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NW PA AHEC News

It is with a heavy heart that we report the loss of our Clinical Coordinator, Albert Varacallo, MD.

Dr. Varacallo was an incredible asset to his community, the healthcare industry, and our organization. He will truly be missed.

DuBois, PA (July 2010 ) - Dr. Albert L. Varacallo, Jr., M.D., age 52, of DuBois, PA died Thursday, July 8, 2010 at the Altoona Regional Trauma Center in Altoona, PA as the result of a cycling accident.

He was born November 3, 1957 in DuBois, PA. He was the son of the late Albert L. Varacallo, Sr. and Patricia (Yakulis) Varacallo. His mother survives and lives in Sykesville, PA.

He was a 1975 graduate of DuBois Area High School. He graduated in 1979 from Washington and Jefferson College with a degree in Psychology and Biology. In 1983, he received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, in Hershey, PA. He did his residency in family medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. In 2005, he earned a Masters Degree in Master of Medical Management from Tulane University.

On June 20, 1981, he married Luanne (Cavalier) Varacallo. She survives and lives in DuBois, PA.

Since 1986, Dr. Varacallo has practiced family medicine at the Reynoldsville Medical Center in Reynoldsville, PA.

He has been affiliated with the DuBois Regional Medical Center since 1986 where he served as Chief of the Department of Medicine from 1991-1993, served as the Vice President of the Medical Staff from 2004-2006 and recently ended his term as President of the Medical Staff in June 2010.

He has been the Medical Director at Christ the King Manor in DuBois since 1996. He was a preceptor for many years for the Northwest PA Area Health Education Center (AHEC). He was named preceptor of the year in 1998 and he was appointed Clinical Director of AHEC in 2008. He was a clinical assistant professor of the Department of Family and Community Medicine for the Penn State College of Medicine. He was a volunteer physician at the Free Medical Clinic in DuBois. He was a member of the PA Medical Society, the PA Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Association, and the Jefferson County Medical Society.

He was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church. He was a current member of the Board of Directors for the DuBois Area Catholic Schools. He was a Eucharistic Minister and served on the Finance Committee at the St. Mary’s Church in Reynoldsville, PA until 2009. He was a trumpet player for many years in the “Hilltoppers” Polka Band.

He had a passion for his family, cycling, Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong Foundation, Golden Retrievers and coffee.

In addition to his mother and his wife, he is survived by his children: Mrs. Michael (Natalie) Milliron of Pleasant Gap, PA, Christopher Varacallo of Akron, OH, Matthew Varacallo of Hershey, PA, Albert Varacallo III, Dominic Varacallo, and Patricia Varacallo, all of DuBois, PA, and two sisters, Mrs. Larry (Kathleen) Manganaro of Oakmont, PA, and Mrs. Dr. Don (Darlene) Shurman of Allison Park, PA. He was preceded in death by his father and his sister, Mary Ann Varacallo.

    “Dr. Varacallo’s unexpected death leaves a huge void for his family, his patients, the community, and for those of us who have been privileged to call him our colleague. His four-year term as the president of the DRMC Medical Staff was a period of unparalleled growth of patient quality, safety, and achievements.
    He lived life to the fullest and was a man who was strong in his faith.
    Life is fragile and the sudden death of Dr. Varacallo makes that statement all the more poignant. He will be missed.”
    -Raymond A. Graeca; President, DuBois Regional Medical Center

Memorials can be made in Dr. Varacallo’s name to DuBois Area Catholic Schools, P.O. Box 567, DuBois, PA 15801, and/or DuBois Regional Medical Center, 100 Hospital Ave., DuBois, PA 15801 and/or Christ the King Manor, 1100 West Long Ave., DuBois, PA 15801.

National Health Service Corps announces its 2010 Scholarship Program.

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 1, 2010. Click here to view flier.

LEARN ABOUT THE PA STEM INITIATIVE

The Pennsylvania STEM Initiative is a statewide partnership dedicated to preparing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for global competitiveness through a statewide strategy of enhanced science, technology engineering and mathematics education and career development opportunities for Pennsylvania students and communities. This strategy is executed by the statewide STEM Initiative in cooperation with five regional STEM Networks across Pennsylvania.(www.pasteminitiative.com)

Learn more about the Northwest PA STEM Initiative and discuss the program here.

THE NW PA AHEC WINS ANNUAL REPORT CONTEST

Erie, PA (October 2009) - The NW PA AHEC won the 2009 Annual Report contest held by the Erie Community Foundation for creating an effective, organizational annual report. The NW PA AHEC received their award at the 9th Annual Northwest Pennsylvania Nonprofit Day held on October 21, 2009.

View the NW PA AHEC Annual Report!

"Even though nonprofit organizations aren’t required to produce annual reports, there are many good reasons for doing so. Annual reports can help you demonstrate your accomplishments to stakeholders and future donors, cultivate new partnerships, recognize important people, and burnish your organizational brand." - Erie Community Foundation

THE NW PA AHEC HOLDS FIFTH ANNUAL HEALTH CAREER CAMP
AT CLARION UNIVERSITY-VENANGO CAMPUS AND THIEL COLLEGE

(Erie, PA – June 2009) – High school students from nine counties in northwest Pennsylvania will attend an innovative, hands-on, health career camp this month at Clarion University-Venango Campus and Thiel College.
The camp will allow the students to work alongside area health professionals and will be held June 15–19 at Clarion University’s Venango Campus in Oil City, PA and June 22-26 at Thiel College in Greenville, PA. Students were able to choose which week of camp they wished to attend. Participating students hail from Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, and Venango County.
The camp is a collaborative effort between the Northwest Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NW PA AHEC), Clarion University-Venango, and Thiel College. UPMC Northwest and UPMC Horizon are also making the program possible.
During the camp, students in grades 9 through 11 will be able to learn, from practicing health professionals in the region, about the specific health professions that have the greatest demand for qualified workers. Professionals will speak with the students about the importance of cultural sensitivity in healthcare and some of the situations healthcare personnel encounter.
Students also will learn about diversity and the need to eliminate disparities in healthcare.
To enhance their learning, students will be exposed to over 12 different health and science careers over the course of the week. They also will be given a job shadowing experience with UPMC Northwest or UPMC Horizon during the camp.
In addition, university admissions staff will teach students and parents how to prepare and apply for college or other advanced education. Each week will culminate in a “Grand Rounds” presentation of clinical case studies done by the students.
There is no charge to students for this camp.

Scholarship Opportunities for Medical Students

(June 1, 2009) - The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society provides philanthropic opportunities for individual physicians and others to support programs that improve the well-being of Pennsylvanians and sustain the future of medicine.
Each year, the Foundation offers scholarships to deserving medical students.

Students, please visit this website for more information and your chance to apply for several scholarship opportunities.

http://foundationpamedsoc.org/SFS/Scholarships.aspx

THE NW PA AHEC PREPARES FOR FIFTH ANNUAL HEALTH CAREER CAMPS – TWO CAMP SITES THIS YEAR
Students Interested in Health Careers are Invited to Apply Now!

(Erie, PA – January 2009) – The Northwest PA Area Health Education Center (NW PA AHEC) is now accepting applications for its fifth annual health career camps which will be held at Clarion University-Venango Campus, as well as Thiel College this summer.

The camps will allow students to work alongside area health professionals doing hands-on activities and participating in a job shadowing experience. The camps will be held June 15-19, 2009 at Clarion-Venango, Oil City, PA and June 22-26, 2009 at Thiel College, Greenville, PA. Students are given the opportunity to select which week works best for them.

Students currently in grades 9-11 from Butler, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Venango, and Warren County are invited to apply. Camp applications can be obtained from their high school guidance counselor or students can download an application online at www.nwpaahec.org. Applications are due at the NW PA AHEC office by April 17, 2009.

The camps are a collaborative effort between the Northwest Healthcare Industry Partnership, NW PA AHEC, Clarion University-Venango Campus, Thiel College, UPMC Northwest and UPMC Horizon.

During the camps, students will be able to learn, from practicing health professionals in the region, about the specific health professions that have the greatest demand for qualified workers. Camp faculty will discuss with the students the importance of cultural sensitivity in health care and some of the situations health care personnel encounter. Through the use of teamwork, students work on a clinical case study to determine all of the health careers involved with that particular scenario. Students are also enlightened about diversity and the need to eliminate disparities in health care for all populations.

Students will be exposed to approximately 12 different health careers with hands-on training over the course of the week. They will also be given a job shadowing experience at the local hospital.

In addition, both Clarion University and Thiel College admissions staff will teach students and parents how to prepare and apply for college or other advanced education. The week will culminate in a “Grand Rounds” presentation of case studies done by the students during the week.

The camps are free of charge to students. All speakers, from Clarion University, Thiel College, and the surrounding health care agencies, are generously donating their time and talents to the camps.

“We want to reach students early, to provide them with career choices before their minds are set. The career camp will allow them a wide variety of experience that will be fun and informational,” said Jane Mullinax, M.Ed., and Camp Director. “Our goal is to create a health professions pipeline that will help the region in its efforts to eliminate disparities in health care.”

The AHEC is a nationwide health care workforce development, recruitment and retention agency funded partially by the State and Federal governments. As part of its mission, the AHEC encourages youth to enter health careers and practice health services in rural and underserved communities throughout the region.

For more information on the camps and other NW PA AHEC programs, please visit www.nwpaahec.org.

OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER CLINICAL TEACHER
The NW PA AHEC’s Dr. Paul Bialas Makes ACP’s 2009 Awards List

Warren, PA (December 2008)—Northwest PA Area Health Education Center preceptor, and previous Clinical Coordinator, Dr. Paul Bialas, is honored with the award of Outstanding Volunteer Clinical Teacher by the American College of Physicians.

To view entire press release, please visit:
http://www.acponline.org/about_acp/awards_masterships/awards0809.htm

THE NW PA AHEC WELCOMES NEW CLINICAL COORDINATOR
Dr. Albert L. Varacallo Joins The AHEC Team

Erie, PA (September 23, 2008)—Dr. Albert L. Varacallo, Jr., MD, MMM, FAAFP, of DuBois, PA, will take over the position of Clinical Coordinator for the Northwest Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (AHEC), serving the entire Northwest PA region.

At the NW PA AHEC’s annual Board of Director’s meeting held last week, the board accepted the resignation of Dr. Paul Bailas, of Warren, after10 years of serving as the NW PA AHEC’s Clinical Director. The board then approved with enthusiasm the appointment of Dr. Albert Varacallo as the organization’s new Clinical Coordinator.

The NW PA AHEC’s goal is to educate and create interest in health careers to students and professionals at all levels of education. To achieve this goal, one of the AHEC’s tactics is to bring together health careers students and preceptors to enrich stduents’ education and also promote practicing health care in communities throughout the NW PA region.

Dr. Varacallo has been a preceptor for the AHEC program since 1996 and was honored as Preceptor of the Year in 1998. He is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and a native of Jefferson County. He also completed a Master’s Degree of Medical Management from Tulane University in 2005. Dr. Varacallo is excited to be given the opportunity to expand his experience in this area and also extend his work with other physicains in the area.

A responsibility of the NW PA AHEC’s Clinical Coordinator is to collaborate with health professions schools in the NW PA region, and also the NW PA AHEC organization to enhance the clinical training of medical, dental and other health professions students with the hopes of then retaining these students as medical professionals and practioners in rural and inner city PA settings.

“I have great interest in attracting students to practice medicine in this region,” said Varacallo. Dr. Varacallo also believes there are great opportunities to increase physician participation mentoring students in our locale.

The NW PA AHEC is confident in bringing Dr. Varacallo onto the AHEC team.

“We have been working with Dr. Varacallo for several years and I know he will continue to enrich our education program and the experiences of the health professions students with whom we work. Dr. Varacallo will undoubtedly be able to continue and promote the goals of the Area Health Education Center,” said Patricia Stubber, Executive Director of the NW PA AHEC.

Dr. Varacallo, his wife Luanne and children currently reside in DuBois, PA. He is a Family Physician in Reynoldsville, PA, through the DuBois Regional Medical Center, where he is the President of the Medical Staff. He is also the Medical Director at Christ the King Manor Nursing Home in DuBois and an assistant professor at the Penn State College of Medicine. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Association, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, and the Jefferson County Medical Society.

For more information on the Northwest PA Area Health Education Center, or Dr. Varacallo, please contact the organization’s office at 814-453-6551, or visit www.nwpaahec.org.