RV University opens Mysuru campus in Nanjangud, MLA Darshan Dhruvanarayana appeals 1100+ students to pursue their passion

Nanjangud, Mysuru, 27 August 2026: RV University, a new-age global university for liberal education, today inducted the founding batch of its Mysuru campus at Navodaya, the University’s annual induction ceremony. For over 1100 students, it marked the first morning of their university lives; for the campus at Nanjangud, the first morning of its existence.

The inaugural cohort will spend the next few years building the culture, traditions and student life of a brand-new campus, founding its student societies and setting the conventions every batch after them will inherit.

Sri Darshan Dhruvanarayana, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Nanjangud Constituency, was the Guest of Honour. They were joined by Dr. M.P. Shyam, President, Rashtreeya Sikshana Samithi Trust (RSST); Dr. (H.C.) A.V.S. Murthy, Chancellor, RV University and Hon. Secretary, RSST; Prof. Ram Kumar Kakani, Vice Chancellor, RV University; Prof. Dwarika Prasad Uniyal, Pro Vice Chancellor and Director, Mysuru Campus; Prof. Sahana D. Gowda, Registrar; members of the RSST Board of Trustees, Deans, faculty and parents of the incoming cohort.

The morning opened with the traditional lighting of the lamp. RV Educational Institutions also unveiled its mascot, RV Garuda, giving students across all RV campuses a shared identity for the first time.

Inspired by the Lord Garuda’s power, strength and resilience, the RV Garuda represents the courage to rise above challenges and the ambition to aim higher. It would be the unifying symbol of pride and identity for the RV community as it expands into a new chapter.

Sri Darshan Dhruvanarayana, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Nanjangud Constituency, said, “RV University has an extremely good reputation. For years, the brightest students from Mysuru and Nanjangud left for universities elsewhere. That equation will change now. This first batch already has students from our region sitting shoulder to shoulder with classmates from across the country, a mix that teaches things no syllabus can. We hear about emerging technologies, like AI, and climate change impacting jobs. So pursue your passion. Study beyond your syllabus and focus on primary research to build knowledge.”

Dr. M.P. Shyam, President, Rashtreeya Sikshana Samithi Trust, said, “86 years gives an institution a long memory, and today marks one of its most meaningful firsts, RV’s educational legacy moving beyond Bengaluru into Mysuru. What matters to us is not the scale of this campus, but what it comes to mean for the students and families who place their trust in it. Students of the inaugural batch are pioneers of this university. They carry the spirit of our motto “Go, Change the World.” We believe in fostering curiosity and empathy to serve society.”

Dr. (H.C.) A.V.S. Murthy, Chancellor, RV University, said, “The culture of this campus will be shaped by students’ curiosity. A little over a year ago, these 42 acres stood empty. Today they are a vibrant campus with academic blocks, a swimming pool and laboratories built to global standards, welcoming several hundred students. What we owe them is more than a degree the knowledge to excel, the wisdom to lead, and the empathy to serve.”

Mr. D.P. Nagaraj, Pro Chancellor, RV University, said, “The Mysuru campus brings contemporary infrastructure together with a strong, interdisciplinary curriculum, and gives students room to explore beyond the classroom through sport, creativity and other pursuits. University education is about self-discovery and contributing meaningfully to society. Our aim is to help them discover their strengths and prepare not just for a profession but for a purposeful life.” 

Prof. Ram Kumar Kakani, Vice Chancellor, RV University, said, “RV University believes knowledge must find its way into the real world, theory and practice were never meant to sit apart. This cohort carries a special responsibility: they will not just experience what we’ve built, they will shape it. Students are like young birds learning to fly. Let education become the nectar of this transformation.”

Prof. Dwarika Prasad Uniyal, Pro Vice Chancellor and Director, Mysuru Campus, said, “We sit at the edge of a working industrial belt, and our students will move between the lecture hall, the laboratory and the factory floor, sometimes in the same week. Academic blocks, studios and sporting arenas only mean something together; a serious education has to stay whole, not scattered across departments.”

The Mysuru campus joins an academic ecosystem that already spans liberal arts and sciences, business, economics and public policy, computer science and engineering, design and innovation, law, film, media and creative arts, and allied healthcare studies, among the most diverse offerings of any private university in South India. Earlier this year, RV University inducted 1,100+ undergraduate students (excluding the B.Tech. students from CSE and B.Sc. students from Allied Healthcare Professions) at its Bengaluru campus at Navodaya 2026.

Teach For India Partners with Shikshagraha to Strengthen One Million Public Schools

What this partnership looks like in practice

Over the coming year, this takes shape in three areas:

 ●        Fellowship and leadership design — Shikshagraha‘s Fellowship and leadership programs will draw on Teach For India‘s experience in curriculum, coaching and assessment.

●        Fellows and Alumni network — Teach For India‘s community of Fellows and Alumni joins the movement, with roles to lead and contribute across geographies.

●        Shared narrative — Stories and proof points from Teach For India‘s classrooms feed into the movement’s national narrative on leadership, student voice and agency —

alongside Shikshagraha‘s micro-improvement pilots and solutions repository.

The ambition: connect more people already working to improve public schools, give them stronger pathways to leadership, and help their collective action go further — towards a future where every child has the opportunity to learn well and flourish.

Nelly’s Belly by Cargill H. Alleyne now available from Histria Books

Histria Books is pleased to announce the release of Nelly’s Belly, written by Cargill H. Alleyne and illustrated by Anekay Kelly. This is a new installment of the Anatomy For Kids series. This story is published by Histria Kids, an imprint of Histria Books dedicated to outstanding works for children that both educate and entertain.

Nelly’s Belly turns a familiar childhood worry into an inviting first tour of the human body. When Nelly mistakes a noisy stomach for a frightening creature, her Nana responds with patience, rhyme, and clear-eyed science, introducing the organs at work inside her.

Written by a real-life physician, this picture book makes anatomy feel close to everyday life rather than remote or clinical. Kidneys become filters, the bladder a balloon, and the liver a busy chef, while the book still respects children’s appetite for real words and real answers. Its South Asian family setting and Nana’s warmth give the lesson a lived-in, intergenerational feel. At a moment when families are looking for books that help children name what they feel and understand their bodies without alarm, Nelly’s Belly offers information with humor, tenderness, and a satisfying sense of discovery for curious young readers everywhere.

Cargill H. Alleyne, Jr., M.D., is a neurosurgeon with Piedmont Neurosciences in Augusta, Georgia, and former Professor and Chair of Neurosurgery at Augusta University. Recognized by Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors and America’s Best Doctors, he has contributed more than 500 scholarly publications and serves as a Director of the American Board of Neurological Surgery. His children, Nathan and Nicole, inspired the book series.

Anekay Kelly, M.S., C.M.I., is a medical illustrator at MediVisuals, Inc., whose work brings scientific accuracy and visual clarity to the page. Previously, she illustrated for the Department of Neurosurgery at Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia and served as a teaching assistant in anatomy laboratories for healthcare graduate programs.

Nelly’s Belly by Cargill H. Alleyne, 46 pp., ISBN 978-1-59211-696-6 is available at HistriaBooks.com and from all major book retailers. This title is also available as an eBook. Titles published under the imprints of Histria Books are distributed in the United States and Canada by Simon & Schuster and in the rest of the world through Unified Book Distribution. For information on publishing with Histria Books, please visit HistriaBooks.com or contact us at info@histriabooks.com.

India, Russia reaffirm commitment to deepen higher education cooperation

New Delhi, Aug. 21: India and Russia have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in the higher education sector following a high-level meeting between senior officials of the two countries.

 Pic Credit: x.com/EduMinOfIndia

Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Deepti Gaur Mukherjee, held discussions with Dr Mogilevsky Konstantin Ilyich, Deputy Minister for Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, on August 20.

During the meeting, both sides explored areas of mutual interest aimed at strengthening academic collaboration and enhancing institutional partnerships between Indian and Russian higher education institutions.

 Pic Credit: x.com/EduMinOfIndia

The discussions focused on broadening cooperation in higher education, promoting greater engagement between universities, and creating new opportunities for academic and research collaboration.

Reiterating their shared commitment to deepening educational ties, the two officials expressed confidence that continued dialogue and collaborative initiatives would further strengthen the longstanding partnership between India and Russia in the field of higher education.

2026 ASHRAE Student Design Competition Winners Highlight Next-Generation Building Solutions

ATLANTA (August 20, 2026) – ASHRAE announced the winners of its 2026 Student Design Competition, Setty Family Foundation Applied Engineering Challenge and Building Energy Quotient Competition. The competitions recognize the outstanding abilities and innovative problem-solving skills of students in HVAC&R, building sciences and engineering.

The 2026 student competition focused on a new building being added to a university campus in Denver, Colorado.

Teams competed in one of four categories:

• HVAC Design Calculations
• HVAC System Selection
• Setty Family Foundation Net Zero Energy Design
• Setty Family Foundation Applied Engineering Challenge

First place in the HVAC Design Calculations category is awarded to Sanika Rajendra Gavhane, Nikita Vaijinath Suryawanshi, Neha Vaijinath Suryawanshi, Pradnya Ashok Mane, Sakshi Sanjay Chaugule and Sakshi Santosh Bhosale of SVERI’s College of Engineering Pandharpur. The team advisors is Dr. Digvijay D. Ronge.

Placing first in the HVAC System Selection category is Tong Chi Ho, Hadi Muhammad Raahim, Chow Ching Mei and Chan Wing Ho of The University of Hong Kong HKU. The team advisor is Dr. Benjamin P. L. Ho. 

Receiving first place in the 2026 Setty Family Foundation Net Zero Energy Design category are Syahlaisa Afra Amanio, Vine Novia Pakpahan, Laura Mellisa, Fawzaan Dwi Sulistiyanto, Muhammad Djackwan Firdaus and Nadhif Khairu Athallah of Universitas Indonesia. The team advisors are Dr. Miktha Farid Alkadri and Dr. Eng. Arnas Lubis.

In the 2026 Setty Family Foundation Applied Engineering Challenge, students were asked to design an innovative system for residential applications that rejects heat into domestic hot water and absorbs heat from domestic cold-water systems for space heating and cooling.

First place is awarded to Muhammad Mirza Adhiyarahman, Ahnaf Irbah Hidayat, Rimba Harits Hartanto, Gravin Hotasi Zakharia, Juan Aaron Norata and Muhammad Khairul Anam of the Bandung Institute of Technology. Team advisor is Dr.Eng. Ir. Gea Fardias Mu’min, S.T., M.T. 

The project explored HYDEX, which is a modular residential GSHP retrofit that acts as a thermal battery, capturing waste heat from greywater and the heat-pump system, storing it in stratified buffer tanks, and intelligently redirecting it to improve HVAC efficiency and preheat domestic water while reducing energy consumption, operating costs, and carbon emissions.

The Building Energy Quotient Competition takes theory into practice by giving students building energy assessment experience in an operational setting, while working collaboratively with building owners. Students had the opportunity to evaluate and audit building energy consumption for buildings in operation to give the building a Building EQ score using the ASHRAE Building EQ online tools.

First place was awarded to Ivy Exum, Alexander Charbonneau, Tyler Milstead, Ethan Schriner, Hoang Dinh, Tanner Rapp, Keegan Snoozy, Chris Fisher and Nickolas Bozonelos of University of Washington ASHRAE at UW. The team advisor is Robert S Rushing.

The projects will be recognized during the 2027 ASHRAE Winter Conference, January 23-27, 2027 in Chicago, Ill. The Winter Conference is held in conjunction with the ASHRAE co-sponsored AHR Expo, which will be January 25-27, 2027 at McCormick Place Convention Center.

For a full list of Student Design Competition and Applied Engineering Competition winners (First, Second, Third and Rising Star), please visit the Competitions page on the  Student Zone.

Shiksharatan India Foundation Holds Training Programme on Scholarship Opportunities

New Delhi, August 20, 2026

Shiksharatan India Foundation, Gurugram, organised a one-day training programme on education and scholarships at the H.K.S. Auditorium, Inderjit Gupta Marg, Delhi. Trainees from around 20 states participated in the programme.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Faggan Singh Kulaste, Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of SC/ST. Addressing the trainees, Dr. Kulaste said quality education is essential for securing a better future for children. He said scholarships can provide important support to students from economically weaker families and help them continue their higher education.

Dr. Kulaste appreciated Shiksharatan India Foundation’s initiative to provide 16,000 scholarships. He said scholarships give students an opportunity to continue their studies and develop their potential. He also said that greater participation from the government, industry, donors and social organisations can help connect more students with educational opportunities through scholarships.

During the programme, Mr. Satish Kumar, Founding Member of the Foundation, briefed participants about the organisation’s work and its scholarship campaign. He said the Foundation is conducting a national-level examination for meritorious students from economically weaker sections and is working towards providing 16,000 scholarships to top-ranking students.

He said the Foundation is also focusing on skill development and mentorship along with scholarships. It is also undertaking an initiative to recognise schools, educational institutions, principals and teachers for their contribution to education at the national level. The Foundation said the participation of parents, teachers and educational institutions is essential for the success of the campaign.

Mr. Somjibhai Damor, former Member of Parliament and National President, Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, and Ms. Mayatai Ewnate, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, also addressed the trainees.

During the programme, Mr. Shankar Lal Bodat, National Vice-President of the Parishad, shared details of the organisation’s activities. He said the organisation runs four colleges and 38 secondary and higher secondary schools. He added that it has organised 16 national-level conferences so far, covering issues related to the constitutional rights of tribal communities as well as water, forests, land, education, healthcare, agriculture and employment.

Mr. K.C. Ghumaria, State President, Rajasthan Branch, and Mr. Lukkibhau Jadhav, National President, Youth Wing, also addressed the trainees. Both appreciated Shiksharatan India Foundation’s scholarship initiative and emphasised the need to take the campaign to more students.

During the programme, speakers suggested creating separate groups of urban and rural students for the scholarship initiative. They said this approach could help ensure that more students from both areas benefit from the campaign.

At the conclusion of the programme, Mr. Satish Kumar thanked Dr. Faggan Singh Kulaste and all the guests, trainees, students, teachers and other associates for their participation and support. He also thanked members of the media for their cooperation in making the programme a success.

University of Houston Biologists Awarded Nearly $1M NSF Grant to Study How Mutation Rates Evolve

Multi-institutional Research Could Offer Insights into Cancer Progression, Antibiotic Resistance

HOUSTON, Aug. 20 — A nearly $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation will allow University of Houston researchers to investigate how mutation rates evolve across species — work that could offer critical insights into cancer progression and antibiotic resistance.

Over the next four years, UH professors and evolutionary biologists Ricardo Azevedo and Rebecca Zufall, alongside scientists Maurine Neiman from the University of Iowa and Stephen Wright from the University of Toronto, will examine how an organism’s reproductive mode — whether sexual, asexual or self-pollinating — alters the speed at which its DNA mutates. This mutation rate dictates how quickly species can adapt to changing environments.

Supported by a combined $2.08 million in total NSF funding across partner institutions, the multi-institutional project builds on previous research by Azevedo and Zufall that found Tetrahymena, microscopic single-celled freshwater organisms, has the lowest mutation rate ever recorded. The discovery provides a foundation for the researchers’ next question: what determines how quickly mutation rates evolve across different organisms and reproductive systems?

“This collaboration is really powerful because we have three empiricists who work on these three different systems, and then Ricardo is the theoretician and modeler,” Zufall said. “We won’t only focus on the outcome of our specific species. We want to find broad patterns that underlie how populations evolve across all of life.”

Researchers from the two other institutions will examine snails and mustard plants, respectively, with the UH team focusing on Tetrahymena. By comparing closely related organisms within each group that differ primarily in their mode of reproduction, the researchers can isolate the exact impact reproduction has on mutation rates without interference from other biological variables.

“If we understand how mutation rates evolve, potentially, we’re helping understand evolution more broadly in all kinds of systems — from cancer to the evolution of antibiotic resistance or drug resistance in active infections,” said Azevedo, the grant’s principal investigator. “That’s something that has a lot of practical, interesting applications.”

Azevedo noted that cancer cells inside growing tumors reproduce asexually and often elevate their mutation rates, enabling them to adapt quickly and resist treatment. And although the project is driven by basic science rather than immediate clinical applications, understanding mutation rate mechanics addresses fundamental questions in medical research and overall human adaptation and survival.

University of Houston Awarded $3.8M Grant to Expand Access for Prediabetes Prevention

HOUSTON, Aug. 20 – The University of Houston has received a $3.8 million award from the National Institutes of Health to launch a five-year study evaluating whether continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) can be an effective and accessible tool for preventing or delaying progression to Type 2 diabetes among underserved populations.

With an estimated 115 million U.S. adults living with prediabetes, researchers and clinicians from UH Health, the University’s academic health enterprise, will work with community partners to test how CGMs can be used as an effective and accessible tool for preventing Type 2 diabetes.

“This is not just about rolling out new technology—it’s about putting an actionable diabetes prevention tool in the hands of people who have historically had limited access to these advances,” said Lola Adepoju, leader of the study and executive director of the Humana Integrated Health Systems Science Institute at UH. “As diabetes care continues to advance, we have an opportunity to close some of these access gaps and make sure people who could benefit most aren’t the last ones to gain access.”

Turning Real-Time Data into Action

According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 80% of people with prediabetes don’t know they have the condition, potentially missing a critical window to make changes that could prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes. Even after diagnosis, the challenge is turning that diagnosis into action. CGMs provide a real-time window into how blood sugar responds throughout the day, helping patients better understand how their daily habits affect their health.

“CGMs help patients connect everyday choices — what they eat, how much they move and how well they sleep — with what’s happening inside their bodies,” Adepoju said. “That feedback is immediate and personal, which can give people the information and motivation they need to make healthier choices before prediabetes progresses to Type 2 diabetes.”

Researchers will examine whether those insights translate into measurable health improvements. The study will track changes in blood sugar awareness, health behaviors and HbA1c, a key measure of glucose control, as well as whether participants return to normal glucose levels or delay progression to Type 2 diabetes.

Expanding Access Through Community Health

Even as CGMs become more widely available, cost remains a significant barrier for some people. The devices are not typically covered by insurance for prediabetes, and while some are now available over the counter, the out-of-pocket costs can still prevent patients who could benefit from the technology from getting it.

Adepoju’s team hopes to close that gap by working with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and community partners to broaden access to CGMs, while training community health workers to help patients understand and use the technology effectively.

“If this study is successful, prediabetes care could become more proactive and accessible, combining earlier intervention, effective technology and ongoing support tailored to each patient’s needs,” Adepoju said. “We also hope to show insurers and policymakers the value of covering CGMs for people with prediabetes, particularly those who may not be able to afford these devices on their own.”

The focus on prevention, technology and community-based care also makes the study a natural fit for the UH Health mission.

“This study reflects exactly what UH Health is about — bringing together researchers, clinicians and community partners to turn new ideas into better health and healthcare,” said Dr. Jonathan McCullers, vice president for health affairs at UH and dean of the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. “By pairing innovative research and technology with community-based care, we have an opportunity to improve how we prevent chronic disease while expanding access to the tools that can help people live healthier lives.”

The Flower of Canaan by Tim Flood now available from Histria Books

Histria Books is pleased to announce the release of The Flower of Canaan by Tim Flood. This novel is published by Histria Fiction, an imprint of Histria Books dedicated to outstanding original works of fiction.

The Flower of Canaan is a strong feminist novel that follows Anat, a young woman in an ancient Levantine city where beauty, marriage and belief can decide a life. As a charismatic outsider unsettles Beit Shahar, Anat and the people closest to her confront a world in which faith is becoming a tool of power, and women are expected to carry the cost.

This is historical fiction with an unusually intimate pulse. It brings the Bronze Age to life not as a museum piece, but as a place of hot streets, family bargaining, private rituals and dangerous public certainty. Anat’s voice gives the novel its force: observant, wounded, funny when it can be, and unwilling to accept the roles assigned to her. The book asks urgent questions about religious extremism, bodily autonomy and who gets to tell a community’s story. Its ancient setting makes those questions sharper, not safer, offering direct access to conflicts that shape lives.

Praise for The Flower of Canaan:

“The Flower of Canaan does what historical fiction about ancient women almost never does: it lets its heroine be furious, strategic, sexual, and sacred all at once, and treats none of those things as contradictions. Flood doesn’t write Anat like a man imagining what a woman feels. He writes her like someone who listened.” — Deviant Quill

Tim Flood writes about characters who challenge their upbringing, seeking deeper relationships and the freedom to fulfill their potential. His forthcoming novel, The Flower of Canaan (2026), explores the roots of societal conditioning and the challenges faced by women in history and myth. He is also the author of the nonfiction book Islands Apart: Chronicles of Family Healing (1999), which examines teen addiction and the impact on families, and his short story Spaceman was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Retired from a tech career at Stanford University, Flood lives with his wife near San Francisco.

The Flower of Canaan by Tim Flood, 340 pp., ISBN 978-1-59211-752-9, is available at HistriaBooks.com and from all major book retailers. This title is also available as an ebook. Titles published under the imprints of Histria Books are distributed in the United States and Canada by Simon & Schuster and in the rest of the world through Unified Book Distribution. For information on publishing with Histria Books, please visit HistriaBooks.com or contact us at info@histriabooks.com.

Jason Prevelige Named Director of Sacred Heart University’s Doctor of Medical Science Program

FAIRFIELD, Conn.—Sacred Heart University has appointed Jason Prevelige founding program director of its Doctor of Medical Science (D.M.Sc.) program.

Prevelige, a Sacred Heart alum and longtime educator, returns to the University with more than 17 years of clinical experience and a distinguished record of leadership in physician associate (PA) education, health care advocacy, and professional organizations. As founding program director, he will provide academic, administrative, and strategic leadership for the University’s newly established post-professional doctoral program, overseeing its launch, curriculum, faculty, assessment, and continued growth.

Before joining Sacred Heart full time, Prevelige played an integral role in developing the University’s physician associate studies program, serving on its founding advisory committee, developing the pediatric curriculum, and teaching pediatrics and emergency medicine since the program’s inaugural cohort. He also helped shape the foundation of the Doctor of Medical Science program alongside colleagues Reynold Jaglal, director of the physician associate studies program and Eric Nemec, clinical professor and director of research, assessment, and program development. 

Throughout his career, Prevelige has practiced emergency medicine as well as pediatric hospital medicine, neonatology, and urgent care. He has held health care leadership positions for more than a decade and most recently served as assistant medical director in emergency medicine at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury. Nationally, he completed a three-year leadership succession culminating in his term as president and chair of the board of the American Academy of Physician Associates. He also served two terms as president of the Connecticut Academy of Physician Associates and continues to chair its legislative committee.

“Dr. Prevelige is a visionary leader whose expertise spans academia, clinical practice, and national professional leadership,” said Karl Minges, dean of the College of Health Professions. “I am confident he will build a distinctive and innovative D.M.Sc. program that empowers physician associates to advance their careers and lead in an increasingly complex health care environment. We are excited to welcome him to Sacred Heart University and look forward to the impact he will have on our students and the profession.”

In a question-and-answer session, Prevelige discussed what drew him back to Sacred Heart University, his vision for the D.M.Sc. program, and how his experiences have prepared him to lead the University’s newest doctoral program.

What attracted you to Sacred Heart University and the D.M.Sc. program?
When the Doctor of Medical Science program was proposed, I was honored to be asked and jumped at the opportunity to assist my colleagues, Drs. Reynold Jaglal and Eric Nemec, in shaping the foundation of the program. When the position of program director was open, it seemed natural for me to apply. I feel now that I have come full circle in my SHU journey and am so thrilled to once again return in such a significant capacity to SHU.

What excites you most about leading the program?
While something new and different can be scary, it can also be exciting. For me, the opportunity to develop a world-class program, built for PAs who are looking for that next step in advancing their knowledge base and career, is an incredible one. I have had a variety of experiences, including my own education, that I am bringing with me, and to take the best of those experiences and share them with others is so unique and does not happen every day!

How have your previous experiences prepared you for this role?
I have been so fortunate in my career that I have been surrounded by phenomenal leaders who have mentored, supported, and helped shape my journey. After my PA education at Quinnipiac University, I quickly became involved in our state’s professional organization, the Connecticut Academy of Physician Associates. I have held a variety of roles, including two terms as president, and I continue to serve as the chair of the legislative committee. That work has provided me the opportunity to help shape health care and health care education in our state through advocacy efforts that have included authoring and amending language that later became law and working closely with our state’s legislators.

That eventually led to my service to our national organization, the American Academy of Physician Associates, where I first served in the House of Delegates, which is the policy making body for the Academy, later as a director at large, and most recently was elected president and chair of the board of directors, with my term just ending June 30.

In that role I had the amazing opportunity to travel across the country and internationally where I engaged PAs, physicians, nurses, and other health care leaders. I advocated for patients and PAs at the federal level and even internationally, had the opportunity to engage the national media and do my part to shape health care in different ways.

Along the way I completed an MBA at Quinnipiac, and my own Doctor of Medical Science at University of the Pacific.

What do you hope students gain from their experience in the program?
I hope to see our students find their own areas of personal growth. My own doctoral education helped me to grow as a leader as I self-reflected, but my own education also grew my network which is where opportunities in leadership often come from. I want to help our students achieve their goals in life by enhancing their already solid foundations with new areas of focus that will allow them to provide even better patient care through a stronger ability to advocate, to lead teams, to educate the health care providers of tomorrow.

Looking ahead, what is your vision for the program?
The opportunities for this program are endless in my opinion. With our SHU Dingle campus, there is an incredible opportunity to expose our students to international models of health care to help inform their work in our system. At the same time, there is opportunity to provide our education to international PAs and carry the SHU mission further abroad. I see the ability to grow relationships, not just among classmates in the program, but between our doctoral students and our PA students so we can create bonds between our PAs of today, with our PAs of tomorrow. Through the Doctoral Capstone, our students will have the ability to make real change in their workplaces, in the literature and in health care.