At a special presentation earlier this month, the Augsburg University Physician Assistant Studies Program received the Golisano Health Leadership Award from Special Olympics Minnesota.Ěý

For more than three years, Augsburg has proudly partnered with Special Olympics to integrate an inclusive curriculum for more than 100 PA students and faculty. What started as a classroom lecture has evolved into a multifaceted partnership, including:

• Panel presentations by Special Olympics Ambassadors, where students gain firsthand insights from athletes into the principle of “Nothing about me, without me!” in patient care.
• Immersive experiences, such as healthy athlete annual physical exam screenings.
• Hands-on training sessions with athletes during simulated clinic visits.
• More than 250 hours of Special Olympics volunteer work at the Community Health Fair, Polar Plunge, and sporting events.

“These initiatives not only enrich our students’ education but also prepare them to meet the evolving needs of our communities,” said Vanessa Bester, associate professor of PA studies and director of Augsburg’s School of Health. “We are deeply honored to be recognized for this partnership and the impactful work we continue to do.” 

The Golisano Award recognizes health champions—leaders and organizations—that are making a significant contribution to equal access to health, fitness, or wellness for people with intellectual disabilities. It is the highest Special Olympics honor for health partners and serves to promote awareness of the progress and extraordinary efforts toward fulfilling the goals, values, and mission of Special Olympics Health work.

“It’s really reassuring to know that the future generation of PAs are going to be more comfortable working with our athletes and they feel comfortable going to you,” said Jeff Prendergast, senior health programs manager at Special Olympics Minnesota, who presented the award. “I know that if I have an athlete or family looking for care and I find someone that has been educated and trained at Augsburg, I feel very comfortable referring them to you.”

Learn more about Augsburg’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.

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The Augsburg Health Commons is expanding to bring its proven model of accompaniment-based care to more neighbors through new partnerships and locations.

Late last year, an agreement with M Health Fairview and Redeemer Center for Life formalized a partnership at the Living Room in the Harrison neighborhood of north Minneapolis, where a drop-in site based on the Health Commons model had operated since 2012. Following a disruption of in-person services during the COVID-19 pandemic, the site was re-opened in October 2022 under the leadership of Augsburg Physician Assistant Program Director Vanessa Bester.Ěý 

This summer, the first Health Commons in St. Paul opened in the Conway Community Center through a partnership with M Health Fairview, the Sanneh Foundation, and the East Side Health & Well-Being Collaborative. Health Commons Executive Director Katie Clark and Augsburg Board of Regents Chair Dennis Meyer will join St. Paul community leaders on August 16 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Health Commons East.Ěý

These new locations join long-standing Health Commons sites at Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis and in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood.Ěý

“Our nursing and physician assistant faculty, along with our students, are committed to the vision of a drop-in center that focuses on the needs of the communities we serve to address health inequities and other deep-rooted issues faced when seeking care,” said Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow. “Augsburg is especially pleased to extend our efforts to the East Side St. Paul neighborhood.”

Augsburg’s Health Commons sites are health-focused drop-in centers led and organized by nursing and physician assistant faculty members, Augsburg students, volunteers, and community members. Developed by Augsburg nursing faculty in the early 1990s, the Health Commons model is founded on principles of hospitality and relationship development that leads to transcultural understanding and health benefits for all participants.Ěý

The people who come to the Health Commons are from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, and many are unhoused or marginally housed. Health concerns might include nutrition, medication, stress management, respiratory conditions, injuries, skin problems, and chronic disease such as diabetes and hypertension. Everyone is welcome, and all services are provided free of charge, without proof of need or time constraints.Ěý

Augsburg’s PA program has taken on a growing role as new partnerships and locations have developed. The PA program has led the expansion of services at the Cedar-Riverside Health Commons, connecting with community members providing foot care, a need across many marginalized communities.Ěý

“The PA program is humbled and honored to bring the model of accompaniment-based care into our curriculum and medical practice. Faculty, staff and students are able to build connections, meet people where they are at in their health journey, and learn how health inequities are impacting the people we care for every day. The Harrison neighborhood, Cedar-Riverside, Central Lutheran, and now East St. Paul are the paradigm of what providing health and care should look like in every community,” said Bester.Ěý

To learn more, volunteer, or support the Health Commons, visit augsburg.edu/healthcommons.

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No, these Augsburg physician assistant students were not messing around with the equipment or just taking a break from studying in the halls of Anderson. They were completing a unit on working with older adults by hosting a community health fair for residents of Augustana Apartments in downtown Minneapolis.

On this afternoon, second-year students in the last semester of the academic phase of their program worked in groups sharing information with residents about wellness, specific health problems of older adults, exercise, nutrition, socialization, and community resources.

Ashley Millette and Nick Meath were two students who helped residents learn about assessing their risk for a stroke. They offered a light-hearted video clip to give information about this serious topic. “We think it’s important for older adults to recognize the signs of stroke,” Millette says. She added that stroke is the third leading cause of death among older Americans and 80 percent of strokes are preventable.”

“It’s a great experience, especially for students who haven’t been able to grow up knowing their grandparents,” says Andrea Wold, one of the students. Her group gave samples of a low-calorie fruit dip and shared recipes for soups, salads, and desserts that were especially selected for the residents.

“The intent is to help students get a better understanding of the challenges and issues faced by the older adult community,” says Beth Alexander, an associate professor in the PA program. “A lot of these students don’t spend much time with older adults, and we feel it’s important to train them to care for patients of all ages.”

The Augsburg PA program is unique in that it dedicates an interdisciplinary unit to study healthcare issues of the aging population. In addition to learning about the needs of older adults, students are paired with a senior mentor for 10 months. Students will spend time with the mentor learning about their lives, sometimes taking them to doctor appointments or engaging in recreational activities.

“Many students become friends of their mentors and continue to see them after the semester ends,” Alexander adds.

After completing the academic phase of their program, students will move into clinical rotations. To learn more about the Augsburg Physician Assistant program, go to the admissions .

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