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Faculty & Staff Nursing & Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Assistant Students

Pulling together, on a woodland trail

On a team-building mission, the group moves along the historic watershed trails.
On a team-building mission, the group moves along the historic watershed trails.
Stopping amid landmarks of the past are front row (from left): Veronica J. Rayer, of Woodlyn, and Tatiana M. Hinaman, of Jersey Shore. Back row (from left): Caitlin C. Brubaker, of Ohiopyle; Madison L. Gift, of Waynesboro; Kerschner; Karen I. Palko, of Northumberland; Kierstan M. Heizman, of Lititz; Juvy A. Orillaza, of Carlisle; and Cooley.
Stopping amid landmarks of the past are front row (from left): Veronica J. Rayer, of Woodlyn, and Tatiana M. Hinaman, of Jersey Shore. Back row (from left): Caitlin C. Brubaker, of Ohiopyle; Madison L. Gift, of Waynesboro; Kerschner; Karen I. Palko, of Northumberland; Kierstan M. Heizman, of Lititz; Juvy A. Orillaza, of Carlisle; and Cooley.

Volunteer outreach by faculty member D. Robert Cooley – a five-part trial orientation to strengthen bonds between Penn College classmates and cohesiveness within academic programs – met with rave reviews by the student participants who requested the activity. Cooley, associate professor of anthropology/environmental science, recently accompanied nine occupational therapy assistant students and director Jeanne M. Kerschner on a nature hike through the Williamsport Municipal Water Authority grounds. “The students recognized the value of these events and even requested that we continue these team-building sessions next semester,” Kerschner said of the group, which was undeterred by rain.
Photos provided

Faculty & Staff Nursing Nursing & Health Sciences

Nursing faculty member receives Nightingale Award Scholarship

Christine B. Kavanagh

A member of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s nursing faculty received this year’s doctoral scholarship from the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania.

Christine B. Kavanagh, assistant professor of nursing, is pursuing a doctor of nursing practice from Robert Morris University. She was selected based on professional leadership, academic achievement, leadership potential, community service and personal commitment.

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Alumni Nursing & Health Sciences Physical Therapist Assistant

College’s first physical therapist assistant grads 100% employed

The first graduating class from Pennsylvania College of Technology’s physical therapist assistant major is fully employed in the field. Hands-on learning takes place in a well-equipped laboratory, where students practice skills and interventions.

The first graduating class of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s physical therapist assistant major not only achieved a 100% first-attempt pass rate on the national certification exam for physical therapist assistants, but the graduates have subsequently achieved 100% employment in their chosen field.

All Class of 2018 graduates who sought employment are employed as physical therapist assistants. They are working in hospitals, long-term care facilities and outpatient centers across Pennsylvania and as far south as North Carolina.

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Faculty & Staff Nursing Nursing & Health Sciences Students

Empathy hits close to home for nursing students

A faculty member's reversed ostomy equipped a nursing lab with surplus supplies and gave classmates a valuable life lesson.
A faculty member’s reversed ostomy equipped a nursing lab with surplus supplies and gave classmates a valuable life lesson.

Students in the Fundamentals of Nursing course learned more about the experiences some of their future patients will face, courtesy of a donation of excess medical supplies after a faculty member recovered from a serious health issue. Dulcey J. Frantz, assistant professor of nursing, underwent chemotherapy for bowel cancer and had to use an ostomy bag. “Fortunately, she was able to have a reversal to her ostomy and is doing well,” explained Tushanna M. Habalar, instructor of nursing, who teaches the course. Since she no longer needs the bags, Frantz donated her extra supplies to the class. Every student applied an ostomy bag – with applesauce in it to simulate a bowel movement – and wore it for 24 hours, journaling about the experience. An ostomy is a surgical procedure in which an artificial opening is made to permit the drainage of waste products either into an appropriate organ or to the outside of the body.
Photo provided

Dental Hygiene Nursing & Health Sciences Students

Student poster presentations earn honors at state conference

Pennsylvania College of Technology dental hygiene students Tyler J. Wetzel-Haynes (left), of Ono, and Pavel Dariychuk, of Leola, present their fourth place-winning poster, “Locked in on Dental Implants” at the Keystone Dental Health Conference in Kind of Prussia.

Two informative posters presented by Pennsylvania College of Technology dental hygiene students placed in the top 10 during the Pennsylvania Dental Hygienists’ Association’s annual conference.

A poster titled “Locked in on Dental Implants,” presented by Pavel Dariychuk, of Leola, and Tyler J. Wetzel-Haynes, of Ono, placed fourth among 58 entries from across the state.

Jordyn Kahler’s poster, “Knowledge is Power: Oral Health Literacy,” placed sixth. Kahler is from York.

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Nursing & Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Assistant Students

OTA students put lessons to use in cheerful community outreach

Occupational Therapy Assistant Club members (from left) Cayla M. Rogers, of Selinsgrove; Felicia Baker, of Mifflinburg; Elizabeth Wellar, of Bellefonte; Kaylin J. Walker, of Liberty; and Kayla N. Kern, of Williamsport, dress up to brighten patients’ day at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.
Occupational Therapy Assistant Club members (from left) Cayla M. Rogers, of Selinsgrove; Felicia Baker, of Mifflinburg; Elizabeth Wellar, of Bellefonte; Kaylin J. Walker, of Liberty; and Kayla N. Kern, of Williamsport, dress up to brighten patients’ day at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.
Carissa N. Rutledge, of Williamsport; Felicia Baker, of Mifflinburg; Eve M. Verona, of Pocono Lake; Kayla N. Kern, of Williamsport; and Maria M. Polonia, of Wellsboro, stand ready to help residents at Valley View Nursing and Rehab Center to participant in the center’s Resident Fair.
Carissa N. Rutledge, of Williamsport; Felicia Baker, of Mifflinburg; Eve M. Verona, of Pocono Lake; Kayla N. Kern, of Williamsport; and Maria M. Polonia, of Wellsboro, stand ready to help residents at Valley View Nursing and Rehab Center to participant in the center’s Resident Fair.

Students in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Club recently dressed as Disney princesses to visit pediatric patients at the Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville. After their visit, the students provided a meal for the families of those ill children at the nearby Ronald McDonald House. Club members also volunteered their time to support the Valley View Nursing and Rehab Center’s Resident Fair. “The students helped residents to participate in games and activities, even using their emerging occupational therapy skills to adapt the environment or task so all residents and family members could participate,” explained Jeanne M. Kerschner, director of occupational therapy assistant.
Photos provided

Dental Hygiene Faculty & Staff Nursing & Health Sciences Radiography Students

‘Pink Out’ classes color their world with hope

Radiography students support breast cancer awareness – and the profession’s role in early detection.
Aptly attired, dental hygiene students and faculty paint the clinic pink.
Aptly attired, dental hygiene students and faculty paint the clinic pink.

Penn College programs went pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On Oct. 9, radiography students dressed in pink. Potential workplaces for radiographers include mammography centers. The dental hygiene program held a “Pink Out” on Oct. 23. Throughout the day, students, faculty and dentists donned pink gowns during patient care activities in the Dental Hygiene Clinic. In addition, the dental hygiene student organization, SADHA, is making a monetary donation to a local cancer patient support charity.
Photos provided by program directors Christine L. Eckenrod (radiography) and Shawn A. Kiser (dental hygiene)

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High-schoolers preview not-so-distant future at Career Day

Chef Craig A. Cian, associate professor of hospitality management/culinary arts, helps a student from the Lycoming Career & Technology Center to form pizza dough.

Career Day brought hundreds of ninth-12th graders to campus on Thursday to explore more than 30 activities offered by employees and students to help high-schoolers learn about the wide variety of career options available to them. The event is coordinated by the College Transitions and First Year Initiatives Office.

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Faculty & Staff General Information Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies Nursing Nursing & Health Sciences Plastics & Polymer Welding

College part of Chamber’s industry tour for educators

Melissa Turlip, program manager with Commonwealth Charitable Management, invites attendees to explore the six Mobile Oilfield Learning Unit stations (at right), offering 24 hands-on activities on energy and the technologies and sciences involved with the oil and gas industry. The traveling exhibit, from the Oilfield Energy Center, is available for secondary school visits.
Melissa Turlip, program manager with Commonwealth Charitable Management, invites attendees to explore the six Mobile Oilfield Learning Unit stations (at right), offering 24 hands-on activities on energy and the technologies and sciences involved with the oil and gas industry. The traveling exhibit, from the Oilfield Energy Center, is available for secondary school visits.
Visitors move from their luncheon site into other areas of the welding addition, as well as to the current instructional space.
Visitors move from their luncheon site into other areas of the welding addition, as well as to the current instructional space.
A long line of secondary educators and counselors make their way down the campus mall on a beautiful autumn day, led by Bradley M. Webb (far left), assistant dean of industrial, computing and engineering technologies.
A long line of secondary educators and counselors make their way down the campus mall on a beautiful autumn day, led by Bradley M. Webb (far left), assistant dean of industrial, computing and engineering technologies.
The college’s modern nursing labs, complete with high-tech “patients” of varying ages, are shown off by Valerie A. Myers, assistant dean of nursing.
The college’s modern nursing labs, complete with high-tech “patients” of varying ages, are shown off by Valerie A. Myers, assistant dean of nursing.
Webb shares the industry-sized equipment and processes housed in the plastics and polymer engineering technology labs.
Webb shares the industry-sized equipment and processes housed in the plastics and polymer engineering technology labs.

School counselors, along with career and technical educators, included Penn College on a Monday tour of the area’s industrial assets. The guests began their afternoon with lunch in the new welding addition before exploring new and existing welding labs in the Lycoming Engines Metal Trades Center, then moved to the Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center for stopovers in nursing and plastics. The groups visited several businesses in the region prior to arriving on main campus, including Lycoming Engines, Halliburton and Savoy Contract Furniture. Eyewitness News’ Morgan Parrish was along for the tours, which were facilitated by the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.

Nursing & Health Sciences Radiography Students

Club’s reactivation includes ‘Case of the Week’ X-ray contest

Reactivated Medical Imaging Club initiates campuswide "Case of the Week" contest.

The Medical Imaging Club has been reactivated this semester and is off to a good start after its first meeting attracted 53 radiography and pre-radiography students. The group elected officers and planned a variety of fun learning activities.

One of those is a “Case of the Week” contest that invites anyone on campus to participate. Organizers post an X-ray image on the club’s bulletin board, in the Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center’s second-floor, west-wing hallway, across from Room W232. All are invited to play along by identifying the body part and what is exceptional about the image.

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Nursing Nursing & Health Sciences Students

Nursing honor society chapter receives regional recognition

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s newly chartered chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing was recently recognized as part of the organization’s Showcase of Regional Excellence.

The chapter was recognized for responding to Sigma Theta Tau International President Beth Baldwin Tigges’ call to all chapters and members to “connect, collaborate and catalyze to advance world health.”

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Dental Hygiene General Information Nursing & Health Sciences

Students serve 2,000-plus patients in Dental Hygiene Clinic

The Dental Hygiene Clinic at Pennsylvania College of Technology provides low-cost preventive dental care to the community and a remarkable, real-world learning environment for students.

Pennsylvania College of Technology students provided dental care to more than 2,000 patients in the college’s Dental Hygiene Clinic during the 2018-19 academic year.

The college’s state-of-the-art Dental Hygiene Clinic is open to the public and provides low-cost services that include cleanings, exams, X-rays and sealants.

Since many patients require more than one visit, the students provided a total of 4,138 patient appointments.

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Dental Hygiene Nursing & Health Sciences Students

Dental hygiene students boost cancer awareness

Dental hygiene student Tyler J. Wetzel-Haynes, of Ono, performs a head and neck screening during the Kiwanis Club of Bald Eagle and Nittany Valleys’ “Go Gold” childhood cancer event.
Dental hygiene student Tyler J. Wetzel-Haynes, of Ono, performs a head and neck screening during the Kiwanis Club of Bald Eagle and Nittany Valleys’ “Go Gold” childhood cancer event.

On Sept. 21, dental hygiene students participated in a “Go Gold” event hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Bald Eagle and Nittany Valleys to raise awareness of childhood cancer. During the event, which was held in the Mill Hall Volunteer Fire Co., students performed free oral abnormality and head and neck screenings, which can help to detect oral cancer. They collaborated with health sciences students from Lock Haven University and networked with other community partners. The Penn College students were supervised by Bridget E. Motel, instructor of dental hygiene. This was the local Kiwanis club’s fourth “Go Gold” event.
Photo provided