Two Hofstra students have been recognized with national awards for their academic achievements in health-related programs. Matthew Bremer, who graduated from the Physician Assistant Studies Program in December 2005, received the Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiovascular Surgery (APACVS) Award on January 27, 2006, while Hofstra senior Amy Krysiewski will receive the prestigious Outstanding Health Education Major of the Year Award. She will represent Hofstra at the 2006 American Association for Health Education (AAHE) National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 27.

Hofstra grad Matthew Bremer (right) with Dr. Denton Cooley of the Texas Heart Institute at the APACVS conference in Chicago.

Matthew received his award at the biannual APACVS conference in Chicago, Illinois. The APACVS, a national network of medical professionals, serves as an advocate for the academic, scientific, and professional interests of PAs working in cardiovascular surgery.  Matthew used his award toward his education expenses. At the APACVS conference he had the opportunity to speak with many accomplished individuals who work in cardiovascular surgery. 

Matthew recently accepted a full-time physician assistant position in the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in Manhasset, New York. After hearing about the opportunities for PAs in cardiovascular surgery, he chose to do his elective rotation in the NSUH cardiothoracic unit and loved it.  Through contacts he made on his rotation, Matthew was offered the opportunity to come back to NSUH to begin a career in cardiovascular surgery. 

Matt is a member of the second graduating class of Hofstra University's Physician Assistant Program and is already Hofstra's second student in the program to be recognized by a national professional organization. In May 2005 Jessica Leffler, a second-year PA student and North Bellmore resident, received a national scholarship from the Association of Physician Assistants in Oncology (APAO).

Amy Krysiewski received the Outstanding Health Education Major of the Year Award from the American Association for Health Education.

AAHE’s  Outstanding Health Education Major of the Year Award, to be given to Amy Krysiewski, recognizes one exceptional undergraduate student majoring in health promotion from each degree track among universities with health professional preparation degree programs throughout the United States.

“I am thrilled to receive this award, but I feel greater pride for the work that I have done all along. This is a culmination,” said Amy. She will graduate this May with dual degrees (a B.S. in community health, and a B.A. in public relations) as well as a minor in psychology. This year, Amy is president of the Gamma Pi Chapter in Eta Sigma Gamma, the National Health Education Honor Society, and is currently completing a rigorous internship at Lenox Hill Hospital in public relations with an emphasis toward health marketing. Each semester since 2001, she has earned Dean's List honors.

Awarded an athletic scholarship in 2001, she was a four-year starter on Hofstra's varsity field hockey team, and she received academic honors each year she has been a scholar-athlete. ldquo;Being on the field hockey team taught me so much about time management, discipline and learning to work with diverse people with different ideas,” she said.