The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative

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1. Victoria Segura says

   July 12, 2018 at 10:51 am

   A 19-year-old patient comes into get her blood drawn, biting her lip, folding her arms across herself in comfort, and eyes that expressed worry. It was palpable that she was nervous about getting her blood drawn. Smiling, I went into my spiel of telling her to place her things on the table and sit in the chair, verified her name and date of birth, and asked if she has any complications getting her blood drawn. Timidly she responded “I’ve never had it done before.” Not uncommon for college students. Assuring her in the same calming and knowledgeable tone I use with the 8 year olds I coach, that everything would be fine, and explained every step of the process as I did it: tying the tourniquet, finding the springy blue vein, cleaning it off, showing her the six tubes and explaining that even though it looked like it would be taken a large amount of blood the volume would not even fill a urine cup a third of the way. Counting one, two, three I commenced with the draw, and could see her relax a bit after the needle went in and we small talked about the weather and her classes. But then, as I was finishing the draw, her speech declined and I looked up to find her sheet white, I immediately I put the chair back. She came to within a few seconds, but scared and confused. Keeping calm, I informed her that she had passed out, and that’s ok, it happens, and is just a normal reaction for some people. She started crying and did not understand why she needed all these tests done in the first place. I offered her juice and crackers and placed a cool towel on her forehead. I showed her what test each tube was for and what was entailed in the panels, but I could really tell that she really just wanted to know what was wrong with her. The best I could answer was “I can’t answer all your questions, it’s something you will have to discuss with your clinician.”
   Being a phlebotomist at UC Santa Cruz’s Student Health Center, I have learned a lot about patient care and the systems/processes involved in the lab portion of treating patients. I have gained hands-on experience dealing with patients with different backgrounds racially, ethnically, and culturally, sexualities, gender preferences, socio-economic status, and mental health. I am grateful for my own background as a middle-class Latina, who worked through college as a dental assistant, server, and theater usher. My minority ethnicity makes me empathetic in relating to patients’ diversity. My jobs helped me acquire people and multi-tasking skills that prepared me for a career in health-care.
   I enhanced my desire to become a PA and gained an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, and role as a healthcare provider through shadowing two different physicians assistants. One is a family practice and gynecology specialist at a Dignity Clinic. Her ease of communication and addressing of patients concerns inspired me, bringing in her own relative personal experience to ameliorate patients. Her knowledge of the appropriate specialists within network for referrals demonstrated the importance of networking with colleagues. I also shadowed an ER PA on a night shift. It was thrilling to see how her and the other PAs, MDs, RNs, MAs, and scribes multi-tasked and coalesced on a variety of different patients with varying complaints from blood in the urine to lacerations to fractured ankles from roller blading falls to mothers worried about their babies’ breathing. From triage to lab and image reviews, to treatment, the PA gave each patient adequate care and asked for advice when necessary in the fast-paced environment.
   Overall, the ability to diagnose and treat patients, work as a team, and have knowledge of different specialties appeals to me. My mediocre GPA from college does not represent me as a student. I worked three part time jobs, played on a coed softball team, and coached youth softball, all while taking 15-20 units. It was and is important to me to have a sense of community, so I really value and enjoy my commitment to playing and coaching softball, and cleaning up beaches. Experiences enhanced the leadership, diversity, and teamwork skills that I have gained through playing sports my whole life and from the leadership program I participated in a volunteer at. These are skills that will benefit me as a physicians assistant.
   After years of career path contemplating, I have found a future profession that is relevant to me. Becoming a PA will allow me to fulfill my goal of traveling to places where healthcare is needed and really make a difference. Being an avid traveler, it is heartbreaking to see such broken health care systems, especially since I benefit and work in one that most take for granted. As a PA I can benefit my local and global society in a positive and fulfilling way.
   My patient who fainted after having her blood drawn was very appreciative of the care she received. I have drawn her blood quite a few times since, and now knowing she has a reaction, we are prepared with the chair back and juice and snacks ready. She actually gets excited that I am the phlebotomist taking care of her and keeps me updated on her studies. I hope that one day I can be able to comfort and answer patient’s questions fully and explicably and be the clinician they deserve, so that more people can be well-educated health consumers.

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2. Michael says

   July 11, 2018 at 5:12 pm

   I’m not completely done, just want to know if I’m on the right path!

   “Is it possible that music isn’t the path that I should take in life?” I thought to myself, staring out into the Pacific Ocean. “If this is something that I have always loved, why aren’t I happy?” Growing up, I constantly had the idea that pursuing a career in music was, without a doubt, the only option for me. After partaking in a mission trip to Jamaica my junior year of high school, I knew that making a difference in the lives of others was extremely important to me and I began to believe that music was the outlet that I could use to achieve this. With my guitar in hand, I moved across the country to Los Angeles in order to try and make this dream a reality.

   Wide-eyed and dauntless, I felt like everything was falling into place as I began to explore this new city with hopes of making a name for myself. However, as time went on, I started to lose the desire that pushed me to move in the first place. The infatuation that I had with pursuing a career in the music industry had vanished and it seemed that I needed a new path to follow. Discouraged, I moved back to Michigan to figure out the next step of my life and began working at Legacy Assisted Living. At this time, I had no idea that beginning my employment at this assisted living facility would ultimately spark the desire of pursuing a career as a physician assistant.

   Within weeks of starting at this facility, it became very clear to me how vital my position as a resident aide was to the health and well-being of the residents that resided there. Apart from assisting with personal care, I found that the most important role I took on was to communicate to the nurses any changes I noticed with the residents; physically and emotionally. When it comes to those in the latter stages of life, in particular those with severe cases of Alzheimer’s, even the slightest changes of the body or personality can be the result of something that requires immediate medical intervention. Over the course of my employment, I dedicated my time to building relationships with the residents in order to solidify their trust in me not only as a caregiver, but also as an advocate. By forming these relationships, it became much easier to pick up on these minor, yet important changes among the residents and gave me the opportunity to improve my proficiency in medicine by suggesting treatments that may be beneficial. Working with the residents on a daily basis and recognizing how essential my responsibilities and actions were helped me realize that the medical field was where I needed to be. As a provider, I will strive to build trust among patients in order to ensure that the most efficient and effective treatment is delivered.

   One of the reasons that a career as a physician assistant stands out to me is because of the ability to change specialties. With such a broad range of opportunities in the field of medicine, it is difficult to say that I would be completely content with limiting my practice to one specialty. This became very evident to me when I began my employment at the Center for Disability Services. As a direct support professional, this job allows me to work with adults with mild to severe physical and developmental disabilities. From passing medications to integrating the clients into the community, I am constantly offered opportunities regarding patient care that I have never received before. However, just as with the assisted living facility, I place extreme focus on building relationships with the clients and monitoring them on a day to day basis. Many of the clients live in community homes and any changes, such as a bruise, could indicate unfit living conditions or possible abuse. I take extreme pride in my ability to work with various populations and being employed at the Center for Disability Services has prepared me for providing medical treatment to diverse walks of life.

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3. Brigitte Mania says

   July 9, 2018 at 6:55 am

   Simply put, there are two paths that an individual can take when presented with a setback while pursuing their goals; one path is challenging while the other is less so. In making decisions to choose the more challenging paths, I have discovered more of who I am as a person and would go back through every bump in my life if I could. Breaking down a challenging path into solvable parts has always fascinated me and brought me more satisfaction than taking an easy route. The medical field specifically studies one of the most challenging, complex features of life – the human body. The amount of factors that play into the complex organ system requires both intelligence and the willingness to take on a challenge; however, the compassion and enthusiasm necessary to work with a variety of patients is just as important. The challenges I have faced in my academics and athletics, combined with my passion for helping others through my patient experience, have led me to pursue a graduate medical degree as a physician’s assistant.
   The passion I have to pursue a degree in the medical field began as a passion for forensics and anatomy in high school and college. My first setback occurred during my freshman year at the University of Connecticut as a pre-medicine student and a Division I athlete. I filled my schedule with heavy science and math classes with no general electives. My course work piled up quickly while my grades did not keep up. After my first semester, I realized that I needed to either work harder to succeed academically or lighten my course load juggling my responsibilities as a Division I athlete. I chose the more challenging path as I continued to pursue both of my passions. Over the next semesters, I found myself studying on the weekends and during meets in order to keep up with my classes. This setback taught me how to study early, allowing me to tailor my study methods to successfully comprehend terms and concepts. After a few semesters, I saw my hard work pay off by achieving the dean’s list and being honored as an Academic All-American.
   While I saw my academic career blossoming, I applied my hard working demeanor to my running career and saw success with both of my passions. By the time I was finished with my track and field career at the University of Connecticut, I was a 4-time All-American and had qualified for two USA track and field national meets. Following graduation, I had the opportunity to pursue a professional track career with the Atlanta Track Club. However, these successes did not come without setbacks. I have experienced many injuries throughout the past few years of training. Before these setbacks, I sought to pursue a career as a physical therapist. Each setback brought frustration to my passion for running and in turn, affected my interests in physical therapy due to the similarities of work. Combining that frustration with the many hours I have spent on my running mechanics, I began to see the lack of challenges and diverse work a career as a physical therapist. Researching a physician’s assistant, I realized that I could work in many different fields – each with their own unique challenges – while continuing to enjoy my passion for running, injured or healthy.
   Learning about a physician’s assistant led me to seek experience first as a part-time personal care assistant and then a full-time medical scribe while I continued running professionally. My caregiving experience involved assisting disabled and older individuals with daily routines and medicine intake. Each day, I left the job feeling successful. Helping a diverse group of patients in need brought challenges and fulfillment to my job. This position allowed me to be immersed in patient care; however, I was not surrounded by medicine and the complex challenges of diagnosing patients. Following that experience, I pursued a job as a medical scribe in the emergency room at Northside hospital in Atlanta. This position allowed me to work alongside doctors and physician’s assistants with exposure to medicine. The opportunity to observe procedures such as suture repairs or joint reductions as well as discussing diagnoses with the medical providers in an educational way provided me with a vast understanding of general medicine. To compliment those experiences, I began work as a medical assistant in a specialized skin cancer clinic. This opportunity has immersed me in a specialized medical field alongside a doctor, while also working closely with patients.
   I believe that I would flourish as a PA thanks to my passion for medicine, taking on challenges, and nurturing others. My experiences as an athlete and student have taught me how to work hard, balance my passions, and look at challenge as a learning opportunity. Based on those experiences as well as my patient care and medical scribe experiences, I am confident that I possess the qualities and passion required for a Physician’s Assistant to find success in the medical field.

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4. Mandy Burns says

   July 6, 2018 at 10:23 am

   I want to be a PA because I want more. I have cared for the residents of Gadsden County, Florida while working in EMS, as an EMT and then a paramedic, for the past 13 years. I want to do more. I have contributed to their overall health. I have more to give. I have had many wonderful experiences working alongside physician assistants in a small free-standing emergency room. I no longer want to just work with them; I want to be one.
   This is a poverty stricken community with few primary care options. The 2013 Gadsden County Community Health Improvement Plan reports that the state of Florida has 335.7 primary care providers per 100,000 residents. Gadsden County has only 57.7 per 100,000. The emergency room is filled with people whose complaints range from rashes and fever to heart attacks and strokes. I have asked many of those with the less urgent complaints why they chose to come to an emergency department rather than see their primary care physician. More often than not, the answer is that the doctor is too busy and had no available appointments for weeks. When I become a licensed physician assistant, Gadsden County will have one more provider from which to choose.
   I want healthier lives for the residents of Gadsden County. Chronic disease is responsible for the majority of deaths in the county, more than seventy percent of the adult population is overweight or obese, and diabetes is more prevalent than in the rest of the state according to the aforementioned report. There is a need for education regarding disease processes, lifestyle choices and treatment options. The chronic conditions that contribute to decreased quality of life, increased medical costs and death require vigilant monitoring. As a PA, I will monitor and treat the existing conditions and provide the necessary education to help prevent disease and injury and thus make Gadsden County a healthier place.
   The scope of practice for paramedics working on an ambulance and in emergency rooms includes care for traumatic and medical events. This is important and rewarding work. I, however, want to do more. I remember a young Hispanic girl with Down Syndrome that cut her foot on a piece of glass. I applied direct pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding, cleaned the laceration with normal saline and hydrogen peroxide, bandaged the wound, and transported the patient and her anxious mother to the emergency room for further treatment. The terrified girl was somewhat calmed, the mother was grateful, and I was happy to have helped. I want to be able to do more. I want to suture the laceration, prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection, provide education to the patient and family to encourage compliance with the treatment plan and prevent future occurrences, and follow up with the patient to assess healing.
   My years of experience with EMS has taught me how to lead a team. I do it well. I have learned to be very thorough, whether obtaining a medical history or completing an assessment on an unconscious patient. I completed athletic training internships while working on a Master’s of Sport Science in Sports Medicine in multiple sports at various levels of competition. These experiences were valuable because I was involved in prevention, detection, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries. I worked as a physical therapy aide at a rehabilitation hospital. Under the direction of physical therapists, I helped people recover from life-altering conditions such as orthopedic surgeries, strokes, cardiopulmonary events, traumatic brain injuries, and amputations. It was here that I learned to see the patient as a whole, not just an injury. These experiences have given me a solid background of which I am proud. I, of course, want more.

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5. Aidan Burton says

   July 2, 2018 at 12:50 pm

   Standing in line at the Natural History Museum as a child, I squeezed my mother’s hand with excitement. I was finally going to see the new dinosaur exhibit. We entered the building, immediately rushing to the display. I smiled with enthusiasm as a sea of sand lay before me. One filled with fossilized treasures. After unveiling the bones, I examined all the hills and valleys, trying to understand each part of the reptile’s structure. Little did I know that this would be the start of an unending inquisitiveness for biological structures.
   As I became older, my interests became clearer. Diving deeper into biological sciences, I discovered a new love for the field of medicine. I acted upon my passion and enrolled in pre-collegiate science courses that focused mainly on biomechanical and anatomical studies. Later on, I would be given the opportunity to further my education in college.
   Although university life was rigorous in balancing academic success with athletic achievement, I still had a great passion for healthcare. Originally, I had planned on becoming a physician. However, when I learned of the physician’s assistant position, it was the perfect fit for me! This resonated even more so when I shadowed my good friend Anthony Petruzzi, a Physician’s Assistant at Metro-Health.
   Being able to see what Mr. Petruzzi’s job entailed was both fascinating and eye-opening. Even though I was just a fly on a wall, I was able to see the full experience first-hand. After my time with Mr. Petruzzi, everything seemed to make sense. I understood more about what the career demanded and its inner workings. This was my epiphany. I loved it.. Every aspect of this field appealed to me. My desire to become a Physician’s Assistant was magnified. At that moment, I became determined to make this my future.
   After graduating college, I needed to gain hands-on healthcare experience. I applied as a patient care nursing assistant at the Cleveland Clinic. My journey began on a colorectal floor. The job was tedious and demanding but I gained a greater perspective of the healthcare system. Every work day I interacted with at least 8 patients, although there is one that still remains in my mind.
   I had just finished the six-week orientation process on my nursing unit and was working alone for the first time. It was a night shift and around 2 o’clock in the morning. A nurse approached me and said that one of the patients was incontinent and needed to be cleaned. I approached room 35 where the patient was crying. She was a sweet 85-year-old grandmother diagnosed with dementia. Smiling and always in a good mood I was surprised to see her in such a state. I gently escorted her to a bedside commode and briefly turned around to put on gloves. I suddenly heard the splash of fluid hitting the floor. The woman was seizing on the bedside toilet. I immediately called out for help and hit the emergency button. A wave of nurses rushed in to assist me while I held her head in my hands, reassuring her that everything was going to be okay. My desire to care for this woman in any way I could solidified my decision to pursue becoming a physician’s assistant.
   For all of my life I have been enamored by the concepts of anatomy and general health. The always evolving quest to discover something new inspires me to fulfill my dream of becoming a Physician’s Assistant. Helping others is a gift that has granted me much peace throughout my life. Who knew that a young boy’s love for dinosaurs would open a whole new world. One filled with vast knowledge and a sense of gratitude that motivates me to wake up every morning. That little boy would be so proud.

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6. Gabrielle Barron says

   July 2, 2018 at 10:02 am

   About 4 months ago, I was talking with my friend Jake about a possible career path change. He provided some insight by launching into a story of a night out with his friends. He discussed one of his friends working as a dancer at the club. Eventually, Jake got to his point: “Some jobs aren’t as they seem, and people will probably have their own opinion about your job, but at the end of the day as long as you’re happy that’s all that matters.” I remember him telling me, “Point is Gabby—you will do well in anything.”
   Two days later after having that conversation with my friend, he died from leukemia. Jake’s death greatly impacted my outlook on life, which in turn allowed me to look at possible careers differently. After he died, I began to realize the obstacles I wanted to overcome in my life. At that time, I really wasn’t putting much meaning to his words, but now that I look back I realize their true intent. I realized that I didn’t want to do just one “thing” in my life; I wanted to do a lot of things. I knew that I have a long “to do” list that I want to get accomplish in my life and the sole way to complete those items was to pursue being a physician assistant.
   Many experiences have led me to choosing my decision to become a PA. Beginning with my shadowing at the Developmental Assessment Clinic at Sparrow Hospital, I was able to observe various health professionals in the treatment of children with delayed-development issues. The collaboration from the physical, psychological, and emotional perspectives of various health disciplines assisted in creating a holistic diagnosis for the patient. I was also able to use my previous knowledge from my psychology and human development courses to understand the child’s developmental stages and milestones that they were achieving in their course of treatment. From observing this clinic, I began to see the significance of the different approaches to medicine and how, as a PA, I would be able to facilitate that in my everyday practice.
   I have also had many interactions with health care from working at North Ottawa Family Medicine. During my experience as a Patient Registration Clerk, I assisted patients in relaying medical information to and from providers in our office. I also had the privilege to shadow Theresa Pebbles, PA-C, who is an extraordinary medical professional and extremely personable with her patients. She is very thorough in her approach to medicine. She incorporates the many different aspects of healthcare and patient care, balancing the internal anatomy, physiology, and psychology of the human body with the external environment, nutrition, and personal lifestyle concerns. From working with Theresa, I was able to see how she works as a team with everyone in the office. The teamwork between the physicians, medical assistants, managers, and front staff helped the office treat patients thoroughly and efficiently. My experience with various roles in the office, as a shadow and a clerk, will help me in becoming a more understanding and collaborative provider in the future. The experiences through these positions are also why being a PA is my ideal career.
   One of the most meaningful organizations that I had the opportunity to become involved with is Ele’s Place. This group is a grieving center for children and adults suffering from the loss of a loved one. I was able to work with the Pre-K group as a Support Group Facilitator, assisting children in mourning the death of their parents or grandparents. In my experience with these parents and children, the relationship between mental health and grieving is even more apparent. This organization helped me relate to others and improve my empathetic listening skills, so in the future I will be able to connect more personally with patients.
   PAs are an integral part of our growing American healthcare system. The demand for mid-level providers has been increasing and will continue to do so in the coming years. Not only is the profession quickly developing, but PAs also have the ultimate flexibility needed for the lifestyle that I want to attain. Becoming a PA will allow me to focus my career on a wide diversity of issues and interests, which is a goal that I have always considered essential in my future success. As a future PA, I hope to work with patients that have experienced grief, as well patients from many different backgrounds. I also hope to utilize my psychology background as I train and learn to work with these patients. These experiences shape both the PA that I want to become and how I hope to grow in the future.

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7. Joshua Ginsberg says

   June 29, 2018 at 10:49 am

   The nurse entered the crowded room and over the muffled chatter called my name, “Joshua Ginsberg?” I looked up, she smiled in the warm way medical professionals do. As we entered the next room, the first thing that struck me was the level of care and compassion the medical staff demonstrated. Although assisting numerous patients, each with their own unique diagnoses, I always felt that my comfort was a top priority. The compassion and kindness these physicians and their assistants displayed will forever be ingrained in my mind because it was during this time I realized that I too wanted to work in medicine and not only have an impact in others’ lives, but also make a difference in my community. Everyone talks about change for the better, but many people rarely define how this can be achieved. The reason I want to practice medicine is to help others who need it most. By becoming a physician assistant I will have the opportunity to promote health and wellness on a personal level. The reassurance of my providers during this difficult time not only eased my anxiety, but their concern for my wellbeing and the other patients made me realize that medicine was much more than just a job to them. To me, medicine is much more than a job, but a calling. The ethos of medicine has always appealed to me and because helping others takes passion and commitment and I believe that every medical professional should go beyond the call of duty.
   Growing up has not been easy. In a busy household with three additional siblings, one of which is my twin brother, education wasn’t heavily emphasized. In fact, I was the only one of my siblings to graduate high school and the first member of my family to graduate college. Because I didn’t have much support, I learned how to be independent from an early age, which I believe is an important aspect in a physician assistant’s line of work. Although interdependent practitioners, physician assistants should have a sense of independence while, at the same time, have the ability to work with physicians to solve problems and care for patients.
   I have always had an ambition to continue learning. One of the most appealing aspects of becoming a physician assistant is the fact that I can switch specialties and further my education at any point in my career. When first entering college, I had to make significant adjustments to my lifestyle–everything from study habits to mode of transportation changed dramatically. I would be lying if I denied feeling overwhelmed during my first semester of college, but by pushing my boundaries, I forced myself to adapt and learn to thrive under pressure. I was then able to transfer these skills whiles working with patients. In retrospect, I wish I would have devoted more time to gaining more patient care experience during college, but with rent and bills piling up, it was challenging to find time to accumulate more volunteering hours. Although it was not easy, working during undergrad taught me many life lessons, the most important ones being time management and diligence.
   Since graduation, I have been actively seeking more opportunities for health care experience. Shadowing has proven to be invaluable in educating me about the various roles throughout medicine. Additionally, working in pulmonology over the past year has allowed me to engage more with patients. Early on I learned that one of my favorite aspects about medicine is patient interaction because I enjoy educating patients about their health. For most of my life, I took every breath for granted but after seeing how these patients struggled, my perspective changed and my desire to help climbed. Imagine you are trying to breathe, but with every shallow breath your airway becomes obstructed, until you can no longer inhale, or to be constantly fatigued because your body is not getting sufficient oxygen. That is everyday life for most of the patients I worked with.
   I was thrilled to see that every physician assistant I worked with took the time to individually educate their patients. Having the opportunity to shadow these individuals helped open my eyes into the roles I would have in medicine. Allowing me to realize the opportunities one can have as a physician assistant and, ultimately, why pursuing a career as a PA was right for me. Although handling a majority of the patient load alone, each PA took the time to ensure the patient understood exactly what was being done, even if that meant staying an extra hour or two past closing. It is clear to me that the connections physician assistants have with their patients are deep and personal. Working with healthcare professionals has helped me build relationships based on trust, understanding, and respect. These interactions act as daily inspiration to follow my dream of becoming a physician assistant to accomplish progress with my patients and provide the uppermost care, just as those dedicated providers that helped me all those years ago.

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8. Shannon Bauer says

   June 26, 2018 at 1:39 pm

   A nine-year-old girl has weight loss and frequent urination that has lead her mother and her to the pediatric emergency room. Her mother is worried because she has no idea what is going on and how their lives are about to change. The little girl looks up at her mother in confusion because she does not know why her mother is crying and why they are at the hospital. The nurses bring them back to an examination room and begin to explain what is about to happen and that their lives are about to change. The endocrinologist comes in with crazy shoes with dogs on them and begins to calm the mother and daughter down and explain what Type 1 Diabetes is.

   I was the sick nine-year-old child in that story. That is one of my most profound memories, as a day that changed my life forever in more than just one way. My endocrinologist, Dr. Robin Nemry, has been such a positive influence in my life, not just in the medical care she provided me, but in the humanity, she has shown me by dealing with me as a whole person and not just a disease. She understood how to treat me as a young child, a rebellious teenager and a college bound student. She showed me first hand that empathy is a trait that medical caregivers should have to be successful. As a nine-year old, I wanted to be like her because she had dogs pictured on her shoes and got to work with children, but my intentions changed as I grew up. I could see how much she genuinely cared for her patients as a whole human being with compassion.

   While I have not allowed diabetes to define me as an individual, as a young woman I have come to realize that diabetes has challenged me both physically and emotionally it has undeniably shaped who I am. I have learned that we are all given challenges, some more difficult than others, but in the end it is not the challenges that define us but rather how we deal with them. Because of diabetes and my interactions with my endocrinologist, I found my passion in life to pursue a career in medicine.

   I have had the opportunity to care for patients as a Patient Care Technician (PCT) on a Medical Surgical Unit at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. Early on I came to the realization that as a PCT it was not only my responsibly to care for the patients’ basic care needs such as, personal hygiene and toileting but to care for them on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level. I have cared for patients wishing I could do more for them and their care. I have celebrated with patients who found out that after being in the hospital for a week they are finally being discharged, supported them when their surgery was postponed yet another day, and consoled them when they only came in for abdominal pain but found out they have colon cancer. In those moments with patients it was not about me taking their vital signs or helping them to the restroom, it was about being there for them as a person. I want to be that physician assistant who can make patients physically better but also emotionally and spiritually better.

   I can still remember the first time a patient hugged me as I was discharging her from the hospital. This particular woman came into the hospital for a shoulder surgery expecting to leave that same day but finally left seven days later. I had the pleasure of caring for her four of those seven days while she was on my floor. She was most grateful when I helped her shower and wash her hair because she said, “It helped her feel like a new person”. That simple act of washing her hair for her made such an impact on her. To me I was just caring for her as a whole person who has many needs and not just a shoulder surgery, which is how I care for each patient.

   While I am naturally a caregiver, I want to be a Physician Assistant so I can have a more influential role in patient care and treat patients as a whole person not just a diagnosis or symptom. Many have tried to persuade me into medical school instead, but PAs have more advantages than doctors. As a PA, I will have the ability to be a lifelong learner and the flexibility to change specialties throughout my career. Right now I wish to be an endocrinologist specialist to treat those who have similar illnesses as myself, but later on in my career I would switch to geriatrics to help better treat and serve the aging United States population.

   PAs also have the ability to spend more time with each patient. As a PA I want to show my patients empathy just as my doctor did when I was nine years old because that meant the world to me. Patients are humans who deserve to be treated like people and sincerely attended to. I believe that to best treat a patient you should treat them with empathy and not sympathy because it shows you understand what they are feeling. As a PA I want to be that person that not only treats the patient’s medical needs but also provides empathy and love when caring for them.

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9. Katie Lockie says

   June 25, 2018 at 11:13 am

   “Is that your baby?” I smile shamefully, not knowing what to say as yet another mall employee looks down on me with distaste as she stares at my 5-month old baby brother in his stroller. I was twelve years old at the time, and my brother and I would stroll around the mall while my mom worked her third part-time job at the drop-in daycare center. At just 12 years old, I had become accustomed to handling the complete care of an infant. I knew exactly how warm his formula should be, I knew just the right way to hold him when he was tired, and I knew exactly what to do when he wouldn’t calm down: walk him in the stroller. By the time he was two, I had spent all of my time outside of school watching him, and he and I had developed a very special relationship, which we still have today. My childhood was very different from anyone else that I knew, but in many ways it made me the person that I am today. I developed a close connection to my family, and realized that family will always come first in my life. I developed a strong passion for working with kids. I learned the importance of obtaining a financially stable job before having children. I realized that I never wanted to stop experiencing the rewarding feeling of making a sad, sick, or unhappy child feel better.

   Just five years ago, I watched cancer win its toughest battle as it took my grandfather’s life. Growing up, I never understood why the doctors who could perform so many miracles could not put a stop to the most horrific disease in our society. Science, medicine, and the human body have always intrigued me. The topics that would leave my friends drowning in boredom seemed to fascinate me, and I always strived to learn more. I found myself searching the Internet to discover how the antibiotic I was given for strep throat would battle bacteria in my body. I spent countless hours researching how the cancer invading my Grandfather’s colon had made him so sick, or why Multiple Sclerosis was making my Grandmother lose the function of her legs. I continue to be interested and excited about all of the complicated and precise medicines that extraordinary doctors have discovered that are helping so many people. My ultimate career goal is to put my knowledge to the ultimate test: saving lives. I plan to become the compassionate and selfless figure that was alongside my family through our difficult time during my grandfather’s illness.

   After I started college, I was eager to gain some patient care experience. I took a CNA course, and began working for a home healthcare company. My first pediatric patient was an 11 year-old girl suffering from dystonia, so fragile that she required two people to move her. Seeing her look up and smile at me was the most rewarding feeling in the world. After graduating college, I knew that I wanted to expand my patient care experience in pediatrics. I found the perfect job in the pediatric clinic at National Jewish Health, where I had the opportunity to work with children and babies who were suffering from allergies, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. I loved interacting and caring for my patients, and I knew that pediatrics was my calling. However, I knew that I needed to expand my clinical skills, and I was not able to do so in my role at NJH. I took a position in the research clinic at UC Health, where I have had the opportunity to learn phlebotomy, IV placement, clinical skills, and contribute to cutting edge clinical research. I also get to shadow and observe many experienced PA’s while they are interacting with our patients.

   One of my biggest goals in life is to start my own family. Medical school has been intimidating for me because I do not want to have to put my life on hold for internships, residency, and the extreme time commitment of becoming an MD. I was first introduced to the PA profession in high school, when I found out that our family pediatrician, whom I had looked up to for many years, was a PA. This is when I began to think about going to PA school. I do want to have children in my near future, and family life is more of a possibility for PA’s. Aside from this, the need for mid-level providers like PA’s has been steadily increasing, and their role will continue to be a vital part of the medical field. Becoming a PA is also appealing because of the lateral mobility of the profession. Choosing one specialty and sticking to it for the rest my career is not necessarily a requirement. PA’s get to practice medicine essentially the same way that an MD would, and the flexibility of the profession is a big deciding factor for me.

   All of my life experiences contributed to my decision to pursue a career in medicine. I have huge interests in human health and the treatment of human disease, and I have a special heart for working with people, especially children. I am in search of a career that will be satisfying both personally and professionally, and I believe that I have found that in becoming a physician assistant.

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10. Ashley Booe says

    June 25, 2018 at 7:44 am

    As a child, I could never find my way because my head was always in a book. My favorites were adventure novels and I would sit for hours reading about journeys to outlandish civilizations or flights in extrasolar galaxies. Racing through the story, I would become a bystander to the action, peering in as betrayal or romance unfolded before my eyes. However, while the voyages were breathtaking, the people encountered were most intriguing and I wanted so badly to meet and talk with every one of the characters.

    When I began working on the acute and brain injury units at Community Rehabilitation Hospital as a patient care technician, I finally received the opportunity to converse with people reminiscent of the characters in my novels. Every day spent at the hospital was another page in the adventure novel, another group of characters to meet, and another opportunity to become even a small part in the story of my patient’s lives.

    One story was about Jon, a quadriplegic with a rare demyelinating disorder—Guillain-Barré Syndrome—with whom I spent countless hours discussing our mutual love for superheroes. Jon loved racing down the hallways in his motorized wheelchair as he got more mobility in his hands to use the joystick and we discussed the possibility of designing a wheelchair that could transform into a robotic super-suit. His superhero archetype was personified by the care Jon showed for his children. As a divorced father of two children, he often lamented how he would have to find different ways to be a great father for them while living in a wheelchair. When the nursing staff saw the kids visit though, we had no doubt Jon would be a great hero for them to look up to.

    Another story featured Jane, a sweet 99-year old lady, who amazed me with her book documenting everything she had done in just her 99th year including jet skiing, hiking in the Grand Canyon, and snorkeling amongst bright fish. She had intraocular melanoma, among other diagnoses, and often did pirate impersonations as she said it made her feel less insecure about her eye patch she used to cover the socket where her eye once was. Jane would make jokes about how felt her next escapade should be boarding a sailboat on the Caribbean where she’d be the oldest pirate of the seas. I never found out whether she had accomplished the venture as we never heard from her again.

    Working in the hospital firmly rooted a passion to make a positive impact in people’s lives by helping them continue their storyline with maximized ability. Shadowing in healthcare settings elucidated how to become such a protagonist. This is where I met the Jon Watson of a patient’s medical team: the physician assistant. At the Johnson Memorial Hospital internal medicine clinic, I witnessed the amount of time that the PA was able to dedicate to creating a whole-view of the patient’s health needs in conjunction with their lifestyle. She developed a treatment plan with care and specificity while working alongside the physician and nurse to ensure each patient’s complex physiology was managed carefully. In another shadowing experience, I was able to observe the magnificence of a real-life wizard of Oz, seemingly giving improved hearts, brains, and, in this case, a spinal column, through the operation room at the Indiana Spine Hospital. Calmly, the physician assistant clamped open the field for a lumbar fusion while assisting navigation for the correct vertebrae. I couldn’t believe that her life was dedicated to peering into that incredible view and making improvements on its nearly perfect design. One patient remarked in clinic 3 months’ post-surgery how life-changing her operation had been so far and how she was planning hikes that she’d had to stop when the pain became too much in her legs. The PA-physician team enhances the quality of life for their patients by providing a level of care that is necessary for such an immense feat.

    Being a physician assistant is similar to being the navigator of a great quest novel, encountering along the way people of all shapes and forms that need assistance and eventually are brought to the forefront of the plot as well. The views of the human body they appreciate every day and the characters they are able to impact creates an incarnation of the novels I grew up on. The healthcare field that seems so magical to me is a world I want to be so desperately a part of. Every patient who has told me their story and let me be a part of theirs allowed me to regain my childhood by surrounding myself with diverse characters from a variety of backgrounds. For the past two years, I have been involved in healthcare and I am no longer a bystander reading the action. Moreover, I want to be a turning point in someone’s story as a physician assistant. Because, for me, the ability to heal others and allow them to continue their journey is the greatest adventure novel of all.

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11. Ashlyn Ebel says

    June 24, 2018 at 11:11 am

    I do not remember the exact day, month, or even year that I decided I wanted to become a physician assistant (PA), but I was sure from a young age that I wanted a career in the medical field. On a sunny, warm, and cloudless day in late July, I was playing in my final championship tournament as a travel softball player. It was the summer before my senior year of high school. The team had gone out to lunch and we were relaxing before out next game, when out of nowhere I began to feel this paralyzing pain. It was the worst pain I had ever experienced radiating across my right side and into my back. No one had an explanation and before I knew it I was on my way to the emergency room. On the way there, the pain began to slowly disappear and by the time we arrived was gone. Later that night the pain returned and we were off to the emergency room again, this time the pain persisted and the doctor ordered a CT scan. The scan showed there were multiple kidney stones in both kidneys, but they were small and with the help of pain medication I could control the pain until the stone passed. In the meantime, I was referred to a urologist for an additional follow-up. When we made the appointment, they asked if we would like to be seen by the PA. This was not the first time that I had been seen by a PA, but Autumn left an impression on me. I was nervous and a little anxious about what having kidney stones meant, she immediately put me at ease. Even though I was only 17 years old, she was patient, explaining everything in a way that I could understand, taking away some of the fear and anxiety. At college, 400 miles from home, I dealt with kidney stones several times, sending me to the emergency room, but Autumn was always a phone call away and able to help me navigate through these visits and unfamiliar doctors.
    As an undergraduate athletic trainer (AT) at a Division I school, I had the opportunity to work with women’s volleyball, women’s soccer, football, and in a physical therapy clinic. The athletic training field is devoted to creating a healing environment where every athlete has a team of ATs and physicians working together to prevent, diagnose, and treat injuries. I have found tremendous joy and success through connecting with the athletes, therapists, and physicians. As an AT, my top priority is to make sure my athletes safety is put above all else. The pressure to get an athlete back as soon as possible to help the team is high, but we must ensure that the athletes-physical, emotional, and mental health is our highest priority in decision making. As rewarding as these interactions have been, I feel that it is time to further my education so that I can provide a more comprehensive and complete healthcare experience for my patients. This desire to provide the best holistic care has me wanting to experience other medical fields, something I would be able to do as a physician assistant.
    Each semester the AT program required us to shadow and observe 5 different medical professionals in disciplines outside of orthopedics. Some of the specialists we had an opportunity to shadow included disciplines like: neurology, family practice, nutrition, psychology, emergency medicine, general surgery, radiology, and pediatrics. One of my first observations was in pediatrics was with a physician assistant. She embodied the qualities I want to model: compassion, empathy, humor, and responsiveness to the patients’ needs and concerns along with the concerns of their parents. Her career path also began as an AT. Athletic trainers share many of the same qualities that PAs have-good communication skills, the ability to work as a member of a team, and compassion and empathy for their patients. A Physician Assistant not only practices clinical medicine, but can instill outward changes in their patients through patient-centric care. It is a field where you confront a patient’s everyday health behaviors and work with them to maintain and improve their health as a vital member of their healthcare team.
    My journey towards PA school has been one of twists and turns, each leading me down this pathway. Growing up, sports consumed my identity, I found pride through the mental discipline, physical challenge, and team work of sports. When I began my undergraduate degree, I knew it was time to re-create myself once again, this time, as an athletic trainer. The skills and knowledge that I have already acquired-team work, good communication skills, and injury prevention, diagnosis and treatment will serve me well as I transition to becoming a PA. In athletic training, I have always wanted to do more. Though I understand my scope of practice and have gained a great deal of knowledge by helping my athletes navigate doctors’ visits, rehab protocol and mental struggles, this has sparked my passion to continue learning and taking on more responsibility for my patient’s care by becoming a physician assistant.

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12. Brittany Leigh Barbarisi says

    June 22, 2018 at 2:00 pm

    The blazing spotlights wither my carefully coiffed locks. Heart racing, nerves jumping, adrenaline coursing through my veins–I saunter to the dance floor. My partner, randomly selected by the judges, joins me before the huge contingent of West Coast Swing fans and competitors. We’ve never met before, so my partner and I bow to one another, then go in for the embrace to feel the connection. The next 90 seconds will determine whether my two years of rigorous dance training will pay off. The music starts and my partner barely suppresses his glee–they’re playing one of his favorites! It’s a tune I’ve never heard, but we flow into a series of moves that make it look like we’ve been dancing together our entire lives. The song ends and the crowd erupts. It’s clear who the winners will be…

    The surgical lights bake me through my scrubs and the screeching rescue radio pierces my eardrums. Heart racing, nerves jumping, adrenaline coursing through my veins–I leap to meet the EMTs wheeling in a critical patient. The next 90 seconds will determine whether or not my years of medical training will pay off. I’ve never worked with this ED team before, so I stand ready to assist where needed. Blood is spurting, mucus flying, I’m poised to jump in to assist. Code blue! The doctor orders me to start compressions and I spring to work. It’s like dancing swing. I’m counting, sweating, triceps burning when a fresh doctor takes over for me. The patient will live. It’s clear that my hard work paid off…

    My two passions: dance and healthcare. So different, yet so alike. Both allowing me to expand my mind, challenge myself, and work with others.

    Evolution of dance and healthcare is constant. In dance the music is always changing and new dance styles are incorporated. In healthcare there is always research being conducted: new diagnostic testing found, diseases discovered, and variations in treatment. Since they are ever-changing fields I will have the opportunity to be a life-long learner and continually challenge myself. The challenge lies in the fact that I will always need to stay up to date on the changes in each field in order to be competitive against my peers and remain knowledgeable to best serve my students and patients. Speaking of students and patients, I enjoy working with people and work to serve those less fortunate. I currently teach dance to adolescents with disadvantaged backgrounds. Whether they come from families with low income or drug abuse, or they themselves have a mental disability, I strive to help them and gladly do it free of charge. In relation to medicine/healthcare, I currently volunteer as a crisis text counselor because I believe mental health is important and affects a majority of the population. I also currently work in cardiovascular, which is mostly geriatric patients, who struggle the most with chronic illness, financial disadvantage, and decline in their mental faculties. My desire to make dance and healthcare permanent in my life increases on a daily basis, the more I learn and the more experience I get. In fact, pursuing higher education for my career in healthcare is my main focus right now.

    I have worked in healthcare for a while now. I’ve worked as a pharmacy technician, scribe, medical assistant, and even obtained my certification as an EMT. I’ve worked in emergency, obstetrics/gynecology, neurosurgery, and cardiology. I’ve found that I favor hands on work with patients. Working as a medical assistant I’ve been able to cultivate relationships with my patients. Although I may love my work I find myself limited by my scope of practice. After working directly with physician assistants in the various specialties I’ve found that their level of autonomy and ability to diagnose and treat patient fits with what I’m looking for in a career. I will be able to challenge myself, be a lifelong learner, and work more closely with people. I also believe that I have the necessary skills to be successful in the field. With my unique experiences in dance and work I have learned adaptability, the language and application of empathy, innovative and analytical perspectives, resilience, integrity, and interpersonal communication skills. It’s with these qualities and my motivation that I will become a physician assistant. All I need now is to attend an accredited physician assistant program that encompasses those aforementioned qualities and teaches altruism, community (in and out of the classroom), ethics, professionalism, inter-professional education, leadership, and prepares students for success on the PANCE and in clinical settings.

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13. Megan Avery says

    June 21, 2018 at 9:30 am

    The sound of the whistle and feeling of scoring the game-winning goal have continually filled my soul since five years old. Year after year, days consisting of practices, traveling, and games turned into a lifestyle; pursing excellence on and off the field. Every football game, school dance or birthday party I missed with traveling or extra practice had paid off. The opportunity to compete at a high level challenged me. My passion and dedication to excellence lead me to my college soccer career.
    Half way into my freshman year of college, I experienced my first injury that drove me to the sidelines. During my recovery, my primary focus involved returning to the field stronger. I was motivated and inspired by the medical professionals who provided a high standard of care. I enjoyed the problem solving aspect of being a student athlete and my injury added another element. Scientifically solving a medicinal problem as a team translated directly to my soccer career. I found an outlet for my passion of excellence as my soccer career was coming to a close.
    My interaction with medical professionals coupled with my academic studies piqued my interest in medicine. In my final semesters of college, I was introduced to the physician assistant career at an emergency department in Colorado Springs. The high energy and faced paced environment left me in awe and the smooth movement of medical professionals working together felt exhilarating. I was most impressed with the PA’s role to diagnose and provide treatment while affording more time with the patients. Patients were discharged and I often wondered about their follow up care and wanted a more direct role in the patient’s care. I then took a job at Western Wyoming Dermatology and Surgery as a medical assistant. At a smaller practice, I observed how the PAs built a rapport with patients and provided comprehensive care. Assisting in surgeries appealed to my interest of being an integral component of high quality care; yet being a medical assistant did not reward me with the same sense of accomplishment and prestige I strive for.
    As an athlete, it is important to understand the body to achieve optimal performance. Years of training on the field and in the classroom taught me efficient ways to fuel, recover and strengthen my body. My soccer injury allows me to empathize with others, and share cautionary tales. As a PA, I would be able to apply my experiences as an athlete to help patients achieve quality health care like what I sought out during my injury. The ability to diagnose and treat medical conditions serves my admiration of science and provides me great satisfaction.
    The thrill I would feel after scoring the game winning goal has translated to my enthusiasm and dedication to becoming an PA. I strive to be an essential member of the healthcare team and provide the highest quality care possible. My experience as a student athlete has prepared me for the rigorous PA program and I am eager to meet to challenge. I am excited to work independently and collaboratively in a challenging environment, working to improve the quality of life for individuals seeking help.

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