Student Activities

  • In the fall of 2012, Pace University-Lenox Hill Hospital Physician Assistant program students Eric Chin, Angelo Asheh, Dominique Sisto and class of 2012 graduate Diana Pechenaya teamed up with Covenant House, a Manhattan-based runaway youth shelter, to launch a project that promotes healthy behaviors among at-risk youth.

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's “Cycle for Survival” is an annual indoor team cycling event dedicated to raising money to support ongoing research towards finding cures for rare cancers. Pace University's clinical year PA students, Sara Cohen, Ashley DiCicco, Heather Marzella, and Jackie Schefkind decided to join the fight and pedal away for these cancer patients. They organized the PAce Pedallers team and set a goal of raising $2,500. With determination they were able to exceed that amount and raised a total of $3,122!  Kudos to the Pace Pendallers for their superb effort and actions to help provide hope for cancer patients in their battle to survive! Photo (from left to right): Sara Cohen, Heather Marzella, Jackie Schefkind, Ashley DiCicco
  • In addition to our student society program representatives Michelle Melchiorre and Lauren Cicale (class of 2014), Carolyn Mueller (class of 2013), Roxanne Arvanaghi and Aaron Weber (class of 2014) were selected to be part of the Student Academy delegation to the AAPA House of Delegates.  Fifty-one students will represent all 18,000 PA students from around the country at the HOD and be their voice to the profession.  Pace faculty are very proud to have five students from the program representing not only Pace University but all PA students as members of the Assembly of Representatives and House of Delegates at the AAPA conference in May 2013.  We are delighted our students are striving to be active in their professional organizations and embrace their commitment to the  profession so early on in their careers!
  • Pace University’s PA program was recently recognized for 100% NYSSPA membership in the class of 2014.  This photo shows Susan Cappelmann, Associate Director of the Pace PA program (first from right) with a plaque from NYSSPA.  Also pictured are representatives from other universities with 100% NYSSPA membership and Mark Zender, PA-C, NYSSPA President (center).
  • Pace PA students and faculty enjoyed a gala dinner at the recent NYSPPA conference. According to the NYSPPA newsletter, “The NYSSPA Conference in mid-October was a resounding success, with our best attendance in years.”

  • Pace students were joined by AAPA President Robert Wooten, PA-C (back row, second from left) and NYSSPA President Mark Zender, PA-C (first from right) at the NYSSPA Halloween Party.  According to the NYSSPA newsletter, the NYSSPA Student Directors hosted the party, which offered both students and graduates a time to mingle, network, and enjoy a night of fun and dancing.  Many students and graduates alike danced well into the early morning.

  • David Jackson (first from right), DHSc, PA-C, NYSSPA Past President & Government Affairs Chair, AAPA 2nd Vice Speaker with AAPA & NYSSPA leadership, including (from the left): John Hallowell, MBA, PA-C NYSSPA VP/Chief Delegate; Maureen Regan, MBA, PA-C, NYSSPA President Elect; Robert Wooten, PA-C AAPA Past-President; Peter Kuemmel, MS, PA-C, NYSSPA Past President; Mark Zender, MPAS, PA-C, NYSSPA President.

  • Pace PA students (Cynthia Hermiz, class of 2014, Robert Aromondo, class of 2013, and Claudia Ashforth, class of 2013) took part in NYSSPA’s annual Medical Jeopardy Challenge.  They competed against Albany Medical College, Hofstra University, Long Island University, New York Institute of Technology, CCNY PA Program at Harlem Hospital Center, SUNY Stonybrook University, SUNY Upstate Medical University, and Weill Cornell.  Topics ranged from cardiology, pharmacology, the PA profession, and more.  Although Pace didn’t win this year, we advanced to the second round and look forward to competing again next year.
  • Pace student Kevin Nelson, class of 2014, won a NYSSPA $1000 scholarship.  He is pictured here with Susan Cappelmann, PA-C (left) and David Jackson, PA-C (right).  Four scholarships were given to NYSSPA student members. They were awarded based on academics, financial need, and  community service activities.
  • The NYSSPA Fall CME conference gives students and practicing PAs the opportunity to come together for a weekend of informative lectures on a variety of topics.  Students attended lectures on emergency medicine, neurology, OB/GYN, pulmonology, cardiology, family practice, and surgery.  In addition to the lectures, students were able to participate in workshops that included suturing, advanced suturing, and EKG interpretation. This photo shows Aaron Weber, class of 2014 and Claudia Ashforth, class of 2013, practicing their suturing skills.

  • Kim Maiers, class of 2014 and Meredith Beard, class of 2014 reviewing instrumentation at the NYSSPA Fall CME conference
  • Andrew Jacobowitz, class of 2014 receiving instruction in knot tying techniques with Gerard Simons, PA-C, at the NYSSPA Fall CME conference
  • Recent PA graduates Toni Milito, Matthew Muri, Jessica Oakes, and Jessica Spivey published an article in JAAPA with associate clinical professor Jean Covino DHSc, MPA, PA-C.
  • PA students recently celebrated PA week - they helped raise awareness of the importance of Physician Assistants at the Today show (photo on right).  They also raised funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (see below) and went on the Dr. Oz show!

  • Pace University Physician Assistant program participated in the Light the Night Walk and helped raise funds to support the research and treatment for blood and bone cancers. The event took place at Basketball City near the East River esplanade. According to Molly Perry, class of 2013, "It began with a touching remembrance and opening ceremony, and the walk continued along a route filled with memories of those lost to blood and bone cancers and those currently fighting.  This has become a Pace University PA program tradition and this year students and faculty raised $4,358 for LLS! Pace University Physician Assistant Program and its students take pride in volunteering and fundraising in the community and feel it is an important part of being a Physician Assistant and giving back to the community. Students and staff can’t wait to continue the LLS tradition next year!"
  • PA students recently returned from international rotations in India and South Africa.  These eye-opening experiences expand students' perspectives and provide them with the opportunity to practice what they are learning in challenging, under-resourced environments.  After studying at Pace, many PA students treat diverse patient populations from all over the world, and the lessons they learn abroad can be applied to their practice long after they graduate.


The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) recognizes the nation's top PAs with their highest honor, the PAragon Awards. These awards confer special recognition on PAs who have distinguished themselves through their unparalleled service to patients, their communities, the profession and the Academy.  The Awards honor exemplary PA service in six categories: Outstanding PA of the Year, Humanitarian PA of the Year, Federal Service PA of the Year, PA Service to the Underserved Award, Physician-PA Partnership Award and the PAragon Publishing Awards.

The PAragon Publishing Awards honor three PAs who authored outstanding articles that were published in peer-reviewed journals in 2011. The winners were formally honored during the IMPACT 2012 AAPA Conference in Toronto in May.