PA College Magazine - Spring 2021 - 7

PA COLLEGE / TEACHING & LEARNING

INSIGHTS FROM WOMEN
LEADERS IN HEALTH CARE
Throughout the month of March, the
Office of Campus Life offered a new series
in recognition of Women's History
Month. The Women in Leadership
series connected women in leadership
roles throughout health care with the
College Community as they shared
their experiences as female leaders.
Guests throughout the series included:
* STACEY YOUCIS '81, Chief of Hospital
Operations, Penn Medicine Lancaster
General Health
* AIMEE HAGERTY, Chief Nursing
Officer, Penn State Health Hampden
Medical Center

* TINA CITRO, President and Vice
President - Patient Care Services,
WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital
* CHARMAINE SPENCE ROCHESTER,
Chief Financial Officer, Penn Medicine
Lancaster General Health
" In conjunction with Women's History
Month and our diversity initiatives, we
added this series that features women
in health care leadership roles to speak
about their career path and experiences,
as well as share insights into the
challenges they have faced as female
leaders and tips for new professionals, "
says Stephanie Ellis, Director of Campus
Life and Student Engagement.

" This program has seen an overwhelming
amount of interest and support, boasting
some of our highest attendance at
online student programming this year, "
she adds. " In speaking with students
after the sessions, key takeaways
included positive feedback regarding
encouraging messages about hard work
and perseverance, as well as guidance
on how to balance work and home life
obligations without 'mom guilt.' This
program builds on the already popular
Leadership Live events, and it will
absolutely be added to our ongoing
programming for years to come. " n

Students Staff Vaccination Center
Since it opened in March, the Vaccinate
Lancaster center has served as the
primary hub for COVID-19 vaccines
for Lancaster-area residents-and PA
College students have been a large
part of the center's success. After more
than a year with many clinical rotations
taking place virtually, the majority of
undergraduate nursing students were
able to spend at least one clinical rotation
at the center, with many returning on
their own to volunteer for additional
shifts. Students move through all the
stations, from initial screenings and
registration through vaccination and
monitoring, so they get to experience
the full vaccination process.
" Being here, it makes you feel like you
have your own patients. Our faculty
guide us through working with
patients from start to finish-from
the education, to the vaccine, to the

observation, " says Ashley Orlando,
ASN '23, BSN '25. " This is my first
rotation where I really felt like a nurse,
like I could actually do this. "
Perhaps most valuably, PA College
students have been able to staff the " flex
pod " area of the center, where patients
with language barriers, conditions that
may present complications, or other
unique circumstances are diverted
for a more thorough appointment.
Students have the opportunity to
talk through each patient's individual
situation, evaluating their needs and
identifying the necessary resources-
a chance to put their critical thinking
skills to work and understand each
patient's situation holistically.
Evelyn Potoka, DNP, Co-Chair of
Undergraduate Nursing at PA College,
played a pivotal role in arranging for

Ashley Orlando, ASN '23, BSN '25, administers a
COVID-19 vaccine at the Vaccinate Lancaster center.

PA College students to staff the center.
" You become a nurse for a reason-to
help people. What better way to help
people than to advance public health,
especially after more than a year of
fighting this pandemic? " she says. n

PA College / Spring 2021

7
PA College Magazine - Spring 2021

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