King's
Four local residents, Anna Domday, Summit Hill, Colleen Lizewski, Pine Grove, Elyssa Nieddu, Shenandoah, and Jenna Schappell, Ringtown, were among 38 students who received their master's degree in physician assistant studies from King's College, Wilkes-Barre, during the college's recent summer commencement ceremony.
The Class of 2012 is the 35th graduating class of King's physician assistant program. A physician assistant is a dependent mid-level health professional licensed by the state to practice medicine as delegated by and under the supervision of a physician. Physician assistants perform physical exams, diagnose illnesses, develop and carry out treatment plans, order and interpret lab tests and assist in surgeries.
Drexel
Lori Sholley Bechtel graduated June 17 from Drexel University, Philadelphia, with a master's degree in nursing leadership in health systems management.
Lori graduated summa cum laude while attending Drexel University Online. She attained her bachelor's degree in nursing from Albright College, Reading.
Lori began working at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, in 2001 as a per diem intensive care nurse and has advanced in the nursing leadership structure. Prior to working at PSMSHMC, she worked at Reading Hospital and Medical Center, West Reading, in the surgical ICU and did per diem staff nursing in Schuylkill and Berks counties. She became a nurse manager at PSMSHMC in 2007 and is currently the nurse manager of the neuroscience critical care unit.
Lori lives in Schuylkill Haven with her husband, Robert Bechtel. Her children are Emily E. Watson, Washington, D.C., and Casey R. Watson, a student at Penn State University, University Park campus.
Jefferson
Amanda R. Smolock, Frackville, was one of 252 graduates who received a doctor of medicine degree at the 188th commencement of Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia.
Amanda is a magna cum laude graduate of JMC and a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, Hobart Amory Hare Honor Medical Society, George McClellan Surgical Honor Society and the Association of Pathology Chairs Honor Society. She is also the recipient of the Hyman Menduke Research Prize.
She also received a doctor of philosophy degree from the Jefferson College of Graduate Studies.
Dr. Smolock will begin a residency in diagnostic radiology at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics in Madison, Wis.
She received a bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, in 2005 from Villanova University.
Kutztown
Caitlin Rattigan, Orwigsburg, graduated summa cum laude from Kutztown University with a bachelor's degree in psychology and minor in sociology.
Caitlin was the president of Psi Chi International Honor Society and was a member of Alpha Kappa Delta honor society. She was also awarded the Psi Chi Model Student Award, Independent Research Award and the Gill-Lauer-Sharp Award.
Caitlin plans to attend graduate school. She is a daughter of Dr. Peter J. and JoAnne Rattigan.
Penn State
Emily Ann Gordon graduated Aug. 11 from Penn State University, University Park campus, with a bachelor's degree in media studies.
She was a member of the TV and Broadcast Society and was on the media studies student council.
Emily interned with Fox News, ABC news and Prime Media.
A 2008 graduate of Blue Mountain High School, she is a daughter of Dennis and Carol Gordon, Auburn.