CHCS Perspectives Winter 2014

PERSPECTIVES • WINTER 2014 – Page 33 Physician Assistant FORT LAUDERDALE Under the excellent leadership of class of 2014 student Valerie Fiordilino, the physician assistant class of 2014 – Fort Lauderdale found numerous ways to donate supplies and money to a variety of individuals in need during the 2012-13 academic year. The class pursued many charitable causes and would like to provide contact information for others who may also wish to become involved. In November 2012, the class held a food drive for the Saint Vin- cent de Paul Society, which provides food for the poor in Palm Beach County. Thanks to the class of 2014’s efforts, a variety of canned goods and donations were collected and turkeys were pur- chased to help make Thanksgiving special for many impoverished families. To contact the Saint Vincent de Paul Society and find out more about the organization, please contact John Hoffman at (561) 267-9170 or visit www.stpetercatholicchurch.com/Ministries/OutreachMin- istries.html . The class of 2014 also participated in a relief effort for Hurricane Sandy in November 2012, collecting over 50 blankets for hurricane victims who were being housed in a large church in Long Island, New York. In December 2012, the class held a toy drive, collecting hundreds of items for underprivileged children of the Jupiter Head Start program. The Head Start program promotes school readiness of low-income children by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emo- tional development in a learning environment that supports their language, literacy, mathematics, science, creative arts, and physical skills. Jupiter Head Start can be contacted at (561) 694-5420. Participating students also brightened the Christmas holiday for seriously ill children and their families at Quantum House at St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital. QuantumHouse is a caring, supportive home that lessens the burden for families whose children are receiv- ing treatment in Palm Beach County for a serious medical condi- tion. Seventeen class of 2014 students visited Quantum House last December and served as Chefs for the Day for the children and their families. The students also brought toys and activities for the chil- dren and decorated the facility for the holidays. To contact Quan- tum House, please call (561) 494-0515 or visit www.quantumhouse.org . In April 2013, our PA students contributed to the organization Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County, which seeks to improve birth outcomes by providing access to prenatal care to uninsured or underinsured pregnant women and teens in Palm Beach County. Students collected and donated infant formula, baby diapers, and toys for many infants. To learn more about the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, please call 888-414-4642 or visit www.hmhbpbc.org . The class of 2014 also became involved with organizations that aid deployed American soldiers. In the fall of 2012, the class aided the South Florida organization Forgotten Soldiers Outreach by Physician assistant class of 2014 students during the Christmas 2012 toy collection drive. Philanthropic Efforts of the Physician Assistant Class of 2014 By Pamela Jaffey, M.D., FCAP, Associate Professor Continued on page 34...