HSC PA students triumph at TAPA Conference, winning Challenge Bowl
Students and faculty from The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth’s Physician Assistant program recently made a strong showing at the Texas Academy of Physician Assistant’s 50th Annual CME Conference. Among their achievements, the HSC team, Prescription Pals, clinched the victory in the highly competitive TAPA Challenge Bowl.
The TAPA Conference, held this year in Arlington, brings together physician assistant professionals and students from across Texas. It offers professional development, networking opportunities, and an exhilarating Challenge Bowl — a quiz-style competition where PA students demonstrate their knowledge of clinical and didactic topics. This year, three teams from HSC participated: Prescription Pals – Abby Dalton, Omar Alkhatib, Kaleia Walden; Flu Fighters – Stephen Whitcomb, Riley Parker, Dresden Dilts; and Smooth Obturator – Ashley Johnson, Emma Dalley, Lily Tran.
In a field of fierce competition, Prescription Pals emerged victorious, earning HSC top honors. Tiffany Chiang, a second-year PA student and head cheerleader for the team, described the energy at the event as “infectious” and highlighted the incredible camaraderie among her classmates and faculty.
“I was so proud of our teams,” Chiang said. “Watching the Prescription Pals advance through the rounds was nerve-wracking, but they got more comfortable with each round. It was like a comeback for us, and you could see how their confidence grew.”
For Chiang, TAPA has always been a significant part of her PA journey. “Even as a pre-PA, I attended TAPA conferences to network and learn,” Chiang said. “Now, as a second-year student, it feels like things have come full circle. This year, I was in the front row, cheering on my friends.”
The weekend conference also provided valuable educational experiences. Chiang and her peers attended lectures and workshops on contract negotiations, the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam and emergency medicine.
“One of the highlights was an EKG workshop. I had attended the same workshop as a pre-PA, and everything felt overwhelming back then. But this time, after learning the material in class, it felt so much more manageable,” Chiang shared.
In addition to the Challenge Bowl victory, HSC faculty members were recognized at the conference. PAs Tamara Willmoth and Amanda Brosnan were both nominated for TAPA’s Educator of the Year award. While they did not take home the title, their students’ nomination was a testament to the impact they have on their education.
“TAPA is the only statewide PA organization committed to advancing the profession through advocacy and professional development,” Chiang said. “Getting involved with TAPA shows you all the work that’s happening behind the scenes to help us, as PAs, provide better care for our patients. It’s essential to understanding how far we can go and how much more we can achieve.”
The annual TAPA Conference showcases the dedication of PAs and students across Texas, but for HSC, this year’s event was especially meaningful as their Challenge Bowl victory highlighted their commitment to excellence.
“I am super proud of our student conference participants,” said PA Lauren Dobbs, chair, associate professor and program director of HSC’s PA Studies program. “I received praise from other PA programs and TAPA leadership in regard to our students professionalism, kindness and collegiality throughout the conference. Our faculty have set the bar high, and our students are mirroring that high standard. Our faculty nominees for TAPA Educator of the Year also demonstrates this high standard that our team lives by daily.”
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