Outstanding alumna speaks at UP white coat ceremony

Aimee Smith-Pirollo, MS, PA-C, recently was named an Outstanding Alumna of the University of Pittsburgh Physician Assistant Program.

She was the guest speaker at the Physician Assistant White Coat graduation ceremony.

She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. degree in rehabilitation science.

She obtained master of science degrees in physician assistant studies, and health and physical activity.

She is a member of Pi Alpha, the National Honor Society for Physician Assistants.

She is a doctoral candidate and adjunct faculty at the University of Pittsburgh.

She is a PA in emergency medicine and a clinical preceptor.

She works with the UPMC Office of the Advanced Practice Provider as the lead developer of simulation and education, and holds a position as curriculum developer at WISER, the medical simulation center at the University of Pittsburgh.

She is the daughter of Dick and Karen Smith of Altoona.

Penn Highlands graduates complete programs at SFU

JOHNSTOWN — Nine Pennsylvania Highlands Community College graduates recently completed their bachelor’s degree studies from Saint Francis University, Loretto, utilizing a 3+1 articulation partnership between the two institutions.

These 3+1 (or 3 years + 1 year) articulation agreements enable students to transfer their associate degrees plus an additional 30+ credits, all earned at Pennsylvania Highlands, toward the requirements of a bachelor’s degree. This leaves students with approximately only one year to complete a bachelor’s degree at Saint Francis University, saving students financially.

The local graduates include:

Garrett Burns (Altoona), B.S. accounting.

Nicholas Bechtel (Martinsburg), B.S. organizational leadership.

Taylor Doughty (Cresson), B.S. behavioral science.

Donald Hoffman (Newry), B.S. behavioral science.

Reagan Lightner (Alexandria), B.S. behavioral science.

Cody Sral (Ebensburg), B.S. organizational leadership.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has over 200 articulation agreements with 20+ institutions.