Catherine Nowak joined the Physician Assistant (PA) program faculty in August 2013 in the capacity of clinical coordinator for women’s health and pediatrics and then in an administrative capacity as Director of Clinical Education. She previously worked at the PA program at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY where she served as the clinical coordinator for four years and then associate program director for 18 months. Nowak now serves as Associate Program Director of Drexel University’s PA Program. She has earned the distinction of Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Nowak has a long clinical history beginning as a registered nurse where she spent most of her nursing career working in emergency medicine. Determined to better serve her patients, she returned to the classroom in 2001 to purse a new career as a physician assistant. Nowak continued to work in the emergency department as a PA, until relocating to the Philadelphia area to join the Drexel faculty. Nowak continues her clinical practice in primary care.
Academic Distinctions
Associate Professor
Faculty Fellowships
Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants
Professional Society
Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants: co-chair Regional Affairs Committee
American Academy for Physician Assistants
Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA)
Pi Alpha Honor Society: National Scholarship Society of Physician Assistants
Selected Publications
Nowack, C., Gardner, J., & Multak, N. (2020). Complicated Pregnancies. In J. Kinzel & P. A. Auth (Eds.), PA Review for the PANCE (5th ed.), (377-395). Wolters Kluwer Health: Medical Education.
Kinzel, J., Nowack, C., Clancy, R. J., & Pisoni, C. E. (2016). Gerontology. In A. Rundio & W Lorman (Eds.) Lippincott Certification Review: Family Nurse Practitioner& Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, (1st edition). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Nowak, C. (2012). Allergic Reaction v. Food Poisoning: The history will provide the clue. Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, 25(9), 31-33.
Editorial review board membership:
Journal for the American Association of Physician Assistants
PAEA Education Forum proposals
Research Interests
- Emergency medicine
- Interprofessional education
- Patient education
- Women’s health
Specialization
Clinical education
MS, Physician Assistant Studies • 2003
Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, New York
BS, Health Sciences • 2003
Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, New York
BSN, Nursing • 1990
Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, New York
BS, Behavioral Sciences • 1981
Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, New York