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Alvernia Names Inaugural Physician Assistant Program Director

by Alvernia University

Apr 25, 2022
Seasoned physician assistant Langstaff selected as new program director

Alvernia University names Renee Langstaff, MSPAS, PA-C, as the inaugural physician assistant (PA) program director. Langstaff brings 22 years of experience in clinical practice and nine years of experience in PA education to her new role at Alvernia, in which she will also serve as an assistant professor of medicine.

“Renee brings a wealth of leadership, program development, teaching and clinical expertise,” said Alvernia Provost Glynis Fitzgerald. “Those skills will be necessary as we start the journey toward accreditation for what promises to be an exciting new program at Alvernia.”

In her new role, Langstaff will be charged with developing the new Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MMSPAS) program. The program is offered in a “3+2” format, allowing students to graduate in five years with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies.

In Langstaff’s recent position at Arcadia University, she served as the department chair for medical sciences, assistant professor for the PA program, the first residential PA program director and most recently as the emerging hybrid PA program director. Her clinical expertise is in the area of cardiovascular medicine.

The 3+2 BIO-PA year-round program builds on Alvernia’s student-centered learning model by pairing students with local healthcare professionals in the Reading community for clinical rotations and upholds Alvernia’s core value of service by healing and nurturing members of the community in need.

“I love the challenge of starting a new program, which also affords one the opportunity to infuse their own creativity and a progressive approach to education,” said Langstaff. “The program mission statement aligns with my core values, and the University is in a strong position to support and develop the new program.”

A published researcher and author, Langstaff has published multiple research articles in leading cardiology journal, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, along with articles in the Journal of Cardiac Failure and Cath Lab Digest and her children’s book, The Heart of a Bear: Bear Gets His Heart Checked.

She is also the founder of SIDz KIDz , LLC, where her mission is to prevent sudden cardiac death in youth through cardiac screenings, AED availability, education, and research, as well as to support families in dealing with cardiac diagnoses in children.

Langstaff holds a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Arcadia University and an NCCPA certification, the only certifying organization for PAs in the United States. She earned a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Ithaca College.

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