St. Bonaventure University

St. Bonaventure University’s Physician Assistant (PA) program made a remarkable impression at this year’s New York State Society of Physician Associates (NYSSPA) Conference, bringing home multiple recognitions and showcasing the university’s growing presence in the state’s PA community.

The conference, celebrating the 50^th anniversary of NYSSPA, was held Oct. 17-19 in Albany.

Leading the accolades, faculty members Nicole Ackley, MPAS, PA-C, and Kate Nelson, MPAS, PA-C, won the NYSSPA 2025 CME Conference Poster Session in the category Educational Research-Curricular Innovation featuring their poster: “Repropalooza: An Objective Structured Clinical Examination Solution to Improve Competence.”

Their project highlighted the program’s dedication to hands-on learning and assessment excellence, an approach that continues to set SBU apart among PA educators statewide.

Ackley, joined by Keith Young, DHSc, PA-C, SBU’s PA program director and faculty member, also presented a well-attended session titled “Surviving Clinical Rotations.”

Drawing a crowd of more than 100 students, the presentation offered practical strategies and candid insights into navigating one of the most demanding phases of PA education. Audience feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees praising the presenters’ humor, honesty, and real-world relevance.

Representing SBU in the Challenge Bowl were students Madison Blood (PA-S2), Sophia Meier (PA-S1), and Amelia Lund (PA-S1). Coached by faculty members Kesha Steighner, MPAS, PA-C, and Rachel Harten, MHA, PA-C, the team advanced through the first round of competition, showcasing both knowledge and composure under pressure.

Although they fell short in the second round, St. Bonaventure captured the award for Most School Spirit, thanks in large part to the creativity and enthusiasm spearheaded by faculty member Jeff Szymanski, MPAS, PA-C, whose leadership energized the students and unified the SBU delegation in true Bonaventure fashion. Reilly, the Bona Wolf, traveled to the competition to cheer on the team.

The program celebrated a milestone at the conference. NYSSPA formally recognized St. Bonaventure’s PA program for five years of service and leadership to the PA profession.

“The recognition is a testament to our program’s enduring commitment to advocacy, education, and professional engagement across the state,” Young said.

In addition, faculty members Ashley Disney, MPAS, PA-C, and Julie Elsigan, MS PA-C, played vital mentoring roles throughout the conference, guiding and supporting more than 20 SBU students who attended.

“Their mentorship reflected SBU’s hallmark faculty-student connection and the program’s focus on fostering professional growth beyond the classroom,” Young said.

Beyond the awards and recognitions, the conference offered invaluable networking opportunities.

• Students connected with over 600 PAs and PA students from across the region, including numerous Bonaventure alumni now practicing or representing vendors in the exhibit hall.
• Ackley and Nelson, who serve as committee chairs within NYSSPA, actively volunteered throughout the conference’s events.
• Faculty and students had a chance to meet the president of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), a highlight that underscored the event’s professional significance.

“With achievements in scholarship, leadership, and community engagement, our delegation left the NYSSPA Conference not only with awards, but with a renewed sense of purpose,” Young said. “It’s a reflection of the university’s commitment to service, learning, and the future of the PA profession.”

About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure is a community committed to transforming the lives of its students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a commitment to academic excellence and lifelong civic engagement. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #8 for value and #19 overall by U.S. News and World Report (2025).