For immediate release September 10, 2010

Media contact: Jacquie Lucy 443-840-4668 / 410-340-2148 (cell)

Towson University – CCBC Essex Physician Assistant Program graduates 30 students

Baltimore County, Md. – While the nursing shortage has grabbed all the headlines, the shortage of physicians, especially in rural areas, is just as critical.

According to a 2008 study by the Maryland Hospital Association and Maryland Med Chi, “Maryland has about 25,000 licensed physicians, the second highest rate per capita of any state. But approximately 40 percent of those physicians do not provide direct patient care, working instead as teachers, researchers or administrators. As a result, the state has 178 clinical full-time physicians delivering care for every 100,000 residents, 16 percent below the national average of 212.”

Physician Assistants, highly skilled health care providers, practicing medicine under the supervision of licensed physicians, are helping address the severe physician shortage problem nationally.

Towson University and the Community College of Baltimore County, Essex, now in the seventh year of their partnership of the Physician Assistant Program, graduated 30 physician assistants on Sept. 7, 2010 at a ceremony at the Boumi Temple in Rosedale.

According to Donna Sewell, director of the program, Jennifer Wylie, formerly a research assistant, is the class of 2010 valedictorian with a 4.0 average. Mary Rose Schwarb, formerly in a medical research position, is class president will also speak at graduation. TU-CCBC Essex Physician Assistant graduates receive a Master of Science degree from Towson University and a Physician Assistant program certificate from CCBC, which allows them to take the national boards.

The Towson University-CCBC Essex Physician Assistant Class of 2010:
Joshua A. Anderson, Baltimore
Sara E. Canada, Belcamp
Jennifer S. Cecil, Manchester
Patrick S. Comegys, Bel Air
Irena Culic, Greenbelt
Fan Dong, Baltimore
Alicia D. Fridgen, Reisterstown
John Givler, Parkville
Jamiel S., Hafiz, Catonsville
Zakiya T. James, Nottingham
Amy E. Jones, Upper Marlboro
Lindsey M. Lawless, North Potomac
Rosemary E., Leger, Rosedale
Jade D. Lightner, Essex
Kristen A. Martinko, Parkville
Tomo Nedyalkov, Pikesville
Rinku N. Patel, Perry Hall
Romeo Peshku, Parkville
Jillian L. Schadie, Baltimore
Amy L. Schmidt, Forest Hill
Mary Rose Schwarb, Reisterstown
Tali Seidel, Baltimore
Noella Y. Shadzeka, Rosedale
Leslie A. Spellen, Columbia
Scott W. Stromberg, Westminster
Akale Y. Tadese, Germantown
Irine J. Vershova, Reisterstown
Darius A. Whitaker, Baltimore
Jennifer S. Wylie, Abingdon
Xiaoming Yang, Ellicott City

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About CCBC (www.ccbcmd.edu)
CCBC offers hundreds of programs and thousands of courses helping people of all ages, backgrounds and interests earn degrees, transfer, launch or advance careers, and prepare for in-demand jobs. Providing accessible, affordable and high quality education since 1957, CCBC educates more than 70,000 students each year, including half of all Baltimore County residents attending college in Maryland as undergraduates. Committed to student success and the development of lifelong learners who strengthen our regional workforce and enrich our community, CCBC has also been selected to participate in Achieving the Dream, a national student success initiative.

CCBC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, 2nd Floor West, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

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