Perspectives Spring 2015

Countless families travel far from home and spend several weeks to several months to get treatment for their seriously ill or injured children. A Ronald McDonald House is recog- nized as a home away from home for families so they can stay close to their hospitalized child at little or no cost. Some houses ask for a one-time donation of as little as $20, but they do not require any monetary support whatsoever. These houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when family members are focused on the health of their child—not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal, or where they will lay their head at night to rest. Providing family members with these simple necessi- ties allows them to shower their child with love and support during a time of illness. As NSU physician assistant students, we strive to better the health of our community. Well known for altruism, empathy, and philanthropy, several students jumped at the opportunity to lend a helping hand when I first announced the availabil- ity to volunteer at a local Ronald McDonald House. During the fall semester, a handful of us devoted a few hours of our time by preparing two meals for the two Ronald McDonald Houses in Orlando, Florida. Together we donated, prepared, and served delicious and nutritious dinners for the residents of the Arnold Palmer Medical Center and Florida Hospital Ronald McDonald Houses and have many more dinners scheduled to prepare. The appreciation displayed by the oc- cupants and staff members filled our hearts with satisfaction and reminded us of why it is so important to give back to the community you live in. With 337 Ronald McDonald Houses located in 35 coun- tries—including 176 in the United States—participating in Share-A-Meal events at your local Ronald McDonald House is easy and fun. If you are interested in volunteering, stop by your local Ronald McDonald House or visit the Web site www.rmhc.org to schedule your next Share-A-Meal event. PA students give back to the community by volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House. The Physician Assistant Program is pleased to take this opportunity to recognize and thank our Preceptor of the Year for 2014, David Chatfield, D.O., who has been a dedicated preceptor since 2012. Many of the students believe his rotation is one of the most rigor- ous, but they appreciate that he challenges them in many ways. Overall, the students appreciate the chal- lenge to be and do better while on the internal medi- cine clinical rotation. Interestingly, Dr. Chatfield was a physician assistant for 10 years prior to returning to medical school. Our students are inspired by his pre- vious history and respect the fact that he understands the role of the PA. Dr. Chatfield is known to be the quintessential per- fectionist in his medical practice, and he imparts the same principles in teaching the NSU PA students dur- ing their clinical experience. The students are trained to fully participate in the medical diagnosing and treat- ment of inpatient and critically ill patients. This internal medicine rotation, however, is not for the faint of heart because Dr. Chatfield expects only the best from all who have the privilege of spending a six-week rotation with him. The students recognize that he is a quality preceptor, which is evidenced by the following com- ments shared by students who participated in his clin- ical rotation: “He is the most challenging preceptor I have had thus far.” • “Dr. Chatfield was previously a physician assistant before becoming a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, and therefore he pushed me to be the PA he knows I will need to be upon graduation. He constantly asked me questions about each patient and encouraged me to read daily and look up information anytime I was unsure. I have never spent so much time analyzing abnormal lab values and feel comfortable now with this task. I wish I could have this rotation again. He is an amazing teacher and doctor. Any student would be lucky with this rotation.” • “Best preceptor thus far. He loves to teach and intentionally searches for cases a student can learn from.” “Dr. Chatfield is by far one of the best preceptors I have had during my rotations and further, one of the most solid instructors. He is passionate about both learning and teaching as well as about the individual needs of the student. His approach to medicine encourages critical thinking and application to patient care.” • “Dr. Chatfield is an excellent preceptor. He has high expectations and demands 100 percent from his students. I was constantly challenged and always learning. He brings in extra study materials, loans out lecture CDs and books, and refers to Up-To-Date frequently. Each patient is a learning opportunity, no matter the location or the time of day. I feel very privileged to have had him as my preceptor.” From reading these student testimonies, it is evident that Dr. Chatfield is one of our most valued clinical pre- ceptors, which is why NSU’s Physician Assistant Pro- gram in Orlando looks forward to establishing a long-lasting partnership with him. Dr. Chatfield Receives NSU Orlando Preceptor of the Year Award By Ingrid Pichardo-Murray, D.P.T., M.P.A.S., PA-C, Clinical Director and Assistant Professor