Partnership Creates Opportunity for Hearing/Vision Screenings
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- Julington Creek Elementary total, 432 students screened. The AA class of 2024, left to right, Katherine Centeno, Thomas Anderson, Amy Aschenbrener, Lindsey Fichtner, Heidi Hollins, Brandon Phillips, Garrett Lund, Chayan Ahuja
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- Pine Island Academy combined total, 655 students screened. The PA class of 2024, back row, left to right, Kareem Cole, Andrew Eaton, Joseph Palopoli, Angelica Fitzroy, Marlo Leikam, Jenny Le. Middle Row, Kelsey Griffin, Julia Wallrich, Selina Espinoza. Front Row, left to right, Scott Tilbrook, Sarah Workman, Julia Turi, Reagan Pobst, Courtnae Wallric.
For the first time, the physician assistant students are joined by the anesthesiologist assistant students in partnering with St. Johns County School District to assist with Hearing and Vision Screenings for elementary school students.
Since 2010, Hugh Rappa, M.D., associate program director and professor, and the Jacksonville Regional Campus Physician Assistant (PA) program, has been a partnership with the St. Johns County School District to assistant the school district with hearing and vision screening exams for elementary school students.
Liberty Pines Academy combined total, 739 students screened. The PA class of 2024, back row, left to right, Philip Chanfrau, Daly Hong, Kasandra Hager, Stephanie Grose, Ashleigh Maya, Danielle Tomoser, Madison MacDougall, Natalie Najmy, Lauren Omdahl. Front Row, left to right, Anthony Abate, Javier Gonzalez, Michelle Lenahan, Natalie Lipman, Radha Patel, Bethany Jones, Heather Homrighouse, Payal Patel.
Rappa first met Mrs. Leslie Shugart, the districts representative in 2009, and who currently works in student services for St. John County School District and discussed the possibility of bringing his PA students to assist with screenings. In 2010, Rappa was accompanied by 8 PA students and assisted in screenings at Ponte Vedra Palm Valley-Rawlings Elementary School. Since 2011, Rappa with the commitment of Charlene Bolton, Ed.D., PA program director, has been involving all first year PA students in this community service.
In Fall 2022, Rappa asked, anesthesiologist assistant (AA) program director, Gregg Mastropolo, M.M.Sc., if he would like his students to participate in these screenings. They both agreed, and for the first time, the Jacksonville Regional Campus AA students and the PA students joined together in screening close to 5,000 elementary students at 9 different county schools.
In addition to hearing and vision screenings, height and weight and scoliosis screenings were also performed. Actual screenings depend on the academic grade of the students. Dates have already been scheduled for both programs to participate in Fall 2023.
Posted 05/07/23