Family practice physician assistant for the Homeless Persons Health project and Emeline clinics.

Physician assistant and pain medicine specialty provider as part of a multidisciplinary team using integrative and novel approaches to treat pain at its source while decreasing dependence on opioid pain medications. Our philosophy is to accurately diagnose and treat the cause of pain rather than mask symptoms. I work in a bustling office setting managing chronic, complex, and challenging cases. Along with diagnosis and treatment, I perform numerous procedures, including but not limited to: ultrasound guided injections, joint injections, selective nerve blocks, and intramuscular trigger point injections. I also provide medical education and lead small patient groups within our functional restoration and rehabilitation program.

Physician assistant and primary care provider in a fast-paced, rural, community health center. Involved in all aspects of patient care across the lifespan, including; detailed history, physical examinations, development and implementation of treatment plans, prescription of medications, ordering and interpretation of laboratory tests and diagnostic studies, as well as in-office surgical procedures. For many years I served as the sole clinical provider on weekends and holidays, have participated in a community-based program to teach sexual education in local area middle schools, and have joined in an effort to provide free physical examinations to the uninsured through our community outreach program.

Applicable Skills

• Diagnose and treat common urgent care problems including URI's, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, pharyngitis, mononucleosis, asthma exacerbations, UTIs, otitis media and externa, conjunctivitis, corneal abrasion, migraines, gastroenteritis, fractures/dislocations, allergic reactions.
• Experience in the management of chronic medical illness such as, but not limited to diabetes mellitus, chronic bronchitis, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, heart failure, obesity, chronic pain syndromes, thyroid disease, cirrhosis, and chemical dependency.
• Procedures: I and D's, closure of wounds via sutures, staples and Dermabond; wound and skin care, injections, aseptic and isolation techniques, venipuncture, initiation of intravenous infusions, placement of NG tubes, collection of cultures, arterial blood draws, CPR, placement of catheters, eye examination using fluorescein and Wood's light.
• Extensive practice in the area of pediatrics and adolescent medicine including well child/adolescent exams, screening sports physicals, infant care and nutrition, disorders of the bladder and bowel, the effective management of ADHD, eating disorders, and childhood behavioral problems.
• Women's health including Papanicolaou cytology smears, wet mount and KOH prep, evaluation and management of abnormal uterine bleeding, menopause, osteoporosis, contraceptive initiation, and surveillance as well as basic obstetric care.
• The ability to focus on mental health as it affects physiological well being.
• The skill to work in a diverse and multicultural environment, with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Medical lead and co-organizer of a physician assistant led medical missions team to Port-au-Prince Haiti. We provide primary care to underserved communities in and around Port-au-Prince as well as several rural outlying villages in the region. We team with local doctors, dentists, and volunteer agencies to provide ongoing services and prescription medications through local contacts to extend services beyond present-day needs.

On-site supervisor and lead technician during mobile community blood drives. On-site coordinator of bone marrow and rare blood donor drives. Supervised 2-15 staff/volunteers per day. Performed venipuncture for whole blood/sample collection. Screened donors for medical history, took vital signs and performed hematocrit testing. Monitored and cared for all donor reactions. Trained and precepted new staff. Responsible for the post-drive summary, donor health reports, computer/data entry, on-site maintenance, post donation evaluations and all on-site consultations with mobile coordinators and clinical program nurses.

Performed venipuncture for laboratory testing on adults and children in both inpatient and outpatient setting. Educated patients on correct specimen handling and collection. Ordered and distributed diagnostic tests from outside laboratories. Trained new personnel in venipuncture and laboratory procedures. Tended to all patient reactions and complications as needed.

Intensive program included 18 months of classroom training shared with Robert Wood Johnson medical students culminating with 16 months of clinical rotations.

Masters Project: Community-Oriented Primary Care Summer Assistantship: In collaboration with the Jersey Shore Medical Center "A" Team, a clinic providing care to underserved patients with HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, I organized and created a community awareness campaign regarding Hepatitis C infection/transmission. Provided direct patient outreach within the team’s mobile unit and compiled on-site research data for publication to guide Hepatitis C treatment and education within the clinic. 

Scholarship - Dean's List