BUFFALO, NY ― Canisius University was approved for a $685,351 grant through the New York State Higher Education Capital Matching (HECap) Grant Program. The funds will support the construction of state-of-the-art allied health labs and additional facilities for the college’s graduate program in physician assistant studies. Canisius will also direct a portion of the grant toward equipment for the program, including digital anatomy tables, practice mannequins for skills development, and computer and audiovisual equipment to record and play information for case studies.
The HECap Program provides eligible private (not-for-profit) and independent colleges and universities a $1 match for every $3 raised for capital investment. HECap funds are distributed for the design, acquisition, construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation or equipping of a facility on or near the campus. This can include critical academic facilities, economic development or high technology projects, as well as urban renewal and/or historical preservation.
“Higher education is a catalyst for economic development and for providing well trained professionals in high needs fields, and the HECap program recognizes the significant role that schools like Canisius play in their local economies,” says Sara R. Morris, PhD, associate vice president for academic affairs. “This grant will prove vitally important as the college develops a graduate program in physician assistant (PA) studies that is responding to local and national needs in health care.”
In May, Canisius University appointed Aimee Larson to lead the development of a new PA program. A certified physician assistant, Larson comes to Canisius from D’Youville College, where she spent several years as an instructor and clinical preceptor in the Family Medicine and Primary Care Program. Larson previously worked as a PA with Mobile Primary Care, Kinkel Neurologic Center and UBMD Family Medicine, and served eight years active duty as a combat medic in the U.S. Air Force.
She holds a BS in health services administration from the University of Phoenix, and BS and MS degrees in physician assistant studies from D’Youville College. Larson is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the New York State Society of Physician Assistants and the Western New York Physician Assistant Association.
One of 28 Jesuit universities in the nation, Canisius is the premier private university in Western New York.
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