Feinberg
Northwestern Medicine | Northwestern University | Faculty Profiles

News Center

  • Categories
    • Campus News
    • Disease Discoveries
    • Clinical Breakthroughs
    • Education News
    • Scientific Advances
  • Press Release
  • Media Coverage
  • Podcasts
  • Editor’s Picks
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Cancer
    • Neurology and Neuroscience
    • Aging and Longevity
    • Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
  • News Archives
  • About Us
    • Media Contact
    • Share Your News
    • News Feeds
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
Menu
  • Categories
    • Campus News
    • Disease Discoveries
    • Clinical Breakthroughs
    • Education News
    • Scientific Advances
  • Press Release
  • Media Coverage
  • Podcasts
  • Editor’s Picks
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Cancer
    • Neurology and Neuroscience
    • Aging and Longevity
    • Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
  • News Archives
  • About Us
    • Media Contact
    • Share Your News
    • News Feeds
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
Home » PA Students Excel at AAPA Quiz Bowl
Education News

PA Students Excel at AAPA Quiz Bowl

By Will DossJul 25, 2022
Share
Facebook Twitter Email
Irene Zhu, Cyrus Ma and Brennan Wood, all students in the PA program, compete in the AAPA Challenge Bowl.
Irene Zhu, Cyrus Ma and Brennan Wood, all students in the PA program, compete in the AAPA Challenge Bowl.

A team of students from the Feinberg Physician Assistant (PA) program competed in a “challenge bowl” competition at the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) national conference.

The competition was a game-show style contest testing knowledge of various medical topics. The team placed second out of nearly 70 entrants, the first top-four placement for a Feinberg team.

Read a Q&A with Irene Zhu and Ashlyn Czapiga, both rising second-year students and team members, below.

What drew you to the PA program at Feinberg?

AC: I was the most excited about the PBL (problem-based learning) curriculum. In my opinion, there is no better way to learn medicine than to break down complex cases.

IZ: The program’s attachment to the Northwestern Medicine system was appealing, as it affords the opportunity to obtain clinical experiences in a wide variety of settings.

What are your research or clinical interests?

AC: Right now, I am most interested in oncology. I also have primary care in underserved communities in the back of my mind. My favorite part about having a career as a PA is that I can switch specialties and I can work where I feel I am needed most.

IZ: I’m trying to enter each of my clinical rotations with an open mind. One of the nice things about the PA role is the opportunity for lateral mobility. We don’t have to stick with one specialty or patient population after we graduate!

Tell me about the conference and Challenge Bowl.

AC: I was elected by my class as the liaison between the AAPA and my cohort. It was my obligation to attend the national conference and vote on issues facing the PA community.

For the Challenge Bowl, we practiced weekly for about 2 months with our coach, NUPA alumni and core faculty member Elizabeth Randolph, PA-C. The event itself was incredible. I have never felt so close to my PA community and peers. There was a total of 67 teams competing and NUPA has never made it past the preliminary round where you get to compete on stage.

My peers completely surpassed my expectations, and I am beyond proud of their hard work. We ended up coming in second place overall.

What are your plans when you graduate?

AC: I am hoping to get a job quickly so I can start treating patients. I would love to use my license to volunteer at clinics to provide healthcare to those who can’t afford it. I am also definitely getting a dachshund!

IZ: My post-grad plans are still very much up in the air! My main priority is finding a job that has a strong onboarding process, one that will allow me to continue to learn and build on the skills that I’ve formed this past year.

Education Students
Share. Facebook Twitter Email

Related Posts

Celebrating Feinberg’s 2023 Match Day

Mar 17, 2023

Future Directions in Continuing Medical Education

Mar 14, 2023

Medical Student Discusses Helping a Patient Communicate

Mar 10, 2023

Comments are closed.

Latest News

Celebrating Feinberg’s 2023 Match Day

Mar 17, 2023

Predicting Risk of Blood Clots in Brain Tumors

Mar 16, 2023

Understanding How Exercise Induces Systemic Metabolic Benefits

Mar 15, 2023

Future Directions in Continuing Medical Education

Mar 14, 2023

Lieber Receives VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Award 

Mar 13, 2023
  • News Center Home
  • Categories
  • Press Release
  • Media Coverage
  • Editor’s Picks
  • News Archives
  • About Us
Flickr Photos
_5NM1245
230204_SERIO_MANDELL_Feinberg_Formal_0928
_5NM1715
_5NM0526
_5NM1026 (1)
_5NM1906
_5NM2173
230204_SERIO_MANDELL_Feinberg_Formal_0896
230204_SERIO_MANDELL_Feinberg_Formal_1113
230204_SERIO_MANDELL_Feinberg_Formal_1868
230204_SERIO_MANDELL_Feinberg_Formal_1237
230204_SERIO_MANDELL_Feinberg_Formal_1172

Northwestern University logo

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

RSS Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Flickr YouTube Instagram
Copyright © 2023 Northwestern University
  • Contact Northwestern University
  • Disclaimer
  • Campus Emergency Information
  • Policy Statements

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.