COUDERSPORT – “It’s a big day for Charles Cole,” the Coudersport
hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Ed Pitchford told a couple of
dozen people assembled in the Irwin Medical Arts Building on
Monday.

The reason for the gathering was the presentation of a ,900,000
check by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, to
Lock Haven University President Keith Miller for the enlargement of
the university’s physician assistant training program.

The presentation was made at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital
because the hospital will be one of two sites being added for
training programs; the other is the Dixon University Center in
Harrisburg.

LHU already has 24 students in its program; another 12 will be
added at each of the two sites, with the program to begin in
2010.

Pitchford noted that Charles Cole has become well known as a
leader in rural health care, opening the first provider based
health care center in Emporium some years ago.

The addition of the PA program will further enhance the
hospital’s role in health care and in the community.

Miller called the sum “quite a gift” and asserted the
university’s commitment to do all in can to help the Coudersport
community.

He explained that classes would be available online, and that
Coudersport is particularly suited for that.

“Hosting the Lock Haven physician assistant program is an
interesting and exciting opportunity for our hospital and the
community,” Pitchford said. “Medical education programs create a
stimulating environment that will help us stay fresh and current,
while providing our physicians the opportunity to teach and mentor
students who will play an important role in our country’s health
care delivery system.”

Tom Bowman, an aide to U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., related
how, after the collapse of Adelphia Communications Corp., several
years ago, Miller came to Coudersport and looked around, saying
there must be something the university could do to help the
community.

The pair went to Scarnati’s Brockway office and met with the
senator, who was supportive and receptive – “We have a friend in
Senator Scarnati,” he said.

Scarnati was instrumental in getting the ,900,000 grant from the
state Department of Education.

Scarnati told those assembled Monday “When it comes to something
good for jobs, education or health care,” he always tells his
colleagues in Harrisburg, “Let’s not let money stand in the way.”

He revealed that he had benefited from a physician’s assistant’s
advice. His sister, who had recently been certified, had seen
symptoms in him she didn’t like and had urged him to see his
doctor. He was diagnosed with cancer of the thyroid, and the gland
was removed and the cancer stopped.

He also noted that when people read that the state budget was
not passed until midnight, they should know that it could have been
adopted at 9 p.m. but that he had held it up pressing for more
state support of rural health care.

“I am pleased to have been able to secure funding for this
important initiative,” Scarnati said. “Without question, this is a
wonderful example of the state partnering with institutions to
improve the overall economic and health care climate of communities
across Pennsylvania.”