Collaborating across disciplines for research and hands-on experience
By Heather Schnese S’12, content specialist
April 14, 2025 | 10 a.m.
Students in Bethel's physician assistant program drew blood samples for undergraduate students in a biochemistry lab for a research project.
What happens when Bethel biochemistry undergraduates need blood samples for research and physician assistant (PA) graduate students need hands-on practice in phlebotomy? A win-win collaboration that provides enriching career preparation for everyone.
The PA students conducted blood draws for 20 undergraduate students participating in an Institutional Review Board-approved research project involving lion’s mane mushroom supplements—used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and rich in vitamins. The undergraduate students took lion’s mane for 30 days, and then analyzed pre- and post-supplementation blood data to explore potential health benefits. While they strengthened their research skills, the graduate students gained experience in phlebotomy and patient communication, practicing with real people rather than mannequins.
This interdisciplinary collaboration is just one example of how Bethel’s Anderson Family College of Health Sciences can enhance student learning. The newly established college will unite healthcare-related programs across Bethel’s College of Arts & Sciences, College of Adult & Professional Studies, and Graduate School, fostering connections between students in diverse healthcare disciplines.
“This type of collaboration gives our PA students confidence when they enter their clinical rotation,” says Blair Nelson, program director of Bethel’s Master of Science in Medical Sciences. “Additionally, they were able to practice clinical problem-solving skills with student-patients.”
— Abbie Shearer ’25
Biochemistry major Abbie Shearer ’25 partnered with chemistry professor Angela Stoeckman to create the lion’s mane research project, and she recently presented the results at the American Chemical Society (ACS) conference in San Diego. “Being able to partner with Bethel’s PA program was amazing. We wouldn’t have been able to get the research done in time if we had to go through one nurse. It gave PA students practice and helped us with our research at the same time,” Shearer says. She and her lab partners looked specifically at the supplement’s impact on nerve growth factor (NGF) levels, cognitive function, and inflammation markers.
Physician assistant graduate students practiced drawing blood on biochemistry undergraduate students.
Biochemistry undergraduate students analyzed their own blood to consider the potential benefits of lion's mane supplements.
Beyond the research, Stoeckman says it’s a great learning opportunity for many of her students who are planning a career in medicine. “The opportunity to work with real medical practitioners has given them exposure to their future career and helped them build confidence!” she says.
PA student Ty Koehn ’26 is looking forward to being a physician assistant because of the time he’ll get to spend with patients, interacting with them not just medically but socially. For him, drawing blood samples from student-patients was a valuable experience. “Usually we don’t get to practice the patient-provider relationship because we’re working with models, but with this project we were able to walk through the steps with a person and work on patient counseling. It really added value to our work.”
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