Penn names new executive director of student health and counseling

Wellness at Penn's Patricia Lewis, newly appointed executive director of Student Health and Counseling at the University of Pennsylvania, talks to the Daily about how she approaches her role leading the university's student clinical team. He told The Pennsylvanian.

Lewis, who has served as director of the Student Health Center at Montclair State University for six years, started on March 1. In an interview with his DP He, Mr. Lewis reflected on his own experiences in higher education health settings and provided insight into the structure of university health services.

Ruiz is a certified advanced practice nurse with over 20 years of experience in student health care at various universities. In her new role, she oversees medical and behavioral health services for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.

Lewis said Penn Wellness is built on two pillars: student health and counseling and public health and human services.

“The work I do is inherently connected to the work the public health and human services sector does, because working together is how we best support the needs of all students. ” she said.

Lewis told DP that he will work most closely with the four directors in the areas of student health and counseling. She helps directors inform her of the needs of the students they serve and which campuses to work with her partners to meet those needs.

“[The directors] Know exactly what is happening to our students, not just within the walls of our offices, but through the programming they do on campus,” Lewis said.

She emphasized that in addition to the four board members, she will work indirectly with more than 100 people with the goal of supporting student health and wellness.

Lewis, who began his term as executive director on March 1, is gathering information about the university's campuses and meeting with both university leaders and students to decide what initiatives to take. He said he is at the stage where he is.

“I am very excited to contribute to the success of our students here at the University of Pennsylvania. We support our students to be the best they can be, so that they leave here as truly productive members of society.” ,” Lewis said.

As director of Montclair University's Student Health Center, Lewis was responsible for overseeing student public health as well as directing clinical care, regulatory compliance, and fiscal responsibility. She served as Montclair's chief medical officer during the COVID-19 pandemic, which she said was a difficult time.

“When I look back, I realize how many skills I learned and how much I got better at things I already knew how to do,” Lewis said.

Lewis earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Fairfield University, a master's degree from Columbia University, a doctorate of nursing practice from Rutgers University, and a master's degree from Rutgers University.