The Division of Natural & Health Sciences

Newsletter

Seton Hill University will hold its sixteenth annual Women in Science Day on Wednesday, April 7, 2004. The event honors female high school juniors, from regional high schools, who have been nominated by their teachers as students who excel in mathematics, biology and/or chemistry. The student nominees, their parents and nominating teachers are invited to the event. The day begins with a keynote address by Forensic Scientist Barbara Flowers. Barbara has served as a forensic scientist in Serology and Trace Section for the PA State Police Crime Laboratory in Greensburg, a Criminalist II in the Microanalysis Section for the Charlotte/Mecklenberg Police Department Crime Laboratory in Charlotte, NC and most recently as a Forensic Scientist II for the PA State Police DNA Laboratory in Greensburg. Barbara is also an Instructor in Forensic Science at Seton Hill. The students and their guests also participate in hands-on activities in the University biology, chemistry, physician assistant, dietetics, molecular modeling and computer labs. The day concludes with an awards luncheon. This annual event affirms young women in their pursuit of careers in mathematics and science.

Chemistry News

Dietetics News

Biology News

Sr. Ann, Dr. Bassett and biology juniors Julia Ecklar and Misty Claypoole went to Aquinas Academy on March 25 to help 7th graders dissect earthworms.

Physician Assistant News

According to employment projections released in February 2004 by the U.S. Government's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the physician assistant (PA) profession is currently ranked the third fastest-growing occupation in the U.S. between 2002 and 2012.  The BLS predicts that the number of physician assistant jobs in the U.S. will grow by 49% from 2002-2012, while total U.S. employment is projected to increase by only 15 percent during this period.

"This new data released by the U.S. government confirms what we're hearing all the time from the medical community -that as the practice of medicine rapidly changes in the U.S. more employers are hiring PAs," said Stephen Crane, executive vice president and CEO of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). "The U.S. government is predicting what we're already seeing -an increasing number of PAs in the U.S. labor force, who work directly with an increasing number of patients."

The ten- year projections by the BLS of economic growth, employment by industry and

occupation, and labor force are widely used in career guidance, in planning education and

training programs, and in studying long-range employment and economic trends.

While the BLS reports on the number om.s. jobs, data collected by AAP A focuses on the

number of people clinically practicing as PAs. AAPA estimates that there are currently 50,121 people in clinical practice as P As. Additionally, according to AAP A estimates, approximately 192 million patient visits were made to PAs in 2003, up from 183 million patient visits in 2002.

According to the U.S. Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics, the U.S.

population is aging, raising new issues for health care delivery .13 percent of the total

population is now age 65 or older, compared with only four percent in 1900. At the same time, 43 mi11ion Americans do not have health insurance. As these factors continue to increase health care costs, the AAP A expects the number of P As in the health care system will also increase, as PAs are a highly cost-effective means of providing quality health care to millions of Americans.  

Of the health care professions listed in the top ten fastest growing occupations, the P A profession requires the most postsecondary education to enter the profession and was the only health care profession classified in the top quartile ranking of Occupational Employment Statistics annual earnings. The typical PA program is 23-25 months long and requires at least two years of college and some health care experience prior to admission. According to the 2003 AAP A Annual

Physician Assistant Census Survey, the mean total income for PAs in all medical specialties is $76,039, while the comparable mean for recent PA graduates is $64,565.

Physician assistants are licensed health professionals who practice medicine as members of a team working with supervising physicians. P As deliver a broad range of medical and surgical services to diverse populations in rural and urban settings. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and prescribe medications.

For more information about Seton Hill University's Physician Assistant program, visit the PA website at http://www.setonhill.edu/academics/index.cfm?ACID=114.   To read the complete BLS 2002-2012 economic and employment projections, go to www.bls.gov/news.realease/ecopro.toc.htm.

Math Club

PI Day The Math Club held their Pi Day a little late this year (3/24 instead of 3/14) but it was a smashing success nonetheless. 'We owe a BIG thank you to the people who came out to support the Math Club.  Both the volunteers and the pie-throwers," said Josh Sasmor, the Club's faculty  advisor.  Lynn Handy, Jenn Hoffman, Geoff Atkinson, Amber Sherman, Robin Illsley, and Barbara Hinkle wer such gracious victims.  And a special thank you to President Boyle for coming out and throwing a  pie at Barbara and me." The Club raised over $90 a this year's Pi Day.