Physician Assistant student awarded Foundation scholarship

Timothy Nickolaus, a second year physician assistant (PA) student enrolled at Barry University’s Physician Assistant program won the 2010 Physician Assistant Foundation scholarship. Nickolaus was chosen because of his outstanding academic achievement and his commitment to community service and quality health care.

Barry selects students for its program based upon their experience, academic standing and character. The curriculum includes a Medical Spanish immersion course that is designed to improve communication for health professionals treating Spanish-speaking patients.

The PA Foundation scholarship was presented to Nickolaus by Dr. Doreen C. Parkhurst, associate dean and director of Barry University's PA Program at the American Academy of Physician Assistants’ annual meeting in Atlanta.

“Timothy Nickolaus is an exemplary PA student who will make a caring and considerate health care provider,” said Dr. Parkhurst. “We are very proud of his tremendous academic achievements and dedication to the medically underserved.”

The PA Foundation develops and allocates resources that empower the physician assistant profession to impact the health and wellness of communities it serves. It provides grants and scholarships to PAs and PA students who bring much-needed health care to underserved and underprivileged communities in the U.S. and around the world. Scholarships and grants are made available through the generosity of individual contributions, corporate support and various constituent organizations.

“The PA Foundation scholarships have provided over $2.4 million to more than1200 deserving PA students, and this year singled out 77 deserving recipients,” said Agnes Compagnone, RPA-C, President, PA Foundation. By supporting the Annual Student Scholarship Program we are supporting the next generation of physician assistants. This is a career path that shows increased trends in growth, salary and job security.”

For more information about the PA Foundation, visit the organization’s web site: http://www.aapa.org/pa-foundation.