Jefferson College of Health Professions' Student Awarded PAACE 2002
Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education

Philadelphia, PA - Helen D'Imperio a general studies student at Thomas Jefferson University's Jefferson College of Health Professions was awarded the Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education 2002 Award for Outstanding Adult Students in Higher Education. She was one of 10 PAACE award recipients honored during the Association's ceremony in Hershey, PA.

D'Imperio started her career as a medical transcriptionist in the Cardio-Pulmonary Lab at Methodist Hospital in 1990 after being a stay-at-home mom for eight years. After working for five years, she was offered a full-time position in the OB/GYN department. Methodist offers a tuition reimbursement, which brought D'Imperio to Jefferson's General Studies Program. School became addictive to her and she matriculated to the Associate's in Science degree program.

Last December, D'Imperio received her certification as a professional Coder (CPC) and currently serves as a mentor in the internship program coding certification at Jefferson. Subsequently, D'Imperio was asked to establish an in-house coding system for Methodist Hospital's Emergency Medicine Department. "My current position as Emergency Medicine Coding Specialist is challenging yet very rewarding," stated Ms. D'Imperio. "My life is certainly full but being a non-traditional student has been most rewarding."

D'Imperio plans to receive an Associate's in Science degree in May and to follow it with a Bachelor's degree in the health management field. "Helen has maintained academic excellence in her studies while working full-time in a very demanding job and raising two sons," explained Caroline Golab, Ph.D., chair of Jefferson's General Studies Department. "She embodies those qualities of excellence often found in non-traditional learners: determination, preparation, eagerness to learn, excitement about new ideas, and willingness to contribute insights from her experience - qualities which bring out the best in teachers and peers."

PAACE is a non-profit educational association whose mission is to enable its diverse members to help adults achieve lifelong educational goals and to represent its members by exercising leadership at the local, state and national levels. PAACE is the only statewide professional organization in Pennsylvania, which serves as an advocate for adult and continuing education. The membership includes professionals and volunteers from all aspects of adult continuing education.

The Jefferson College of Health Professions of Thomas Jefferson University, founded in 1969 and located in the heart of Philadelphia, provides innovative academic programs to a highly qualified, culturally diverse student population, with the primary goal of developing outstanding professionals and future leaders in health care. The College offers fully accredited bachelor's and master's degree programs in diagnostic imaging, laboratory sciences, nursing, occupational therapy and physical therapy. In addition, the College offers selected health certificate programs and associate degrees in the Department of General Studies.

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