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After graduation Tania Abousaid, a recent graduate of the Pace Pleasantville PA program, wanted to create an invaluable resource. Something that she knew would help the next generation of students pursuing the same path as her. Together with her once preceptor now colleague Mike Sacks, they co-authored a book together titled First Line Guide: A Comprehensive Review of Didactic Medicine. The official website for the books reads, "We set out to write this book hoping to fill a void we experienced as we were going through PA school. There were two types of textbooks: the gold-standard textbooks that provided immense amounts of information but were challenging to read through, and on the other side of the spectrum, there were the many quality study guides that provided limited detail and were useful only if you already understood the content. What was missing was the book in the middle..."

"We set out to write this book hoping to fill a void we experienced as we were going through PA school."

Abousaid's passion for medicine began in the ICU, when she was a patient herself. After coming off life support Tania made the decision to change her career path and applied to PA school. While a student in the PA program, Tania was Class president and the State Society's (NYSSPA) student director. In just 6 months after graduation, she not only found her way back to the ICU as a critical care provider, but is also working part time in family medicine.

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The book her and Sacks have written features more than 640 pages with color photos and diagrams. With First Line Guide they aimed to create a book that could stay with somebody past their time at school. That it could be kept on one's desk as a reference in practice. "In realizing we couldn't find such a book, we set out to write it ourselves," they explained. "We hope this will be the book that walks that fine line and is useful to everyone."

Order a copy of First Line Guide: A Comprehensive Review of Didactic Medicine.

Pace University's Lienhard School of Nursing alumna Sarah Gruhn was hired by Greenwich Hospital before senior graduation. As a hardworking and dedicated student with a passion for science, Sarah always knew she wanted an occupation that would help others. Sarah decided to pursue nursing after being diagnosed with Lymes Disease and was sick for almost five years. The time she spent around nurses who impacted her recovery and brought her comfort solidified the fact that nursing was the career for her. Sarah was inspired by the opportunities that nurses have to engage and connect with patients while they overcome their struggles.

As a Northern Virginia native, Sarah always knew that she wanted to go somewhere different and have the chance to be on her own. Sarah was drawn to Pace through her college research due to the location, impressive NCLEX scores, and curriculum. After visiting the campus, Sarah was eager to apply once she learned about CHP's approach to nursing education as voiced by the faculty she got to meet.

As a student, Sarah enrolled in Professor Millie Hepburn's Peri-op elective course, which is an exceptional example of experiential learning. After a previous externship experience where she shadowed a peri-op nurse, Sarah was led to apply for this course. These experiences fascinated Sarah and helped her decide to focus her career in peri-op nursing.

Sarah landed a position at Greenwich Hospital to complete her senior practicum in the OR. She was then brought on as a full-time RN after passing her NCLEX; her nurse manager describes her as a superstar. Sarah recommends students to apply to this wonderful program with encouraging staff and an open teaching environment. "I've been very supported by my managers and preceptors and have learned a great deal so far in my time there. It is a place where I feel that people want me to succeed and grow in my career, and that is something that is incredibly beneficial, especially when starting out in such a challenging field," said Sarah.