The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative

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1. Ambre McNeal says

   July 23, 2017 at 8:15 pm

   It only takes one moment, one moment of subtle euphoria. It comes when the pieces of life that seem to be crumbling cease to do so. It happens when the weight of the world that had been crushing relieves it’s pressure. It’s experienced on that first gasp of breath after emerging from a sea of water. There is a split second; a moment of bliss that’s life changing. I witnessed that moment.
   As the balloons reading, “Happy 100th Birthday” bounced against the walls, I couldn’t help but tear up in awe of the milestone Mrs. Katz had reached. It was my sixth year working at the Senior Living Community where she stayed, and Mrs. Katz was one of the residents who touched my heart. Her spirit drew me in from the start; it was contagious. She has this fire about her that refuses to allow her age to define her. That’s the kind of woman she is: optimistic with a sprinkle of tenacity. I like that about her. She’s like a grandmother to me. It is my relationship with her, specifically, that sparked my interest in the health care field, specializing in geriatrics.
   In the field of geriatrics you see many illnesses. In an older patient these illnesses are life threatening. People are experiencing life and death in a very real and personal way.
   With her small, delicate pointer finger, she signaled for me to come sit next to her. Smiling, I walked toward her side of the room. I walked slowly, to give myself time to pull my emotions together. She smelled strongly of Chanel No. 5; her favorite perfume. She reached her hands out to enclose mine in hers. Her soft, wrinkled hands held the wisdom of a century.
   As the slideshow projected images of the evolution of her life, I couldn’t help but reflect on the first time I held her supple fingers in mine. I was instantly brought back three years in time, when Mrs. Katz had lost her last sister. Her sister, Shirley was another one of my dear friends residing there. She was gradually getting more sick, and it was clear that she was entering her final days. I recall vividly that look on Mrs. Katz’s face when I first locked eyes with her that day. Immediately, I knew what had happened. She didn’t say a word, nor did she have to. I embraced her and allowed her to use my shoulder as her personal tissue for her tears. I could feel the weight of my heart drop inside my chest, so heavy, so empty. I wanted nothing more than to help her through this horrible pain. It hurt me that she had to experience this. My only wish in this moment was to remove the feeling of distress from her heart and return that fiesty smile to her face.
   I took both hands in mine and rubbed the tops of hers with my thumbs. We sat quietly hand in hand for a few moments. I closed my eyes, waiting for the perfect words to comfort her to drop into my mind. It wasn’t long before I realized there were no magic words I could say that could fill the void in her heart. The only thing that felt right was to pray; and so I did. It was quiet, not much more than a whisper. I kept it short, praying for strength and peace of mind. Shortly into it, I peeked my eyes open and watched as the corners of her mouth began to curl up into a smile, flattening out the wrinkles in her lips. I could feel as her mood changed and her spirits seemed to lift.
   It was that exact moment; the rainbow after the storm. An instant of euphoria when we could forget about the cards the world had dealt, even for a few seconds. It was a moment of peaceful understanding between the two of us that gave me the feeling that my presence there at that time had made a difference in her life.
   As a Physician Assistant, I’d love to be able to save a life, however there are times I cannot always save a loved one. Dying is a part of life. It brings me great satisfaction to know that I can make the pain a little lighter. I find that healing the heart can be just as important as healing the body.
   Whether it’s bringing peace in the midst of someone’s storm, or a glimmer of light in a place of darkness. It’s just that instant, that moment when the Sun begins to peek from behind the clouds, that changes everything. I have a steadfast desire to experience those poignant moments like I had with Mrs. Katz. I discover them each time I am a part of the healing of those who need it most.

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2. Michelle says

   July 17, 2017 at 5:50 pm

   When I look back on my 23 years of life, I can say with confidence that the circumstances I hate the most about my past, are the things that have made me the most well equipped to be an excellent Physician Assistant. I am was the child who tried to give my parents marriage advice, the younger sister giving financial advice, the friend always offering up nutritional advice. In most cases my advice is not being sought after, but I share it anyways because I care. Life circumstances have made me become hypersensitive to the emotions of those around me.
   Things changed for my very rapidly at the end of my junior year in high school when I got called into the school counselors office in the middle of 3rd period. When I arrived to the counselors office, she looked at me in a strange way and said “something hard has happened,” as she opened the door to a back room I see my mom, sister, and grandparents red eyed, struggling to speak. I start asking “what happened? Who?” I was certain someone died but who? My other sister was studying abroad in Spain. There must have been a terrible accident. A million thoughts go through my head when my finally gets the words out. My dad had committed suicide earlier that morning. Complete shock hits me. I fall to the ground. A million more questions come to my mind. Why? How? For what reason?
   The following years were somewhat of a blur. In college, I found myself not able to retain information like I had been able to in the past. Although I was doing everything right, attending every class, studying for hours, I found that I was not succeeding to the level I knew I was capable of. I believed that if I made a “C” on a test, it wasn’t a big deal because I had learned there are bigger things in life to worry about than a grade. My dad was the one who encouraged my future as a doctor. Without him here, I felt lost and indifferent. I did not turn to partying to numb myself from my grief, but instead I got a job and saved every dime so during breaks from school I could buy a plane ticket and travel. I did not know it then, but I was subconsciously seeking to numb my grief through travel. I traveled alone to Europe, South East Asia, Japan, Korea, but still I hurt.
   Instead of taking another international trip, for some reasons I decided to shadow a family doctor during the spring break of my junior year in college. During my week of shadowing, I experienced a very intense wake-up call. I saw that each patient was genuinely seeking counseling from the doctor for their problems, and he was actually able to help them. I had been trying to give advice to people all my life that did not really want it, but here I discovered a career where I would have people coming to me asking for my help. I felt a sense of empathy for each patient and their condition, wishing that I had the knowledge to help them myself.
   I went back to school that semester with a new perspective. My grades improved and I started making moves to get more exposure working with patients. Through my search to learn more about health care, I talked to many doctors, most of who interestingly advised me to consider pursuing a career as a PA. I spent three weeks in Thailand shadowing physicians in various specialties. This is where I fell in love with surgery. However, I love the face-to-face interaction the Dermatologists I work for have with their patients. I could never forever commit to one specialty because I love them all for different reasons.
   Life took another sudden turn when my grandfather also decided to end his own life in March 2017. The same grandpa who saw me crumble at the news of my father’s suicide had now chosen the same fate. This was yet another unbelievable mystery, which I will never be able to make sense of. My 92-year-old grandmother was very dependent on him, so my family and I have stepped in to meet her needs. As a type II diabetic, she frequents the doctors office. During these appointments with here, I have seen comfort that a thorough, compassionate, and patient doctor can provide when someone is enduring something unfathomable. I hope to be able to provide this same comfort for my patients one day. My time with her in the aftermath of this loss has solidified my certainty that I have chosen the right career.
   Through the challenges of my life, I have found myself. I have developed a sense of empathy for those around me because I know how it feels to really hurt, and to honestly wonder if things will be okay. I believe this is a crucial characteristic of a health care provider that can only be learned through personal experiences. My grades have absolutely suffered but please don’t categorize me by my GPA. I have social intelligence, empathy, passion for medicine, and dedication to this career.

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3. Madi says

   July 17, 2017 at 12:58 pm

   All of my life I have known that I wanted to grow up and have a career in the medical field, however I was always unsure as to what specifically that would be doing. Science always interested me, so I pursued a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Public Health. My core public health classes taught me so much about healthcare in general that I would have otherwise never been aware of; how insurance policies are put into effect, discrepancies in health care coverage, the role of prevention and intervention, and even the economics of the health care system. This all intrigued me but I couldn’t get passionate enough about the public health administration work alone.
   Around this time, I was struggling with gastrointestinal issues that ultimately led to a diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori. Although it may seem as if H. pylori is an easy diagnosis, in my experience it was the opposite. I found myself doubled over in pain any time I tried to eat, avoiding social interactions with my friends in fear of becoming sick, and losing weight as well as any energy to do anything. Upon my first visit to the doctor, he did take blood work to test for H. pylori, however somehow my bloodwork got switched in the lab and I was left with multiple doctor’s visits attempting to figure out what was wrong with my health. Finally, after new bloodwork was taken I was diagnosed and with a batch of antibiotics and I was as good as new. I realized that I was so lucky that such an easy treatment could heal me, and that this is sadly not the case for everyone.
   During my struggle with H. pylori, I was in multiple medical offices, and saw many different professions at work. The Physician Assistants always intrigued me that they generally had the abilities of a physician, but could spend more time with the patient and seemed to focus more on getting to know the patient before treatment. After considering the profession as a possibility for myself, I began to shadow a PA at a local urgent care. It was here that I began to see so many of the concepts of my public health degree that had interested me put into action such as a lack of knowledge, a lack of coverage, and a lack of prevention. I saw how these PA’s spent time with each patient to make sure that they provided information on prevention and intervention strategies instead of just prescribing a medication. I saw how they worked together as a team with the doctor, the nurse, and each other to solve cases they were not sure of, and how big of a difference their time with each patient made. I also had the opportunity to speak to multiple PA’s about their opinion on their profession, and they praised the ability of a PA to study and practice multiple different specialties. There are so many different specialties to discover in the medical field, and the idea of a profession with the flexibility to learn, experience, and heal in multiple of them is so important to me.
   After I spent time shadowing a couple of PA’s at the urgent care, I became a Certified Nurse Aide. This gave me a more hands-on experience with patients that reiterated how much I love the patient care, and how I desired to have a larger role in their healthcare. It is not enough for me to sit in the background and simply take vital signs or help with activities of daily life when what I truly want is the ability to help heal.
   In my undergraduate education, I have had the ability to learn about the anatomy and physiology of the body, chemistry, and microbiology, but also the ability to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of a healthcare system. My public health degree has provided me with the scientific background to become a successful PA with a complete understanding of the healthcare system and what it needs in a healthcare provider. I have received a scientific background that has prepared me for success in the didactic phase of my PA education, as well as the comprehension of the policies, delivery, and discrepancies in healthcare. My awareness on public health issues regarding a lack of healthcare coverage and intervention plans has given me the education to become the most effective healthcare provider. I am not only very passionate about the science of the medical field, but also about very passionate about the health of our community. In my work with the Ronald McDonald House I could see how much other work goes into the healthcare field beyond the healthcare delivery itself which makes me able to relate to the patients that I am working with.
   In my search to find a PA program that best suited me, I asked myself what qualities in my healthcare training are most important. I would love to be enrolled in a program that uses the knowledge of medicine and ability to heal to focus on delivering healthcare to the underserved and rural populations. In addition, a small program with an emphasis on each student and a hands-on teaching style is very important to me.
   I believe that to be a medical provider means to have the ability to touch and save the lives of so many others while simultaneously improving the health of our community. With a career as a PA, I know that no day will ever be the same as any other, and I will have the flexibility and stability of profession that I desire. I am a very compassionate worker that would love the opportunity to affect the lives of others directly and to my best capability. I would like to become a PA that uses my knowledge to treat, teach, and help those who are unaware, unable, and unhealthy every day.

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4. Daniel says

   July 16, 2017 at 11:56 am

   Rough draft – character count 4,467. Thank you in advance!

   My heart was pounding and mind was racing as I stood in front of the surgical scrub sink, about to scrub into my first surgical procedure as the lone surgical tech. What happens if all those stories of the ornery surgeon are true? What if I fumble over the instruments or worse contaminate the sterile field? As the warm water washed the chlorohexidine lather from my arms, I took two deep breathes and headed in to prepare my back table. Needless to say – my worrying was all for not – the case went so smoothly that the surgeon inquired how long I had been a surgical technician. Everyone took notice of his shock when I replied, “Only three months, sir.” He stopped mid suture, turned to me, and extended his hand. It was at that moment it was clear, my leap of faith to go back to school had paid off.
   During my undergraduate, my priorities were not properly focused. Socializing and soccer took precedence, until I was forced to retake Chemistry II. Even at this point, I was reluctant to embrace the idea of fully dedicating my energy to education. Still struggling to figure out my path after graduation, I accepted a position at Georgia State University as a laboratory technician. Collaborating with the graduate students and post-doctorate fellows on their research projects forced me to adapt quickly to the increased responsibilities. It was not long before I was entrusted with not only performing surgery on experimental subjects but also conducting the experimental tests and compiling the data. In retrospect, this was much like the role of a physician assistant (PA) to the physician. Because of the increased efficiency and productivity, multiple experimental hypotheses were tested, which resulted in four articles accepted for publication. Elated to be included as an author, I could not shake the feeling of being most comfortable when assisting or performing surgical procedures.
   After a little research, I found the Associate’s degree in Surgical Technology program and knew it was time to make the change. The didactic and clinical portions of the program went by in the blink of an eye. Graduating with a 4.0, I accepted a surgical technician position at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. Management took notice of my passion and work ethic; quickly utilizing me in the more complex surgical procedures. One such case was a spinal fusion – the second thoracic vertebra to the pelvis – in a patient with severe cerebral palsy (CP). The disease had left the patient twisted and contracted, with a spinal deformity of 130 degrees. The complex, seven-and-a-half-hour surgery required complete focus from the entire surgical team. Attention to detail was imperative to ensure the proper instruments and correct implants were handed to the surgeon at the proper moment. The surgical outcome was an overwhelming success, with a reduction of the spinal deformity from 130 degrees to just 24 degrees. However, this achievement was overshadowed by the fact I would only be able to receive second-hand updates concerning this patient’s quality of life improvement. As a result, I began researching options to advance my career and my inclusion in patient care/follow-up.
   Working at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, has allowed me to observe the direct impact a PA has on the physicians’ daily workload. I am fortunate enough to work with a PA who embodies the definition of an exceptional PA. With the utmost respect and trust from the physician, she operates as his right hand. As such, the autonomy of the PA allows the pair to effectively double their patient-care abilities and maximize their efficiency. She can perfectly coordinate patient pre-ops, surgical assistance, post-op rounding, and patient consults like a conductor to an orchestra. This is the perfect example of the type of PA I aspire to become upon completion of the Physician Assistant program.
   My personality and work experiences have proven I do my best work when I am part of a team; anticipating the next step to maximize outcomes and efficiency. As a physician assistant, my patients would benefit from my continued pursuit of knowledge, my attention to detail, my ability to collaborate, and my drive for success. After retaking several of the pre-requisite courses and the numerous surgical cases in my repertoire, I must once again take a leap of faith. The payoff being the outstretched hand of the physician, only this time I shake it as a physician assistant.

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5. Jordan says

   July 7, 2017 at 10:38 am

   I sat in the cold dark room with my eyelids taped open and electrodes all over my face and upper body. Lights flashed, machines beeped, doctors whispered somewhere behind me. Why are they running all these tests on me? What are they looking for? How did a simple elementary school vision test turn into a 10-hour day at Bethesda Hospital, being poked and prodded by a swarm of doctors? As I sat patiently through test after test, I knew something wasn’t right. My parent’s attempts to hide the worry on their faces were negated by the ever-increasing number of doctors entering the room, whose faces showed emotions ranging from confusion, to worry, to excitement. However, it wasn’t until we left the hospital, both parents crying, that I really knew something was wrong.

   I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa when I was just seven years old. Retinitis pigmentosa, or RP for short, is a degenerative disease of the retina that causes gradual blindness. RP presents as night blindness and loss of peripheral vision due to deterioration of the light processing cells in the retina. Most people with RP are declared legally blind around age 40; however, I was declared legally blind by age 12 and predicted to lose all sight by age 20. This disease has undoubtedly shaped who I am today, and has been both a driving force and a hindrance in pursuit of my medical career.

   Growing up with this condition is without a doubt one of the main reasons I want to enter into the medical field. My interest was sparked during my fun-filled visit to Bethesda Hospital when I was diagnosed. As scared as I was, I was equally intrigued and excited. The tests fascinated me, the medical team soothed me, and their overwhelming desire to help me made me want to be just like them.
   Due to the quick progression of my disease, I became no stranger to doctor’s offices. Between my annual trips to the ophthalmologist and frequent trips to the ER (when I inevitably tripped and broke a bone), medicine became increasingly prevalent in my life. I credit my condition with introducing me to the field to which I now want to commit my life.

   Every morning when I put my scrubs on I am filled with excitement and pride. I get to help people today. Though as a medical technician my influence is limited, my unique medical history allows me to connect with patients and comfort them in ways no one else can. This is because I am a medical tech for an ophthalmologist, more specifically an occuloplastic surgeon. Though the doctor I work for mostly works with the area around the eye, such as cancers and lid defects, many of our patients also suffer from conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinal tears.

   Some of these patients have just recently been diagnosed and some have already lost all light perception, but many of them are scared. And I know just how they feel.

   One day I was performing a visual field on a woman who has macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is the opposite of retinitis pigmentosa; instead of losing vision from the periphery to the center, she will lose vision from the center to the periphery. At the start of the test she began to get nervous, she was having trouble seeing the little yellow dot in the center that she was supposed to be focusing on. As the test progressed she realized she was missing many of the lights that were flashing in her central vision that she should have been seeing. I could tell she was starting to get upset and I decided to stop the test.

   I have been in her seat before. I have done a visual field test almost every year since my diagnosis and I have been forced to see the reality of my condition printed out in front of me. I know exactly how hard it is. I told all of this to the patient and watched as she visibly calmed. We were only able to talk for a few minutes but as I walked her out after her appointment she took my hand and thanked me.

   It was such a rewarding feeling knowing that I had truly helped someone. As a patient, I know what its like to feel scared and alone. I want to be able to help my patients the way all my doctors and health care professionals have helped me. I want to be able to support and comfort my patients when they are at their lowest. I want to be a part of the dynamic medical team that discovers, diagnoses, and consoles like the team I had at Bethesda. I was meant to help people. And although at times my vision feels like it may hold me back, I know that it would only make me a better caregiver. It has made me fiercely compassionate, empathetic, and determined to overcome any obstacle. I will fight for my patients the way I fight for myself every day and I know I will do whatever it takes to be the best physicians assistant I can be.

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6. Melinda Jones says

   July 7, 2017 at 7:41 am

   I found myself in a familiar situation. Dispatch is alerted to an emergency, the tones go off, and I obediently get out of bed and dressed at one in the morning ready for anything. On scene I walk up to a group of trees where firefighters emerge with my patient. He is stiff, unresponsive, and covered in vomit; for several moments I thought he was dead. The firefighters set him down in front of me and then I have 3 pairs of eyes that look up at me with a question; what do you want to do now? Slightly terrified I look back on what brought me to this moment and I think that this is where I am supposed to be.

   After college I began my healthcare career in the pharmacy. This was my first exposure to the health care system and brought to light some its problems, flaws, and difficulties. I began developing a deep sense of empathy for patients and their healthcare needs while I shared frustrations with insurance and stress about how an illness will affect your work and life. I received an excellent base knowledge about medication during this job, which has continued to serve me invaluably. Although I got to do some education and teaching I had no part in actual patient care or the opportunity for any preventative medicine. This led to my switch to phlebotomy and lab technician work.

   One of the things I liked most about the clinic was the opportunity to interact closer with patients as well as physicians, PAs, and other healthcare staff. It is here I began to develop better skills in interacting with patients on a professional and personal level. An interesting thing about the main clinic I served at was the amount of patients who travelled from very far away for simple clinic visits or lab work alone. It brought my attention to a population in Kansas that was being underserved when it came to healthcare. Growing up in Wichita I never realized this was a problem. I lived somewhere where I had access to any care I might need at any given time. I developed a desire to help these people who did not have abundant access to healthcare.

   I decided to enroll and attend EMT and paramedic school while still working at the clinic. This required long hours and not many days off. My motivation was to learn more when it came to diagnostics especially. I wanted to have a more active role when it came to patient care. I was learning how to make medical decisions and form treatment plans.

   I began my career as a paramedic in my hometown of Wichita, but I wanted to serve a more rural population and switched to Reno County EMS. Here I get to work with a team of 10 other paramedics and a team leader. We collaborate together in our patient care. On a daily basis I am presented with a patient and it is my job to gather history, look at all the symptoms as a whole, make a diagnostic decision, and form a plan for treatment. In a given shift I can take care of anything from chest pain, diabetes, and weakness to traumatic injuries and allergic reactions. I am constantly learning as a paramedic.

   I get to serve patients who live far away from immediate access to an emergency room or a physician. It is a collaborative effort to get my patients the care they need, the best care available.

   These experiences have led to my decision to apply for PA school. As a PA I can continue to learn and improve my diagnostic skills. I will get to be a part of healthcare team. Eventually, I would like to continue to serve in a rural or underserved part of Kansas. As I moved from pharmacy to clinic to paramedic my motivation was to work hard to serve patients. If I become a PA I will look forward to working with a healthcare team. My knowledge will help me better diagnose and treat my patients. Ultimately I would love to help do preventative care, helping patients avoid needed EMS service if possible, or avoid chronic illness.

   My patient pulled from the trees was a challenge. It took my diagnostic skills, my knowledge of illness and medication, as well as a lot of input from my team. In the end we were able to get him where he needed to be and help him improve in the meantime. These are the patients I want to serve. This man had no previous healthcare treatment. His lifestyle led to health problems, and his isolation from community eventually led to him having a health crisis when no one was around. As a PA I hope to help prevent some of these stories. I will work hard and continue serving any patient in front of me.

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7. Kaitlen says

   July 6, 2017 at 10:28 am

   It was an average Tuesday morning in the Florida Hospital Emergency Department. The day was very typical and ordinary, like any other day. As a medical scribe, my role was clear. I would grab my laptop, follow the provider, record my notes and then repeat. There were the usual cases of lacerations, sore throats and even some complaints of chest pain. Nothing unusual, nothing I haven’t seen before.

   The clock hit 8:09 am. In the distance, through the charge nurse’s radio, I heard “Code Blue”. As a fairly new scribe, I was terrified. I froze. This was my first code- I did not know what to expect. I opened up a cardiopulmonary arrest template on my laptop and sat there, waiting. Minutes later, the EMT doors slid open and the paramedics were rushing this woman down the hallway on a stretcher. The nurses were yelling “Room 8”- which was the designated code room. The intensity of the situation was overwhelming given my amateur status. I stood in the back, out of the way and allowed to professionals to do their jobs. The physician took lead while demonstrating sophisticated composure in order to help save this patients life. The nurses, respiratory therapists and paramedics manifested exemplary team work and diligence. I one-day hope to become a physician assistant who exemplifies the qualities of urgency, empathy, capability and proficiency that this team of professionals demonstrated that day in the ED (Emergency Department).

   I will never forget the feeling of witnessing someone die before my very eyes. The feeling of helplessness that I felt was disheartening. I loathed this feeling of being powerless. As a scribe there was nothing I could do for the patient. I strive to one day become a provider that could and will do everything in my power to help care for my patients.

   Despite all of the chaos going on around me, the saddened faces of the patient’s family did not go unnoticed. Their faces are engraved in my memory. They were doing their best to keep their composure to help the staff as much as possible, I know how hard that must have been for them. I could relate personally to their situation as my aunt Tara had passed away from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) a few weeks prior. It is not easy to lose a loved one so unexpectedly. The sad reality of how life quickly transitions to death is a frightening one.

   I have had the opportunity of working in several Emergency Departments, an Orthopedic/Pain Management practice and an ENT/ Facial reconstructive practice as a medical assistant. I have also had the opportunity of shadowing a Neurosurgery PA. I have learned so much and the experiences I’ve had have motivated me to pursue my dream of becoming a physician assistant. I yearn to become a physician assistant that handles her job with professionalism and grace while pursuing her passion for caring for patients. My patients will experience compassion, respect, expertise and the constant desire to gain more knowledge. As Albert Einstein once said “Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living.”

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8. Megan says

   July 4, 2017 at 9:14 pm

   My desire to become a physician assistant didn’t strike me swiftly and singularly like lightning, but rather sequentially and steadily like a stream. The discovery of my life’s calling can be attributed to a series of moments, small snapshots within the grand portrait of my being, that instilled in me the qualities and adeptness that it takes to be a PA. My reasons for wanting to be a PA are intertwined with the lessons I learned during these moments.

   Curiosity. My curiosity about medicine peaked during my EMT training. We were always told during scenarios not to try and diagnose, but to treat. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, that was never enough for me. The scenarios became a puzzle, and each piece needed to fit together perfectly to bring about the best outcome for the patient. I learned how to be quick on my feet, to make split second decisions, and to communicate and work effectively with a team during high stress situations.

   Teamwork. I had the privilege of shadowing a brilliant PA named Katherine who specialized in cardiothoracic surgery. I followed her as she made rounds on pre and post-op patients and was given the incredible opportunity to observe three open heart surgeries. The way she was able to transition from being an independent and capable practitioner during rounds and while educating patients to being a vital member of the surgery team was seamless. I witnessed first hand the trust and respect that existed between her and the physician as they worked in tandem harvesting the veins for a coronary bypass procedure. After the surgeon was finished, he left to get back to his duties while Katherine led the surgical team in suturing the incision. Witnessing the dynamics of the relationship between a physician and a PA, and learning that a PA has to be skilled at working both in a team and independently was invaluable experience. Katherine showed me all that a PA should be, and I hope to exemplify her same compassion and focus in my own career.

   Empathy. During my time as a mental health tech on an in-patient psychiatric unit I have met people from all walks of life. Some of them are coping with an array of debilitating mental illnesses, some are in the vice grip of addiction, and others are in the throes of crushing depression. I’ve met Bill, the drug addict who spends every day trying to numb the symptoms of the PTSD he was diagnosed with after his child bled to death in his arms from a gunshot wound years ago. I spoke with Eric who had a scholarship to play Division I baseball, but gave it up to enlist in the Marines. He took Dilaudid for an injury he sustained during combat and became addicted to heroin. Most memorably, there was Jay. He was a young veteran who turned to alcohol to mute the war raging inside his mind. After hiking the Appalachian trail with an organization called Warrior Expeditions and being sober for 6 months, he relapsed alone in hotel room and drank to the brink of death. My conversations with Jay were so moving because he seemed too full of life to possibly be so sad. He motivated me to train for a half-marathon, and I fundraised close to $1000 for Warrior Expeditions and The Soldier’s Project in his name. My time on this unit has changed my outlook on life and the way that I see people. No one is too broken or too far gone to be saved, and sometimes all it takes is extending a hand. I am passionate about mental health, especially working with veterans, and I would be honored to serve this demographic as a PA.

   Dedication. When I decided to pursue this profession, I committed to doing whatever it takes. I did well in college, but I knew that my C’s in Organic Chemistry I and II were not indicative of my true work ethic. I had changed my major that semester, filled my schedule with difficult science classes in an attempt to graduate on time, and didn’t make any cutbacks to my work hours or involvement on campus. After college, I refocused myself and spent the next two years retaking Organic Chemistry, taking other classes, obtaining my EMT certificate, volunteering, and working 40 plus hours a week. I have grown from my mistakes and learned a lot about myself in the process. I want to be a PA more than anything and I refuse to let myself stand in my own way.

   I know that I have all of the makings of a great physician assistant because my experiences have carved out this path for me. Learning is a lifelong process and I will let my curiosity guide me to the right answers. I will be strong and confident as an individual but also know my place and role in the healthcare team. Empathy will drive my interactions with my patients because being sick is frightening, beating an illness is empowering, living with a diagnosis is confusing, and creating life is joyous. There is nothing I would rather dedicate my life to than being a source of hope and healing to others during life’s most trying moments. All of those moments make up a life, and to live is the greatest gift of all.

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9. Jason says

   July 3, 2017 at 5:27 pm

   My name means “healer.” I remember vividly the day from my childhood when I learned the definition of “Jason” in Ancient Greek. The simple fact resonates deeply with my abiding desire to bring healing wherever I find pain. My life has have been consumed with walking a winding road of seeking to aid people in pain and crisis. It’s the moments that I have felt unequipped to perform the required relief functions that have caused me the greatest distress. In navigating this inward tension I have learned important lessons that have led me to seek a professional career as a Physician Assistant.

   I have learned that a personal sense of happiness, peace, and security are closely tied to a healthy mind and body. In the remote African clinic, I again meet with Koumakoy to do his dressing changes from the many surgically drained lesions covering his body as a result from contracting cutaneous tuberculosis. After three weeks there seems to be no improvement from Koumakoy who wears pain and fear on his face. Thinking of this young man who is my own age, I consider what I would want if I was to face a life threatening and debilitating condition. The next day I bring a deck of UNO cards and teach him to play before we do his dressing changes and stretches. It’s the first time I see a smile on his face. It is also the first time I witness him find the courage and strength to stand from his bed. After continuing the routine for one week, Koumakoy is able to walk with me around the hospital compound, having greater range of motion and higher moral than I had thought possible given his condition. As a Physician Assistant, I want to work with a team to strategically address and treat local health threats while helping to improve the emotional and physical well being of patients like Koumakoy. I am additionally motivated to medically serve in diverse settings including rural regions facing healthcare shortages.

   I have learned that I cannot provide the solution but I can provide a piece of it. I had been attempting to join the search and rescue team in Moab, UT and I saw an opportunity when contracted to climb for a rescue operation. I scale the first pitch of the 400-foot sandstone tower looking up at Kate who has her leg stuck in the vertical crack. Upon reaching her and assessing her situation, it is clear that I do not have the resources or training to provide her what she needs. I set an anchor, send a rope down and assist the paramedic up to us. He provides some narcotic pain relief to Kate and we send another rope down to bring up three SAR team members; one establishes a mechanical leverage system, another pours lubricant onto the woman’s trapped leg, and the other begins drilling holes in the rock face to create additional anchors. An hour later Kate is hiking down the path with the eighteen responders while I laugh at my initial vision of single-handedly bringing the woman to safety. Physician Assistants have the unique opportunity to serve in a leadership capacity while also taking direction from a supervising physician. I believe that patients are best served when the treating professionals work together. PA’s add a useful layer to healthcare that I believe improves collaboration and patient outcomes.

   I have learned that the most effective teacher is the one who remains a student. I had just completed a continued education course from our medical director discussing the latest science surrounding spinal precautions for trauma victims. While cleaning the ambulance with my partner we receive a page, “24 year old male fell from 30 feet while climbing.” We flip on the sirens and drive to the scene of the accident. My partner sets up a traffic perimeter while I assess the patient. Mark tells me his name, location, and date. He fills me in on what went wrong on his climb as I palpate down his spine and assess his nervous system. My partner, recalling the training, grabs a vacuum mattress and comes to Mark’s side with a C-collar. We roll Mark onto his side, place him on the mattress, and carefully load him for transport. As we drive to the hospital I think about how grateful I am for continued training and scientific discovery in medical care. Physician assistants can assist in a variety of healthcare functions, matching my desire for a profession that is multifaceted. I am excited to consider a career that encourages continual learning, hosting various options for on-the-job specialized training. I can see myself serving in a variety of specialties as a Physician Assistant including emergency medicine, primary care, pediatrics, mental health, and surgery.

   I am determined to move forward into a medical service career that incorporates prevention with treatment, leadership with collaboration, and teaching with learning. I believe that my personality and values will naturally serve the functions expected of a Physician Assistant and healer.

   Reply

10. Thomas Morgan says

    July 3, 2017 at 12:20 pm

    Trauma residents in the Virginia hospital where I work wheel a young man into an operating room. They undo sheets and we move him onto a procedure table. His body bloody from multiple gunshot wounds, he yells “I don’t want to die! Please don’t let me die!”

    “We’re going to take good care of you,” I say, securing him in place. A nurse anesthetist begins induction with gas as he stares up at my concerned countenance and Detroit Lions scrub cap. With night shift doctors and nurses, I position and prep patients for emergency surgery, run for essential drugs, blood products, equipment, and supplies, and with purpose. We work in concert to ensure a life will go on, saving multiple patients with critical injuries every weekend. For five years as an anesthesia attendant, being part of a care team is a second home for me.

    I am a dad to a three-year-old girl, and a forty-year-old, second-career student. My daughter fans the flames of the fire in my belly to become a physician assistant, and her challenges with food allergy inspire me to advocate for children with food allergies. We are part of a proud, working-class family from Detroit’s West side that made me an industrious man who values time spent with family, loves my work, and juggles endeavors capably. Raised in a tight-knit neighborhood where children played outdoors all day, it remains imperative to be part of the fabric of my community. During my formative years, my preference for the arts eclipsed my aptitude for analytical subjects, and advanced placement math and science did not dissuade my fascination with music and writing. So, after graduating high school at sixteen, I began clerking in record stores, majored in broadcasting and audio production, and would go on to earn the first bachelor’s degree for my family.

    Concurrently, I have worked full-time for twenty-two years, serving people in retail, restaurant, radio, and healthcare industries. Interacting with people and putting them at ease just feels natural. I was brought up to be polite, smile and greet passersby, and to care about the welfare of others. It follows then, that while selling music, tending bar, producing radio programs, and transporting patients, I was appointed leadership positions. Early in my radio career, though, my aspiration for a more fulfilling service role materialized. Coverage of the attacks of September 11, 2001 compelled me to consider a vocation in healthcare. This ambition would deepen the following year, when my cousin was hospitalized battling cancer. A PA attentively informed and comforted my family while coordinating her care, motivating me to strike out a new path to become a primary care provider.

    Having thoroughly enjoyed Atul Gawande books, and bands with dentist and physician musicians, I reconciled the coexistence of my artistic and scientific hemispheres. I volunteered for the Michigan Humane Society, caring for homeless animals, and at Detroit Receiving Hospital, assisting nurses and patients in a skeletal injuries ward. Taking post-bachelor, pre-medicine classes, I had the invaluable experience of studying graduate electrocardiography under the tutelage of Dr. Alexandre Fabiato, pioneer of studies of calcium-induced calcium release in cardiomyocytes. In Norfolk, I earned a high ranking in graduate physiology, and felt gratification from presenting a biochemistry lecture. Through the rewarding work of caring for individuals with intellectual disabilities, I had the opportunity to administer medications, provide behavior support, and bond with residents as I assisted them with daily chores and activities. With Tidewater Arts Outreach, I present arts programs to the infirm populations that need them. Many times, financial obligations have stalled my momentum through school, but I persevere, and most recently excelled in difficult online courses, joined a band, and best of all, started a family.

    Throughout the hospital, I have a bird’s-eye view of patient-centered care teams, and advanced practice clinicians play a large part. Often, I witness a PA confer with family before and after surgery, carefully explain tests and procedures, and even use whiteboards to draw bones or vasculature. As I prepare a patient for the O.R., a PA obtains consents, assesses wounds, answers questions, and often, eases a patient. I currently shadow a PA in orthopedic trauma, and this experience reinforces my determination to become a PA. Many patients we see are broken physically and spiritually, and she helps patients piece together the parts surgeons cannot. That is a unique responsibility that I do not take lightly. Patients and their families place their faith in medical professionals, and I know I am prepared to shoulder that weight. It is with utmost conviction that I am pursuing a career as a PA, and once I achieve the opportunity to practice, it will be with all my heart and with all I have learned from a life of service to others.

    Reply

    • Thomas Morgan says

      July 3, 2017 at 5:08 pm

      Strike this. I am adding more personal story and subtracting experience descriptions that will be elsewhere on app.

      Reply

11. Molly says

    July 2, 2017 at 1:30 pm

    Peru was my first time leaving the country, and although I had been warned, nothing could have prepared me for the kind of culture shock I experienced. I had never seen such poor living conditions, or so frequent examples of severe poverty and suffering. Each morning I was there, I was eager to set up our clinic, and each evening I dreaded taking it down. I hated the thought of leaving without talking to every person who needed us, hated the reality that we had to leave while there were people still standing in the admissions line. For many of those people, this was the first time any doctor had come to their village in years, and they didn’t know when someone like us would be coming back.
    And for many who had been far enough ahead in line to see a doctor and be treated, they needed so much more than we were able to give them. I felt helpless, standing alongside a dentist who was forced to decide which tooth looked most infected, because he could only extract one per patient. I felt helpless sitting with a doctor as she explained what a cleft palette was to a mother who would never be able to travel far enough to help her daughter who had one get surgery. I felt helpless as I prepared prescriptions alongside a pharmacist who had to set some aside because we had run out of the medication the patient needed.
    I felt helpless as I watched on, doing what I could but never being able to do enough. It was then that I knew I would be coming back. That it was not just a week long mission trip, but the beginning of a lifelong journey to develop my skills and further my knowledge so that someday I could be one more person that the people standing in line would be able to come to for help. I knew this was my calling, and I was compelled to do whatever was necessary to be able to give back.
    When I returned to the United States, I began my fast-paced journey of immersion into the medical field. As I didn’t know exactly what health care profession I wanted to work towards, I began a job as a nurse aide at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in the hopes of understanding more about the health care and hospital environment. At this job, I was able to work with patients from all walks of life, and eventually grew to build relationships with each of them, many of which turned into friendships. My favorite part of each day was sitting down with my patients to see how they were doing, whether it be talking with Jodi about the variety of stuffed animals on her bed, laughing with Donna as she explained the details of her most recent escape plan to break out and return home with her dog, or listening to Bob as he told me about all the different types of trees he could see out his window. I loved spending time with my patients, and they quickly became the reason I was excited to go to work each day. However, just like in Peru I eventually became dissatisfied and uneasy when I wasn’t able to give my patients all the help they needed. I once again felt helpless when they asked me for help and and I didn’t have the knowledge or understanding to fulfill their needs. I needed to learn more – I needed a job where I would be able to maintain close and personal relationships with my patients while also having the experience and knowledge to diagnose and treat their problems. It was then that I knew a career as a physician assistant was where I would fit best in medicine.
    RESEARCH
    After shadowing various physicians and physician assistants, I was only reassured that I would be best suited as a PA. I enjoyed how PAs are given opportunities to both lead and be lead by others. Throughout my life I have acted as both a supportive team player, and as a leader, and have been able to work effectively and achieve goals in both situations. I am also constantly striving to grow and further my education and knowledge, and apply that knowledge in a way that will give back and help others. This trait is not only important in the ever-changing field of medicine, but is especially important as a PA, with the differing responsibilities of communicating with and being there for a patient, and also being able to look objectively at a patient’s symptoms and traits to come up with a diagnosis and treatment plan. In addition, my passion for lifelong learning and helping people in various situations makes the possibility of working in different specialities as a PA especially intriguing for me.
    I will never forget the thousands of sick people I saw during my time in Peru that I could not help, the hundreds of patients at Madonna for whom I befriended but was not able to treat, or the mothers at UNMC that I could provide empathy for, but could not provide care. I am determined to spend every day working towards a place where I feel less helpless when faced with these situations. Giving back to not only my community but also underdeveloped communities like the one I visited in Peru is something I feel compelled to do, and believe I can do best in a career as a physician assistant.

    Reply

12. Niru says

    July 1, 2017 at 9:08 pm

    This my revised version of the PA personal statement, your thoughts are highly valued.
    “Mystery creates wonder, and wonder is the basis of man’s desire to understand,” said Neil Armstrong.
    Such a saying is very true in my case.
    I love mystery, and what could be more mystifying and fascinating than a living being! Such started my fathom towards the human body. I remember as a child being curious to know what the body goes through in its day to day endeavor. The reflection of this enthusiasm showed prominently on my grades in bio-sciences. Learning and understanding these subjects came naturally and with ease. Such was very motivating and helped to decide that choosing a career in health science was most appropriate for me. In this pursuit, my attention drew towards dentistry. Knowledge about oral health, disease, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment was intriguing. After I extracted a tooth, I recall a patient, asking me, “why does it take so long to heal after a surgical extraction, and why does the swelling last for few days?” this was my first opportunity to share my knowledge with a patient. I explained the process in a simple language, and the patient was very grateful, that experience was indeed satisfying. Every patient I treated, and every post -operative phone call I made was a proud and content moment. I realized that follow-up care is as important as recording the presenting illness or treatment. I was complimented many times during my undergraduate years for being thorough in the overall care of any patient I dealt. I followed a similar pattern in my private practice religiously.
    A golden opportunity came along my way when my husband decided to relocate to the USA. Little did I know, that this was embarking a journey to make this country my home. Pregnant, raising a one-year-old, and adapting to the norms of this new place was very challenging for me. The welfare of my family was a top priority. I decided to slow down and concentrate on my growing family. This break also played a critical role, as it gave me the time to think, explore and sketch my next plan. Since I worked as a dentist, joining as a dental assistant to begin was ideal. But, I wanted to do it most fittingly, so I joined a DA school and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. My positive attitude towards academics was fortified and reinforced. The fact that I could recollect all that I had learned, even after a break of 6 years proved that my desire had not left me.
    After assisting in private practice for 15 months, I took over the job as an oral surgery assistant in UW School of Dentistry. Accepting this job has been a life changing event for me. Working hand in hand with students, residents and oral surgeons made me feel nostalgic all over again. Listening to patients, recording their vitals, assisting in IV sedations, encouraged me to want to study and enrich my career further.
    The clarity came when I was chatting with a physician friend, about my future here. She knows that I’m hardworking, a team player, people person, and very meticulous in patient care, basically she knows me well. If I ever had a chance to study again, I would love to study in a medical school, I thought. Alas! It cannot be true because I’m a dentist and must choose to continue to be one, was my small-minded opinion. I still remember that day when I was overjoyed even to know that I could even change my career. She introduced me to the idea of considering a PA program. Chasing my dream was not a far-fetched illusion anymore. Tens and hundreds of questions sprung up in my head. Very soon I started to look into a PA program and see if it fulfilled all the facets of my ambition in health care. I looked back few decades and asked myself one question, why did I choose health sciences in the first place? I was intrigued by the enigma of human function. I want to master every aspect of this magnificent design and use this knowledge to empower patients and be their health advocate. My childhood yearning came back with full throttle. Being a physician assistant gives me the freedom to share my zeal, not in one but many specialties.
    In this span of 15 months, I have worked hard to complete my pre-requisites with an ‘A,’ while working full time and taking care of my family. Nonetheless to prove again that I have it in me to learn and excel even under pressure which exhibits my talent to multitask as well. I feel proud of my achievement and am confident that I have all the qualities required for a PA program tailored to produce outstanding PAs for the community.
    I started with a lovely quote by Mr. Armstrong. Yes, the human body is an exciting mystery and attempting to interact with it is the basis of my desire to understand.

    Reply

13. Yelena says

    June 30, 2017 at 11:06 pm

    Five years ago, my father was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer and this unexpectedly motivated me to become a physician assistant (PA). After a successful surgery, my father’s surgeon recommended chemotherapy. As we were sitting in the room at the oncologist’s office, a young lady walked in and introduced herself as physician assistant, Anna. Briefly, she looked at my father’s paperwork and told him he had stage three colon cancer and he needed to start chemotherapy immediately. My dad respond, he did not want that poison in his body and was about to leave. At that point, she asked him to give her ten minutes of his time to explain the pros and cons of the treatment. She took her time and explained what was going on in his body, what might happen if he did not undergo the chemotherapy, what type of treatment options he can get and what were the side effects. Anna was very compassionate and understanding towards his concerns. She was very knowledgeable about his condition. Additionally, she was so sincere and professional that my dad decided to try the treatment. PA Anna managed my father’s care throughout the entire treatment and made him feel he was in good hands.

    PA Anna became my inspiration. That day I went home determined to become a physician assistant. I want to care and treat someone’s father, mother, brother and/or sister. I loved my job as a ultrasound technologist, but I thrived for more involvement in the care of my patients. When patients are scared and confused, I want to walk them through the whole process just like my father’s PA did. PA Anna gave me the vision to become a physician assistant and I embarked on the journey towards becoming a physician assistant student.

    I started by taking prerequisite classes. Additionally, to better understand the PA profession I shadowed a PA in a pediatric office. The PA did patient assessments, educated patients about treatment options and interpreted test results. She made patients and their parents very comfortable with her expertise. I also learned the physician and other colleagues are a valuable resource toward collaborating in patient care. Moreover, at the cardiology practice I worked for I had an opportunity to work with few of them collaboratively. Some examples of their day to day functions were drawing blood, doing assessments, following up with a patient about their treatment plan, prescribing medications and ordering as well as interpreting exams. There was a considerable amount of interaction between PAs and myself regarding ultrasound exams to help diagnose and determine the future patient treatment plan. From this experience, I learned PAs have the flexibility of working in different specialties, which I believe is great way to find that perfect area of practice that suits you as individual. Working with and shadowing physician assistants in different specialties is what solidified my desire to become a PA student.

    This year will be my third time applying to PA school. I have faced challenges along the way in my attempts to acceptance into a program, but this has not stopped my dedication and drive to accomplish my goal of becoming a physician assistant student. I have made progress towards becoming a stronger applicant by maintaining a competitive GPA, retaking and increasing my GRE scores, volunteering, and obtaining more direct patient care hours. Currently, I am part of the healthcare team at a cardiovascular office, where I assist in diagnosing and performing procedures. For the past year, I have enjoyed expanding my knowledge as an ultrasound technologist, but I am passionate about attending PA school to broaden my scope of practice. I believe expanding my scope of practice by not only diagnosing but also by managing and treating patients will allow me to continue giving even more back to my community by sharing my knowledge and expertise. Additionally, for the past few years, I have been volunteering in the school and daycare center. It was a rewarding experience for me to see how these children learned academically, socially and progressed throughout the time. I finished all my prerequisite coursework and managed to increase my overall and science GPAs. I believe my passion for working with children, persistence towards lifelong learning, and well-rounded background provides me with the necessary components of a successful PA student in your program.

    I believe I can make the difference in health care community and save someone’s life just like my dad’s physician assistant saved his. I envision making a positive impact and giving back my knowledge towards the healthcare community because of how grateful I have been for what it has done for me. Nothing makes me more excited than fulfilling my dreams of becoming a PA student.

    Reply

14. Briana Mack says

    June 30, 2017 at 4:49 pm

    From making game winning shots on the basketball court to setting a spike record in a high school volleyball game, I am always determined to strive to be the best version of myself since I was a young girl. I could not imagine a world without medical professionals like physician assistants in the world because they were the ones that would constantly give me solutions on sprained ankle or a sore throat. I learned about the medical profession of a physician assistant in senior year of college, I knew it was the perfect career for me. Becoming a physician assistant has been a personal goal because of the substantial impact my physician assistant had on my life and how they personally interact/work with patients daily. Helping others makes me feel like I have a purpose to be a positive important role model in my community just like my PA was to me.

    My influence in pursuing this tough road of becoming a physician assistant career is my strong resilient mother. She expected nothing less than the best from me because she raised me in a single parent home and supported everything I did from education to sports. She raised me to have a mindset of practicing excellence and exhibiting eminence. She did not accept failure in anything as I grew up as a young lady I am today. The most important life lesson she has given me has been that even though I may struggle or have a bad day, someone has it worst than me and I must continue to be resilient and push through the storm to get to the finish line. Her struggles of different illnesses and injuries have motivated me to become a medical professional that can help those that may not have the medical insurance to have quality medical services. I constantly see the frustration not only with my mother but also with others that are in similar situations that do not have quality healthcare. I want to become a physician assistant to provide medical services to the children of those struggling family. I chose to specialize in pediatrics because it is the good health of the children that could prevent future adult illnesses. The feeling of knowing that one’s child is in good health can relieve stress of one’s life. Childhood is a fragile stage in life because the child’s body is vulnerable to many different diseases and disabilities during development. I believe that the child’s health must be monitored carefully because if their development is genetically altered or disturbed; it could negatively affect their future health and cause life long complications.

    I have always had a passion for medicine and assisting others to success alongside with me. When I first went on my college visit to University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2013, I had a personal meeting with the chair of their physician assistant program. He was very confident and convincing that studying to being a physician assistant was the best route for me because I had ambitions to eventually becoming a doctor. I like to be independent, versatile and efficient and I walked out of that meeting with the plan to receive my undergraduate degree in Biology and to go straight to a prestigious physician assistant program. I have been on that path since the beginning of my freshman year and have not changed my mind once. I have worked with my studies while playing Division I Women’s basketball to become the first medical professional in my family. My intelligence, efficiency and determination has already been put to the test when I competed at the highest level of collegiate women’s basketball and studied one of the hardest majors at University of Maryland of Eastern Shore. I believe that my accomplishments have separated me from the rest of my class and other competitors. I graduated in the top 15% of my class (2017) and even dedicated my time to completing classes that were not accredited toward my major but was required for physician assistant program admissions.

    I have struggled throughout my undergraduate experience as well. I had to play only half a season my sophomore year because I had to take an emergency leave to go home to take care of my severely ill mother. Physically not being at school did not stop me from succeeding because I kept in contact my professors and continued to complete work online and finished that semester with a 3.6 GPA while studying difficult courses like organic chemistry and statistics. I also had a serious physical injury of tearing my ACL my junior year when I became one of the starting forwards on the team. The injury mentally and physically drained me but I was determined to be strong willed and persevere. Every time I was faced with diversity or a setback, I stood right back up, brushed myself off and continued my journey stronger, smarter and more humbled. I chose PA because I love working as a team because I believe greater things can be achieved working as a team. Admittance to a respectable program is not the beginning or the end but just the next step in my glorious journey.

    Reply

15. Sky says

    June 29, 2017 at 8:49 pm

    During my senior year of high school, my 89 year old grandmother, who lived alone, broke her hip by slipping down her front steps after an ice storm. Initially, she was told it was unlikely that she would walk again, which was devastating not only to her, but also to my entire family. My grandmother was a strong woman. She pushed through the surgery and painful recovery to overcome those boundaries. I remember going with her to physical therapy in a large gym with other patients and families around. I was amazed at how motivating the staff and family members were as they helped these patients through such a difficult time. After a few long weeks, my grandmother regained full mobility. She could walk again, which led me to the conclusion that I wanted to be able to help and motivate others like they did for her.

    It was extremely difficult to begin my personal statement, because most of the examples you read online are the big epiphanies of why the applicant wants to be a Physician Assistant (PA). My commitment to the profession was not a capricious decision after a single experience, but something I grew into over the years. My dad loves to talk about big ideas, such as how to reach life goals. A lengthy speech that he gives, which is now engraved in my mind, can be summarized as: “Every step you take is a building block.” I remember that speech as I learn something new with every experience, such as holding multiple jobs as a scribe, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and a phlebotomist, which have led to my determination of becoming a PA.

    As a medical scribe in the emergency department, I have the opportunity to work alongside providers and see their perspective. Every day is exciting and different in its’ own way, but the most important rule we have as scribes is to never touch the patients. No matter what we learn in classes or what certifications we hold, this rule stands. I remember right after getting my Basic Life Support certification, a patient in triage had a syncopal episode, fell to the ground, and went into cardiac arrest. The Physician and I heard on the intercom: “All available staff please come to triage immediately!” The nurses and patient care technicians were all taking turns doing chest compressions, but I was only able to document the event. I wanted to be able to do more.

    My first hands-on experience was when I became a CNA. I worked primarily with short-term rehabilitation patients in a skilled nursing unit, and I can undoubtedly say there is no other experience like it. Trying to roll someone 2-3 times larger than myself, without assistance, was physically demanding and frustrating at times, but something brought me back every day. I learned time management skills and gained a new perception and appreciation for this generation of people. I also gained a better understanding of end of life care and how family dynamics play a role in patient care.

    After being a CNA, I wanted to continue to explore the world of medicine, so I became a Phlebotomist. I was introduced to the laboratory, a new side of healthcare some would refer to as behind the scenes. Everything that you learned in those challenging science classes ultimately became real. For instance, when drawing a lactic acid, you need to remove the tourniquet because the decrease of blood flow leads to a lack of oxygen and increase in lactic acid. Putting all of these pieces together, it started to make sense, but I still continue to have many questions. These experiences and questions are what drive me to continue to educate myself in the world of medicine.

    I am grateful I had these opportunities to gain a real understanding of how the healthcare model works, to see personally how patients move through the system, and how important the biopsychosocial aspect of medicine can be in treating patients as a whole. I believe that well rounded providers can give great insight from other specialties because I witnessed it firsthand. I have seen a physician in the emergency department refer to PA’s for patient care decisions based on their knowledge from previous positions. The idea of a PA being a generalist provider that can work in any practice area of medicine is extremely fascinating and a valuable asset. Collectively, a multitude of experiences in diverse healthcare settings as a medical scribe, a CNA, and a phlebotomist, rather than a single instance, are the building blocks that continue to push me towards my goal of one day becoming a PA myself.

    Reply

16. Maryam Khan says

    June 29, 2017 at 7:21 pm

    Maryam Khan
    ROUGH DRAFT: Personal Statement
    To me, life is about making a difference. It is about giving back in some capacity, no matter how big or how small. I’ve known all my life that I wanted to make a difference by helping others, whether it was through being a shoulder to cry on during tough times or a helpful ally in complicated scenarios. Everything I have done in life I have done with the purpose of furthering myself as a person of selfless altruism who is capable of having a truly indelible impact on the lives of others. Through leadership experiences, community growth endeavors, and extensive hours in patient care, I have begun to shape myself into the individual I’ve always wanted to become, and I have found my true calling to be a physician assistant. (eh)
    They say that before you can work on others, you must first work on yourself. I have been making a conscious effort to stick close to that mantra over the last few years of my life. College was not an easy experience. It challenged me to push myself to my full potential and outside factors made it an emotionally and mentally tumultuous time. A family crisis throughout my years of school at University of Illinois at Chicago, sent my grades plummeting. My life was dramatically altered and my school work fell behind because of it. Ever since then, I have made it my mission to recover from my faults of the past and I believe I stand as a more confident and stronger person today.
    While my GPA fell, I still didn’t let uncontrollable factors impact my involvement and my commitment to the community. While in school I was a member of a national service fraternity called Alpha Phi Omega. This national coeducational service organization was founded on the principals of leadership, friendship, and service to the community and opened many doors for me to grow as an individual. I developed my leadership abilities tremendously in this time, putting in nearly 500 hours of volunteer work both on campus and in my community. Some of my efforts even reached national levels of influence. College, for everything that it put me through, was a time of impeccable growth for me and cemented my position as an activist and an altruist. I knew that no matter where my recovery from a low GPA took me, it would be in the service of others.
    It was then that I knew that if I wanted to dedicate myself to helping those in need, I should take my efforts in healthcare very seriously and involve myself in something more permanent and extensive than the small community healthcare outreach efforts I led as a volunteer. While in school I was a member of the Pre-Physician Assistant Club, which gave me a great perspective of what this job and others in healthcare entailed. Enticed by this line of work, I set about obtaining the necessary certificates and experience to play this kind of role in patient care. I earned my CNA and became a certified nursing assistant which led to my first real job in the healthcare industry. I began working as a nursing assistant at Friendship Village. Here, I dedicated over 5000 hours of work in the nursing home, working in various geriatric conditions. I was able to participate in a myriad of basic procedures, obtained vitals, and checked in with patients daily to monitor their progress, evaluating their needs and prioritizing treatment. I learned through this work that I had a natural ability to comfort patients and it was immensely gratifying to be a source of such support for my patients. The work I did here was what I consider to be some of the most important work I’ve ever done and it only fueled my desire to build a fruitful career in this industry.
    Throughout my hours as a nursing assistant, I still never forgot about the next goal that I knew I so badly wanted to achieve; earning a position as a physician assistant. I had observed their work from a distance as a nursing assistant and was enthralled by the crucial role they played. I got an even closer look at the position when I shadowed a physician assistant at a clinic. Overall, I put in over 150 hours of shadowing, observing the process of seeing patients and taking extensive histories and notes. I loved every minute of these 150 hours and have never been more certain that this is the direction I want to take my career in.
    To attend your physician assistant program would be a true honor, as I believe your program will prepare me to be a PA who is capable of critical thinking and analysis under pressure and one who has comprehensive knowledge of the field that they can utilize in an entire variety of scenarios. I love the diversity that comes with this work and I am excited about the unique opportunities for firsthand growth that come with this program. To earn admittance to this program would be another major step in lifting myself up from my previous failures, something I am wholly dedicated to doing. To fulfill my sense of purpose like this will have made all of the missteps worth it and my purpose is to be a positively influential physician assistant.

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17. Brittany Connelly says

    June 29, 2017 at 6:12 pm

    “Listen. Let’s take a deep breath together.” We do. “Now let me see your foot.” The calm, deft reassurance of father looking after his daughter who has just fallen down the stairs. My father, and I, on our first-day of vacation, camping in rural Northern Washington. He bends it left and right, up and down, and I shriek! “Stop! Daddy it hurts!” He smiles and begins to go to work. He picks up two, hardy branches and whittles them smooth, molds the cardboard of two, twenty-four packs of Coca-Cola, pulls out duct-tape and proceeds to make me a splint to support my sprained ankle. “That’ll do, until we can get you to the doctor.” For several days I manage to safely hop-around on my left-leg aided by a walking stick and my father’s ingenuity.
    That day my father casually dropped a seed in front of me, the idea of medicine. As children seeds are scattered about our path ready for cultivation or death. Many do get left on the surface and blow away. A few are coupled with talent and interest and lead to hobbies and jobs. Even fewer of those, with encouragement, desire and persistence become our life’s passions. Life’s work does not come to fruition quickly or easily. However, anyone who dares to pursue theirs will seek out the means necessary to do so. To decide and reach a lofty destination it takes a dedicated and honest individual. One willing to establish their roots, break new ground, nourish the desire and adapt to the environment.

    I set out to establish roots, the first in my family to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Naive and unguided I struggled. I worked many part-time jobs to fill the gap financial aid left. I occasionally flopped. Eventually, I learned my strengths and weaknesses and thus I gained some perspective: I was being reckless and vague in my pursuit. I had the determination and perseverance but lacked dedication. I needed a specific purpose. I picked biology, curious about the many directions medicine could take me. Once established, my grades got better. When I did fail I took the opportunity to innovate a better approach and improved, a skill I have relied upon consistently since. Graduation day I broke through ground no one in family had before. I had pushed aside the heaviest of burdens, the soil, and sought to grow even higher still.

    1.5 hours into my first EMT clinical and my fourteen year old patient is crying, shaking, and distracted, translating back and forth between the paramedics and her mother. Their anxiety is palpable. I cut through and a familiar voice speaks to her, “What’s your name? Rita, I’m Brittany, I’m an EMT and I’m here to help. Let’s take a deep breath together.” She looks in my eyes. We take a deep, inhale and blow out, and again. She points to her foot. Smiling, I nod, “Let’s talk about that.” Arriving at the hospital, she says, “This sucks,” and shyly smiles for the first time. “I know,” I say, “the nurses here are going to take care of you though. Once, my dad made splint out of sticks. He’s no nurse and I promise they have better equipment here.” She smiles bigger and I transfer her to the admitting nurse. After the call, the paramedic laughs too at my story and thanks me. My heart is pounding with adrenaline, now I am the one shaking and just manage a weak smile. Later, after some deep breaths just for myself, I reflect on the ease of the conversation and become quietly secure with a thought. I liked this, I could be good at it. Nourishment for my juvenile plant. Confidence which is continuously bolstered as volunteer EMT for Grand Canyon National Park Service. Here, I am gaining perspective too, that I prefer the comprehensive patient interactions of clinical medicine which I have acquired by shadowing James, a PA at CT Derm in rural Idaho.

    The cultivation of this seed has been no coincidence. Coincidence implies that events are the result of mere chance encounters. My father was adept at being a handyman but the day he combined the idea of simply caring about others with the skill to make an effective difference in their health, he dropped a seedling. I never let it quiet get away from me. So I set my roots by obtaining a college education. I nourished my curiosity by choosing to learn emergency medicine. From James, I found the direction I want to grow towards. Advancing upward, tough but flexible, I continue to nurture this plant until it fully blossoms and one day I am the setting down the seedling in the soft earth, in front of someone else, by providing with them with medical care.

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18. Justin says

    June 29, 2017 at 12:08 pm

    March 21, 2015 started off just like any other. 6am, my alarm goes off. I wake up my roommate, throw on some clothes and slump out of the Days Inn Hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona. We begin our half mile walk across the street to the Arizona Diamondbacks spring training complex, still barely able to open our eyes. As the sun rises over the mountains in the distance, silhouettes of fellow teammates and friends also pursuing their dream to play major league baseball, appear in the amber morning light. But something is not right. One of the silhouettes is walking towards us, back to the hotel, bag in hand. My heart begins to pound and I’m wide awake. We all knew what this meant. It was cut day.

    Heading to the locker room, we can hear our teammates talking amongst one another as they change into their uniforms and get ready for the day, trying to keep the mood light. As I turn the corner, the room instantly fills with a deafening silence. There is no movement, no sound. Just me and 24 pairs of eyes fixed on the floor unable to look up. I approach my locker, already knowing my fate. It’s empty. I head to the coach’s office and knock on the door. I sign my release papers, am handed a large, black, plastic garbage bag containing all of my belongings along with a plane ticket to New Jersey. My dream of becoming a major league pitcher ended in an instant. This event, though earth shattering, allowed me to think about a future other than baseball for the very first time.

    Being a high-level athlete, you have your fair share of bumps and bruises along the way and are exposed to all types of medical professionals. Physician, PA, NP, PT, athletic trainer, chiropractor, you name it, I saw it. When I truly reflected on my athletic career, I realized just how much time I had spent in the training room with athletic trainers and team physicians. Not always because I was hurt, but because I was there to learn and was fascinated by the human body. At the time, I had no idea that these interactions would lead me to pursue medicine and begin the journey to become a PA.

    If I told you I was not hesitant about transitioning after baseball had ended, I would be lying. Did I really want to go back to school? Were the two years of prerequisites and thousands of dollars in order to apply with no guarantee of getting accepted worth it? These were just a few of the thousand questions I wrestled with. No matter how daunting the question, the answer was always “yes.” I knew it would be an uphill battle with fierce competition but that was an environment I excelled in. My undergraduate GPA at Wake Forest was not competitive with baseball always being the main priority while academics took a back seat. I also knew my grades there were not an accurate representation of my academic capabilities. I had matured significantly as a person since then so, I went back to school. Eager to start the path toward my new dream, I dove right in and enrolled full time completing all the major prerequisites in two semesters earning a GPA of 3.894. This is what I am capable of and how I know I am prepared for the rigors of a PA school curriculum.

    While working closely with the PAs at Garden State Orthopedics, I quickly realized that the skill sets I had developed as an athlete were eerily similar to those of a PA. The preparation, attention to detail, team mentality and precise work with their hands were all too familiar qualities I developed from years as a starting pitcher. Observing various types of surgical procedures from colonoscopies to total hip replacements, I watched how physicians and PAs work as a collaborative unit, always on the same page and anticipating each other’s needs which was uniform with my relationship the catcher when I was pitching. Watching video, reading scouting reports and constructing a strategy for a game mirrors how a PA examines a patient, analyzes the information, comes up with a diagnosis and implements an effective treatment plan during office hours. Although the setting different, the long hours, late nights and early mornings dedicated to perfecting your craft rivaled the work ethic and hunger to learn I had so frequently placed in athletics.

    All of these experiences have led me to the realization that becoming a PA is my future. I may not have known I wanted to practice medicine my whole life or be the best candidate on paper, but everything I have endured in life, good and bad, large and small, has prepared me for this opportunity so, let’s get started.

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