Class Officers

President- Brad Biskup

Brad was born and raised on a farm in Nebraska.  My hometown is Orleans, Nebraska (500 people). 

He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming in Exercise Physiology. 

Brad came to Connecticut for a job at the University of Connecticut Health Center to work in the Osteoporosis Center. 

To keep from getting board, he also worked in Hartford Hospital’s Emergency Department, St. Francis Hospital’s and New Britain’s Cardiac Rehab Departments. 

Brad also obtained his master’s degree in Biology at Central Connecticut State University. 

Brad is also been happily married since 1994 with 3 wonderful dogs!

 

Brad has all the qualities for president of the class of 2006:

• Maturity

• Positive attitude

• “People person”

• Dedication to the position

• Experience working in committees

 

Vice President- Carolyn Harrington

In the past few months we’ve spent together in PA school, I have learned how important it is to have team-work and to support and encourage each other.  Even though we are a group of 54 different personalities, we all have a common goal of becoming successful P.A.’s who will take that extra step to provide the best possible care to our patients.  In order for us to achieve this goal, we need to continue to work together as a team.

 

As vice-president, I challenge myself with the opportunity to help our class succeed in these goals.  My organization skills help us in planning events and overseeing committees.  One of our responsibilities as P.A.’s is to provide care to those who need it the most.  I do my best to ensure that we are able to hold screening clinics and educate people to the best of our abilities.

 

The next 24 months will have many challenges and bumps in the road and it is an honor for me to be vice-president of our class.  I hope to lead with enthusiasm and determination which will help us all succeed and achieve our goals. 

 

Secretary- Heather Cronkhite

She is a 22 year old Maine-native who attended the Entry-level Master’s PA undergraduate program at Quinnipiac before entering the graduate program.
Heather loves working with her fellow officers to continue the great legacy that the QU PA program has built, both nationally and in our community.
As secretary she handles a lot of the paperwork, communications, and task-keeping that a Student Society must deal with.
 

Treasurer -Sarah Way

The treasurer's duties include creating a class budget, collecting student society dues and arranging for reimbursement of funds.  Included in these duties is the responsibility to coordinate and maintain record of all funds relating to the annual 5K Road Race and Cow Chip Bingo fundraiser.  The treasurer also works closely with the other student officers to lead and direct the QUPA Student Society to remain highly motivated and to achieve great things, both at a national level and in the community.

 

Class Representatives

ConnAPA- Jen Patridge

Jennifer is from Burlington, CT and  graduated from the ELMPA program at Quinnipiac University. Jennifer acts as the liaison between our Student Society and the Connecticut Academy of Physician Assistants (also known as the Constituent Chapter Student Representative (CCSR) by the Student Academy of the AAPA ).  Part of Jennifers position requires attendance at monthly meetings for ConnAPA at various locations within Connecticut.  After the meetings Jennifer brings back information to discuss with our Student Society.  Jennifer has all the necessary qualities to be an effective Conn APA representative she is attentive, dedicated, and enthusiastic.  She works hard so that we all know the latest news about the PA profession. 

 

ConnPAF- Michelle Matura

Michelle serves as a liaison between the QU PA Student Society and the Connecticut Physician Assistant Foundation.

As the liaison she reports the achievements of our student society and reports back new information from the Conn PAF. 

Since Michelle was born in Connecticut, obtained her undergraduate education in CT, and plans on continuing her future career here, she serves as a great Connecticut PAF Representative.

 

Michelle has all the characteristics of a great liaison:

• Leadership qualities

• Commitment to the PA profession

• A person whom welcomes new challenges and opportunities with enthusiasm

• and strives for excellence

• A person who is responsible, reliable and professional

• All of the above

 Michelle also has had a lot of experience including:

• Active member/alumni of the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine. Last year she participated in the International Mission on Medicine in Australia, where she served as a delegate for the college she attended.

• Her involvement in these forums allowed her the opportunity to have an inside look at the medical profession..

• During her four years at Eastern Connecticut State University she was a member of the Tri Beta Biological Honor Society and very involved in community service at an institute for the mentally challenged.

AOR- Gina Corrado  and AOR alternate- Michaela Montecalvo

Gina Corrado is 25 years old from Natick, Massachusetts.  She has been out of college for a few years and is excited to be a student again.  Gina is dedicated to the quality of the QU program and has a strong passion for what it means to be a PA. 

 

The AOR representative’s duties include acting as the liaison between the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and you the students.  The AOR representative is involved in establishing and amending the policies of the Student Academy. 

Gina and Michaela are responsible for representing the opinions of our class to the SAAAPA (and vice versa) at the National AAPA conference in Orlando and throughout the year.

 

HOD-Ellee Loffler

As the representative to the House of Delegates Ellee is involved in the process of generating legislation and policies. This position allows her the opportunity to get our student societies’ vision of the profession of Physician Assistant expressed to the House of Delegates.

Ellee’s leadership experience included:

• Establishing a service-oriented student group of the Kiwanis chapter in her high school.

• Serving for one term as vice president and two terms as treasurer of the Alfred University Athletic Training Student Society.

• During her year as Vice President, she implemented a new constitution and set of bylaws for the society. As well as, instituted a renewed mission statement to focus the society on the betterment of the profession of athletic training and its promotion within the community.

Ellee’s experience along with her personal interest in the still-evolving profession, that we have all joined, makes her well suited for this job.

 

Student Diversity Representative- Lavina Jacob

As the Diversity representative Lavina has defined the role and set a standard for future class representatives. Lavina has made use of this position to promote cultural awareness in medicine through monthly bulletin boards, as well as promote medical care and education to less represented groups through meaningful community service projects.

 

Lavina has had an overwhelming amount of experience in promoting cultural awareness and programming.

·        President of the Indian Student Association at UConn –raising over $2000 for the organization and over $4000 for disaster relief fund

·        Resident Assistant at UConn for 2 years involved in over 20 programs promoting health education, sex safety education and cultural awareness