N1 flu.
13. Public education In partnership with the National Immunization Awareness SJVC developed and maintains a webpage to help promote vaccinations. This webpage also gives parents information about common diseases and common ages at which children should be immunized. http://vaccinationfaq.org/diseases.html
14. Diversity SJVC Physician Assistant Program receives award for PAEA’s Excellence Through Diversity Award CAPA Newsletter January/February 2009
15. Diversity The student body consists of 42 students, most of which are from the Central San Joaquin Valley. Diversity is displayed by a total of 35 different foreign languages and over 14 ethnic backgrounds among our SJVC students Ethnic backgrounds include: Russian, Salvadorian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Laotian, Iranian, Pakistani, Hispanic, Native American, Peruvian, African American, Caucasian, Indian, and Hmong.
16. diversity SJVC PA program also boasts 15% Veterans and have several students who plan on serving in the military after graduation.
17. diversity SJVC student Louis Rosales PA-S The Ruth Webb Minority Scholarship award winner.
19. Professional advocacy SJVC student Adam Marks PA-S receiving a Proclamation from the Tulare County Board of Supervisors recognizing PA Week and the work of SJVC PA program within the community.
20. Professional advocacy Junior Class President Jason George with Steve Hanson, President of AAPA. During PA week, the students presented Mr. Hanson with a LAMP award recognizing him for his leadership in the PA profession. Junior Class Vice-President Stephanie Rolfo presented Rosa Luna with a LAMP award. Mrs. Luna, a graduate of SJVC, was recognized for her involvement with childhood obesity, diabetes, and migrant farm workers. Senior Class President Adam Marks presented Ben Rivas with a LAMP award. Mr. Rivas was recognized for his guidance and leadership.
21. Professional advocacy Letter from U.S House of Representative Devin Nunes recognizing Physician Assistant Week 2009. Mr. Nunes has recognized SJVC for their committed and dedicated work throughout the Central San Joaquin Valley.
22. Professional advocacy On behalf of the SJVC PA program, Adam Marks received a Resolution from California State Assemblywoman Connie Conway for PA week 2009.
23. Fund raising SJVC students held a fund raiser to benefit Lee National Denim Day for Breast Cancer Awareness. This charity is focused on finding a cure for breast cancer. During the 3-hour fund raiser, SJVC students generated over $100 by selling pink lemonade and pink cup cakes. All money was donated to support Breast Cancer Research.
25. Class unity Through class unity and team building, SJVC students continue to show commitment and dedication in learning clinical skills and techniques to better serve our communities.
38. May serve on Student Scholarship Subcommittee which is responsible for selecting winners of the CAPA General Scholarships and forwarding to Committee on Diversity appropriate applications as needed
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40. Mentorship/partner with other pa programs Senior Class President Adam Marks PA-S contributes monthly articles educating California PA students on various professional topics. These positions allow communication with other PA programs throughout California.
41. Communication To help others reach their goal of becoming Physician Assistants, SJVC holds annual PA orientation Programs. This year SJVC students met with more than 40 individuals to answer questions, provide insight and educate perspective students on the role of Physician Assistants in the medical profession and the challenges of becoming PA’s.
42. Communication Students organized a AAPA Category 1CME suture clinic for local PA’s and other medical professionals led by Jed Grant, PA-C. Within the community, 17 providers attended, receiving 4 hours of Category 1 CME’s each.
43. Communication SJVC PA program contacted six local radio stations with 2 different Public Service Announcements to help local residents. The goal was to educate the public on the role of PA’s in the community in time with PA Week, and also on the proper use of antibiotics as outlined by the Get Smart Program. The target audience was broadened to include the Valley’s Hispanic population by translating the PSA’s to Spanish and sending them to Campesina Radio for broadcast. The message was heard by residents all across the Central and Southern San Joaquin Valley in California.
44. Communication In honor of PA Week 2009, SJVC PA students showed appreciation for more than 30 local providers by organizing a dinner at a local restaurant. Among attendees was AAPA President Steve Hanson who was honored with a LAMP award. This event brought camaraderie among local providers, and current SJVC students and alumni, as they celebrated the profession’s commitment to integrity and professionalism.
