York PA Program Celebrates 20th Anniversary and Attends NYSSPA Conference

On a recent November weekend, faculty, students and staff from York's Physician Assistant (PA) Program attended the New York State Society of PAs (NYSSPA) educational conference.

^{York PA students present at NYSSPA Conference}

The annual event is a highlight of the York PA program’s calendar, offering valuable opportunities for professional development and networking.

This year’s program, held from November 8-10, was particularly beneficial, according to Dr. Harry Persaud, director of the York PA Program, who expressed pride in the achievements of his delegation, stating, “I am extremely proud of our faculty and students who participated in this event. They have all worked tremendously hard to get here.”

A notable recognition at the conference was Dr. Lorraine Sanassi, clinical professor and Simulation Coordinator, who was named “PA of the Year.” Dr. Persaud praised her as “one of our most talented and dedicated faculty members,” emphasizing her worthiness of the award and thanking the students for their support.

The conference also marked the 20th anniversary of the York College PA Program. Dr. Robert A. Brugna, the program's founding director, reflected on the program's growth, calling it the highlight of his career as an educator and expressing optimism for its future.

Dr. Jason Herel, PA-C, Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator, presented on evaluating and treating patients with chronic peripheral vascular disease and shared a poster on, “The Identification and Mitigation of Burnout in Physician Associate Students: A Scoping Review.” Dr. Persaud highlighted Dr. Herel's significant contributions, noting his unique perspective as both a graduate of and faculty member of the popular program.

The conference also featured six senior didactic students—Rafsan Chowdhury, Isabella Garabedian, Heeraj Kumar, Hamza Arshad, JunXian Ma, and Kieran Weaver—who competed in the medical challenge bowl against teams from other PA programs across New York. Team captain, Dr. Sanassi praised the students' performance, noting, “I’m incredibly proud of our team's outstanding performance and teamwork. Their dedication truly embodies the spirit of York College.”

Sanassi also expressed gratitude to her students for nominating her for the “PA of the Year” award. “Your belief in me means more than I can express,” she said. “I’m so grateful to be part of your growth and success.”

Dr. Persaud concluded, “Overall, the conference provided an excellent platform for recognition, education, and collaboration among the York College PA community.”

See NYSSPA 2024 Membership Award Recipients webpage for more information.