Paulina Brown, Dpas, Pa-C, Cic Email and Phone Number

• Provide clinical governance for the Long-term Care Facility (LTC) Resiliency, Infrastructure Supports, and Empowerment (RISE) program, funded through the CDC, administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s LTC Transformation Office, with an emphasis on public health, infection prevention controls, and resiliency of LTC facilities in the 11 counties comprising the southwest region, their residents, and their staff through professional development and quality improvement. • Engage with Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Departments of Health, corporate infection preventionists, and third-party partners to drive program scope of work, promote engagement, and influence adoption of quality improvement and professional development efforts.• Develop, implement, and lead emergency response teams in COVID-19 mitigation of facility outbreaks. Complete site visits to LTC facilities. Educate residents and staff on infection prevention, including vaccination. Recommend surveillance testing and diagnostic testing as well as treatment. • Serve as advisor to the clinical educator for the quality improvement team. Responsible for clinical advisory information including medical protocol for case management call center.• Review, compose, and assist with implementation of SOPs.• Ensure evidence-based practice guidelines, policies, and procedures direct care models, including staying abreast of the latest NIH, CDC, CMS, DOH, and DHS guidelines.• Clinical lead for team-wide CRM implementation.• Co-lead and train a team of 42 clinicians (APPs, RNs, LPNs, EMTs, CMAs, & SWs) with project manager.• Travel to conferences to present, educate, and promote program, while engaging with KOLs.• Consistent track record of meeting and exceeding KPIs.

• Interim position appointed by Senior Project Manager to assist in moving project strategic goals forward during time of transition of Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Medical Officer.

• Invited to present as one of three content matter experts by the Invited Lecture Series Committee after selection of our proposals amongst our Doctoral cohort peers. Public speaking engagement with audience members including School of Health and Rehabilitation Studies - Department of Physician Assistant Studies - faculty, Doctoral students, and Master’s students in their clinical year. Selected topics included COVID-19 oral antivirals, burnout in healthcare, and ostomy care.

• Invited by Director of Clinical Operations and Senior Director of Quality Initiatives and Clinical Education to present as a content matter expert in two consecutive public speaking engagements on Infection Prevention and Control monthly corporate meetings with audience members including administrators, directors of nursing, and infection preventionists from SNFs across the state of Pennsylvania. Topics included COVID-19 oral antivirals as well as COVID-19 vaccination and boosters.

• Worked in General and Colorectal Surgery at Jefferson Hospital and Canonsburg Hospital as part of Jefferson Hills Surgical Specialists.• Our group played a vital role in the diagnosis and treatment of many conditions, including, but not limited to, thyroid disease, parathyroid disease, peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), appendicitis, small bowel obstruction, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), colon cancer, rectal cancer, hemorrhoids, anal fistulas, pilonidal cysts, perirectal abscesses, anal condyloma, hernias, lipomas, and cysts. Also performed muscle and arterial biopsies to aid in the diagnosis of neuromuscular, rheumatologic, and inflammatory blood and connective tissue disorders, and inserted chemotherapy port and peritoneal dialysis catheters to assist in patient treatment. Other surgeons in the practice specialized in surgery to help treat breast cancer and to help patients lose weight.• First assisted in emergency and elective surgeries, including laparoscopic and robotic operations, in the operating room. • Conducted surgical consultations on the inpatient floors and in the emergency room, as well as daily hospital rounds on pre-operative and post-operative patients.• Performed physical examinations, wrote progress notes, ordered and interpreted laboratory values, and evaluated imaging to help formulate diagnostic and treatment plans. • Initiated surgical prophylaxis and practiced aseptic technique intra-operatively. Prevented, monitored, and treated healthcare-associated and peri-operative infections, including abscesses, cellulitis, and sepsis.• Provided patients with education and counseling. Assisted in wound/ostomy care and prepared patients for discharge. • Completed outpatient visits for pre-operative and post-operative patients. • Attended multidisciplinary tumor board conferences.

• Administered immunizations against the SARS-CoV-2 virus to patients at mass vaccination clinics across the Greater Pittsburgh Region in an effort to aid in increasing herd immunity throughout the community.• Provided patients with education on symptom monitoring and and instruction on adverse event reporting to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

• Played an active role in the Regional Response Health Collaboration Program, established by Pennsylvania’s LTC Task Force with the support of Pennsylvania's DOH and Department of Human Services, funded via the Pennsylvania Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act in 2020, as well as the Regional Congregate Care Assistance Team, funded via state and federal funds in 2021.• Under the supervision of geriatric and infectious disease physicians, supported clinical, operational, and administrative activities of long-term care facilities (SNFs & PCHs) impacted by COVID-19 in the Southwest Region with UPMC Community Provider Services, in partnership with Allegheny Health Network, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, and the Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania. Provided facilities with access to vaccines, testing, staffing, PPE, and monoclonal antibody therapy. Coordinated and facilitated N95 fit testing and training for staff.• Educated facilities on updated state and local guidelines on infection prevention and infection control. Participated on a committee to help create outbreak checklist and initial facility resource guide to be shared with facilities. Disseminated latest infection prevention resource guides to SNF and PCH administrators and infection preventionists weekly to biweekly.• Troubleshot and conferred with infectious disease physicians to answer individual facility questions and concerns. Acted as a consultant to LTCFs by assisting in writing/revising infection prevention/control policies to comply with the latest CDC, CMS, DOH, and DHS guidelines, as well as formulating written corrective action plans when deviating from infection control policies.• Assisted DOH in epidemiologic investigations, coordinating procedures to combat COVID-19, and following up with facilities during outbreak situations. Performed direct observations and assessments of facilities. Communicated with LTCFs for status updates. Reported data to DOH via COR platform.

• Originally scheduled clinical rotation with Caring Hands Pediatrics at office locations in Robinson and Ross Townships was conducted virtually through Zoom mock telemedicine visits with Lock Haven University faculty and alumni due to COVID-19.• Obtained complete and partial histories from or regarding pediatric patients of all ages.• Elicited a well-baby history including physical growth, mental and emotional development, immunizations, and the historical components of the developmental screening exam.• Utilized techniques required to obtain an adolescent history including school performance, peer interactions, substance abuse, sexual activity, and tobacco use.• Identified, performed, and interpreted appropriate, cost-effective, routine diagnostic procedures, based on history and physical examination findings.• Counseled patients and parents on a variety of subjects including, but not limited to, growth and development, nutrition, childhood fears, accident prevention, preparation for school, obesity, immunizations, and discipline.

• Clinical rotation with Jefferson Hills Surgical Specialists at Jefferson Hospital, including general, colorectal, bariatric, and breast oncology surgery.• First assisted on various procedures, including laparoscopic cholecystectomies, appendectomies, Nissen fundoplication, small bowel resections, hernia repairs, and gastrectomies, in addition to open hernia repairs, colon resections, ostomy creations, Hartman procedures and reversals, lipoma removals, parathyroidectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsies, axillary lymph node dissections, partial mastectomies, and total mastectomies with reconstruction. • Performed daily rounds on the inpatient floors. Wrote consult and progress notes, interpreted laboratory values, and evaluated imaging. Assisted in wound/ostomy care and preparing patients for discharge.• Performed surgical consultations on the inpatient floor and in the emergency room.• Assisted surgeons and surgical PAs in performing outpatient visits for both pre-operative and post-operative patients.• Attended multidisciplinary tumor board conferences.

• Clinical rotation in obstetrics and gynecology at a private practice at Shadyside Medical Building, with gynecologic surgeries performed at UPMC Shadyside and obstetric deliveries performed at Magee Women's Hospital of UPMC.• Collected gynecologic and prenatal histories.• Performed prenatal and pelvic examinations, including Pap smears and KOH prep. Tested for sexually transmitted infections and counseled patients on contraception and safe sexual practices.• Assisted in colposcopy, as well as insertion and removal of intrauterine devices.• Carried out gynecologic inpatient consultations.• First assisted in vulvar lesion excisions, hysteroscopies with dilation and curettage, lysis of adhesions, hysterectomies, and laparoscopic salpingectomy.• Assisted in hysterosalpingography and vaginal delivery.

• Shadowed the role of the radiologist and radiology physician assistant at UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Montefiore hospitals.• Observed ultra-sound guided thoracentesis, paracentesis, liver and kidney biopsies on post-transplant patients, and thyroid fine needle aspirations with lymph node sampling, as well as CT-guided abdominal, retroperitoneal, and paraspinal drain placements.• Learned to systematically approach reading ultrasound, radiographs, CT scans, and MRI.

• Clinical rotation split between hospital emergency departments in Sewickley and Beaver.• Elicited complete or partial history from the patient, or “third” party when patients were unconscious or children.• Performed methodical, rapid, and comprehensive immediate and secondary assessments of patients presenting to the emergency department with life threatening emergencies, including fractures and dislocations, change in mental status, ocular injuries, acute endocrine emergencies, chest pain, abdominal pain, ingestion of poisons, drug overdose and abuse, hypertensive urgency, threatened abortion, arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, and respiratory distress.• Developed a problem list, differential diagnosis, plan of investigation, and appropriate laboratory and diagnostic tests to order, as well as plans of therapy appropriate to patients' conditions.• Splinted fractures and dislocations. Administered local anesthesia and digital blocks. Disinfected and sutured laceration wounds closed. • Performed pelvic examinations and STI testing. Performed and assisted in Bartholin gland abscess incision and drainage (I&D), Word catheter placement, and pilonidal cyst I&D.• Assisted in CPR and central line placement. Interpreted EKGs.• Performed split lamp examinations.• Presented orally to preceptor physician assistant and supervising physicians.• Wrote notes in EMR.

• Clinical rotation in outpatient Internal Medicine, Hematology & Oncology, Allergy & Immunology, Cardiology, and Rheumatology at Geisinger Scenery Park, Gray's Woods, and Patton Forest locations.• In Internal Medicine, elicited detailed histories from adults and geriatric patients regarding dietary habits, sleep patterns, behavior changes, use of medications, drugs, alcohol, preventative services, hearing or visual disturbances, patient's home network, and family support during routine and acute visits. Performed physical examinations. Identified and interpreted routine and urgent diagnostic procedures.• In Hematology & Oncology, assisted in obtaining histories, performing physical examination, interpreting laboratory values and imaging - including PET scans, ordering appropriate chemotherapeutic regimens per protocol, coordinating care between surgical and radiation oncologists, monitoring for adverse effects of medications, and counseling for new and follow-up patients.• In Allergy & Immunology, assisted in obtaining histories, performing targeted physical examinations, performing and interpreting PFTs and allergy testing, managing asthma and allergy medications, and documenting clinical notes.• In Cardiology, assisted in conducting outpatient visits on new and follow-up patients with problems including but not limited to ischemic heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, pericardial disease, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation. Assisted in interpreting cardiac stress testing, including EKGs and echocardiography. Observed the process of cardiac pacemaker interrogation and interpretation.• In Rheumatology, assisted in eliciting history, performing physical examination, and formulating treatment plan for patients with problems including but not limited to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and collagen vascular disease. Assisted in joint injections.

• Clinical rotation in vascular, cardiac, and thoracic surgery, as well as interventional cardiology.• Scrubbed in and assisted in stable and ruptured AAA repair, carotid endarterectomies, arterial bypasses, internal jugular vein transection/trauma repair, amputations, CABG, open aortic valve replacements, and endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting. • Aided in inferior vena cava filter placement and angiograms/angioplasty in the interventional radiology suite.• Observed open and laparoscopic thoracotomies, VATS procedures, chest tube placements, and esophageal myotomies, as well as Watchman device placements and TAVRs.• Conducted inpatient consultations• Rounded on patients post-operatively in the intensive care unit• Assisted in performing pre-operative and post-operative outpatient visits. Removed staples. • Performed wound care, including changing dressings with wound VACs.• Wrote daily progress notes.

• Clinical rotation in family medicine with private practice at office locations in DuBois, Clearfield, and Punxsutawney.• Elicited detailed histories from patients across the lifespan regarding dietary habits, sleep patterns, behavior changes, use of medications, drugs, alcohol, preventative services, hearing or visual disturbances, patient's home network, and family support during routine and acute visits.• Performed physical examinations on children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients.• Identified, ordered and interpreted routine and urgent diagnostic procedures, as well as medications for asthma, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus.• Presented presentations on medical topics to staff and physician preceptor.• Administered intramuscular injections, including Rocephin and Vivitrol. Assisted in joint injections.• Documented clinical notes, including HPI, differential diagnosis, plan, and ICD 10 billing codes.

• Clinical rotation in outpatient behavioral health at the Dickinson Center Inc., including mental health counseling, clinical assessment with nurse practitioner and psychiatrist, medication management of children with ADHD, ODD, and other learning or behavioral issues, screening and testing children for autism spectrum disorder, anger management group therapy sessions, and group therapy at an adult day program for psychiatric rehabilitation.• Assisted in eliciting behavioral health history and medical review of systems that may present as psychiatric disease, including past medical history, risk factors profile, and database stressing the cognitive and affective information and develop skills which will enable recognition of normal and deviation from normal.• Performed and interpreted the results of a complete mental status examination including: appearance and behavior, thought process and perceptions, coherency and relevance, thought content, perception, cognitive factors, orientation, attention and concentration, memory, information and vocabulary, abstract reasoning, judgment, perception and coordination, and evaluation of suicidal risks.• Counseled patients on treatment modalities, including indications, contraindications, and side effects of SSRIs and other antidepressants, stimulants, tranquilizers, and sedative hypnotics. Discussed barriers to access of medication and the importance of compliance with regimens.

• Clinical rotation in outpatient, inpatient, and interventional cardiology, as well as acute care in the internal medicine outpatient setting.• Conducted inpatient consultations and outpatient visits on new and follow-up patients with problems including but not limited to ischemic heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, pericardial disease, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation.• Assisted in performing and interpreting cardiac stress testing, including EKGs.• Aided in electric cardioversion, radiofrequency ablation, placement of temporary pacemakers, as well as sclerotherapy for venous insufficiency. • Observed and assisted in interpreting cardiac catheterization and echocardiography. • Wrote cardiology SOAP notes. Assisted in ordering prescriptions.

•Elected by student body to represent the Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania’s PA Program as a board member of the John Schroeder PA Student Society.•Debated and determined resolutions to guide the work of the Student Academy Board of Directors and Board Committees for the subsequent calendar year.•Voted for continued Diversity Chairperson within each PA program and for name change of Student Academy of Representatives to Assembly of Representatives at the 2019 AAPA Conference in Denver, Colorado.

• Established and monitored video classroom technology connection between four campuses comprising the Department of Physician Assistant Studies daily.• Oversaw recording of lectures to Mediasite. Initiated troubleshooting process for technical issues.• Acted as a liaison between campuses. Organized fundraisers and reported class community service.

• Screened and obtained informed consent from study participants for multi-center NIH-funded and GSK-sponsored antiretroviral clinical trials with the Division of Infectious Disease HIV & AIDS Treatment and Prevention Teams.• Conducted participant visits at UPMC Falk Clinic and Magee Women’s Hospitals. Provided counseling on treatment adherence, safe sex practices, and testing for STIs.• Documented clinical presentations and review of systems in relation to research protocols for adverse events. Applied toxicity grading to laboratory values per protocol. Collected participant samples.• Assisted during ultrasound-guided injections, pap smears, and rectal, cervical, and vaginal biopsies.• Initiated and oversaw BlueJeans teleconferencing technology connection between clinical research participants and University of Pennsylvania researchers for collection of behavioral data.Community Service:• Event Volunteer, 17th Annual Mon Valley HIV/AIDS Awareness Walk, McKeesport, PAConferences:• Retroviruses & Opportunistic Infections Part II, Joshua Cytkor, PhD & Sharon Riddler, MD, MPH, University of Pittsburgh• Retroviruses & Opportunistic Infections Part I, Bernard JC Macatangay, MD & Ken Ho, MD, University of Pittsburgh• Microbicide Trials Network Annual Meeting, Bethesda, MD• Genotype Conference, John Mellors, MD, University of Pittsburgh• Web-Based STI Cases, Peter Veldkamp, MD & Sarah McBeth, MD, University of Pittsburgh• World AIDS Day: Update in the Care and Prevention of HIV Infection, Allegheny Health Network, Allegheny General Hospital• Pain Management of HIV-Infected Persons, Jessica Merlin, MD, University of Pittsburgh• HIV/Hepatitis C Virus Case Conference, Sarah McBeth, MD, University of Pittsburgh• Update in Diabetes Care, Mary Korytkowski, MD, University of Pittsburgh• Pulmonary Hypertension in HIV-Infected Adults, Stephen Chan, MD, PhD, FAHA, University of Pittsburgh• Antiretroviral Therapy, Deborah McMahon, MD, University of Pittsburgh

• As a member of the Ambulatory Pediatrics Department's Work Flow Committee, helped to organize and implement a weeklong timed clinic study to assess ways to minimize patient wait time and maximize patient satisfaction while managing heavy caseloads, with the help of the hospital's Lean Six Sigma Methodology Team.

• Measured vital signs. Conducted hearing and vision screenings. Documented chief complaint, problem lists, and medications in Epic for General Pediatrics, Pediatric Specialties, & Outpatient Infusion Center. Prepared EKGs, performed phlebotomy, and removed sutures. Monitored vital signs and assisted in IV insertions in the outpatient infusion center.• Performed urinalysis, rapid streptococcal tests, and glycated hemoglobin tests. Ensured quality control.• Set up for and assisted during sterile procedures, including lumbar puncture and bone marrow biopsy.• Promoted from Ambulatory Technologist II to Ambulatory Technologist IIIClinical Shadowing (Outside of Work Hours):• Cardiac Perfusion, URMC, Strong Memorial Hospital• Dermatology, URMC, Strong Memorial Hospital• Thoracic and Vascular Surgery & Surgical Oncology, URMC, Highland Hospital• Emergency Department, URMC, Highland Hospital• Pediatric Surgery, URMC, Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, URMC, Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong• Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, URMC, Golisano Children’s Hospital at StrongAwards:• iCARE Strong Star Award: Certificate of Appreciation for Excellence in Patient Care (5)Community Service: • In-Home Respite Companion, Alzheimer’s Association of Western New York, Buffalo, NY• Community Event Volunteer, Unyts, Buffalo, NY• Event Volunteer, Council for Adolescent Voices and Experiences 3rd Annual Golisano Children’s Hospital Prom, Rochester, NY• Event Volunteer, Western New York Children’s Tumor Foundation Walk to End Neurofibromatosis, Penfield, NY

• Established relationships with customers by assisting in the design, placement, and pick up of orders.• Wrote and sent out client invoices. Organized spreadsheets for group orders. Ordered inventory.• Communicated goals to the productions department. Administered social media outlets.

• Taught, supervised, assisted, and evaluated a classroom of 25 undergraduate students in Human Biology.• Attended weekly preparatory and pedagogy meetings held by overseeing instructor. Held office hours.• Prepared pre-laboratory lectures and labs using ADInstruments hardware and LabTutor software.• Laboratory topics included: Calorimetry, EKG, Spirometry, and Epidemiology.

• Elected to serve as President of Phi Kappa Pi, after three years of membership, and serving in other roles including Vice President, Academic Chairperson, and Excellence Chairperson.• Served as president of Phi Kappa Pi for one semester. Duties included presiding at all meetings of the sorority (made up of 45 active members), answering all questions of order that arose during meetings, making decisions for the good of the sorority, holding membership on sorority council, recording minutes at upper slate meetings, representing sorority at State University of New York at Geneseo Inter Greek Council meetings, and communicating with the alumni liaison, a local attorney. Assisted in updating, editing, and revising the constitution as part of the constitutional revision committee.• Served in the upper slate position of academic chairperson for one semester. Responsibilities included ensuring good academic standing for all active sisters, distributing an academic contract, and providing the academic charm for the three active members with the largest increase in grade point average from semester to semester. Assisted in finding tutors, when necessary, for new members throughout the new member education process.• Served as excellence chairperson for two years. Worked with the president and the faculty Greek advisor to complete a pre-evaluation of the sorority and set goals for the sorority to achieve during the school year. Presented improvements made throughout the year and provided supporting documentation to the Dean, faculty Greek advisor, and a selected team of staff member evaluators.

• Increased efficiency of Rochester General Hospital Emergency Department by lessening physician’s burden of documentation and organizational responsibility via assisting with non-clinical tasks.• Verified patient information. Recorded updates on patients’ conditions in real time as indicated by the doctor. Promptly communicated test results.

• Assisted in teaching students to use ADInstruments hardware and LabTutor software to complete laboratory exercises in Human Biology.• Answered questions, collected assignments, and helped to evaluate students’ final presentations.

• Communicated with patients by writing on boards each morning. Delivered ice water and stocked phlebotomy totes with supplies. • Accompanied supervising physician on patient rounds in Geriatrics and Trauma ICU. Recorded daily experiences.• Observed the processes taken to sterilize procedural instruments.