Masters Project
Past Symposiums
2011
The Annual Master Project Symposium of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies of Wake Forest School of Medicine was held on Friday, April 8, 2011. The keynote address, "Crossing the Line to Transform Healthcare, Improving/Transforming/Redesigning Healthcare", was presented by AAPA Vice President of Science and Public Health, Bob McNellis, MPA, PA. Following Mr. McNellis's keynote address the Class of 2011 students presented their Evidence Based Master Project, topics included:
- Anticoagulation: Current and Emerging Therapies
- The Use of Non-cognitive Factors in Physician Assistant Admissions
- Is a Modified CAGE Questionnaire an Effective Tool in Screening for Addictive-like Behavior to Tanning?
The projects were designed to have a specific and measurable impact on PA education or on community health policy and/or practice. Selected candidates presented their completed project in oral or poster form in the community and/or at professional meetings.
2010
The Annual Master Project Symposium of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies of Wake Forest School of Medicine was held on Friday, April 9, 2010 at Victoria Hall. The keynote address, "Evidence-based Medicine and Cost Containment: A View from Inside the Exam Room" was presented by Dr. Richard Lord. Dr. Lord is an Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Following Dr. Lord's keynote address the Class of 2010 students presented their Evidence Based Medicine Master Project. The projects were designed to have a specific and measurable impact on PA education or on community health policy and/or practice. Selected candidates presented their completed project in oral or poster form in the community and/or at professional meetings.
2009
The Annual Master Project Symposium of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies of Wake Forest School of Medicine was held on Friday, April 3, 2009 on the Bowman Gray Campus of the Wake Forest School of Medicine.
The keynote address, "Health Disparities: Is Elimination a Pipe Dream?", was presented by Dr. Sylvia A. Flack. Dr. Flack is Executive Director of the Center of Excellence for the Elimination of Health Disparities and the immediate past Dean of Health Sciences/Professor of Nursing at Winston Salem State University. Dr. Flack has spent many years in both healthcare and higher education. Dr. Flack holds a Bachelor’s in Nursing from WSSU, a Masters in Nursing from the Medical College of Georgia and Doctorate in Educational Administration from Virginia Tech.
2008
The Annual Master Project Symposium of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies of Wake Forest School of Medicine was held on Friday, April 4, 2008.
The keynote speaker for the event was Lisa Huggins Oxendine, PA-C, MAEd. Ms. Oxendine wrote and published, The Pink Begonia Sister’s Caribbean Retreat, the story of 3 Native American women from southeastern North Carolina who turn 40 and deal with breast cancer before deciding to live differently in the Caribbean.
Ms. Oxendine is devoted to Pink Begonias around the world, a project to increase reading, sharing and the feeling of community around the world. The project encourages people to read and share stories with messages that can positively influence lives.
Ms. Oxendine earned a BS and MAEd degree from UNC-Pembroke and a Physician Assistant Certificate from Wake Forest School of Medicine. In 2007, she “retired” from medicine to pursue writing full-time.
2007
The Annual Master Project Symposium was held on Thursday, April 5, 2007.
In 2007, the keynote speaker was Carolyn Clancy, M.D., Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for the Department of Health and Human Services.
This lead agency is responsible for supporting research designed to improve the quality of health care, reduce its cost, improve patient safety, decrease medical errors and broaden access to essential services. Dr. Clancy discussed health disparities and the roles of patient-centered communication and health literacy in her presentation.