"I just wanted to send you a note about the MPHS H1N1 clinic yesterday. I was volunteering as an immunization nurse as well. I worked with some of the PA students directly but also observed others working in many capacities of the clinic. I was impressed with their professionalism and their ability to interact with the children and parents. They represented CMU well!"
Loretta Moran, RN, BSN
Assistant Director, Patient Services
Central Michigan University Health Services

 

"Today was my first day of mentorship and the very first patient I saw today had Sarcoidosis, COPD, and was recovering from Pneumonia that he had 2 weeks ago which also caused him to fracture 2 ribs. So in one patient, I was able to see all of the stuff you taught us from the Pulmonary Meganotes :) Also, he was a white male so that was a little unique that he had Sarcoidosis since black females are the most common. Just thought I would share with you. Have a great weekend!"
PA student class of 2011

 

"Erin- I sutured a patient last Thursday at mentorship. The doctor said not to be offended if she took any out, but that she would take them out if she didn't like them. Well, I put my first one in and her comment was: "Beautiful!"  I put in two more and, needless to say, she didn't take any of them out!  I was very glad that I had those skills, so thank you.  I was very proud of myself!"
PA student class of 2010

 

"Hi Dr. Hakemi- I wanted to send you a message to let you know my clinicals are going very well. I am currently in my internal medicine rotation with Robert Bouvier, MD.  I feel the Clinical Med and H&P classes prepared me well for this rotation.  It feels good to go into the office prepared from the classes I had during the didactic year.  Thanks again."
PA Student class of 2010

"I just spoke to Dr. Bouvier who has _______ right now. He is a new preceptor. He said she is BY FAR the best student he has EVER had...MD, DO, nursing students...better than them all!  What a great complement.  He is willing to take ANY MORE of our students. Great way to end the week!"
Becca Lowrance, Assistant Clinical Education Coordinator

 

"Today I got to spend some time with Dr. Harrison, an ENT, and we had a patient with Wegener's Granulomatosis!  It was really exciting.  Her nasal septum and turbanate were completely destroyed, but she is currently stable and on an oral steroid.  I just thought I'd share because I thought it was really neat, considering how rare you told us it was to see a patient with this condition.  It's only been three days, but I'm getting to see a lot of action and really like it here.  Everyone is more than eager to teach me and make me feel at home.  I also got to place my first stitches and watched a patient in prolonged tachycardia in the 150's get adenosine.

Thank you for instilling in me my core skills, which are coming in very handy now.  I was 'pimped' yesterday about treatment to prevent migraines, and when I said a B-blocker, the doctor replied to the patient, 'See, that's why we love CMU students.  They're so far above the students from any other program.'  Thanks again."
PA Student class of 2010

 

"I just wanted to say THANK YOU for setting up the OR orientation day at Gratiot Hospital.  It was A LOT of fun, and the staff was amazingly nice, very welcoming, and passionate about their job and teaching us the proper way to behave in the OR.  It is nice to have exposure to the OR environment and practice scrubbing in, etc. before we have our OR rotation. Again, thank you so much!" 
PA Student class of 2010

 

"(Student, Class of 2009) mentioned that her ED rotation at Allegiance hospital in Jackson was great. Preceptors interested in teaching.  Lots of major illness/trauma.  No med students to stand behind.  She encouraged us to use this rotation again."
Professor Matthew Stack, PA Program Faculty

 

"Good Afternoon, Dr. Hakemi.  Thank you for the great examination.  On a personal note, I have to tell you that while I was taking this exam I was amazed and excited about how all this information is starting to come together.  I finally feel like I am able to pull from multiple areas when taking exams and answering questions.  I am very excited for clinical rotations.  I know I still have much to learn, but I feel very confident that I can go into rotations confidently.  Thank you for everything you do."
PA Student class of 2010

 

"Hello!  I just wanted to let you know that I received a phone call today from Timberline Physicians, the ED physicians that contract into St. Mary's Hospital where I did my ED rotation in Feb/March.  They invited me to their yearly banquet to receive the "Best PA student rotating through the ED award."  They give the award to one PA student per year that completes a rotation in their ED.  I just wanted to share the news and say thanks for all you have done to help me get there.  I truly appreciate all your hard work and teaching!"
PA Student class of 2009

 

"We would love to snag a couple of CMU grads.  We have nothing but good things to say about the students that come out of your program!"
Physician Recruitment
Mercy Hospital

 

"Dr. Vance and his entire PALS staff were GREAT!   I can't decide if I liked the simulator baby or the staff (and their real life experience stories) better.  This is one thing I would drive to Saginaw on a daily basis for, because I had that much of a good time learning and having fun!   Kudos to you, Dr. Vance, and your staff for such a great training experience!!!!!!  Thanks tons."
PA Student class of 2010

 

"I truly enjoyed working with your students on Friday.  They actively participated and demonstrated a knowledge base comparable to a 4^th year medical student.  I was very impressed."
Steven Vance, MD
Pediatric Advanced Life Support instructor
Synergy Medical Education Alliance
Saginaw, Michigan

 

(A message from the 2010 Class President to the Class of 2010)
"Hey all-

I think we're all feeling a little overwhelmed and stressed about the massive amount of exams coming up the next 6 weeks. I've talked to a lot of you who have said you feel like it's information overload...living from one exam to the next... and fear you're not learning anything. You're not alone!

I have received reassurance from Dr. Hakemi who said this is normal for this spring semester.  So hang in there... keep swimming & keep your head above water!  He reassured me that this stuff really is sticking in our brains somewhere & we will be able to recall it in the future.  I'm repeating his advice because I've learned that when he says "you will be fine," we really will be fine... just like with ACLS & PALS & everything else!

That being said, if you are feeling overly-overwhelmed, speak up and talk to someone... drop in to Dr. Hakemi's office or your advisor or whoever can put you at ease a little.

I must say, I think the overall attitude of the class is pretty positive.  And remember attitudes are infectious.  So let's keep supporting each other!

Keep studying... but keep your sanity!  Go for a walk, a run, or a bike ride.  Soon it will be summer semester - Dr. Hakemi also said summer semester is much "easier" and more enjoyable!  Plus, I'm sure our social committee will be planning some picnics at the park so we can enjoy volleyball, croquet, SUN and maybe some sangria if someone has Alfredo's recipe!

Remember the determination and drive that you had back on May 12, 2008. Dig deep and find that motivation, enthusiasm and anticipation.  I KNOW we all have it."
Gloria Ryno, PA-S
Class of 2010 President

 

"Thanks to all of you in the PA Program--we couldn't have scored as high as we did without the high-quality education we received.  It's actually kind of funny listening to my classmates say we're not too worried about the exam, CMU has prepared us well."
Kellie Mumford, PA-S
Class of 2008

 

"I loved my experience in PA school and feel proud to be a CMU alumnus."
Holly Gatchel, PA-C
Class of 2002

 

"On the last day of my clinical mentorship, my mentor and I had to take care of an abscess surgically.  What a coincidence, Professor Sherer, you just covered that in lecture!  Everything worked out great, thank you!"
Alfrado Navarro, PA-S
Class of 2009

 

"Dr. Hakemi, I cannot begin to express my gratitude for your help and support this semester.  This program is a first rate program because of your dedication to the success of each of your students.  I have truly valued the classroom education I have had this year and I am very excited for the learning that will take place in the clinics."
Laura Taylor, PA-S
Class of 2008

 

"I was visiting a family member in the hospital today and was able to watch a resident drain a large abscess.  When I told the surgeon I was in PA school, he asked me questions about the procedure.  I knew all the answers!  I also knew exactly when to stop injecting the Lidocaine.  Thanks Professor Sherer for such a great lecture on this subject!"
Stephanie LaGrow, PA-S
Class of 2009

 

"I just wanted to thank you for preparing us so well for clinicals."
Matthew Stevens, PA-S
Class of 2008

 

"It is worth all the stress and tears when all is said and done (especially when you have patients thanking you for being there for them), and the lessons learned from professors and preceptors stick with you and will come to the surface when you need them the most."
Heather Davidson, PA-C
Class of 2007

 

"Congrats on the 2007 100% pass rate for the PANCE - that's exciting!  I am very proud to be a CMU PA alumnus."
Nikki Rataj Casady, PA-C
Class of 2005

 

"Thank you for a great education and the chance to partake of it!"
Alan Brown, PA-C
Class of 2005

 

"Congratulations on the perfect pass rate on the PANCE and the success of the CMU PA Program. I feel honored to have graduated from such a great program."
Jeff Fierstine, PA-C
Class of 2005

 

"Being a PA is a very rewarding career.  I love going to work and enjoy the challenges that I face every day.  PA school wasn't easy... in fact it was the hardest thing I have ever done, but also the best decision I ever made.  I can't imagine doing anything else!"
Kelly (Hardy) Holmes, PA-C
Class of 2003

 

"Dr. Hakemi, I just wanted to let you know that the things you've taught us have proved extremely beneficial.  Your mega notes are practically everything a student needs in their rotations.  I have really been enjoying my time, and my preceptor is an excellent teacher.  She allows me to actually practice medicine as a colleague, at the same time maintaining her status as a mentor.  I am learning a ton....  Yes, Dr. H., I am reading the required readings, every night, although I find myself reading a lot throughout the day as questions arise.  This system helps to reinforce the material very well for me. Dr. Hakemi, this is the first time in my life I have ever woken up each morning excited about what the day has in store for me!  Thanks for always encouraging and believing in me."
Jon Daniels, PA-S
Class of 2009

 

"I wanted to thank you for your devotion to teaching and sharing of your vast knowledge, and also for beating into our heads when to suspect and work-up a patient for major/emergent medical problems like PE.  I thought you might be proud to see your efforts paying off dividends in your students.  This was the third PE along with one aortic dissection that was sent my way as a "stable" patient in the CDU.   Fortunately, because of the efforts of you, the rest of the CMU PA staff, and all of my preceptors as well as my attending MDs at the ER, I was able to pick up on these near-misses.  So thank you, Dr. Hakemi, for everything you've done.   I will continue to work hard and strive to better myself as a health care professional."
Matt Schwedler, PA-C
Class of 2005

 

"Dear Dr. Hakemi,
I can't thank you enough for the encouragement and training I received at CMU.  I never would have thought that less than one year out of school I would be responsible for the healthcare of more than 3,000 patients, from newborn to hospice, in less than one year.   Only months ago I was sitting in the front row of your class memorizing your ABG diagram and trying to figure out the classifications of CHF and why cardiologists get paid so much.

I'm only writing to thank you for your time and dedication to helping students like me become adequate providers of care to patients, they all would hug you if they could.  Please help your students to remember that they are more wise than they'll care to admit yet more naive than you'ld care to uncover.

Always serving physician and patient needs, a student forever."
Matthew Hays MS, PA-C
Class of 2005

 

"Your students that have rotated here were excellent."
Noel Lucas, Medical Director
Allegiance Hospitalist Group
Allegiance Health
Jackson, MI

 

"Dr. Hakemi: Good morning.  I was just reading a patient history and it made me think about how much knowledge I left CMU with.  I just wanted to say thank you for all of the effort you put into our classes.  You were an amazing professor and even though I haven't taken the time to write you, I've never forgotten my experience there.  I am still at U of M, mostly 1st and 2nd assisting in the OR (which I LOVE). Thanks again for instilling this incredible desire to learn."
Letter from an Alumnus

 

"Erin- Hello! I just wanted to let you know that I got a compliment in surgery today from Dr. Russell about how good my knot tying was... she said better than any resident she has seen!   I thought you would like to know since you taught us!!!  Thanks!"
PA Student
Class of 2009