PA OlymPAcs - June 29, 2024
The PA OlymPAcs is an annual field day style event bringing together PA students from around the state of Ohio in friendly competition to raise funds for worthy causes.
This year the event raised money for GoPacks in Marietta, Ohio, as well as the OAPA Legislative Fund through custom T-shirts as well as direct monetary contributions. In addition to the fun and games, recruiters from Nationwide Children's Hospital and Mount Carmel Health System also attended to meet with students and support the event.
OAPA would like to thank Ohio Dominican University for hosting the event and congratulate Mount St. Joseph University as this year's winning team!
Tying for second place were Marietta College and Ohio Dominican University. Also participating in the games and/or fundraising were Ashland University, Baldwin Wallace University, Case Western Reserve University, Cedarville University, Kettering University, Lake Erie College, Miami University, Mount Union College, Ohio University, University of Findlay, University of Toledo, Ursuline College.
Thanks to all of the participating students, their program directors, and the organizing team of OAPA Student Affairs Committee Chair Tyler Fitzgerald, PA-C, Student Representative Daniel Bixel, PA-S, Student Representative-Elect Romal Patel, PA-S, and all who helped make it a fun and successful day!
Enjoy these photos of the 2024 PA OlymPAcs:
Recapping the 2023 PA OlymPAcs
The PA OlymPAcs returned on October 14, 2023, after a pandemic-induced hiatus. It was a wonderful success!
There were teams from 13 PA programs and more than 100 people in attendance to participate in a variety of games, meet new people, reconnect with old friends, and celebrate the Ohio PA community. More than $2,600 in contributions poured in for the event, with the money split between the Ken Anderson Alliance and the OAPA Legislative Fund.
Congrats to Marietta College for taking 1st place! Besides bragging rights, the Marietta students are honored with the opportunity to select the charitable cause for next year’s PA OlymPAcs.
Here are the final scores:
- Marietta: 14
- Toledo: 12
- Ohio University: 12
- Cedarville: 12
- Ohio Dominican: 10
- MSJ: 10
- Combo group (LEC, CWRU, Kettering): 8
- Dayton: 7
- Ashland: 5
- Mount Union: 1
- Findlay: 1
Thank you to all who participated in or supported the PA OlymPAcs, and to the planners, Student Affairs Committee Chair (and Region 1 Director) Tyler Fitzgerald, PA-C, Student Representative to the OAPA Board Daniel Bixel, PA-S, and Student Representative-Elect Romal Patel, PA-S, and their team for their hard work.
Enjoy these photos of the 2023 PA OlymPAcs:
History of the Games
2016 was the first Ohio PA OlymPAcs and it was quite a chilly event - it snowed! The event took place in April at Baldwin Wallace University with a total of six programs involved and more than 150 attendees. The day was a success; raising more than $5,000 for the Alzheimer's Association. The University of Findlay won and received the privilege of choosing the next charity. This first event set the stage for the subsequent years and it only continued to grow!
The following year, the number of programs, attendees, and fundraising grew exponentially! In 2017, ten programs and more than 300 students and PAs came to support and participate in the event on July 8th. Fundraising efforts were for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the students raised more than $10,000. The winner was the University of Dayton.
The 3rd annual PA OlymPAcs took place July 7th, 2018, at the University of Mount Union. PA students from across the state of Ohio helped raise more than $12,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The University of Mount Union won the event. The games were a success with around 400 students, PA-Cs, faculty, and family members in attendance.