CHCS Perspectives Winter 2014

PERSPECTIVES • WINTER 2014 – Page 45 I was able to schedule a few moments with NSU’s newest shark— Tia Solh, M.P.A.S., PA-C, who joined the faculty team as an assis- tant professor in the fall of 2013. Solh, who is teaching microbiology to our students, is a graduate of Wayne State Uni- versity in Detroit, Michigan, where she completed both her Bach- elor of Science degree in Clinical Laboratory Science and her master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies. “As early as high school, I could remember my father encour- aging me to go into the medical profession,” she reminisced fondly. Although he passed away only two months before she graduated from high school, he was able to receive the joyous news his daughter had been granted a full-ride scholarship from Wayne State University. Shortly after graduating with college degree in hand, Solh worked in the laboratory for about six years, which is where she realized she wanted to work directly with patients. “I wanted to work with the patients face-to-face,” she explained. “I wanted to be involved with the whole person, not just with a specimen.” Solh eventually returned to Wayne State to complete her train- ing as a physician assistant; however, when the time came for rota- tions, she decided to do so in a most unusual way. “I went on a medical mission trip to Ecuador as part of my clinical rotations for two weeks with other classmates.” She explained that although they were not yet permitted to actually examine the patients, they were allowed to check the patients’ vital signs and ask pertinent questions to assist the treating physician. “We would set up a tiny clinic inside of a church,” she explained. “The patients would pay about one dollar that would go toward medical supplies and medication. The people from Ecuador were so excited to see us. It was truly an eye- opening experience.” A seasoned veteran in the emergency room, Solh focused on in- ternal medicine as well as infectious diseases and was trained in bone-marrow transplants. She also served as a preceptor to many second-year PA students from various states. When asked about her NSU students, she thoughtfully com- mented on how well they worked together, not witnessing the cliques that are commonly seen in many other academic institu- tions. “They are respectful toward me and toward each other.” According to Solh, she would gladly welcome a longstanding ca- reer with the NSU Orlando campus. “I really love working here with the students, being granted the opportunity to give back, to teach young minds, and…” she paused for a moment, then smiled and added, “…seeing a ‘little version’ of me.” Wrapping up my notes as she prepared to meet her next respon- sibility, I couldn’t help but think how pleased her dad would be to learn his little girl grew up to invest in the lives of so many people. By Iris M. Reynolds, Administrative Assistant, Physician Assistant Program – Orlando TIA SOLH Joins the Faculty Team “I really love working here with the students, being granted the opportunity to give back, to teach young minds, and…seeing a ‘little version’ of me.” Amidst a day filled with the flurry of students whizzing between classes and study halls,