Success Profile: Fiaunna Bertha
From Online to On-Campus: How Fiaunna Bertha Customized Her SFU Journey
Fiaunna Bertha, a 40-year-old mother of two and traveling surgical technologist from Philadelphia, is set to graduate this May with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Healthcare Studies from Saint Francis University. Driven to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant (PA), she has embarked on a challenging educational journey that started online and eventually brought her to attend classes in Loretto to meet her lofty goals.
Originally interested in public health, Fiaunna quickly pivoted after realizing that becoming a Physician Assistant was her true calling. But that path wasn’t without its hurdles. After reviewing PA school prerequisites, she discovered she needed to take additional biology and chemistry courses—requirements not covered by her initial degree plan.
To meet future PA school prerequisites, Fiaunna delayed her undergraduate graduation and undertook additional biology and chemistry courses, commuting over four hours each way to campus.
With the support of faculty and her student success coach, she balanced work, study, and family life, all while maintaining strong academic performance. Fiaunna’s journey is a testament to perseverance, faith, and the belief that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.
Going the Extra Miles—Literally
Her search for an online bachelor's degree program led her to discover Saint Francis University.
“When I first started looking at college, I thought I wanted to do public health. Then I started working as a surgical tech in different surgery centers and some of the doctors I assisted told me I should consider being a PA.” Inspired by their encouragement, she continued researching the requirements for PA program admissions. That was when she discovered she would need additional coursework in chemistry and biology that were not part of her online degree path. To further complicate things, these classes could only be taken in person. While she had the option of taking some courses from another institution closer to Philadelphia, Fianna wanted to take all of her classes through SFU.
Rather than delay her dreams, Fiaunna chose to delay her graduation to fit in the additional courses. With the support of her student success coach Heather Jones in the Division of Professional Studies, along with multiple department heads, she arranged to take the necessary science courses on campus in Loretto. This meant committing to a 4.5-hour commute each way from her home in Philadelphia.
“Sometimes it takes a full 20 hours a week just driving,” she shares with a laugh. “But it’s been phenomenal. Coming here, I’m just overwhelmed—in a good way. SFU has really touched me.”
While she appreciated the flexibility of her online classes, she was especially grateful to the faculty she worked with in person, who helped make her expanding dreams possible. Fiaunna made the drive daily throughout the fall 2024 semester and continues commuting three days a week this spring, balancing on-campus and online classes with her job and family life. Her professors, recognizing her extraordinary effort, went the extra mile in return.
For example, this semester, Dr. Rose Clark, her Chemistry II professor, provided voice-over PowerPoint lectures so that Fiaunna could keep up with the class remotely and only attend in person for labs. “She is very dedicated,” Clark said. “I wanted to give her the option to come only on lab days.”
Dr. Benjamin D. Smith, who taught her Chemistry course last fall, admired her work ethic and presence in class. “It’s not often that I teach someone older than myself or with a longer commute,” he joked. “She participated awesomely, got along with everyone, and never hesitated to ask questions. She took responsibility for everything.”
Her journey is not only academic—it’s deeply personal. As a mother to a 20-year-old and a 14-year-old, Fiaunna’s goal has always been to set an example. “I just wanted to show them that it’s never too late,” she says. “You can always go back and finish what you started.”
Persistence, Passion, and Faith
Faith plays a central role in Fiaunna’s life. Her mother, once a nurse and now a traveling pastor, instilled a strong spiritual foundation that continues to guide her. “I pray for each and every last one of my professors,” Fiaunna says. “They’ve been a blessing in my life.”
Looking Ahead
After graduation on May 11—an occasion she plans to proudly celebrate with a “high five”—Fiaunna will select a Physician Assistant program to continue her journey. Wherever she lands next, one thing is certain: she’s already proven that no distance is too far, no schedule too packed, and no dream too big when purpose and perseverance lead the way.
“I’m excited about my career,” she says. “The surgeons already have me assisting, just like a PA—it’s just that I don’t have the title. But I’m working on that—with God’s help.”
About the Division of Professional Studies
The Division of Professional Studies at Saint Francis University offers career-focused, flexible programs designed for all learners. Move your career forward or find a new path in business, technology, education, healthcare, social services and other key fields with an online degree or skill-building certificate.