New Penn College Video Highlights Physician Assistant Major

Published 04.10.2012

News
Nursing & Health Sciences
Physician Assistant
Alumni News

The growing field of physician assistant is examined in the latest video added to Pennsylvania College of Technology's YouTube Channel.

The four-minute video highlights the bachelor-degree major through the eyes of Matthew D. Stoltz, of DuBois, an August 2011 graduate.

Throughout the video , Stoltz describes his attraction to the physician assistant career, as well as the challenges and rewards of the major. Footage includes Stoltz working on patients during his clinical rotation at Susquehanna Health's UrgiCenter, located at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center.

Gerianne C. Tomb, of Harrison Valley, edited the video. A web design and multimedia major, Tomb works as a student video production assistant in College Information and Community Relations.

Physician assistants, or PAs, are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs work in a variety of health-care settings ranging from cardiovascular surgery to family practice. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 39 percent through 2018; average job growth during that time is estimated to be 10 percent.

Stoltz is employed as a physician assistant at Laurel Eye Clinic and the Laurel Laser and Surgery Center in Brookville. He is also a staff sergeant in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and is scheduled to be promoted to first lieutenant within the next few months.

He graduated cum laude from Penn College and was a member of the men's volleyball team. Along with other physician assistant students, Stoltz volunteered his time during the Little League World Series, working at the infirmary established for players and coaches.

The Penn College YouTube Channel has collected more than 246,000 video views since debuting in 2009. The channel explores numerous majors and various aspects of the college. It also includes full-length episodes of the college's award-winning, career-awareness public television series, "degrees that work.tv."

To learn more about the physician assistant major and other academic programs offered by the School of Health Sciences at Penn College, visit online or call 570-327-4519.

For more about Penn College, visit on the Web , email or call toll-free 800-367-9222.