PA Olympics Take on a Special Meaning This Year

This year’s PA Olympics took on a little more significance for students in the University's Physician Assistant Studies (PA) program because it honored former faculty member, Adam Moore, MHS, PA-C, ATC.

Moore was an assistant professor for the Salus PA program from 2016 to 2022 and also at Thomas Jefferson University until his passing in September 2023. During his time at Salus, Moore had served as a faculty advisor for the PA Olympics. 

“This event was a great way for us to remember Adam and all he has done for PA education and PA Olympics,” said Salus assistant professor Maria Boka, MSPAS, PA-C. “Our students were very motivated this year to raise funds, and doing so in Adam's honor made it more personal.”

The Salus effort was spearheaded by Alexandra “Alex” Fontes, Madeline “Maddy” McLaughlin, Marissa Meredith and Erin O’Hara, all ‘25PA. They started the fundraising effort in October 2023 which included:

• Fundraising through bake sales and dress-down days. 
• A joint fundraising event at Lucky Strike Philadelphia bowling lanes including all participating PA programs. Each school also prepared a raffle basket, which was then raffled off at the event. Salus prepared a "hot wings" themed basket. 
• This year, an additional basket was presented to Moore's wife, which contained small tokens representing each school that participated. 
• A scavenger hunt called “The Great Race” in Philadelphia with all of the participating PA programs, and an after-party.

Of the 48 members in the PA Class of 2025, 30 were able to attend the event. The Salus group exceeded its goal and raised approximately $3,000, while all the schools combined to raise around $26,000 — the most in the history of the PA Olympics — all to benefit For Pete’s Sake, a charity for cancer patients and their families.

“I really liked that the money raised was going to an organization that has helped a family we know and someone who has helped a lot of students become PAs,” said Fontes, who is from Plymouth, Massachusetts. “Also being able to connect with other PA programs and getting to know those people and collaborate with them.”

For McLaughlin, being part of the Salus organizing team allowed her to get involved in something meaningful outside the perimeters of the classroom. “In the first semester of PA school, I felt like I was missing that space to get involved in things that meant something to me,” said McLaughlin. “Participating in things outside of class helps me fill my cup personally, which is important given how demanding PA school is. I felt like PA Olympics helped me to find some balance alongside studying and was particularly meaningful given we were raising money in memory of Adam.”

Prior to the start of the PA Olympics, all participants met to present their earnings for the For Pete’s Sake charity and presented the additional basket to Moore’s wife.

As mentioned, the PA Olympics consisted of a scavenger hunt called “The Great Race” which took place in Philadelphia and featured 11 PA schools in addition to Salus, including Jefferson, Alvernia, Arcadia, Delaware Valley, DeSales, Drexel, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), Saint Joseph’s, Temple and West Chester. 

The event has become a renowned cross-cultural event for PA students, faculty, alumni, and guests of the Greater Philadelphia Physician Assistant programs. It affords participants to come together and work collectively in service to raise awareness of a community-based organization. “The PA Olympics was a memorable event when I was a student,” said assistant professor, Jennifer Pilchman, MSPAS, PA-C. “It allows the students to get into the fresh air, make connections with others, explore the city, and just have fun. It was a beautiful day for it, and it's worth it when you see the smiling faces.”