The inception of the PA profession was a response to the shortage of health care providers in the US. The fight continues as multiple factors such as poverty, environmental threats, lack of access to health care, and educational inequities continue to result in health disparities. Healthcare providers should strive to acknowledge the importance of culture and the dynamics that impact access to health care. Disparities are preventable inequities. Barriers to access include lack of adequate insurance, patient perception of needs, and resources that facilitate access to healthcare.
Click here to read about the PSPA’s commitment to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Physician Assistant (PA) profession in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Health Disparities Committee invites you to enter this year’s competition!
- ONE pre-physician assistant student and TWO current physician assistant students could receive cash prizes!
- PSPA fellows will have the opportunity to gain free conference registration and a one-year PSPA membership!
In years past, the committee has received essays, videos, and PowerPoint™ presentations for this competition. We will continue to encourage creativity by welcoming multimedia projects for the 2023 competition!
The Thomas J. Lemley Competition for Health Disparities in 2023 encourages PSPA members, fellows, students, and pre-PAs to reflect on the topic, “The Care of Adopted and/or Foster Patients and the Families.”
Every year, almost 424,000 children are living in the United States foster care system. Over 122,00 of these children are eligible for adoption but, on average, they will wait four years for an adoptive family. More than 69,000 of these children live in institutions, group homes, and other environments. In 2019, over 20,000 children aged out of the foster care system. Most of them will leave without the emotional and financial support necessary to succeed (US Department of Health and Human Services).
International adoptions have decreased over the last several years (1,622 adoptions in 2020 and 2,971 adoptions in 2019) largely due to increased regulations in the United States. Millions of children all over the world remain in need of a home (American Adoptions).
Families of foster and/or adopted children may face financial challenges, uncertainty in the foster/adoptive process, and struggle to find support/community, among other things. Foster and/or adopted children face unique challenges, including (but not limited to):
- Cultural differences from foster/adopted family and/or community
- Language barriers with family and/or community
- Issues with acclimatization to new environment
- Previous trauma resulting in emotional and behavioral disturbances
- Grief, separation, and loss
- Self-esteem and identity
- Unknown family medical history
The aforementioned issues are just a few examples of what foster and/or adopted patients and their families face. To honor the mission of Dr. Eugene Stead and all who were instrumental in the birth of our profession, we ask that you explore ways to improve the overall care and awareness of this special population. Culturally competent PAs should look for ways to heighten awareness of disparities that exist and integrate the knowledge of cultural factors to patient education and instructions.
Please join the Health Disparities Committee and let us know about efforts to take to address healthcare disparities in your current practice. Contact Jane Arenas by email at healthdisparities@pspa.net if you would like to be contacted by the committee.
Deadline to submit a project is June 16th, 2023 @ 11:59 PM. Click here for the Thomas J. Lemley Health Disparities Competition Guidelines.
Thomas J. Lemley Award for Health Disparities
Competition Topics to date (11-29-2022)
2023 – The Care of Adopted and/or Foster Patients and the Families
2022 –Trauma-Informed Care
2021 – How to Diversify the PA Profession
2019 – Biases in Healthcare Related to Body Weight
2018 – Standard of Care
2017 – Mental Health
2016 – Local Community Service
2015- Community Service
2014 – Religious Beliefs and Its Impact on Treatment
2013- Patient Education: Decreasing Disparities and Increasing Compliance
2012- Cultural Competence: Fostering Dignity and Respect
2011- Diversity from the Patient Perspective
2010- Public Health
2009- Public Health Issues
2008- Preventative Care
2007- Health Literacy
2006- Disability and Diversity
2005- Multicultural Diversity
2004- Diversity in Medicine
Tally of individual student award recipients to date (11-29-2022)
Chatham – 5
DeSales – 6
Drexel – 5
Duquesne – 7
Thomas Jefferson – 2
Lock Haven – 3
Marywood – 1
Penn College – 2
Salus – 3
Seton Hill – 5
Competition Winners to Date
2022
Joanna Johnson – Drexel University
Bryan Bilbao, PA-C
2021
Prenna Jackson – Drexel University
Zahra Cepeda – Marywood University
2019
First Place – Mason Miller, DeSales University
2018
First Place – Eliana Katz, DeSales University
Second Place – Kayla Miller, Lock Haven University
2017
First Place – Christy Lee DiSilvestro, Thomas Jefferson University
Second Place – Lauren Barton, Drexel University
2016
First Place – Hallie Gilbert, Seton Hill University
Second Place – Christie Lee DiSilvestro, Thomas Jefferson University
Fellow Division – Helen Hiserman
2015
First Place – Jaclyn Beck, King’s College
Second Place – Lauren Rice, DeSales University
2014
First Place – Heather Bratton, Lock Haven University
Second Place – Tyler Zulli, DeSales University
2013
First Place – Christy Lejkowski, Lock Haven University
Second Place – Kellen Homer, Seton Hill University
2012
First Place – Eric Paulson, DeSales University
2011
First Place – Whitney Strong, Seton Hill University
Second Place – Heather Prah, Duquesne University
2010
First Place – Kristin Juhasz, Seton Hill University
Second Place – Bradley Haveman-Gould, Drexel University
2009
First Place – Stacey Steer Mercer, Duquesne University
Second Place – Kathryn Ann Burns, DeSales University
2008
First Place – Jennifer Wagner, Salus University
Second Place – Joseph Lamb, Salus University
Third Place (tie) – Amanda Hansen, Seton Hill University
Third Place (tie) – Jessica Mantella, Duquesne University
Community Service – Salus University
2007
First Place – Lauren Werdman, Duquesne University
Second Place – Christie Dudash, Duquesne University
Third Place – Aida Gallagher, Drexel University
2006
First Place – Marilyn Caldwell, Penn College of Technology
Second Place – Maria Manzo, Chatham College
Third Place – Tracey Seylar, Penn College of Technology
Doctorate Student – Kimberly Cavanagh
2005
First Place – Helene Rovnan, Chatham College
Second Place – Kati Guntli, Duquesne University
Third Place – Bethany Crouch, Duquesne University
Honorable Mention – Allison Moore, Gannon University
2004
First Place – Helene Muller, Chatham College
Second Place – Emily Belzer, Chatham College
Third Place – Shalee Johnson, Chatham College