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“I wanted to be part of that legacy of devoted faculty who held the highest standards for preparing students for their future roles in healthcare,” says Crystal Trasoline, associate professor of physician assistant, of her decision to return to ��������Ƶ to teach. Crystal earned her physician assistant and education degrees at ��������Ƶ. “I enjoy bringing clinical experiences into the classroom and designing courses that reflect today's expectations for physician assistants.”

On January 26, Crystal facilitated the first interprofessional collaboration workshop for healthcare majors. At the workshop, over 80 dietetics, art therapy, exercise science, health science, nursing and physician assistant majors practiced working together to provide optimal patient care.

“It is so important for us to understand and respect each other, as every healthcare provider is crucial in improving the well-being of patients.”

Crystal hopes to offer the workshop annually, “or even create a course that would be open to a variety of majors."

Physician assistant major Meghan Milanak said the workshop fostered new ideas about working as a healthcare team. She appreciated receiving advice and learning from older PAs. Meghan hopes to be able to work with more patient cases in future workshops.

“85% of the students had never experienced this type of collaboration before the workshop," Crystal said. "So I know we made some progress in preparing each student to communicate in a team environment.”

What stuck out to physician assistant major Caroline Paris was “how willing everyone was to listen to each other’s strengths.” Caroline said the workshop offered a great opportunity for healthcare majors to learn about each other. “It is so important for us to understand and respect each other, as every healthcare provider is crucial in improving the well-being of patients.”

Photo, top: Associate Professor Trasoline working with students at the interprofessional collaboration workshop she developed.