The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative

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1. Judy B says

   March 17, 2019 at 4:49 pm

   I have always been very passionate on finding ways to decrease the physical, mental, and the emotional scope of human suffering. I have witnessed first-hand the detrimental and the long lasting effect of death and suffering on human beings, including myself.

   I have been introduced to the medical field in the summer of 2000, when my maternal grandmother was diagnosed and passed away from ovarian cancer. In 2005, my mother was diagnosed with Stage II Breast Cancer, her treatment included chemotherapy, radiation, and a partial mastectomy. Fortunately, my mother survived this heinous ordeal. However, on August 29th, 2010 I received news that my mother was diagnosed with stage IV Liver cancer. Again and for the second time, she underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and multiple surgeries to control this disease. Her doctor and team of medical staff announced that she would have three months left of her natural life, however, she fought for a gracious 10 months. The cancer metastasized to her brain and on June 27, 2011 she has passed away. I was only sixteen years old. Throughout her illness, our relationship grew stronger and brought us closer and I cherished every moment that we shared together.

   Unfortunately, another emotional encounter I experienced during my first year at the University of Florida. My father was involved in a tragic vehicular collision that left him disabled. An emergency surgery resulted him to stay in the intensive critical unit for approximately 3 weeks. In a result, my father was unable to continue working and the head of our household is no longer able to provide for myself and my siblings. During my first year of college I was contemplating dropping out and staying home to take care of my father and my siblings. However, I know if I did, my parents’ dream would be non-existent. Therefore, I have managed to maintain a good academic standing while visiting my family as often as possible. During this time, my academia struggled and my grades were not the best. However, I persisted.

   I completed my Bachelors in Science degree in three years. Upon graduation, I was certain I wanted to assist and make a positive impact on the needy and the underprivileged. Therefore, on August 22nd, 2016, I was hired as a Child Welfare Case Manager and later transitioned to become an Extended Foster Care Case Manager. Throughout my time as a social worker, I have observed children who are medically needy, children with a physical disability, and/or a mental illness. Working as a social worker was the catalyst that increased my desire to become a Physician Assistant. Throughout my experience, I have observed children in foster care, are prescribed psychotropic medications at a rate 2-3 times higher than the level of children in the normal populations. This is also includes, prescribing the wrong dose and/or wrong treatment. I have observed clinicians and medical teams lack fundamental understanding and compassion on how the trauma has affected this particular population. I have also observed children who are aging out of the system, abruptly stop taking these medications. Individuals who have been taking psychotropic medications should not stop taking these medications without consulting with their medical team. However, due to the lack of trust and understanding between the foster care population and their medical teams, these individuals’ are failing to receive the care and advocation they need.

   Experiencing my maternal grandmother, my mother, and my father’s pain I have always been interested in the medical filed, however; I have always considered myself to be a social advocate for the underprivileged. I never realized I can do both by becoming a physician assistant. I want to be a physician assistant because I want to continue to advocate for this and every population. I want to become the voice to the voiceless. I can influence and inspire individuals and have a positive impact on their life due to my past experience, because helping others means caring for others. That is what motivates me the most, because I believe I can meet and exceed my patients’ expectations.

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2. Michelle F says

   March 12, 2019 at 8:48 am

   Seventy-two hours. That is all the time this squirmy, fuzzy, positively adorable little boy had experienced of the world. Here I was, a stranger, and I had to be the one to cause this angel pain in his first days. An unexplained fever was his primary ailment and his parents looked on with apprehension. As a medical assistant at Central Oregon Pediatric Associates (COPA), I had proven a talent for phlebotomy, so I had been called to a satellite clinic to try to keep him out of the hospital. I felt confident after warming his arms and palpating, but my palms remained sweaty as I felt the pressure of diagnosing his affliction. This family had driven half a day from Burns, a rural town with a population of less than three thousand, and no pediatric facilities of their own. They likely would have to stay at the hospital hours from home if I wasn’t able to collect the needed samples. My coworker helped to stabilize his arm which was less than two inches across. Dad asked me what we would do if I failed and I replied mustering all the optimism I had, “we will cross that bridge if we have to, but we are going to do everything we can right now to make Jasper feel better.” Mom buried her face in her newborn’s chest and when she was able to lift her head, tears in her eyes, I had enough blood to send the needed culture and other hematology tests. The physician squeezed my shoulders and thanked me for traveling over to help. She was able to look over the STAT results and determine that the newborn could safely return home with his grateful parents.

   Though the visit with Jasper only took twenty minutes of my afternoon, it was countless similar moments at COPA that sparked my passion for primary care and pediatrics. While a medical career has been my focus since a young age when I was gifted an anatomy coloring book and obsessively watching Grey’s Anatomy, my attention turned toward becoming a physician assistant after college during my first clinical job. I recall shadowing Gerry, an orthopedic PA, on his morning rounds of his postoperative patients. I would shadow early morning with him and then head downstairs to the surgical recovery room to work as a patient care assistant until surgeries were done for the day. It was during these days I discovered I could maximize my patient interaction, my love for working on a team, and practice advanced clinical skills all under the scope of PA credentials.

   As a previous applicant, I have reflected on the improvements and experiences and know they have only intensified my drive to become a PA. I now have a well rounded background of patient care experience covering multiple specialties and have graduate degree proving that I can balance a rigorous course load. I was a young, over-confident, twenty-five year old when I first when through this process. At COPA I developed meaningful relationships with practitioners who believe in my ability and have provided mentorship. While working the past year and a half at COPA I developed a deep passion for primary care and worked with numerous capable and dedicated PAs. COPA has allowed me to work as a member of a team of medical professionals all aimed at improving the health outcomes of children in a rural and underserved region of Oregon. I have gained a clear understanding of the role that I am pursuing and know that I possess the competencies required to provide quality care to my future patients. I look forward to applying the skills I have learned through my patient care experiences to help families like Jasper’s, who need it most.

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3. GaBria says

   March 11, 2019 at 1:28 pm

   May 17, 2018. I assumed that it would be another ordinary birthday.

   “Catherine! Catherine, wake up!” All of us were screaming her name. Catherine wasn’t responding. There she lay in the procedure chair. Eyes closed. Abdomen extended. Cyanosis of both her face and lips. This can’t be happening. Surely, not on my birthday. This can’t be the same day that will be commemorated as death for Ms. Catherine.

   Everything happened so fast. It was just another surgery day at the office. The protocol was consistent. For me, preparation was just as much of a routine as getting dressed for work every morning. Vitals were checked. Procedural gown on. Sedation was given. Topical anesthetic and neurosurgical cottonoids were placed. Ms. Catherine was led into the procedural room. My physician entered and the time-out was completed. I stood and assisted with the instruments amid other duties, everything was going as planned. After several minutes, Ms. Catherine had
   drifted off into a deep slumber.

   As I began with the sinus irrigation, somehow I noticed that the snoring ceased. “I need some water,” said Ms. Catherine in her usual soft-spoken voice. How ironic was it that she was requesting water at the exact time that her sinuses are flushed with saline water? My inner self knew that something was not right. As she repeated herself, she quickly became combative. We attempted to restrain her; however, her persistence created more chaos. “Catherine, calm down!” “Catherine, listen to us!” “Catherine! Catherine!” She slowly became more relaxed and laid back in the chair. We prepared to proceed with surgery; however, it quickly became apparent that she was motionless. She had stopped responding. Ms. Catherine had aspirated.

   I checked her pulse; she had none. Her hand was extremely feeble and pale. While my physician was vigorous in CPR administration, I connected her to the BP monitor for pulse oximetry. The other nurses were rapidly attempting to assemble the oxygen tank, although, we soon realized that we were missing equipment and unable to provide further oxygen therapy for her. The BP monitor was aggressively playing its own rhythm similar to a beeping siren. Ms. Catherine was critically hypoxemic at 15% O2 level. The beeping was a relentless reminder that we were in a race against time. By far, this was the longest 45 minutes of my life.

   As I reflect back on that day, I recall being overwhelmed and consumed with so many thoughts and emotions. I can now appreciate what Pastor and Author Charles R. Swindoll said best, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” In that moment, Ms. Catherine affirmed for me that I want to be a part of the 90%. In a strange way, I have come to appreciate what this profession embodies for patients each day. I value both the unknown triumphs and challenges that may come with each day. In my two years of working as a Clinical Assistant, I have encountered hundreds of patients that have created lasting footprints on my journey to
   becoming a Physician’s Assistant. As for lasting impressions, this experience with Ms. Catherine undeniably represents “Bigfoot”.

   Till this day, Ms. Catherine remembers nothing except waking up in the hospital. How ironic is it that she had given me the best birthday gift without even realizing it-my empowered and confirmed sense to become a Physician’s Assistant.

   *Note: Actual name of patient was changed to protect confidentiality

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4. Kira Oliver says

   March 9, 2019 at 10:41 am

   Responsibility. Determination. I have had to balance carefree youth with maturity from a young age. My father, who is a single parent, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease 15 years ago. As a young woman, I learned quickly, the logistical and emotional difficulty in helping someone manage a chronic illness, helping him dress, walk, and in the bathroom, especially on bad days. Despite this challenge, he has helped me find who I am and know the career I want to pursue: helping others manage chronic illness as a Physician Assistant.
   Swiftness. Adaptability. To hone my ability to help others with chronic illness, I specifically sought out experiences with underprivileged populations. Through Global Brigades, a non-governmental organization I joined as a Freshman, I have had opportunities to work with patients in Honduras. I worked with Dr. Romeo Morales, M.D., as his assistant in general health, as well as local Honduran doctors in gynecology and dentistry rotations. Dr. Morales tasked me with determining various ailments after examination. Having him to look to for collaboration with knowledge yet being able to problem solve on my own, was an unforgettable opportunity. Because the patients I worked with had few health resources, many of their conditions became chronic. Patients sought help managing parasitic diseases, accessing antibiotics, dental treatment, implementing oral self-care routines, and the anxiety with receiving medical treatments. For example, I worked with a patient who needed treatment for dental caries. Through this experience, I continued to expand my ability to be a caregiver; I used my interpersonal skills to help the patient manage their anxiety during treatments, something I acquired through my experience with my father. I have returned to Honduras upon acceptance to Global Brigades’ annual Leadership Institute, where I gained essential skills that carried over as a Brigade Leader in the Spring and Summer of 2018. I continued to hone my skills to be a Physician Assistant, working, again, with underprivileged communities to provide care, leadership, and sustainability.
   Empathy. Approach. I took on a role to help the expanding geriatric community in our country, working with dementia patients as a Resident Assistant to further my knowledge and care to those struggling with chronic illness. Dementia care encompasses a necessity for appropriately handling intense events such as a stroke, paired with mental breakdowns with confusion, hostility or sadness. I was able to use my acquired knowledge with my father to aid dementia patients also struggling from Parkinson’s disease with an empathetic view, understanding the sensitivities and encouragement that must be utilized.
   This experience led me to obtain a Medical Assistant position in gastroenterology where I continue assisting those with chronic illness and further develop my clinical, administrative, and patient-care skills. Here I found the value of teamwork and communication, to ensure patients be seen efficiently, and self confidence, pushing me to shadow PAs that I formed relationships with and advance to be trained in phlebotomy shortly after starting my position. Understanding patients individually is essential in this field. How would my father or vulnerable citizens of Honduras want to be treated? Knowing what residents need in order to feel calm or safe and having a relationship with them made taking care of them, medically, less difficult. I value the compassion and insight that is added to practice of medicine as a Physician Assistant.
   Taking into account the significance of any moment is a challenging thing to do. Life with my father, disadvantaged lives in Central America, and the fading memory of residents with Dementia have made me more aware of that. I am a lifetime learner and want to be able to take knowledge from a professional above me, but I also do my best work when pushed to excel when my compassion, dedication and hard work are on display. My desire to work alongside others to improve the health of individuals both globally and domestically has only grown. Increasing populations and shortages of primary care physicians is something we face all over. As a Physician Assistant I will thrive with the ability to bring access to care, with direct patient relationships and a plethora of clinical skills, as well as administrative capabilities.

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5. Chris says

   March 3, 2019 at 2:24 am

   FIRST TIME APPLICANT, FFEDBACK IS APPRECIATED!

   On my 23rd birthday I found myself wanting nothing more than to sit and read behind my hut in the Senegalese desert. An escape from the constant mental strain that came with cultural integration and communicating in Wolof, Senegal’s major language. I had been in Senegal for nearly five months working as a health volunteer for the Peace Corps; most of my days were spent at the nearby clinic, holding information sessions, and assisting with vaccinations. I had decided to join the Peace Corps to experience another culture firsthand, and this came with many unforeseen obstacles. Having to deal with these obstacles taught me that barriers to communication, whether cultural, educational, or psychological can have a significant impact on an individual’s perceived image and the associated consequences. This experience had a large influence on my desire to become a physician assistant, and encouraged me to approach health care with patience, awareness, and a desire to build trust.
   Upon arriving in Senegal, I was given a plethora of training, leaving me with ideas for possible projects, culturally acceptable actions, and a conversational level of Wolof. Despite this, the first day in my village was overwhelming, and the limits to my language skills were quickly apparent. When I wasn’t using my more extensive health-related vocabulary, I was talking and being talked to like a child. I felt patronized, and many conversations seemed condescending. For the first time in my life, I noticed a stark contrast between the person I was, and my perceived image. I was able to comprehend better than I could speak and would listen to my host brothers joke about me when I was lying in bed at night. The fact that I couldn’t outwardly demonstrate my intelligence gave them the impression that I wasn’t able to understand what they were saying. It may not have been their intention, but these sorts of comments made me feel inadequate. My inability to verbally express myself was the major obstacle I faced, and I was determined to overcome it. This was difficult as Wolof is not a written language. Luckily, I found two individuals in my village that knew basic English and for the first few months we clumsily attempted to tutor one another in our native languages. Sadly, our low language levels led to frustration and ended with no significant increase in my language ability.
   As time went on, I shifted my approach from perfecting the language to becoming comfortable with the language I had already acquired. A majority of the shift came from personal changes, but I would not have been successful without the patience of a few village health workers. They were able to look past the perceived image attached to my language abilities and work with me based on my limitations. I imagine this is a similar scenario faced by those experiencing American culture for the first time, or have other stigmas such as those seen with a physical or mental disability or illness. As a healthcare provider I intend to show this sort of patience to those who are facing their own barriers, knowing how big of a role it played in my experience.
   Once I began feeling more comfortable I was able to make changes in order to continue to overcome those cultural barriers. I built a support system of volunteers, set short term health related goals, and made sure to give myself alone time to decompress. These changes helped me stay months longer than I originally thought I would be able to, allowing me to gain the experience I had hoped to receive. I look back fondly on my time there, and grew immensely as an individual. This growth was also apparent in my passion for health care. Health information made a drastic difference in Senegalese communities, and encouraged me to find ways I could continue working in health education back in the US. I found myself excited by the prospects of becoming a PA, having a more influential role in health management and education. I am drawn to the PA profession particularly because of the flexibility to work with a variety of populations over one’s career, a benefit not afforded to physicians. Along with this, I value the work-life balance the PAs I have interacted with are able to have while still playing a large influence on a patient’s treatment.
   Having decided to pursue this profession I now consciously try to understand what might be the limiting factor of my interactions from a cultural, educational, or psychological perspective, and have incorporated that into my current job working at a psychiatric facility. I have more empathy and understanding of underserved populations and the difficulties they face throughout society. My emphasis as a healthcare provider will be on recognizing these barriers and breaking down stigmas attached to them. This will require patience, an awareness of the obstacles someone faces, and the ability to build trust. These skills are important to the role I hope to play in patient care moving forward.

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6. Jess says

   February 26, 2019 at 8:27 am

   First-time applicant! Appreciate any/all feedback!

   “Pulse check,” a voiced called out over the noise. Pulling my gloved hands off the patient’s chest, I stood back. I couldn’t hear anything over the sound of my pounding heart.

   “Any objections to calling it? Anyone have any ideas?” the woman in a white coat called out. Everyone seemed so calm after 22 minutes of constant activity. “Time of death: 0917.”

   My hands shook. I was in my final semester of nursing school, and I had just experienced many firsts. First intubation. First code. First real compressions. First death. Once my heart returned to a normal rate, I opened my mouth, questions pouring out. As a naturally curious person, I was drawn to healthcare where there will always be more to learn.

   After being a critical care RN, my hands no longer shake and my heart no longer drops to my stomach when patients are declining. I am calm and assertive. I ask for help. I advocate for my patients. My critical thinking and judgment are fine-tuning every day. But my questions continue. I keep a notebook in my workbag; every day, I write a new question in it. When a lull hits, I pepper my Fellow and Attending with questions, supplementing their answers with research of my own.

   As the only Level I Trauma in West Michigan, my facility receives the big bad traumas from half of the state. On the Burn/Surgical/Trauma ICU, we have become a well-oiled machine. Every day, we perform interdisciplinary rounds with the Attending, Fellow, PA, Residents, RN, respiratory therapists, and dieticians. Every piece of the puzzle comes together. Each person participates; all concerns are addressed. I love rounds. It’s one of my favorite parts of the day.

   The more comfortable I have become in my role as an ICU RN, the more challenges and additional training I have taken on. I believed this would satisfy the voice asking, “What’s next?” The notebook filled up. I realized I want to be the one deciding the interventions, not just implementing them. While I enjoy my role at the bedside, I want to play a bigger part in decision-making and diagnosis. As I examined the roles where I would have this opportunity, I asked myself who I went to when I had a question, wanted to suggest an intervention, or needed an issue addressed. I went to the PAs. Consistently. Shift after shift, I would ask the various providers about their training, roles, advice, and satisfaction.

   The more I found out about the various professions, the more I shadowed and worked alongside PAs, the more convinced I became. I want to fill the role of a PA on the interdisciplinary team, always pursuing the why and the how.

   My path to finding this profession has been crooked at best. There was a period of my undergraduate education when I did not know if I would ever function normally again. I began suffering from severe and debilitating migraines early in college; my sophomore and junior years were spent in emergency rooms, doctors offices, and dark rooms. Amid threats from my parents to pull me out of school, countless failed medications, and offers from my scholarship to postpone my education until my health issues were under control, I had a choice to make. I could push pause on my goals and education to focus on my health, or I could choose to continue to pursue my nursing degree. Without a guarantee of health, I was not willing to jeopardize my education.

   Upon graduation, I began working nights as a new RN. The migraines were still poorly controlled, but I managed. I carefully controlled my routine, diet, and environment to enable me to perform. I found that my experience with pain allowed me to have more empathy and compassion with my suffering patients. In order to ensure my success in PA school, I have waited to pursue this opportunity until I found an effective treatment plan. With migraines under control, I look forward to pursuing my career as a physician assistant.

   I am not quite sure how to end the essay… I don’t think I really nailed the conclusion..

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7. Kelci Bethke says

   February 22, 2019 at 6:15 am

   Hi! This is my first time applying to PA school. I have posted the rough draft for my personal statement below. Any advise is greatly appreciated. 🙂

   With her tiny limp body and no head control to look up at me, Clarisa Grace, a two-year-old foster child was brought to my family’s door step. It was placed upon my family’s heart to begin the foster and adoption process through our church. Within two days of receiving the certification to foster a social worker called. She stated that she had a two-year-old little girl with mild medical setbacks. Little did we know upon acceptance of Clarisa into our home she was extremely medically fragile. The first glance of Clarisa I knew we were not prepared to handle the amount of medical attention that this delicate girl would need. Clarisa was born with hydrocephalus, this condition was left untreated, consequently cerebral palsy took over her life. Clarisa instantaneously captivated my heart and immediately expanded my passion for medicine.
   I began researching everything there was to know about Clarisa and every one of her medical conditions. We walked into Children’s Hospital in Dallas Texas where I met her pediatric physician assistant. The amount of time and passion that this Physician assistant took with Clarisa was none like id ever seen. The holistic approach taken as the provider to prove with medicine anything is possible for Clarisa solidified that I had found my calling in life. I began shadowing her primary care physician at Children’s hospital as I aspired to be the same amazing provider that our family was blessed with. The impact that medicine has done for Clarisa has been such an amazing eye opener. She will never be able to walk and will forever be on a feeding tube, but her quality of life is better than ever as she now approaches seven miraculous years on this early. My ambitions in life are to daily assist in improving that quality of life in every patient that I encounter, now as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist and in my career as a Physician Assistant.
   Being a Physician Assistant will give me the opportunity daily to give someone exceptional patient care to be preventative as well as corrective in their health. I have been working in the medical field for five years now and could not see myself being anywhere else. I leave the hospital everyday with joy knowing that I have positively impacted my patient’s life’s. Medicine is rapidly growing and changing, I strive to be a part of that as I expand my knowledge in the medical field. Once I began the Pre-PA process going the extra mile has been my moto. I wanted to know everything there was to know about the profession. I joined TAPA as a Pre-PA student and attended the annual conference. I sat in every seminar, made business cards, and engaged in getting to know the PA professionals. I was overwhelmed with the warm welcomes from PA’s all-around Texas. I felt as if I was already home in my profession, little did they know the impact that they had on justifying my calling in life.
   From the TAPA conference, shadowing a wide variety of doctors and physician assistants, to being offered a Pre-Med fellowship to Portugal, my love for medicine grew more than I could have ever imagined. I had spent many hours shadowing here in Texas, but nothing compared to my shadowing experience abroad. I submerged myself into a completely different culture, I didn’t know the language or how different their health system was before I arrived there. I spent my mornings shadowing a wide variety of surgeries while the physicians spoke broken English to teach me every move they made in surgery. After surgery I spend hours researching each surgery that I watched. The hospital that I was at, Hospital De San Jose a teaching hospital, was an extremely old hospital for low income patients. It was an amazing place to truly understand the differences in the American health care and treatment. These hospitals are eye openers to appreciating the health system that we have in America. I spent time learning the culture, language, and history of this gorgeous town. I was extremely blessed to have this opportunity as I came home to another offer to travel to Australia to explore their health care as well. I believe to be an amazing physician assistant one must be able to connect with patients on a wide variety of cultural levels.
   I have remained a full-time employee at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano as I have taken my prerequisites, shadowed, and volunteered. I know being a physician assistant is a very rewarding career but being an amazing physician assistant means going above and beyond. As the oldest of 5 children I made this path to set the example to my younger siblings. Unto everything that I do I will always strive to make a difference in those around me and take every opportunity thrown my way. The events during my Pre-Pa process have brought so much joy and ambition into my life I can only imagine what else medicine has in store for me.

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8. Eric T says

   February 15, 2019 at 6:45 pm

   FIRST TIME APPLICANT, FEEDBACK IS APPRECIATED!

   The bell rings at 5am, I get up and put my gear on without opening my eyes. The familiar voice comes from the speaker in the bunkroom first giving the address and then a complaint that wakes me up instantly, cardiac arrest. I’m on the ambulance this time, so we rush to the truck and are out of the station with no time to waste. We arrive on scene and I get the backboard and jump bag while my partner pulls the drug box and monitor on to the stretcher. We enter the house and find our patient laying prone, unconscious between the bathroom and the hallway. We hurry to rotate him on to his back on the backboard, only to find a pool of black coffee ground emesis on the floor and around his mouth. He is not breathing and does not have a pulse, so I begin CPR while my partner prepares to secure his airway. Our station’s engine crew is right behind us helping with setting up the defibrillator pads and starting IV’s.

   The patient’s wife tells us that he had surgery on his small intestines and that he has had abdominal pain all night, and he collapsed when trying to go to the bathroom. With no shock advised on the monitor, we finish the round of CPR and load the patient on to the stretcher and in to the ambulance as quickly and safely as possible. Two engine crew members hop in to the back of the ambulance and I get in front and drive to the hospital. On the way, I hear from the back of the truck that they have a pulse and stop performing CPR. We arrive at the hospital and the ER team is waiting for us in the room we were given. As I am helping to move the patient from our stretcher to the hospital stretcher, I see every member of the ER team performing their various tasks as efficiently as possible. At the head of the hospital bed is the attending PA who is receiving the report from my partner. He gives a nod to my crew and I, saying “Thanks guys, we’ve got it from here.” He then turns to the ER staff and continues to coordinate steps following a ‘return of spontaneous circulation’ (ROSC).

   This story is but one example of the countless incidents I have responded to as a firefighter and as an EMT. Over my 11 years spent in EMS, I have responded to every standard of living imaginable, from the depths of poverty to the upper echelon of wealth. I have treated and transported patients that come from various ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, and religions. I have made it a point to always build rapport with my patients while they are going through the most egregious events in their lives. I have learned through my experiences how to build relationships with families and how to have crucial conversations with them when dire treatments may be necessary. My bedside manner is not all that I possess, I have ideas that I can only begin to implement with a better understanding of healthcare. I believe patient care is an ever evolving entity, and I want to be at the forefront of every new discovery to help foster better patient outcomes and faster rehabilitation periods.

   Understanding patient care, and treatments in a pre-hospital setting are ultimately methods that sustain patients until they are able to be treated at a higher level of care. My curiosity has turned into a desire to move towards that next level of care. I want to be that PA that receives a patient in bad shape and work with my own team to help them. Assist them in having the best possible outcome, given the situation. I want to be the PA that people can collaborate with and return too. Not only that, I want to be the PA that people talk about. I want peers to request my consultation on difficult cases, I want my staff to be proud they are a part of my team, and I want to make a positive impact in the future for healthcare.

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9. Chely says

   February 12, 2019 at 12:38 pm

   The warm breeze whipped through my hair as we drove past rivers of trash. Barefooted people waded precariously through murky streams, selling goods that ranged from tropical fruit to bottles of local Haitian rum. The ride from Port-Au Prince was long as we bounced up and down the dirt roads. Smoke filled the air from the heaps of burning rubbish and clung to our clothes. By the time we reached Leogane my face was black. I normally would have shrieked, but that felt too indulgent after having seen such poverty and desperation. It was my initial foray into a nation riddled by poverty and corruption. It was inhumane, and yet after what I witnessed I had never felt more driven to help. In the coming week our task was to hold impromptu clinics with patients and ascertain their overall level of health.

   After a long day of check-ups and sweat we were finally done and heading back for lunch. The press of gathering crowds, clamoring for us to take their blood pressure, would make our brief walk back take over an hour. About ten minutes away from our compound an elderly man sitting on a rock called us over. He spoke softly to our guide in Creole as his gnarled hands gingerly rolled up his sleeve. I walked over and knelt in the dirt beside him. He smiled in no particular direction as I took his arm and began taking his blood pressure. As I spun the knob to release the pressure cuff I looked up into his eyes and realized that he was blind. I told him what his blood pressure was and that it was normal. He took my hand in his and began saying “mesi mesi.” I responded “you’re welcome” and smiled, painfully aware of the fact that he wouldn’t see it.

   Later on, I confirmed with the nursing student in our group that the man was likely suffering from glaucoma. When I asked if there were any treatments he replied with a defeated “no.” He explained that there are procedures such as laser surgery, but even if the man had enough money to pay for the surgery, there were no facilities nearby. A simple procedure was all the man needed to restore his vision, and the only thing preventing this was being destitute in a nation lacking a functional health care system. That being said, what was needed was not a miracle, it was feasible.

   My experiences in Haiti directed the current of my life inextricably towards health care. When I returned to Boston I became an EMT. On the second day of the job we transported an elderly woman to hospice. When we arrived, a neighbor explained that she had been checking in on the patient, Milly, from time to time. She told us that she hadn’t seen any of Milly’s relatives in some time and became concerned. As we opened the front door a wave of urine and feces crept into our nostrils. We found Milly lying down on a filthy bed that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in weeks. Milly resembled a skeleton, weighing no more than 90 pounds. While I spoke to her I quickly realized she was suffering from some form of dementia as she kept repeating the list of groceries she needed to get on her next trip to the store. When we gently turned her over to examine her she screamed in agony and begged us to stop. She had a large bedsore on her lower back and was likely suffering from a pelvic fracture. This was a textbook case of elder neglect. We carefully moved her to the stretcher as Milly wailed with tears rolling down her face. I felt useless. I tried to calm her down by reassuring her it would be over soon. She squeezed my hand with all of the strength that she could muster and, to my surprise, began apologizing. “I’m sorry, I’m such a wimp.” She apologized over and over again, doing her best to fight through the pain, until we got in the back of the truck. As the doors closed, her wrinkled hand still in mine, she looked me in the eyes and softly said, “thank you.”

   I cannot sit idly by, hoping for someone else to help the blind man in Haiti or the elderly woman suffering from neglect. I have been blessed to grow up in a world filled with opportunities, and I aspire to use those to advocate for the defenseless and forgotten. My background as a volunteer, an EMT, and a researcher has granted me the ability to meet people from different walks of life. As a volunteer I received an education about the world, and the difference medicine can make for those living in it. As an EMT I learned compassion, empathy, and teamwork. Now as a researcher, I have reignited my love for science and curiosity. As a physician assistant I would be able to use my knowledge and hone my skills in different specialties to help those deprived of proper medical treatment. The education I receive will give me the foundation I need to become a more well-rounded healthcare provider and the experience I gain during clinicals will allow me to master those techniques. I would be in a position that would allow me to interact with patients, on a daily basis, capable of making a difference that’s deserving of their gratitude.

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10. Chely says

    January 28, 2019 at 11:37 am

    The warm breeze whipped through my hair as we drove past rivers of trash. Flocks of people waded through murky waters, careful of where they stepped so as not to injure their bare feet, selling goods that ranged from tropical fruit to bottles of local Haitian rum. The ride was long as we bounced up and down the dirt roads, trying to maintain our balance in the back of the truck. Smoke filled the air from the heaps of burning rubbish and clung to our clothes. By the time we reached Leogane my face was black. It was my initial foray into a nation so riddled by poverty and rife with corruption; the squalor so many had to live with made my heart ache. It tormented my sense of justice, it was inhumane, and yet after what I witnessed I had never felt more driven to help.

    In the coming week our task was to hold impromptu clinics with patients and their families; ascertaining their overall level of health, assisting with the management of their medications, and determining whether a specific ailment warranted a higher echelon of care.

    After a long day of check-ups and sweat we were finally done and heading back for lunch. The press of gathering crowds, clamoring for us to take their blood pressure, would occasionally make our brief walk back take over an hour. About ten minutes away from our compound an elderly man sitting on a rock called us over. He spoke softly to our guide in Creole as his gnarled hands gingerly rolled up his sleeve. I walked over and knelt in the dirt beside him. He smiled in no particular direction as I took his arm and began taking his blood pressure. As I spun the knob to release the pressure cuff I looked up into his eyes and it suddenly dawned on me that he was blind. I told him what his blood pressure was and that it was normal. He took my hand in his and began saying “mesi mesi.” I responded “you’re welcome” and smiled, painfully aware of the fact that he wouldn’t see it.

    On our way back, I confirmed with the nursing student in our group that the man was likely suffering from glaucoma. When I asked if there were any treatments he replied with a defeated “no.” He explained that there are procedures such as laser surgery, but even if the man had enough money to pay for the surgery, there were no facilities nearby. A simple procedure was all the man needed to restore his vision, and the only thing preventing this was being destitute in a nation bereft of a functional health care system. The reason he couldn’t get it was due to the lack of healthcare. That being said, what was needed was not a miracle, it was feasible. As a physician assistant, I could provide quality care to underserved areas such as Haiti.

    My experiences in Haiti directed the current of my life inextricably towards health care. When I came back to Boston I became an EMT. On the second day of the job we transported an elderly woman to hospice. Upon arrival, we were met by a neighbor who explained that she had called. She’d been checking in on the patient, Milly, from time to time. The neighbor explained that she hadn’t seen any of Milly’s children in some time and became concerned. As we opened the front door a wave of urine and feces crept into our nostrils. We found Milly lying down on a filthy bed that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in weeks. Milly looked like a skeleton, weighing no more than 90 pounds. While I spoke to her I quickly realized she was suffering from some form of dementia as she kept repeating the list of groceries she needed to get on her next trip to the store. As we gently turned her over to examine her she screamed in agony and begged us to stop. She had a bedsore on her lower back the size of a baseball and was likely suffering from a pelvic fracture. This was a textbook case of elder neglect. We carefully moved her to the stretcher as Milly wailed with tears rolling down her face. I felt useless. I tried to calm her down by reassuring her it would be over soon. She squeezed my hand with all of the strength she could muster and, to my surprise, began apologizing. “I’m sorry, I’m such a wimp.” She apologized over and over again, doing her best to fight through the pain, until we got in the back of the truck. As the doors closed, her wrinkled hand still in mine, she looked me in the eyes and softly said, “thank you.”

    I will no longer sit idly by hoping for someone else to help the blind man in Haiti or elderly woman suffering from neglect. I have been blessed enough to grow up in a world filled to the brim with opportunities. As a physician assistant I would be able to hone my skills in different areas and use my knowledge to help those deprived of proper medical treatment. I would be in a position that would allow me to interact with patients on a daily basis capable of making a difference that’s deserving of their gratitude.

    Reply

11. Cambley Sassman says

    January 16, 2019 at 9:53 am

    “The next child you’ll visit is very dear to this hospital,” my advisor told me while volunteering at a pediatric hospital one Saturday. “She’s very special because she was actually born here and has spent her past 12 months in the NICU. She only recently moved onto a pediatric floor, and she could always use extra love.”

    As I began to make my way to her room, I was saddened to hear of such a long stay in the hospital. Although I did not know anything about the patient’s story, I knew it was probably not a story that would make my sadness dissipate.

    After introducing myself, I carefully juggled the many tubes connected to the girl so that I could hold her. She tightly clung to me as I lifted her out of the crib, and after this task was complete I was able to take a look around her room, which looked more like a nursery room than a hospital room.

    All around me were children’s books, toys, stuffed animals, and letters written by nurses and doctors that had taken care of the little girl while she had been in the NICU those 12 months. I noticed letters written to “Future Mom and Dad” detailing what nurses had learned about the girl’s personality. The impact that this patient had made on the medical team was overtly evident – everyone loved this child, no matter her story or her background.

    As we played, I thought more about not only the impression the little girl made on her medical team, but how big of an impact the medical team made on her life and would continue to make on her life even after discharge. The nurses and doctors went above and beyond – not only saving this patient’s life but also making her life better in colorful ways, with books, toys, and letters, that would go with the little girl to her future home.

    Having said goodbye, I came to the realization that this was exactly what I needed to do. I needed to practice medicine so that I could not only save lives but better them as well. I wanted to give hope to patients the way that the medical staff had given hope to this little girl.

    At this point in my college career, I was fairly sure I wanted to become a physician assistant – I knew the position would give me autonomy and that I would be able to diagnose and treat patients, while also giving me the freedom to move specialties throughout my career. I had heard from physician assistants how much they loved what they did, and this only further solidified my desire.

    I began scribing in the emergency department at hospitals in undeserving communities; I was anxious to dive deeper into medicine and wanted to see how different aspects of healthcare worked together to save lives. I charted for physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners alike. Not only did I learn a lot about medicine as a scribe, but I also learned a lot about practicing medicine. I realized quickly that I much preferred the way physician assistants practice medicine, and as I built relationships with the people I worked for, I gained valuable insight into the physician assistant career.

    I found that physician assistants had deeper, more meaningful interactions with their patients. The physician assistants I worked for took more time to obtain patient history and always invited patient questions. They printed a copy of the patient’s x-ray results to give to the patient, and always had me print out a work note. I have always believed that educating patients should be a huge component of treatment, and I saw more education when working with physician assistants. These may all seem like little things, but when working in a fast-paced, extremely busy ER, physician assistants continually impressed me with their bedside manner.

    I was also impressed by how patients interacted with physician assistants; they tended to be more open to answering questions and more willing to ask questions, and I found that this ability to connect with physician assistants more led to better care.

    When not interacting with patients, I continued to be inspired by physician assistants’ teamwork with other staff. They were considerably closer with the nurses they worked with; furthermore, they were able to ask attendings questions without hesitation. I found that teamwork played a much bigger role when working as a physician assistant, and I really liked this aspect of the physician assistant career.

    Lastly, I loved that physician assistants were constantly striving to learn new techniques and new ways to treat patients. I was and am inspired by physician assistants constantly, and I would love the opportunity to practice medicine as a physician assistant. Practicing medicine is an act of service, and I believe that the physician assistant career embodies that truth while bettering the lives of the communities in which physician assistants serve. If as a physician assistant I can impact the lives of patients in positive way, I feel that I can provide hope to those who need it like that little girl I held years ago.

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