The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative

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1. Ben says

   November 20, 2022 at 10:06 am

   Hi! I would love some feedback on my essay. Thank you!

   Why, at almost 30 years old, do I want to make the decision to return to school? Why do I find the urge to pursue a career and a field that will require further debt, delay experiences with my family, and additional sacrifice? The answer is simple, in my opinion at least. It is to provide high quality, efficient healthcare to those who are in need. I have spent six and a half years practicing healthcare as a certified Athletic Trainer and to be frank, I felt like I was only scratching the surface of treating patients. As an Athletic Trainer, I was involved in every step of the injury process with each athlete. From injury to evaluation to treatment, I was able to utilize my knowledge of anatomy to efficiently treat my patient population. However, there were times when further medical expertise was required. This included evaluation by our team’s orthopedic doctor or Physician Assistant. Oftentimes, we would see the PA for pre/post surgical appointments and initial/follow up exams. It was during these office sessions that my interest in the field began to blossom. Understanding why the Physician Assistant profession was founded aligns directly with my desire to pursue this new direction; to improve and expand healthcare to my community. Being accepted into a program that provides licensed clinicians the ability to practice medicine in every specialty and setting will help me to accomplish the goals of improving the healthcare of my community.

   As I began looking into the profession, I had the opportunity to shadow the Physician Assistant that worked in our partnering orthopedic office. He helped to provide a real time view into the day to day operations of an orthopedic PA. I spent two days with him in the office evaluating patients, treating patients with injectable medication and helping them make decisions about how to proceed with their injuries. I spent the following two days in the operating room with him. He walked me through how to trim and prep an ACL graft for implantation, explained the surgical process from start to finish and allowed me to have a real time view of assisting in joint arthroplasty. Although I had been in an operating room in the past, this opportunity allowed me to truly appreciate how much impact a Physician Assistant can have in the care of patients.

   With this first hand observation in mind, there is still a plethora of settings PA’s practice in outside of orthopedics. Outside of my observation experience, I had multiple personal experiences with Physician Assistants, mainly in the hospital setting. Following my grandfather’s hospitalization for a collapsed saphenous vein, he was quickly admitted to the ICU and subsequently underwent an amputation. During his stay in the hospital he was cared for with such compassion by medical staff assigned to his care. In another instance, my mother was admitted to the hospital for bilateral mastectomy to remove breast cancerous tissue. Similar to my grandfather’s case, she was treated with the utmost compassion by her plastic surgeons and their PA’s.

   Recently, I left my role as a collegiate Athletic Trainer and entered the corporate world of healthcare where I began a role with Arthrex, inc. My role focuses on teaching technology consultants on our medical devices to help surgeons treat their patients better. This role puts me in a different section of the healthcare profession. After holding a position on the patient side and now the educational side, I have concluded pursuing this route will allow me to have the best of both. I would have the opportunity to help patients recover from their injury or illness and educate them on how to maintain their health and wellness. Regardless of speciality, becoming a Physician Assistant means I can help improve the health and lives of hundreds of members of my community.

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2. Alex Estrada says

   November 6, 2022 at 10:03 am

   Hello all! I greatly appreciate any Feedback!

   Given how intrigued I am by the variety that the PA profession offers, I picture myself graduating from PA school and specializing in either cardiology or dermatology over the next 5-10 years. With a specialty in cardiology or dermatology, I envision myself being able to have a positive and meaningful influence on the lives of patients who suffer from cardiac issues or skin conditions. Regardless of whether my enthusiasm for medicine grows dramatically over the next 5-10 years, my dedication to helping the less fortunate members of the community will undoubtedly expand. I intend to apply what I learned in my Physician Assistant studies, through exposure to many various aspects of medicine, to help those in need in underrepresented areas on a daily basis, particularly in a hospital that serves people from underserved communities. Considering my enjoyment of volunteering at a nearby hospital, the experience has allowed me to observe the necessity of clinically trained providers in underserved areas, despite the appeal for medical volunteers. As a result, I foresee devoting significant productive time and effort over the next 5-10 years to participating in and raising funds for medical mission trips going to third-world countries. I also visualize myself pursuing a leadership role within the hospital where I practice in order to contribute insight into providing egalitarian treatment to patients regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic background. I intend to be a constructive voice for individuals in underserved/diverse communities that lack similar access to healthcare services and/or are unfamiliar with the healthcare delivery system. Furthermore, as a leader in the hospital, I see myself conducting research on current topics such as health equity concerns and sharing that research to hopefully provide insight into how programs may be designed to address the high cost of health care, which negatively affects patients’ ability to access proper medical treatment.

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   • Whitney Prosperi says

     November 9, 2022 at 8:07 am

     Alex,
     I suggest including some of the clinical skills and medical knowledge you have gained along the way.
     Also, I would describe your shadowing experience. What have you witnessed from interactions with PAs that confirmed your decision to pursue this path.
     If you have a patient care story, include that. You want to show some of your character qualities that will make you an effective PA. Show yourself in action providing clinical care of some kind while connecting on a personal level.
     I wish you good luck, Alex.

     Reply

3. Maria says

   October 30, 2022 at 1:47 pm

   With the opportunity to work at a rehab & nursing care center as a scribe/wound care assistant, I was able to observe the role of a PA. What surprised me was how independent a PA could be. The PA was making her rounds in wound care. She wasn’t trailing behind a doctor. She was diagnosing and acting on her own, deciding on treatment, and reviewing with the doctor when uncertain. Being someone who enjoys autonomy yet also values supervision, this made me look forward to performing freely while simultaneously having a doctor to collaborate with as a PA. My job was mostly scribing but overtime my role became more hands on. The first time I was ordered to assist, I felt a nervousness I hadn’t experienced since my high school marching band competitions. I darted to the wound care cart and clumsily collected the topical benzocaine and silver nitrate sticks, sprayed the patient’s leg and cauterized his wound. While a small action, I felt the rush and thrill. I was eager to have a larger role and got to observe and assist with unstageable pressure ulcers, amputations, necrotic wounds, etc. Soon I was able to guess what treatment would be ordered. The NP I often worked with trusted me to treat “simpler” wounds such as venous ulcers, stage 2 pressure ulcers, and skin tears by myself. I gained confidence and became proactive. I even did some debridement and suture removal. Because I was also a scribe, I learned to write progress notes. Many residents had the same ailments and treatments which also taught me about which medications were often ordered for certain conditions and why.
   The nursing home gave me opportunities to obtain skills and sharpen those I’ve already had before. Here, I felt the varying levels of emotions experienced in healthcare (ex. a life changing or ending) which enforced in me that these patients are people not just cases. They’ve lived entire lives before, some were healthcare workers themselves! Others were not as alert and oriented. These residents were sometimes combative, which made it a challenge to provide care. In rare occasions, family members posed hurdles towards care. For example, the daughter of a resident who demanded her mother be seen by only a doctor although she was informed a delay in treatment could result as he was only in twice a week while PAs and NPs were available everyday and therefore spent more time with the same patients. This instance encouraged me to want to educate the community on the role and quality of care provided by PAs. Observing the way medical staff handled events with residents and families taught me how to assist and adapt to certain situations. Overtime, I wanted more direct patient care and so I took upon the role as a medical assistant.
   As an MA, I work closely with a PA for a school-based health care center at my former high school. Every day I take vital signs, perform phlebotomy, physical exams, fingersticks, spirometry and urine testing. ECGs are not as common. While I enjoy my current role, just like the PA, I want to provide a higher level of care. I want to have a bigger say in the decision-making process. I want to keep track on my patient’s progress. When a patient returns for a follow-up, I may not be the same MA who assists them. For example, we had a patient who came in due to a wound formed after an at-home botfly larvae removal. He was new to the country and uninsured. The family was unsure how to navigate the healthcare system. They were relieved to know all our services were free, we helped with insurance, and I spoke Spanish which created trust and made the transition easier for them. In fact, many of our patients are underinsured, new to the country, and have lower health literacy. I’ve observed the way my PA has educated patients on vaccines, birth control/STDs, lab results, and on their ailments. But other than patient understanding, learning to take cues and making a patient feel heard and comfortable is important too. There were several instances where a PA and I have spoken to patients who’ve divulged sensitive information they wouldn’t have revealed had they not felt a friendly open atmosphere. Some had to involve CPS. I sometimes reflect back and wish I could have done more in terms of their care and I wonder what happened to them afterwards too.
   For many years, I was a retail worker trying to gain financial stability. The exposure to a fast-paced, busy environment helped me gain creative problem-solving and customer service skills that I still feel lurk in my current job. Having been involved in different healthcare roles from geriatric to pediatric populations with different physical/intellectual abilities, backgrounds, and diagnoses have given me an understanding of a PA’s role and routine work. Knowing I’ll be able to switch specialties as a PA excites me. All these experiences have uniquely prepared me clinically and socially and I can’t wait to expand my scope of practice as a physician assistant.

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   • Whitney Prosperi says

     November 5, 2022 at 6:43 pm

     Maria,
     I can sense your desire to help patients and your ability to problem solve in a fast-paced environment.
     I would include a patient care story that shows you in action providing care for an anxious patient. You may even want to highlight how you helped a patient that only spoke Spanish. Here, show some of the qualities that will make you an effective PA.
     One note, “over time” is two words – not one. 🙂
     I wish you good luck in the process, Maria.

     Reply

4. Jessica says

   October 28, 2022 at 2:04 pm

   Thank you for any feedback!

   Myra is a single mother who works two jobs to care for her three girls. She has been experiencing shortness of breath, abdominal pain, and a burning sensation while urinating for a few months. After two primary care visits and a trip to the emergency department, Myra was diagnosed with pleurisy post-COVID and a bladder infection. But something still didn’t feel right to her. The shortness of breath went away while lying down, and her urinalysis came back clear. One night, Myra was in so much pain she went to a different emergency department. She explained to the physician assistant her symptoms and previous diagnoses. The physician assistant ordered an MRI and finally found the source of Myra’s suffering: a softball-sized tumor encompassing her left ovary and fallopian tube. After surgery to remove the tumor, a PET scan, and various other tests, Myra would go on to be diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer with metastases of the liver, lungs, and bone. She has a five-year survival rate of 17%.

   Myra is not only my patient; she is my coworker and friend. As a medical laboratory scientist, I have been drawing and running her labs throughout this process. Over my seven years of experience in the laboratory, I have developed a solid foundation in developing analytical and diagnostic skills. While the laboratory has provided me with many career opportunities, I have reached a plateau in my learning. In Myra’s case, imaging and more substantial knowledge of disease and diagnosis were necessary. As a physician assistant, I want to provide patients with the highest quality care possible. While physician assistants care about finding the correct diagnosis, they also look to the future to figure out treatment plans to help their patients. I want to concentrate on moving forward and being a part of the solution.

   As a traveling medical laboratory scientist for the past six years and working in other healthcare roles for the past decade, I have spent much of my time advancing my communication skills. I have worked at many hospitals all over the country with coworkers and patients with different backgrounds, cultures, and personalities than myself. Moving every three to six months has prepared me to work interdependently with physicians and other healthcare staff. I have had to learn to work in a team with new people in a short amount of time. Being slightly older than the average physician assistant applicant has allowed me to become confident in who I am and how to connect with others effectively.

   There are many advantages to being a non-traditional student. My time spent working in the healthcare field after graduation has given me insight into how healthcare functions and the role each profession plays in providing patient care. An excellent physician assistant in today’s world must be well-versed in many different areas of diagnosis and therapeutics. This variety is the perfect foundation for me to succeed at my ultimate career goal of becoming a primary care provider. Primary care allows physician assistants to work in underserved communities with diverse populations, treat various illnesses, and provide patients with a chance to avoid hospital admissions.

   An education in physician assistant studies can build on my laboratory training and time spent as a healthcare traveler. I have the prior knowledge and experience to excel as a physician assistant. I want to learn the treatments and therapeutic plans needed to help care for my patients. As a physician assistant, I could work independently as a provider while learning and collaborating with physicians to provide the best possible outcome for my patients. My goal is to build professional relationships with my patients and be able to provide care for disadvantaged populations. I owe it to myself, Myra, and ultimately the patients yet to come to continue my education. Now is the time for me to become a physician assistant.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     November 5, 2022 at 6:36 pm

     Jessica,
     You are off to a great start! You do a good job of showing some of the reasons you will be an effective PA.
     I would suggest spotlighting some of the clinical skills you have gained in your different roles. Also, if you have any shadowing experience, include that. Was there an interaction you witnessed that absolutely solidified your decision?
     I wish you good luck, Jessica!

     Reply

5. Jenny says

   September 28, 2022 at 6:22 pm

   Endless paperwork from the nurse, but the only section I could fill out was my father’s identification. Listening to the doctors, words went through one ear and out the other. My father was brought to the emergency room because of his chest pain, and I was there to translate for the family. However, having been in the United States for only four years, I struggled to understand the doctor regarding my father’s health condition. So, the hospital provided our family with a virtual Vietnamese translator. We discovered that my father had suffered a heart attack and was admitted for surgery. Throughout our stay at the hospital, we could only communicate with the medical team indirectly, which created a barrier between us. Every question we wanted to ask must have waited until a translator was put on the phone. Every single day, our mind was not only filled with worries for my father but also frustration in communication. I was concerned that words would get lost in the translation and hinder our understanding of my father’s treatment plan. Unfortunately, my father passed away before receiving surgery.
   My father was always aware of his heart condition before we came to America. Due to the language barrier and the lack of knowledge in the American healthcare system, we hesitated to seek medical care. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, non-native English speakers, immigrants, and individuals with limited English proficiency have a lower health literacy. Similar to my father, these individuals are less likely to have established care with a doctor because of the disconnection between language and cultural differences. After my father’s death, I want to be a physician assistant and use my knowledge to serve not only the Vietnamese community but also other underserved communities in the future. According to the census in 2020, there are approximately 83,000 Vietnamese residents in Florida. I want to prevent my community from going through a similar situation to my family.
   With this purpose, I began working at Publix pharmacy to better my knowledge of medicine. During my time at the pharmacy, I witnessed many patients struggle with the language barrier, just like my family. For example, I first met Mr. Tran, a geriatric patient, when he franticly came up to the pharmacy counter, waving an inhaler around. The pharmacist approached Mr. Tran and asked questions about the inhaler. But the only answer the pharmacist received was “not work.” Upon seeing the confusion and worry on the patient’s face, I knew from my experience that look of a language barrier. I decided to assist the pharmacist by asking Mr. Tran questions in Vietnamese. The patient was relieved and delighted to communicate in his native language. After some inquiries, we discovered the inhaler was broken due to improper usage. Thus, I replaced the inhaler and demonstrated to Mr. Tran the proper technique to avoid breakage and side effects, such as oral thrush. Since then, seeing Mr. Tran at the pharmacy regularly, he was always grateful that he could rely on me for guidance because not many healthcare workers knew his native language. Being able to assist Mr. Tran has solidified my passion to be a part of the healthcare field to break the language barrier in the Vietnamese community.
   After a couple of years at the pharmacy, I yearned for a more patient contact experience and involvement in the treatment. This led me to become an allergy technician at Florida ENT and Allergy. The job reminded me of the importance of health literacy in making an informed decision. For instance, Jake, an eight-year-old patient, received an order from the physician for an allergy test to find the cause of his chronic symptoms. On the day of the appointment, after reading through the consent form about the procedure and side effects, Jake’s mother was hesitant and wanted to forgo the test. She was worried about Jake’s safety and uncertain how the test would be performed. Thus, I decided to bring Jake and his mother to the exam room to address the concerns and questions. I illustrated to them the equipment I would use, the technique, and the medical treatment in the event of adverse reactions to the test. I made sure to use layman’s terms in my explanation and answers. In the end, Jake’s mother was appeased and felt confident in her decision to proceed with the test. This interaction also showed me how direct communication helps built trust between the patient and the provider and diminishes the hesitance in receiving medical care.
   From my youth and experiences in healthcare, I realized that the issue of the language barrier and health literacy could be overcome through a deep patient-provider relationship. With the focus on patient care, I strive to become a PA because the profession offers more time and contact with patients, consequently creating the opportunity to delve deeper into patient education. I hope to improve the diversity and representation of Vietnamese and underserved communities in medicine.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     October 5, 2022 at 7:50 pm

     Jenny,
     I am sorry about the loss of your father. I trust that your concern and compassion for patients will honor his legacy.
     You do a great job of showing how you want to alleviate the language barrier for patients. I suggest adding in your reasons for choosing the PA profession over another type of provider. What appeals to you? Is it more time/contact with patients? Or the ability to switch specialties? The collaborative approach to care?
     If you have any shadowing experience, I would describe that. What about an interaction you witnessed between PA/patient or PA/supervising physician appealed to you?
     I wish you good luck on your journey, Jenny.

     Reply

6. Morgan says

   September 15, 2022 at 8:14 am

   Hey guys!
   I would love some feedback on my essay. I’m honestly horrible at putting what I want to say into words. Thanks!

   Throughout my career as a paramedic, I have witnessed a multitude of medical and traumatic emergencies. While often repetitive, exhausting, and trying, the one thing I cannot say about the profession is that it is boring. There is always something new to learn or experience, even on the third UTI patient for the day. But even though I love the profession, there are some drawbacks. It is very rare that I get to know what happens to my patients after they leave my care, so I’m often left wondering what happened to them after. I have treated many patients and yet, despite knowing I did everything I could for them, I knew they needed more.

   One patient sticks out in my memory as the last push I needed to decide I wanted to become a PA. During one of my shifts just after Christmas, my unit was called for a fall victim. A man was on a ladder attempting to take his Christmas lights down and ice caused it to slip, knocking him off. When I arrived I knew it was grim. My patient was unresponsive and posturing, and the family was sitting on the ground next to him completely at a loss of what to do. My partner and I packaged him up, and just prior to leaving our medical director arrived on scene. He offered to ride with us to the trauma center, which I was incredibly grateful for. Throughout the half hour transport there was very little we were able to do for him, aside from supporting his airway and vitals. I was feeling horrible for his family, knowing that they likely lost their father and husband just a few days after christmas, but I was also incredibly intrigued. Throughout the transport I watched as my patient developed Cushing’s triad; I watched his heart rate drop, his pulse pressure widen, and his breathing yo-yo between tachypnea and near apnea. This was something I learned about in school and hadn’t heard mention of since, and despite the grimness of the situation I was excited I was able to witness the process first-hand. In the end we dropped him off at the trauma center and, unfortunately, I never found out if he made any kind of recovery.

   While certainly the most memorable, this wasn’t the first time I felt concerned for my patients and at the same time intrigued. Every time I get to experience a new disease process, a new treatment, or even a new perspective on an old case, I’m like a kid in a candy store. This is one of the things that finally made me choose to become a physician assistant; I like the flexibility it offers; that I would have the opportunity to experience all different fields. I also like that, unlike most of my patients, I would have the opportunity to be with my patients from beginning to end. I would be able to help them through the entire process and actually know how they are doing through it all. As a paramedic I’ve worked with medical professionals of all kinds, from doctors and PAs, to respiratory therapists and radiology techs. I’ve been a part of a team that, while we all have different training and backgrounds, can come together to save one person’s life. I’m excited to have the opportunity to step into the physician assistant role in that team to more greatly help my patients.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     September 19, 2022 at 5:06 pm

     Morgan,
     I can sense your passion to help patients woven throughout your essay. I would suggest adding in more details about some of the clinical skills and medical knowledge you have gained throughout your work experience. I would also include some of the details from your shadowing experience. If you shadowed PAs was there an interaction between PA/patient that solidified your decision? Also, in your conclusion I would tie back to your introduction in some way. I wish you good luck in the process, Morgan. Should you want more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.

     Reply

7. Whitney Prosperi says

   September 14, 2022 at 9:32 am

   Hannah,
   Your introduction does a great job of grabbing the reader’s attention and also showing your ability to connect with patients.
   I would suggest adding more details describing your work/clinical experience. Also, elaborate more on what about the PA profession appeals to you. (the ability to switch specialties, more time/contact with patients, opportunity to expand access to care)
   I wish you good luck in the process, Hannah.

   Reply

8. Anna says

   August 30, 2022 at 1:36 pm

   Just looking for any advice I can to make this a better essay! May need help with organization and anything I can add or cut. Thanks in advance

   4:30am read the clock when I arrived at my first job in healthcare. Unsure how the day would go, I headed into the clinic to get my day started. Dialysis was something I had heard of before but did not know much about. Never had I experienced it firsthand and never had I known anyone that was on dialysis, so the entirety of this job was new to me. From that day forward, I would see my patients three times a week for about of four or five hours each time. Each patient is unique in their own way. Some would watch TV during treatment, some would sleep, and some would work. The diversity among my patients while all being there for one common reason excited me the most.
   As we go through school and get older, a common question that tends to arise repeatedly is “what do you want to be when you grow up?” For many, they have an answer, even if it may be to be a princess. I, on the other hand, was never truly sure as to what I wanted to do when I got older. It was not until seventh grade, when my friend had told me that her father was a pediatric neurologist, that I had any idea of what I wanted to be when I grew up. From then on, I had always said that I would do something along those lines, but I had never pinpointed what exactly I wanted to pursue. Fast forward to sophomore year in college, I had been having back pain for many years, which in turn held me back when it came to my sport, softball. I had played since I was six, and was lucky enough to play in college, but it came to a point where even standing for periods of time would cause my back pain to increase, let alone run. I had decided to take myself to a see a doctor to simply get a diagnosis. When I arrived at my appointment, I expected to see the doctor, but I never did. The physician assistant was the one who provided all of my care. I had many appointments and saw the doctor three times, which were for procedures only. The physician assistant was the one I had a connection with. It was then, that I had decided what I wanted to be when I grew up.
   After this realization, I played softball one more year until my injury would not allow me to play my final year in college. On the other hand, it allowed me the time to start taking those steps forward to my future. I shadowed at a family practice, in which they saw patients who were uninsured or underinsured in a rural community. During this time, I was able to witness a broad spectrum of patient diagnoses and concerns. The broad spectrum ranged from a drug seeking adult male who accused the clinic of refusal of treatment to a sports physical for a young girl who was to start 5th grade and wanted to play basketball, volleyball, and softball. These experiences made me want to be the one who was directly serving the patients, which is how I ended up in my car at 4:30am at my first real job in healthcare as a dialysis patient care technician.
   Working in a dialysis clinic has become one of the most rewarding things I have done, and luckily, I get to do it multiple times a week. I say that it is rewarding in the sense that I am making them feel better sometimes instantly and seeing them feel relieved of their shortness of breath and other complaints, makes me feel good as well. Seeing the same patients three times a week for multiple hours at a time draws people together, ultimately making them an extension of family. Each patient comes from a different background, making them all different in various ways. For example, the ambulation and ability for each patient is different. Some patients would rather do everything on their own, but for others the technician would have to. Each patient bleeds for different lengths of time, so a technician may be holding one person’s sites for 20 minutes. In this time, what else is there to do but talk to them. One day, I was holding one of my nonambulatory patient’s sites at the end of treatment and we were just chatting away when she states, “I am so glad I met you.” I had only been in that clinic for 2 days, and she barely knew me. After she stated this, I knew that direct patient care was what I needed to be doing. From then on, I had many patients exclaim how happy they were that I was in the clinic working, which only made me want to be able to do more for them, and everyone. I want to be the one with the personal connection to each of my future patients.
   As a physician assistant, the focus on patient care is what drew me to this specific profession. Throughout my personal experiences, along with other family member’s experiences, the physician assistant was the primary provider. From my time as a dialysis technician, I have found that I enjoy the direct care. Along with this, the versatility that comes with being a physician assistant is appealing as well. The ability to switch specialties provides the opportunity to keep me on my toes mentally and physically to broaden my skill set for many years.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     September 14, 2022 at 10:35 am

     Anna,
     I can sense your desire to impact patients’ lives woven throughout your essay.
     I would suggest condensing where you can so that you have some room to add in more elements of your journey.
     You may want to elaborate some on your healthcare journey. Describe some of your clinical skills and work experience.
     Also, in your shadowing paragraph, describe an interaction between PA/patient or PA/supervising physician that solidified your decision to pursue this path.
     Lastly, I would write a more formal conclusion. Here, reiterate your desire to have greater responsibility for patient care and tie back to your introduction in some way.
     I wish you good luck on your journey, Anna.

     Reply

9. Parker says

   August 30, 2022 at 11:24 am

   Hey all! I would appreciate some feedback.

   Aloha, I’m Parker and I want to be a Physician’s Assistant. Years ago, I would never have believed that I would aspire to a career as challenging and as great as this. There have been so many moments leading to this point and I’m excited express my desire to be a PA and show why I would be a great fit for a program.
   When I was younger, I lacked confidence and school wasn’t my focus. I spent years working at Sonic learning to work hard, but I felt like I needed more. I decided to serve a mission for my church. After saving the necessary $10,000 to participate, I left my family for 2 years with minimal contact. I moved to San Jose, California where I focused on learning the Chinese language and volunteering with Chinese Americans in many capacities. It was here where I realized that serving other people gave life meaning and I started building more confidence in myself.
   When I returned from my mission, I decided to continue my education and was accepted and enrolled in brigham young university. Still unsure what to study I went ahead with my general classes needed for a degree. With more maturity and experience I found school came a lot easier to me. This was another boost in my confidence that I needed to seek out the right career. I had heard of the PA profession from a friend who was in the field and was intrigued. He encouraged me to work in healthcare before I fully committed to the path to ensure that it was right for me. My wife was graduating at the time and we decided to move to Texas with a job offer she had received. While there, I worked as a medical scribe and started a program to be trained as a medical assistant.
   After graduating I found a job at a small family practice. Working as a medical assistant taught me so much. I learned I’m not squeamish, and that I love the body. I learned I have a passion for general health and helping others be aware of healthy choices. I learned how much people’s health effects their life and wellbeing. I loved developing a relationship with the patients, co-workers, and the heathcare providers. I realized that I have a calm temperament and can diffuse tension and bad moods both in my office and with patients.
   Around this time, I started shadowing PA’s and I loved what I saw. I liked that the PA’s got to spend more time with their patients and I was surprised at how independently they were allowed to work. They seemed less stressed than the doctors I was working with. Every PA I have shadowed has been able to take time with me to answer my questions. They all loved their jobs and further convinced me that this was the right choice.
   My wife found out she was pregnant early in 2020, while we were in lockdown for Covid. When we began testing for covid I was required to suit up in full PPE to go out to the parking lot to swab. I was scared of bringing the virus home to my wife, but also excited to be able to do something for people and be at the front lines.
   When my wife hit 25 weeks with her pregnancy, she had to be hospitalized for a month to avoid pre-term delivery. I spent the month in the hospital supporting my wife as well as working when I could. We were surrounded by so many health-care workers and were really taken care of. It was interesting being on the other side of healthcare and how personal it was for me that we were getting the care we needed. I want to be a PA and help take care of people and their family members when they are in a time of need.
   I got a in a discussion with one healthcare providers about why they go into healthcare and they mentioned a program called international medical aid. I kept this in the back on my mind and after the baby was born and life was back to normal I decided to attend this program.

   I had already decided to be a physician assistant before the program but my time in on this internship really solidified my choice. It was such a shocking difference in care that my wife had received in Texas verse what was provided in Kenya. I will never forget that feeling being surrounded by people who were in desperate need of care and me not being able to do anything substantial to help them. I never want to feel like that again. I have to get more medical training so I can help others.
   I think that’s what intrigues me so much about PA’s. They were created as a solution to the healthcare system shortage of doctors. Is that they were created to fill a need. I love that and I really want to be a part of it.
   Since returning from my internship in Kenya I decided to continue working on my degree and pre-reqs. I transferred to BYU-H and have loved the science pre-req classes that I have taken. They have flown by, being much easier than I anticipated and I cannot get enough. I’ve enjoyed the long hours of studying and knowledge I’ve gained in the different biology, and chemistry classes. I only have a couple more semesters left in my degree and its very clear to me that I’m not ready for school to end.
   With every step towards PA school, I feel more and more passionate about becoming a PA. I want to challenge myself. I want a job that has a combination of mental challenge but also has real effects on peoples’ daily life.
   I hope to one day be able to say, Aloha, I am Parker a Physicians Assistant.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     September 14, 2022 at 9:42 am

     Parker,
     I can sense your desire to help others woven throughout your essay.
     You may want to start your introduction with the story about your time in California helping Chinese Americans.
     I would also elaborate on some of the clinical skills you have gained throughout your different roles.
     Another important element would be a patient care story. You want to show yourself in action providing clinical care of some kind while connecting with a patient on a personal level.
     To add these elements, you may need to condense throughout your essay.
     I’m not saying you need this, but should you want more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
     I wish you good luck, Parker!

     Reply

10. Hannah says

    August 29, 2022 at 12:21 pm

    I could not help but move towards the soft whimpering. It was as if someone was trying to hold back tears by smothering their face into a pillow. It was only my second week at the long-term care facility, so I was still getting used to the various noises of people, alarms, and machines that filled each room. As I walked in, one of the newer residents quickly pulled the sheets over her head, yelling at me to leave. The last thing I wanted was to make her uncomfortable and invade her privacy, so I communicated, “My name is Hannah. I’m a nursing assistant, and I want to help you if you’d let me.” After weighing her options, she allowed me to grab a basin and some washcloths to clean up her bowel incontinence. I then left to find fresh linens, but my coworker stopped me and questioned who they were for. Apparently, this particular resident has not let anyone assist her with anything since she was placed at the facility a week ago. It was then that I realized healthcare is more than just knowledge; it is about developing relationships with patients to build trust.

    My observation of a physician assistant (PA) named Joshua at a walk-in clinic solidified the importance of a patient-caregiver connection. Being in a rural area, most of his patients did not have a primary care physician, so he diagnosed and treated distinct problems. One of the patients we observed came in frequently due to his back pain. He insisted that this PA was the only one he would see because, in his words, he is “the only one I trust.” The PA recommended that he should get a CT scan in an attempt to find the underlying cause of his pain. Although the patient was reluctant, he eventually was willing to do it. In an unforeseen occurrence, the CT scan unveiled that the patient had lung cancer that had metastasized to his spine. Fortunately, the patient is now being treated, but if he did not trust the PA the way that he did, he most likely would never have been diagnosed.

    Establishing a person’s trust in a healthcare setting is something I hastily grew confident in, and I know it will greatly benefit me in my future career. Although school limited my time at the long-term care facility, I enjoyed my small role in improving my residents’ days. This position built my passion for healthcare. I often listened to my residents about their diagnoses and treatment plans while my head spun its gears to form my care plan for them. My role as a nursing assistant was rewarding, but I aspired to further my education and play a greater role in the medical aspect of patient care.

    Collaboration is a skill that is often forgotten in medical professions, and it is something that proved difficult for me at the start of my undergraduate education. Throughout my first year at The Pennsylvania State University, I was content with sitting by myself in lectures and doing my work without the insight of my peers. However, I realized that my grades poorly reflected the time and effort I put into studying for my classes. As my classes narrowed the following year, I met people in my major with similar plans for their future which evolved into study groups. We worked on explaining the material to each other and making connections between different topics, allowing for a much deeper understanding of the information.

    Although my grades improved, it wasn’t until I sought a position that would more closely mimic the role of a professional degree that I realized the importance of collaboration. I found myself as a nursing assistant in the medical-surgical unit of a hospital. I observed nurses, doctors, PAs, and therapists discussing and exchanging viewpoints about the patient’s needs and wishes to provide the most successful patient-centered care. Although I struggled with collaboration amongst peers, I quickly grew out of that mindset and learned from my mistakes. I am confident that this evolution in my abilities will benefit me as a future PA.

    All my interactions with patients and other healthcare providers have shaped me into the PA I aspire to be. I am excited to use the skills of communication with patients and collaboration amongst peers that I have developed and will continue to enhance until one day I can meet a patient and say, “My name is Hannah. I’m a physician assistant, and I’d love to help you if you’d let me.”

    Reply