James Madison University Physician Assistant Program

10/12/2026

10/11/2026

10/11/2026

Day 4 of JMU’s VAPA social media challenge! While our patient from yesterday has symptoms that make treatment complex, our pathogen is generally treated with praziquantel, an antihelminth medication. Final answer?
And the answer is: Schistosomiasis! Specifically, pulmonary involvement can occur with S. Mansoni or S. Japonicum. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic blood fluke (worm) that is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, North Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. It is spread by contact with infested freshwater. Most infected individuals do not develop symptomatic illness. Testing involves stool sample and serology, organ-specific modalities in ectopic cases. Treatment generally involves anti-helminth therapy in the form of praziquantel and steroids.
If you used UpToDate in the process of this social media challenge, drop us a like on this post, because so did we! All source information for these posts was compiled from UpToDate.

10/09/2026

Come support the Free Clinic by participating in this 5K! Family friendly fun run/walk! 

10/08/2026

Day 2 of the VAPA social challenge! If you answered Tanzania, Guatemala, or Peru yesterday, you’d be correct! Our mystery disease is endemic to Tanzania, one of the most popular rotations JMU PA students do each year. On to the next clue!

PAs go beyond! Part of taking a good history is finding out what occupational hazards our patients may face. In diagnosing a potentially infectious disease, this is especially important! Our disease is spread by skin contact with infested waters through an intermediate host of freshwater snails, so environmental researchers, fisherman, and anyone training in a lake to be the next Michael Phelps is at risk! Comment your revised differential below and like this post!

10/07/2026

“Medical mystery - if your patient came in with cough and hilar adenopathy and they were recently hiking here, what are you thinking?”

10/06/2026

10/01/2026

09/28/2026

Last week JMU PA student, Jeremy Rechner, had the unique opportunity to attend the Leadership & Advocacy Summit in Washington DC. This is an event of the American Academy of Physician Associates. Jeremy met with the legislative staff of three Virginia politicians (Kaine, Warner, Cline) to ask them to support two bills that would benefit PAs and PA students (HR 3170 & HR 6718). Great job Jeremy!

James Madison University
JMU College of Health and Behavioral Studies
Virginia Academy of PAs
Medical Society of Virginia
The Graduate School, James Madison University