LoriAnn Giovanniello of Manalapan, N.J. embarks on medical services trip to the Dominican Republic

HAMDEN, CT (01/08/2014)(readMedia)-- LoriAnn Giovanniello of Manalapan, N.J. is one of six physician assistant students from Quinnipiac University who will take part in a medical services trip to the Dominican Republic Jan. 12-18.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to make a difference and connect with people who do not have access to proper medical care like we do in the United States," Giovanniello said. "Through opportunities like this, we can be immersed in the culture as well as the medicine aspect of the trip. It's an experience that always leaves you thankful for what you have and opens your eyes to other lifestyles."

The students will benefit from a Global Outreach Humanitarian Assistance Grant. The Physician Assistant Foundation recently awarded Quinnipiac a $5,000 grant, which will be used to purchase medicine and pay for services such as X-rays and CT scans at local hospitals during the visit.

The PA program has sent about 50 students to the Dominican Republic since 2009 via Health Horizons International, a Connecticut-based non-profit organization whose mission is "to provide quality primary health care to underserved patients of the Dominican Republic and to build local capacity for achieving improved community health."

"This is the fifth consecutive year that we have received a grant from the Physician Assistant Foundation," said Cynthia Lord, clinical associate professor of physician assistant studies and director of the physician assistant program. "It demonstrates that we have a good track record and that the foundation believes in us and the work that our students do."

Lord said the relationship between Quinnipiac and Health Horizons International began in 2008 when Bradford Wilkinson, a doctor from Durham, Conn. whose daughter Hannah was in the PA program, asked to speak to students about a trip to the Dominican Republic that he was planning.

"He was trying to round up some interest," Lord said of Wilkinson, who serves as vice chairman of HHI. "Twenty-one people jumped on board. Thus the annual trip to the Dominican Republic was born."

Quinnipiac is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution located 90 minutes north of New York City and two hours from Boston. The university enrolls 6,500 full-time undergraduate and 2,500 graduate students in 58 undergraduate and more than 20 graduate programs of study in its School of Business and Engineering, School of Communications, School of Education, School of Health Sciences, School of Law, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, School of Nursing and College of Arts and Sciences. Quinnipiac consistently ranks among the top regional universities in the North in U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges issue. The 2014 issue of U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges named Quinnipiac as the top up-and-coming school with master's programs in the Northern Region. Quinnipiac also is recognized in Princeton Review's "The Best 377 Colleges." The Chronicle of Higher Education has named Quinnipiac among the "Great Colleges to Work For." For more information, please visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu. Connect with Quinnipiac on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quinnipiacuniversity and follow Quinnipiac on Twitter @QuinnipiacU.