The Physician Assistant Student's Guide to the Clinical Year: Surgery

Brennan Bowker, MHS, PA-C, CPAAPA received her Master's Degree in Physician Assistant Studies in 2010 from Quinnipiac University's Physician Assistant program. After graduation, she began working in trauma and emergency/general surgery at the Hospital of St. Raphael in New Haven, CT which is now a part of Yale New Haven Health System. Her clinical expertise includes general surgery, trauma, colon and rectal surgery, bariatrics, and urology. In addition to her clinical role at the hospital, she serves on several committees and is also the chief preceptor for clinical, pre-clinical, and shadowing students. Ms. Bowker is also a clinical adjunct assistant professor at Quinnipiac. She co-chairs the PA admission committee and lectures for several courses, both at the graduate and undergraduate level. Brennan especially enjoys inspiring students to write and publish; in fact, Ms. Bowker has traveled to numerous conferences with students to present posters and give lectures. Additionally, she maintains memberships with the American Academy of Physician Assistants as well as the Connecticut Academy of Physician Assistants. She is also a board member of the CT PA Foundation and a peer reviewer for the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Maureen Knechtel, MPAS, PA-C, received a bachelor's degree in health science and a master's degree in physician assistant studies from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. She is the author of the textbook EKGs for the Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant, 1st and 2nd editions. Knechtel is a fellow member of the Physician Assistant Education Association, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, and the Tennessee Academy of Physician Assistants. She is the academic coordinator and an assistant professor with the Milligan College Physician Assistant Program in Johnson City, TN, and practices as a cardiology PA with the Ballad Health Cardiovascular Associates Heart Institute. Knechtel has been a guest lecturer nationally and locally on topics including EKG interpretation, chronic angina, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, hypertension, and mixed hyperlipidemia.