Faculty

Rita Cross is a 1982 graduate of the King's College PA Program. She has worked as a Physician Assistant in OB/GYN, Family Practice and Adolescent medicine. Prior to becoming a faculty member in the Physician Assistant Program, Rita was the director of the Kings College Student Health Center from 1999 to 2013.

Mrs. Denion is a graduate of the King's College Physician Assistant Program. She received a post-graduate surgical certificate from Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore Maryland. She also received a Master's degree in Health Care Administration from Wilkes University.

Mrs. Denion's clinical experience is in the areas of Neurosurgery and Emergency Medicine. She currently practices clinically in the Student Health Center at King's College. During the didactic year she teaches gastroenterology and physical diagnosis. She is the co-advisor of the pre-PA Student Society at King's College and is co- advisor of the Lester Saidman PA Student Society.

She is a member of the AAPA, PAEA and PSPA.

Mrs. Easton is the Director of the King's College Physician Assistant Program. She herself is a graduate of the Program and she received her Master's Degree in PA Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She has been certified as a Physician Assistant for more than 20 years, working clinically in family practice prior to her employment at King's College.

Mrs. Easton has been a dedicated full-time employee in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies for the past 17 years. During this time, she has utilized her skills and expertise in her roles as didactic faculty, clinical faculty, Clinical Director, and most recently, Program Director. Mrs. Easton has taught various courses within the program including Ophthalmology/ENT, Physical Diagnosis Laboratory, Medical Interviewing, Geriatrics, various seminars/workshops and clinical examinations. She is closely involved with the evaluation and monitoring of students and clinical sites during the clinical portion of the program as well.

Mrs. Easton has published and has worked with her students on original research. Currently, she is involved with the NECPA IPEC and is at the forefront of improving interprofessional education among health care providers in the local community.

Mrs. Easton is a faculty advisor for the Emergency Response Team of King's College. In addition, she is an instructor for American Heart BLS/CPST, and ARC-PA site visitor, an active member of the AAPA, PSPA, PAEA, and NEPA AHEC.

Mrs. Hook received her Master's in Physician Assistant Studies with a concentration in OB/GYN from the University of Nebraska. She holds a BS in Biology and a PA certificate from King's College. She is a graduate of the first PA program at King's College.

After graduation from the PA program Mrs. Hook has practiced OB/GYN with Harry Reich MD, Louis Freedman MD, and Bonnie Mancia MD. She currently practices OB-Gyn at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center.

Mrs. Hook is a Distinguished Fellow of the AAPA, a member of PAEA and PSPA. She has held numerous leadership positions within the PSPA and she is currently a member of the conference committee and a member of the PSPA Faculty-Student Affairs Committee.

Mrs. Hook is one of the Clinical Coordinators. Her duties include evaluation and monitoring students and rotation sites during the clinical year of the Program. During the didactic year she teaches OBGYN and participates in Physical Diagnosis Lab, clinical skills testing and OSCEs. She serves on college committees and is very involved in student/alumni affairs and the annual College Phonathon.

Erin Burns Kilduff received her Master of Science Degree in Physician Assistant Studies from King's College in 2003. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Marywood University. After earning her master's degree she completed a one year general surgery residency at Duke University Medical Center. Her work history includes the following specialties: Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Bariatric Surgery, and most recently, Health and Wellness. She is currently enrolled in The University of Arizona's Fellowship in Integrative Medicine and is scheduled to graduate in September 2015.

Mrs. Kilduff has worked as adjunct faculty in the King's College Physician Assistant program since 2005. She was hired as a full time clinical faculty member in 2014. Mrs. Kilduff provides evaluation and monitoring of the students during the clinical year. She teaches Research Methods and co-teaches the Capstone Course. Other teaching responsibilities include assisting in Physical Diagnosis Lab and OSCEs. She continues to work part-time for InterMountain Medical Group at their Wellness Center.

Mrs. Kilduff is a member of the AAPA, PSPA, and the PAEA.

Mrs. Novinger graduated from the King's College Physician Assistant program in 1988 and completed her MS Physician Assistant Studies with a concentration in Education and Leadership from the University of Phoenix in 2008. She is a member of the PSPA and AAPA. She has clinical experience in Family Practice, OB/GYN, Neurosurgery, and Otolaryngology as a clinical Physician Assistant.

During the didactic phase, she is the instructor for Medical Interviewing and Documentation, Diagnostic Imaging, General Surgery, and coordinator of OSCE's and Didactic year seminars. In addition, she co-teaches Physical Diagnosis Lab in the didactic year.

Mr. Reynolds is a 1993 graduate of the King's College PA program. He received his MPAS from the University of Nebraska with a concentration in Family Practice. After graduation from the King's PA program, Mr. Reynolds worked full-time for Rural Health Corporation of Northeastern Pennsylvania, splitting his time between Valley Pediatrics and the Exeter Township Health Center. He continues to work for Rural Health Corporation on a part-time basis.

Mr. Reynolds is a past president of the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants. He currently serves as the PSPA's liaison to the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is also an alternate delegate from Pennsylvania to the American Academy of Physician Assistants' House of Delegates.

Mr. Reynolds teaches the Pediatrics and Health Care Policies / PA Practice classes in the didactic phase of the program and is a Clinical Coordinator. He is a Fellow Member of AAPA, PSPA, and PAEA.

Dr. Sauls received her doctorate in Educational Technology from Lehigh University in Bethlehem PA. Her doctoral research was in the area of three-dimensional visualization on the computer using VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) and animation. She is also interested in web-based education. She has a MS degree in Health Care Administration as well as a BS in PA and BS in Biology from King's College.

She worked in family practice prior to coming to King's College and provided medical care to the homeless of the Wyoming Valley at the McKinney Clinic in Wilkes-Barre, PA for many years. Dr. Sauls received recognition from the National Association of Community Health Centers for her work with the homeless and migrant farm workers.

Dr. Sauls is advisor of the Lester Saidman PA Student Society at King's and participates in the speakers bureau at the college giving lectures on health care for the homeless to several medical facilities.

Dr. Sauls teaches Dermatology, Medical Anthropology & Diversity, Medical Terminology and Urology, and co-teaches physical diagnosis lab in the didactic phase of the program. She is the web manager and media developer for the King's College PA program web page. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the AAPA, a member of PAEA and PSPA. She is an American Heart Association BLS instructor and is on the Board of Directors of Domestic Violence Service Center in Wilkes-Barre PA where she is board secretaryand also serves as the chair of their strategic planning committee.

Mr. Toniatti is a graduate of Lock Haven University’s Physician Assistant program graduating in 1999. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University in mathematics prior to starting at Lock Haven. He has worked in various disciplines over the years, all within primary care. He has extensive experience within family medicine, urgent care, occupational medicine, as well as general internal medicine.

He joined the faculty in January 2017. He works alongside the other academic faculty to help deliver the complete didactic phase of coursework during the first year of the professional phase. Currently, Mr Toniatti is in charge of the Research Methods course and will be adding more modules in the fall and spring semesters. He assists in proctoring exams for physical diagnosis and OSCEs. He is a current member of the AAPA and fellow of the PSPA.

Mr. Toniatti relaxes by spending time with wife and two children. He also is an avid fan of the Philadelphia Phillies, Eagles, and Penn State athletics and a craft beer enthusiast.

A member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Kozicki received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Scranton and his medical degree from St. Matthew’s University, Grand Cayman. He completed his family medicine residency at Wilkes-Barre Family Medicine Residency Program, Kingston. He currently is a preceptor for students at The Commonwealth Medical College and the King's College Physician Assistants Program. He works side by side with several physician assistants at his primary office location in Blakeslee, Pa.

Mrs. MacNeely is a 1994 graduate of the University of Scranton with a B.S. in Psychology and a 1997 graduate of the King's College Physician Assistant Program. She has practiced in the field of General Medicine for over 15 years. She currently provides care for the working uninsured at Volunteers in Medicine in Wilkes-Barre.

She is a part-time member of the Clinical Faculty, providing evaluation and monitoring of students during the clinical phase of the program. She also assists with physical diagnosis labs, clinical skills testing and OSCEs during the didactic phase of the program.

She is a member of PAEA and PSPA where she was a regional representative for two years.

Mrs. Steinruck graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Technology's Physician Assistant Program in 1999. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Arizona State University in 1995.

Mrs. Steinruck practiced as a Physician Assistant in the field of Hematology and Oncology prior to coming to King's in 2005. She is a part-time member of the Clinical Faculty, providing evaluation and monitoring of the students during the clinical year of the program. She also assists with Physical Diagnosis Lab, Clinical Skills Testing, OSCEs and Observations during the didactic phase of the program.

Mrs. Steinruck is a member of the AAPA and PAEA.

Mrs. Yenkowski, a graduate of the King's College PA program, received the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Medical Studies in 2004 and Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in 2005. She has worked full-time as a physician assistant locally specializing in obstetrics and gynecology since 2006.

Mrs. Yenkowski joined the faculty of the PA program in 2014, placing her as assistant clinical faculty and clinical coordinator. She works diligently with our faculty and students to assess and recruit clinical sites as well as, to monitor their progress. She also advises our undergraduate students throughout their didactic courses, and teaches medical documentation and interviewing as part of their curriculum. She assists in proctoring exams for physical diagnosis lab and OSCEs, and offers BLS instruction and certification to students through the American Heart Association. Mrs. Yenkowski still works part-time as a physician assistant in obstetrics and gynecology to maintain her clinical skills and thereby offers insight in every day practice to our students.

Mrs. Yenkowski is a current member of the AAPA and fellow of the PSPA.

Ms. Kisel is a graduate of the King's College PA program, where she received the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Medical Studies with a minor in Biology in 2009 and Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in 2010. She has worked full-time as a physician assistant locally, specializing in Psychiatry from 2010-2011, followed by Dermatology since 2011. She continues to work part-time in the field of Dermatology in the Wilkes-Barre area.

Ms. Kisel joined the faculty of the King’s PA program in 2016 as assistant clinical faculty and clinical coordinator. She works with fellow faculty to assess and recruit clinical sites as well as to monitor student’s progress while on clinical rotations. She also advises our PA students throughout their didactic courses, and teaches Behavioral Health as part of their curriculum during the didactic year. She assists in proctoring exams for physical diagnosis lab and OSCEs, and offers BLS instruction and certification to students through the American Heart Association.

Mrs. Kisel is a current member of the AAPA, a fellow of the PSPA and a diplomate of the SDPA.