School of Health Sciences

The Elon University Board of Trustees has approved the establishment of a master of science program in physician assistant studies. The board's vote at its Oct. 22-23 fall meeting will launch Elon’s sixth graduate program.

Elon's new master of science program in physician assistant (PA) studies will be located on the university's main campus. Elon's board of trustees made the decision in a special vote on Jan. 5, following more than two months of study and fundraising efforts.

Elon's new PA program, which enrolls its first class in January 2013, was featured in the July 25 edition of the Greensboro News & Record.

Elon University's board of trustees voted April 15 to establish a new School of Health Sciences, serving graduate students in the existing doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program along with students in the new physician assistant (PA) studies master's program, which will enroll its first class in January 2013.

Elon DPT students and alumni, including Jennifer Evans, Dana Tishler, Blair Madden, Natalie Maness, Judy Saas and Morgan Mason, are regular volunteers with the Greensboro Ballet's Dancing Above the Barre program.

Bill Andrews, associate professor of Physical Therapy, has published an article in the current issue of the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy titled "Outcome Measures in Neurological Physical Therapy Practice: Part II. A Patient-Centered Process."

Charity Johansson, professor of physical therapy, and Mary Knight-McKenna, professor of education, presented a paper at the 9th International Transformative Learning Conference in Athens, Greece, on May 29.

Doctor of Physical Therapy student, Danielle Gilbert, recently completed a four-week experience in Migori, Kenya. Gilbert opted for an independent study during her Advanced Clinical Practice Selective course and worked at St. Joseph Mission Hospital. A third-year student from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Gilbert completed her undergraduate degree at Elon in 2009 with a major in exercise science, and had studied abroad in Ghana during a winter term.

Four faculty members were honored May 11, 2011, for superior scholarship, teaching, mentoring and service at Elon University’s faculty-staff awards luncheon. Those recognized included Mary Jo Festle, Ann J. Cahill, Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler and Stephen Bailey.

In the new issue of the Magazine of Elon, President Leo M. Lambert outlines plans for eight major construction projects as part of the Elon Commitment strategic plan. More than 1,284 new residence hall spaces will be built over the next three years as part of a transformation of the residential experience. Other projects include a new retail building, including the campus bookstore, on Williamson Avenue; the Gerald L. Francis building on Haggard Avenue for graduate programs in physical therapy and physician assistant studies; a new multi-faith center in the Academic Village; and new facilities for Phoenix athletics.