Jennifer Rowland, MSPA

Upon graduating from Temple University in 2005, I thought, “What am I going to do with my degree? What is my next step? Where do I go from here?” I have always had a profound interest in the process of disease. My first experience was taking care of my father, at the age of 12, when he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. I wanted to know everything. I had to know what was going on inside his body because I could not see anything wrong with him physically.

During my career I have worked in direct contact with patients as a CNA and HHA in acute care settings as well as homebound and hospice patients. Although I enjoyed working directly with patients, I wanted to be more involved in finding out what made people ill. I ventured out of patient care and worked as a diener, a lab assistant/manager with PH. Ds, and as a lab assistant in a gross anatomy lab while getting my bachelor’s degree. These experiences eventually lead me to researching what career move I could make to enhance my knowledge and give me the skill to play an active role in the diagnosis of disease. I came across the MSPA program at Drexel University College of Medicine and discovered it was the perfect fit.

I began my PA career at Virtua Health in Voorhees, NJ in 2007 immediately following graduation and came to Fox Chase Cancer Center in October 2007. Fox Chase has been a perfect fit for me. Because of the complexity and uniqueness of the specimens, protocols, and all of the special studies we do, I am constantly being challenged and I am forced to be at my best at all times. I am proud to say that I work with the best and learn from the best everyday to aid in the diagnosis and extent of disease so further treatment can be considered and/or administered to our patients.