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Single Edit One-on-one Service Supplemental Essays
Your success is our passion. (See just some of our 100's of testimonials and comments below). We are ready to help. Our current PA school essay editing service status (16th May 2024): Accepting New Submissions
(Photo: Me circa 1987, just thinking about my future PA School Essay)
- Are you struggling to write your physician assistant personal statement?
- Are you out of ideas, or just need a second opinion?
- Do you want an essay that expresses who you truly are and grabs the reader's attention in the required 5,000-character limit?
We are here to help perfect your PA school essay
I have written countless times on this blog about the importance of your personal statement in the PA school application process. Beyond the well-established metrics (GPA, HCE/PCE hours, requisite coursework, etc.), the personal statement is the most crucial aspect of your application.
This is your time to express yourself, show your creativity, skills, and background, and make a memorable impression in seconds. This will be your only chance, so you must get it right the first time.
For some time, I had been dreaming about starting a physician assistant personal statement collaborative.
A place where PA school applicants like yourself can post their PA school essays and receive honest, constructive feedback followed by an acceptance letter to the PA school of your choice!
I have been reviewing a ton of essays recently, so many in fact that I can no longer do this on my own.
To solve this problem, I have assembled a team of professional writers, editors, and PA school admissions specialists who worked to revise and perfect my PA school application essay.
Beth Eakman has taught college writing and worked as a professional writer and editor since the late 1990s. Her projects have involved a wide range of disciplines and media, from editing technical reports to scriptwriting for the PBS Kids show Super Why! Her writing has appeared in publications including Brain, Child Magazine, New York Family Magazine, and Austin Family Magazine. Beth lives with her family just outside Austin, Texas. She is driven to help each client tell the best version of their story and achieve their dream of becoming a physician assistant.
Deanna Matzen is an author with articles featured in Earth Letter, Health Beats, Northwest Science & Technology, and the Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. With an early career in environmental science, she developed a solid foundation in technical writing. Her communication skills were further honed by producing and editing content for a non-profit website, blog, and quarterly journal. Inspired to extend her craft, she obtained a certificate in literary fiction, which she draws on to build vibrant scenes that bring stories to life. Deanna loves working with pre-PAs who are on the cusp of new beginnings to find their unique story and tell it confidently.
Carly Hallman is a professional writer and editor with a B.A. in English Writing and Rhetoric (summa cum laude) from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. She has worked as a curriculum developer, English teacher, and study abroad coordinator in Beijing, China, where she moved in 2011. In college, she was a Gilman Scholar and worked as a staff editor for her university's academic journal. Her first novel, Year of the Goose, was published in 2015, and her first memoir is forthcoming from Little A Books. Her essays and creative writing have appeared in The L.A. Review of Books, The Guardian, LitHub, and Identity Theory, among other publications.
Read more client testimonials or purchase a revision
We Work as a Team
Our team of professional editors is wonderful at cutting out the "fluff" that makes an essay lose focus and sets people over the 5,000-character limit. Their advice is always spot-on.
Sue, Sarah, and Carly are amazingly creative writers who will take your "ordinary" and turn it into entirely extraordinary.
I mean it when I say this service is one-of-a-kind! We have spent countless hours interviewing PA School admissions directors and faculty from across the country to find out exactly what it is they are looking for in your personal statement.
We even wrote a book about it.
To collaborate, we use Google Drive. Google Drive is free, has an intuitive interface with integrated live comments in the sidebar, the ability to have a real-time chat, to collaborate effortlessly, and to compare, revise, or restore revisions on the fly. Google Drive also has an excellent mobile app that will allow you to make edits on the go!
Our team has worked with hundreds of PA school applicants within the Google Drive environment, and we have had enormous success.
The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative
I have set up two options that I hope will offer everyone a chance to participate:
- One-of-a-kind, confidential, paid personal statement review service
- A collaborative, free one (in the comments section)
Private, One-On-One Personal Statement Review Service
If you are interested in the paid service, you may choose your plan below.
The Personal Statement Review Service is:
- Behind closed doors within a private, secure network using Google Drive.
- It is completely interactive, meaning we will be able to provide real-time comments and corrections using the Google Drive interface.
- Telephone consultations are included with all edits above the single edit level. It’s often hard to communicate exactly what you want hundreds of miles away; for this reason, we offer the option to edit right along with us over the telephone while sharing in real-time over Google Drive. This is an option available to all our paid clients who purchase above the single edit level.
- We provide both revision and editing of all essays. What’s the difference? See below
- We will provide feedback, advice, and help with brainstorming and topic creation if you would like.
- We will help with a “final touch-up” before the big day, just in case your essay needs a few minor changes.
Why Choose Our Service?
- It’s not our opinion that matters. We have gone the extra step and personally interviewed PA school administrators from across the US to find out exactly what they think makes a personal statement exceptional.
- We are a team of PAs and professional writers, having worked over ten years with PA school applicants like yourself, providing countless hours of one-on-one editing and revision.
- Our clients receive interviews, and many go on to receive acceptance into their PA School of choice.
Because we always give 100%, we will open the essay collaborative for a limited number of applicants each month and then close this depending on the amount of editing that needs to be done and the time that is available.
Our goal is not quantity but quality. We want only serious applicants who are serious about getting into PA school.
Writing is not a tool like a piece of software but more like how a photograph can capture your mood. It’s more like art. The process of developing a unique, memorable personal statement is time-intensive, and it takes hours to compose, edit, finalize, and personalize an essay.
As Antoinette Bosco once said:
And this is why I am charging for this service. We love helping people find stories that define their lives, and we love helping individuals who have the passion to achieve their dreams. It’s hard to describe the feeling I get when an applicant writes back to tell me they were accepted into PA school.
There is no price tag I can place on this; it’s the feeling we get when we help another human being. It’s just like providing health care. But this takes time.
Interested? Choose your plan below.
Read more client testimonials.
Free Personal Statement Review
Post your essay in the comments section for a free critique
We want to make this opportunity available to everyone who would like help with their essay, and that is why we are offering free, limited feedback on the blog.
You post your essay in the comments section, and you will get our critique. It is that easy. We will try to give feedback to every single person who posts their COMPLETE essay here on this blog post in the comments section.
Also, by posting your comment, we reserve the right to use your essay.
We will provide feedback on essays that are complete and fit the CASPA requirements (View CASPA requirements here). We will not provide feedback on partial essays or review opening or closing statements. Your essay will be on a public platform, which has both its benefits and some obvious drawbacks. The feedback is limited, but we will try to help in any way we can.
Note: Comment Rules: Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That’s how we’re gonna be — cool. Critical is fine, but if you’re rude, I will delete your stuff. Otherwise, have fun, and thanks for adding to the conversation! And this should go without saying: if you feel the need to plagiarize someone else’s content, you do not deserve to go to PA school.
* Also, depending on the time of year, it may take me several weeks to reply!
We love working with PA school applicants, but don't just take our word for it!
How to submit your essay for the paid service
If you are serious and would like to have real, focused, and personalized help writing your personal statement, please choose your level of service and submit your payment below.
After you have submitted your payment, you will be redirected to the submissions page, where you can send us your essay as well as any special instructions. We will contact you immediately upon receipt of your payment and essay so we may begin work right away.
Pricing is as follows:
Choose your plan, then click "Buy Now" to submit your essay, and we will get started right away!
Every purchase includes a FREE digital copy of our new 100-page eBook, How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement, Our 101 PA School Admission Essays e-book, the expert panel audiobook, and companion workbook. This is a $65 value included for free with your purchase.
All credit card payments are processed via PayPal over a secure HTTPS server. Once your payment is processed, you will be immediately redirected back to the essay submission page. There, you will submit your essay along with some biographical info and all suggestions or comments you choose to provide. You will receive immediate confirmation that your essay has been securely transmitted as well as your personal copy of "How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement." Contact [email protected] if you have any questions, comments, or problems - I am available 24/7.
The hourly service includes your original edit and one-on-one time over Google Drive. It is simple to add more time if necessary, but you may be surprised at what a difference just a single edit can make. We find our four-hour service to be the most effective in terms of time for follow-up and full collaboration. We are open to reduced-rate add-ons to suit your individual needs.
Writing and Revision
All writing benefits from rewriting when done well.
When you are in the process of writing a draft of an essay, you should be thinking first about revision, not editing.
What’s the difference?
Revision refers to the substantial changing of text. For example, it may include re-organizing ideas and paragraphs, providing additional examples or information, and rewriting a conclusion for clarity.
Editing, on the other hand, refers to correcting mistakes in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
On all submissions, we perform both revision and editing.
How to submit your PA school essay for the FREE editing service
Follow the rules above and get to work below in the comments section. I look forward to reading all your essay submissions.
- Stephen Pasquini PA-C
View all posts in this series
- How to Write the Perfect Physician Assistant School Application Essay
- The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative
- Do You Recognize These 7 Common Mistakes in Your Personal Statement?
- 7 Essays in 7 Days: PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 1, “A PA Changed My Life”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 2, “I Want to Move Towards the Forefront of Patient Care”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 3, “She Smiled, Said “Gracias!” and Gave me a Big Hug”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 4, “I Have Gained so Much Experience by Working With Patients”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 5, “Then Reach, my Son, and Lift Your People up With You”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 6, “That First Day in Surgery was the First Day of the Rest of my Life”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 7, “I Want to Take People From Dying to Living, I Want to Get Them Down From the Cliff.”
- Physician Assistant Personal Statement Workshop: “To say I was an accident-prone child is an understatement”
- 9 Simple Steps to Avoid Silly Spelling and Grammar Goofs in Your PA School Personel Statement
- 5 Tips to Get you Started on Your Personal Essay (and why you should do it now)
- How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement The Book!
- How to Write “Physician Assistant” The Definitive PA Grammar Guide
- 101 PA School Admissions Essays: The Book!
- 5 Things I’ve Learned Going Into My Fourth Physician Assistant Application Cycle
- 7 Tips for Addressing Shortcomings in Your PA School Personal Statement
- The #1 Mistake PRE-PAs Make on Their Personal Statement
- The Ultimate PA School Personal Statement Starter Kit
- The Ultimate Guide to CASPA Character and Space Limits
- 10 Questions Every PA School Personal Statement Must Answer
- 5 PA School Essays That Got These Pre-PAs Accepted Into PA School
- 7 Questions to Ask Yourself While Writing Your PA School Personal Statement
- 101 PA School Applicants Answer: What’s Your Greatest Strength?
- 12 Secrets to Writing an Irresistible PA School Personal Statement
- 7 Rules You Must Follow While Writing Your PA School Essay
- You Have 625 Words and 2.5 Minutes to Get Into PA School: Use Them Wisely
- What’s Your #1 Personal Statement Struggle?
- 31 (NEW) CASPA PA School Personal Statement Examples
- How to Prepare for Your PA School Interview Day Essay
- Should You Write Physician Associate or Physician Assistant on Your PA School Essay?
- Meet the World’s Sexiest PA School Applicants
- PA School Reapplicants: How to Rewrite Your PA School Essay for Guaranteed Success
- How to Write a Personal Statement Intro that Readers Want to Read
- PA School Reapplicant Personal Statement Checklist
- How to Deal with Bad News in Your Personal Statement
- Inside Out: How to use Pixar’s Rules of Storytelling to Improve your PA Personal Statement
- Ratatouille: A Pixar Recipe for PA School Personal Statement Success
- Personal Statement Panel Review (Replay)
- Mind Mapping: A Tool for Personal Statements, Supplemental Essays, and Interviews
- Start at the End: Advice for your PA School Personal Statement
- Elevate Your Personal Statement: Using Bloom’s Taxonomy for Impactful Writing
Kaitlin says
The sound of musical instruments filled the room, while a faint beeping noise could be heard in the background. This beeping was coming from Joey’s feeding pump, signaling that his tube feeding was finished. Despite the noise, Joey had a huge smile on his face while he shook the bells that were strapped to his wrist. I powered down the machine, and continued to sing the camp theme song with the other campers, while Joey accompanied on the hand bells.
The Woodlands Foundation is a sleep away camp that serves individuals with disabilities and chronic illness, allowing these individuals to engage in activities that support and strengthen their development. I was chosen to be Joey’s counselor, which allowed me to gain experience by providing care for an individual who was nonverbal with Cerebral Palsy. I learned valuable skills that cannot be taught in the classroom alone. I learned that not all communication is spoken; in fact, I was able to integrate small amounts of sign language, and even art and music as means of communicating with my campers. Additionally, I learned valuable skills such as assisting individuals with showering, eating, toileting and basic first aid. Beyond these tangible skills, I learned how to be an advocate for people with disabilities, by listening to their needs while fostering their independence. After working two summers at a camp that challenged me to think and care differently, I realized that I needed to use these skills in a profession that integrates compassion and communication to improve the overall health and well-being of another person.
That realization led me to the physician assistant profession which I found could be challenging yet rewarding. In order to further my desire to become a PA, I became a Health Coach through the local hospital and enrolled in a shadowing experience. As a health coach, I spent four semesters building a trusting relationship with my patients. At first they were not interested in setting health goals; however, after two years they achieved their goal of smoking cessation. Although I know that these patients put in the hard work to quit, the goals that we set together prompted them to make a healthy lifestyle change. Additionally, during my internship and my PA shadowing experience, I saw that many families of low socioeconomic status had trouble paying for their healthcare. At the clinic, I witnessed the PA filling out paperwork and making phone calls to find the most affordable prescriptions for her patients. Although this process was tedious for her, it was inspiring for me to see that this PA was determined to provide the best care possible for her patients. I know that being a PA would be challenging; however, I believe that my creativity paired with my critical thinking skills would make me a good fit for this kind of care. I also believe that my communication skills will allow me to provide the trust required for the best patient care
This past May I graduated from Allegheny College, which is a small liberal arts school. After graduation, many of my friends and family asked me what experiences at Allegheny impacted my decision to be a PA. Looking back at my four years, I saw that my liberal arts education as well as extra-curricular activities and experiences have reinforced my desire to provide care for others. I had the opportunity to pursue a degree in Biology while exploring intersectional subjects such as Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies as well as Community Health. Through these experiences I learned how to look at the world through a more critical lens, which has helped me to develop into a more understanding and compassionate individual. I was then able to practice compassion through civic engagement during the four service trips that I went on, which fostered my enthusiasm for working with underserved populations. I continue to enjoy engaging in service, which is why decided to pursue a position as an AmeriCorp VISTA during my time off. As a VISTA, I will be assisting an organization in increasing access to healthcare for the homeless. After completing a diverse curriculum both in and out of the classroom, I now see that my education will never truly be finished; instead a career a s a physician assistant would give me the opportunity to learn from others every day. I am truly passionate and committed to becoming a PA, and I believe that my compassion, communication skills and drive make me well suited for a lifetime career as a PA.
Shelby says
The night was clear, and the street was filled with silence as I walked out of the home of a beloved family that my friend and I had just recently met. I was in Mesa, Arizona on the streets of a low-income and impoverished area—a long way from my home and family farm in the suburbs of Oklahoma City. The family we had left had spoken of many challenges they were having, most revolving around the medical bills of their son who was born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate and a father who had recently cut his finger off in an accident at work. The family lacked sufficient funds to cover the cost of the needed surgeries. They came to America with hopes of a better life for their children, and they would work and fight for that dream every day for the rest of their lives.
I kicked beer cans aside as I sat on the curb and looked up at the night sky. I was in my 18 month of service among the Hispanic population in Mesa serving a proselyting mission for my church and would soon be returning home. Sitting on the curb, looking at the millions of stars above me, my mind instantly returned to the week before I left for Arizona— where I found myself walking through what seemed like a war zone.
It was May 20, 2013, and an F5 tornado had ravaged through my hometown. Directly after the tornado hit, my three younger siblings and I set out to find our loved ones who were a few miles away at our family farm. We drove as far as we could into the path of the tornado, but the roads quickly became blocked with debris. With no means of communication, we did not know if our family was okay, but we walked the remaining two miles with hopes of finding everyone safe. As we walked, we passed countless injured individuals, demolished homes and dead animals. I stopped to help an elderly woman to her feet. She was bleeding on her arms and legs, but was able to walk. I assisted in cleaning the dirt from her wounds with a bottle of water, but lacked further supplies to bandage them. With tears in her eyes, we embraced and she thanked me for my help. Seeing all of the damage and chaos, I held my youngest sister as she buried her face into my shoulder to avoid looking at the devastating sight. After what seemed like hours, we reached our farm and were finally reunited with the rest of our family. With hearts full of gratitude, we hugged one another – each person appreciating the other a little more than we had before the events of that day. When we finally pulled away, we looked at the sight around us. Everything our family had worked for was destroyed. It had once been a working horse farm and amusement park, similar to a fall festival, but the horses were all gone and the buildings were left in pieces.
It was through the experiences of this day that I realized that materialistic “things” do not matter, they can be gone in an instant; but what matters most are our relationships with others. That night, I vowed to never lose sight of the importance of human relationships and the ability I have to serve, strengthen, and uplift those around me. Before that tragic day, I knew I wanted to be a physician assistant; however, it wasn’t until that very moment that I knew why. I recalled the elderly woman on the street and the feelings of love and camaraderie I felt with a complete stranger as I was able to assist her. I committed to myself that no matter what I did in my future, I would always be in the service of others. Not knowing that such a disaster would occur, I had previously committed months before to serve among the Spanish-speaking population in Arizona and was to leave my family in just nine days. I was initially torn as to whether I should stay and help my family or go as previously planned but it was that commitment that helped me walk down the jet way to get on the plane to Arizona nine days later.
As my mind returned to that clear night sky in Mesa, I was reminded of this commitment. As I had spent 18 months in the service of many strangers I now considered life-long friends, I understood that the situation with this family was not unique. They are one of many families in the United States in need of assistance. My service in Arizona opened my eyes to the impact I can have as a physician assistant and increased my desires to not only serve and build relationships with people, as I had previously committed, but to serve among under-served populations within my very own community. I am a compassionate and hard-working individual and by continuing my education to become a physician assistant I will be equipped with the skills needed to fulfill my goals of relationship-centered care and relieving health disparities in my community by connecting with patients of diverse backgrounds and needs.
Devin says
I am way over my limit but am struggling with what I need to cut out. I appreciate any assistance you can offer. Thanks!
A typical Wednesday morning at work, quieter than usual, and a beautiful day outside for early February my mind was wandering in the blue skys just visible through the ambulance doors until interrupted by the frantic voice spewing from the ambulance box as the voice rang out again “officer down.” The moments following passed in a blur as I helped prepare the trauma room in anticipation for the worst as the call came through “second officer down”, followed by “trauma arrest”- knowing this meant the officer would be unable to be flown to the closest trauma center and shortly would be at our doorsteps- but knowing nothing more.
At this point I had been working in the Emergency Room as a scribe just shy of 3 years- I had experienced my share of trauma arrests, gun shot wounds and many other injuries- but nothing had prepared me for what I faced this day. I stood watching and documenting everything *although wishing I could do more but knowing the doctor would be relying on my work *- every epi administered, pulse check, two chest tubes, 3 units of blood and the ultrasound which confirmed that the bullet had done too much damage and despite their efforts there was nothing left to be done.
In a smaller town where I reside and work, this event has shaken the entire community who is not accustom to 2 Police officers being brutally shot down senselessly. In my experience the news of a deceased family member is typically handled uniformly and although your heart was with the family- your day didn’t stop when there was another patient that needed you. During this case I was exposed to every aspect of the fallen officers personal and family life – this man- a hero- who had died in front of me. Never had I been faced with the following few days media coverage or the publicly broadcasted funerals for both officers who lost their life that day. The days following only stood to solidify my passion to become a PA, unlike the endless demanding for a Doctor to move on to the next patient- I want to be able to spend time and fully understand the person in front of me and not just the aliment they present at that time to be fixed.
While in my first year at college I applied to be a Resident Assistant, I had worked at a summer camp for many years and knew many of my peers had enjoyed the job, but not knowing I had just applied for a life changing experience. We were extensively trained on leadership, mentoring and how to handle situations that we may face- many which seemed far fetched at the time. For the three years I served as an RA I was in charge of a 43 student floor of freshman, in a building of 300 students. In that time, I developed my leadership skills as well as creativity as I was required to enforce school policy, hold meeting and programs to educate and ensure a habitable environment on my floor– but my job extended much farther than was expected. I considered those 43 students as my own children, I cared for their academic success along with their psychological and personal health- and in turn I was the one they relied on and trusted. My experiences taught me innumerous things but the resounding idea that has carried with me is that everyone is fighting their own personal battle. Whether it was helping cope with the death of a parent, encouraging while she told police about her rape, or staying strong as we lost one of our own to leukemia- no amount of training could prepare you how to act and react but just being the presence need- even when nothing could be said. I will carry the immensely powerful experiences I received through being a Resident Assistant with me, and hopefully use them in my career as a PA.
Even before the events that have shaped my life, I have always known I wanted to become a PA- from shadowing my Pediatrician before beginning college to the first day I walked into the Emergency Room- employed as a scribe- I knew I was where I belonged. While exposed to three different hospital facilities I have had the privilege of working directly under physicians who by helping complete their charts- have allowed me to obtain immeasurably beneficial experiences. Many providers that I worked with would allow me close view of procedures, many would walk me through procedures as they went and would test my knowledge on anatomy and pathophysiology topics as they related to our current patient.
My education thus far has prepared me for PA school and my current work experience continually fuels my desire to be in healthcare. My passion stems from the root of healthcare itself: the patient: which is why I gravitate toward the PA profession. I have worked alongside Doctors and PAs alike while deciding my and it has always been clear that PAs are privileged to spend the most time with a patient; an attribute most appealing to me. Becoming a PA will allow me to use my analytical mind to effectively diagnose and treat patients. My creativity will be utilized by thinking outside of the box to come up with innovative treatment plans for patients. My compassion and understanding of patient’s internal wars along with their medical diagnoses will allow me to fully treat and understand a patient’s needs. Just as I sometime I looked to my Director as an RA- I look forward to having a relationship with a physician above me to look to for guidance. My mind is always open to other opinions and will always value the input of the supervising physician- making PA an ideal place for me. The versatility of the PA career will satisfy me forever-and allow me to continue growing and learning.
While serving as an RA, taking full time classes and working as a scribe- I lost sight of the importance of my grades which is unfortunately evident in my mid college career GPA. In this time I was forced to learn how to time manage and prioritize although it may not appear this way, my priority was always to become a PA. I applied for scribe position to begin completing patient hours. I realized too late that I had completed required hours but had let my GPA slip, I waited two years from my intended application time to immerse myself in learning as much as possible in my position as a Scribe- to ensure I had become the best experienced applicant. I have proven to myself that I am unrelenting and ready to do what it takes to reach my aspiration of providing the highest quality care of which I am capable. I hope that Admissions will be able to see past my mediocre GPA and afford me the chance to prove with the experience I have obtained and the passion I have for patient care far exceeds how I may appear based on my grades. I have a clear picture of what I want, and I have no doubt that I will do what it takes to make it a reality if given the chance.
My experiences both inside and outside of medical settings have influenced my decision to follow my heart toward medicine and to strive to become a Physician Assistant.
Ann-Marie Stowe says
It was Hannah who first exposed me to the physician assistant (PA) profession and it was Hannah who showed me that PAs have a unique role in compassionate care that treat patients as a “whole person” with many different healthcare needs. I met Hannah when I was seventeen and struggling with migraines that hindered my ability to live my life, from missing classes to swim practices. Hannah approached our appointment with understanding and listened to me while I explained the pain I had been experiencing, something my past physician had brushed off as the effects of hormonal changes, probably brought on by starting birth control. When our appointment was over, Hannah patiently answered all of my questions about how a PA was different from a doctor or a nurse. I remembered Hannah when I began to question what I wanted to do with the rest of my life and it was her memory that kindled my desire to become a physician assistant. In Human Anatomy and Human Physiology, I learned about the human body and discovered my love of diagnostics, pushing me away from nursing. My experience as a leader on the executive committee of Soonerthon, a charitable Dance Marathon, taught me how important collaboration is to me and showed me that I will function best as a part of the physician-PA team.
At the community clinic, I read the numbers from the blood pressure machine to the woman sitting in front of me and I realized that April did not understand that the numbers were too high. I first met April at the community clinic I volunteer at about a month earlier when she had her first appointment. I read the numbers 168/100 to April and excitement spread over her face as she gleefully told me, “That’s only 5 over my normal number!” As I walked her back to the waiting room, I made sure to tell her to always take her medication, watch what she eats, and try and reduce her stress. As April’s PA, I could have sat down and talked with her to diagnose the cause of her high blood pressure and tell her all the different areas of her life where she can work to reduce her blood pressure. I could have followed up with her, created a plan with her to manage her symptoms, and developed a relationship with her to help her trust the healthcare system. But as a triage volunteer I was only able to walk her back to the waiting room and know that I would see her the next week to take her blood pressure once again. Most patients that visit the free community clinic struggle financially and have no health insurance, speak little-to-no English, and have extremely low health literacy skills. I have seen many patients struggle with easily manageable symptoms because they cannot fathom what to change or how to make those changes. When researching how to improve the health of these underserved populations, I learned about the unique role that PAs are able to fill by autonomously serving rural communities that have little access to a wide range of healthcare.
While shadowing several different PAs, I observed a consistency between all of them: their ability to connect with their patient to develop a relationship and to approach each patient with a level of compassion and understanding. I observed one PA spend almost an hour with a young boy’s Vietnamese parents, explaining every aspect of his asthma care plan and ensuring that they understood each part. Her desire and patience to understood all of their concerns, despite the language barrier, solidified my desire to become a physician assistant and kindled my interest in medicine. PAs are able to function in many different capacities in the healthcare field: I observed a PA who was the primary provider at a primary care clinic, others who functioned autonomously within a hospital clinic to treat their own patients, and others who work on a collaborative team that work together to treat the same patients. Volunteering at community medical clinic has taught me how important it is to emphasize preventative care and to conduct your work with humility and compassion. Humility and compassion are as much skills that must be developed as they are traits. Throughout my college career, I have worked hard to develop a level of humility and compassion through my work with the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Foundation, hospice patients, and community medical clinics.
A PA’s work embodies the values of humility, compassion, patience, and understanding in their practice of medicine everyday. These values are extremely important to me and I have developed and maintained them throughout my college career. For me, being a PA exemplifies lifelong learning, a principle that I highly value. In my last three semesters at the University of Oklahoma I have excelled academically and learned how to succeed in academically rigorous courses, such as Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, and Organic Chemistry. As a physician assistant, I would have the flexibility to continue learning and practicing in different fields of medicine, allowing me to draw knowledge and experience from many different areas to best care for my patients. My experience with shadowing many different PAs and interacting with patients at community clinics has strengthened my interest in medicine and my desire to become a physician assistant.
Jacob Bottelberghe says
Chase your passion. Like most parents that is something that my father told me as a kid. My father’s passion in life was farming and as a kid I wanted nothing more than to share the same passion that he did. I spent most of my childhood chasing my father around the farm, dressed as close to the same as I could be. As I grew up I still loved to help my dad on the farm, but that love was shared with something new, science. I began to become fascinated with how the human body worked. In my head I knew that I wanted to be involved in medicine.
Being the only boy amongst three siblings in a farm family carries a certain expectation; you take over the family farm. Telling my father that I wanted to pursue a career in medicine instead of taking over the family farm was one of the toughest things I have had to do. As any good parent would do, he hid his obvious disappointment and supported my choice. He once again told me to chase my passion.
Pursuing a career in medicine turned more specifically into a pursuing a career as a physician assistant following a shadowing experience I had. I was told I would get to sit in on a few surgeries. In talking with a few people they told me that if I could tolerate the smell of a sterile operating room then would be set. Well I did much more than tolerate it, I loved it. I stood as close to the table as they would let me. I watched every cut, scrape, and suture the physician assistant made. The second half of my day was spent in the clinic. Not nearly the excitement, but equally as interesting. The passion these people had for their jobs gave me the push I needed.
While pursuing my education at Saint Cloud State University I was able to solidify my path towards becoming a physician assistant. Cadaver lab was able to familiarize me with the human body, despite leaving my clothes smelling like formaldehyde. I was also able to do some molecular biology research dealing with a human protein implicated in neurodegenerative disorders. My experience as a student tutor was also important to me. It allowed me to gain some experience in how to go about answer questions people ask about various topics coming from a variety of backgrounds.
About a year after beginning college I realized that it would be important to gain some experience in the medical field. I was able to become a certified nursing assistant and secure a job with St. Benedict’s Senior Community in St. Cloud, Minnesota. This was an experience that I was hesitant to begin. I have had several friends tell me horror stories about CNA work. My experience was not at all what I expected. Sure the job was not fun at times, but being able to get to know the patients and help them get better was incredibly rewarding.
One patient in particular had a huge impact on me. His name was Myron. He came into the sub-acute floor I was working on after he had surgery to fix his broken leg. His progress was slow and he was frustrated at first. I always tried to keep him positive. When I had time, I would go chat with him about his favorite topic, the news. In fact, I found myself watching the news more than I ever had just so I could keep up with the conversation. In chatting, it came up that I was pursing a career as a physician assistant. When Myron was fully recovered and ready to go home he asked me to come chat with him one more time. He gave me a good, firm handshake and thanked me for making his stay at St. Ben’s “not suck.” His parting words to me were that he wished his doctors took the time I did to get to know him. He asked me to carry that with me as I further pursued my career. I promised him that I would. Patients like Myron make me feel like all my hard work will be worth it in the end.
A little part of me will always want to be that little boy dressing like my father and chasing him around the farm. However, applying for graduate school to become a physician assistant is a far cry from running the family farm. My fathers passion did not turn out to be mine, and that is just fine. Everyone has their own passion. We just need to chase it.
Mel says
2nd time applicant!
Elizabeth, an aspiring Olympic gymnast, came to me with tears in her eyes after receiving the diagnosis of a tore rotator cuff. As a phlebotomist my job seemed so simple; stick, draw and process but a 14-year-old girl would prove to me that any job in the medical field is not just about the medicine. As I was preparing my supplies, Elizabeth was curled up in the phlebotomy chair with her head in her lap. She looked up at me as tears continued to stream down her face; I kneeled down at eye level with her. I looked at Elizabeth and asked her if she was afraid of the needle; she shook her head yes. I thought, “How can I draw on someone who is so afraid?” “ This should have been easy like all the other blood draws.” I thought, “how would I want someone to help me in the situation?” I began asking Elizabeth to tell me about her gymnastics; her eyes lite up and the more she talked the more relaxed she became. Her tears turned into smiles and she couldn’t contain her excitement for her dream of standing on the podium holding her gold medal like her ideal, Nastia Liukin. I began her blood draw; she didn’t even notice what I was doing. At the end of the session she looked up at me and said “that didn’t even hurt!” Those are the four greatest words a phlebotomist can hear.
My journey towards becoming a PA began long before I met Elizabeth. Five years ago, I was working full time as a film assistant and nights and weekends as a hockey referee with the short-term goal of paying off my undergraduate loans within a year. I successfully paid off my loans within 8 months. However, I was not happy with being a film assistant; it involved the same mundane tasks of data entry day in and day out. I was unfulfilled. I believe in the philosophy of “life is too short not to do what you love,” but I had let myself veer away from this viewpoint. I was now debt free and knew now was the opportunity to discover where the medical field could take me.
While researching possible career opportunities in the medical field, I discovered the profession of a physician assistant (PA). I had never heard of the term and out of curiosity began researching every aspect of the profession. The more I read, the more I knew this was the path I needed to take. I was interested in the PAs ability not only to make decisions autonomously but also to work collaboratively with other members of the healthcare team. Leadership and teamwork are major qualities required of a PA; I have the leadership skills capable of diagnosing and treating patients, yet the humility to follow directions of a supervising physician.
I devoted the next year and a half to completing pre-requisite courses, shadowing and volunteering, while working nights and weekends as a hockey referee. Before I could continue my journey, I needed to address my low GPA during my freshman and sophomore years. During this time, I had no sense of direction and lacked the maturity to take school seriously. Through dedication and growing maturity, I successfully raised my GPA to a competitive level. While in school, I began shadowing a PA at an internal medicine clinic. I observed how well she interacted with patients and other colleagues, all for the purpose of patient care. Throughout my shadowing experience, the importance of leadership, teamwork and professionalism were reaffirmed as the cornerstones to success as a PA.
Unfortunately, the first year that I applied I did not receive an interview. I understood that at the time that I applied I did not have any patient experience. It has been two years since I applied and I have become a certified phlebotomist; the phlebotomy path actually lead me to working as a medical assistant in an orthopedic/pain management office. The opportunity of becoming a medical assistant has allowed me to shadow multiple physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners; it has given me a great sense of the roles and responsibilities of each profession.
The reason why I want to be a PA is to help with the increasing gap between the supply and demand for primary care physicians. There is an increasing shortage, and I believe that as a physician assistant, I can contribute to the correction of this issue. Primary care is important; having a good primary care physician will save lives because they provide preventive care and are able to catch medical issues before they become life threatening.
Throughout the last two and a half years, I have only become more driven to become a PA. I reflect each day on what qualities are important in a PA: leadership, humility, compassion, communication and teamwork. I feel I have gained these qualities through my life and academic experiences-personal training, shadowing and dedication to higher education. I understand medicine is difficult and patient care can be frustrating, but I look forward to the demands of a PA program. I am confident my passion for patient care, love for medicine and dedication will allow me to be successful in a PA program.
Stephen Thompson says
Would appreciate some feedback, I am about 200-300 characters over the limit. Thank you for taking time and doing this, any feedback would be great!
Growing up, I was a very hyperactive kid with copious amounts of energy. In elementary school, I was always the kid who couldn’t sit still in his chair. Naturally, I gravitated towards sports to expend my superfluous energy developed a passion for basketball. Although I was never a savant in basketball, I have always given my full effort whenever I played. Going into college, my passions for basketball did not wane, I joined an intramural basketball team, worked on my craft and honed my skills in ball handling, defending, playing on a team and leading. I grew within the team, doing whatever the team needed, becoming an individual leader when necessary and as well as contributing as a team player. My hard work and dedication paid off as my team won an intramural basketball championship. And I flourished as a player and as a young adult. With my maturity, I did some introspection and gained insight about myself. I recognized the type of environment I need to excel and bring out the best in me. Some might say winning an intramural basketball championship in college is miniscule in the grand scheme of life, but this achievement has definitely taught me the value of hard work and dedication.
Innately, my love for sports sparked my interest in athletic training where I immersed myself into healthcare by working with the head athletic trainer at UC Merced. As a student athletic trainer assistant, I assisted students with rehabilitation, strengthening and conditioning exercises. This type of treatment taught me the value of preventative care and the need to educate people the right approach to prevent injuries.
To gain exposure in another healthcare setting and to interact with people of a different demographic, I volunteered at the Rascal Creek Physical Therapy clinic, an outpatient clinic servicing post-operative patients. These patients challenged me in various ways as they were rebuilding their strength and dexterity from ground zero. I was their pillar and provided them with mental and moral support and strength to endure the challenges and assist them to full recovery. My curiosity in healthcare led me to discover the profession of physician assistant (PA). After much research, I noticed the many similarities between the PA profession and the MD profession. What drew me towards leaning to the PA profession could be drawn from my love of basketball.
In many ways, basketball can be analogous to medicine and with this, I feel my traits that make me an exceptional basketball player can translate well as a physician assistant. Both require careful analysis of the situation, focus and dedication as an individual contributor and on a team and lastly, proper execution and follow-through. When playing basketball, you must be strategic to learn how to read defenses and watch past games’ film in order defend and score. As a PA, it is imperative to listen to the patient and review past medical history in order develop a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Understanding the difference nuances to properly develop a plan is how these two are similar. In both, sometimes an individual steps up to execute the play; in other instances, teamwork is the best way to achieve success. My underlying love for team sports and flexibility in positions in a team-based environment ultimately drew me towards becoming a PA.
I continued my healthcare journey as a front and back office assistant at a fast paced orthopedic surgery clinic. My position allowed me the most flexibility in the office; my duties ranged from rooming patients and taking their vitals, to overseeing postoperative durable medical equipment. Working alongside a PA, I was able to witness first hand what a PA does and how their role plays in a patient’s wellbeing in preventative medicine and in their recovery from surgery. My passion to do more within the profession was recognized as I was promoted to be a medical assistant at the clinic.
With the promotion, I worked with a lot of workers compensation patients. These patients are just everyday people who have injured themselves trying to make an honest living. Their full recovery directly impacts their ability to support themselves. Working with these patients really struck home with me as my father suffered a work related injury that required surgery. Removing the sutures for my father with the knowledge I gained solidified my inner compassion for healthcare as a whole. I want to be able to provide the same type of quality care my father received to as many people as possible. This position helped me to further discover my passion on wanting to do more than medical assist but be able to work in a team that allowed for collaboration.
Reflecting upon my journey starting as a student volunteer to now being a medical assistant, I know my drive is stronger than ever to continue my journey to become a full-fledged physician assistant. Just as my path from not being able to dribble a basketball in high school, to training myself to be able to dribble the ball ambidextrously, to becoming an intramural basketball champion in college, my determination and work ethic will drive me towards my end goal of being able to provide quality care for those from all walks of life as a PA.
Erin says
Here is a copy of a very close final draft of my essay. Any last minute thoughts or editing advise would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your time.
Launching from a platform high in the pine trees, Gus flew down the zipline toward the lake. His limbs gyrated chaotically with excitement. His fellow campers cheered from the dock as they watched his descent. His smile stretched from ear to ear as he plunged upside down into the water and was righted by his counselor. This moment transformed Gus into a camp hero, as he was no longer perceived as the boy in the chair. I, too, was transformed by this experience because I was a part of making Gus’s ride possible.
Gus was a typical 14 year old boy, despite the limitations caused by his cerebral palsy (CP). He was one in a small group of disabled children attending the Young Life camp at Woodleaf. His days were spent in a motorized wheelchair with added supports for his weakened neck and leg muscles. He spent hours at the edge of the dock watching the other campers ride the zip line wishing he could join. One afternoon I was sitting with Gus on the dock and asked if he would like to ride the zip line. He gyrated and vocalized with excitement at the suggestion. Since I was helping the camp doctor that summer, I asked if we might figure out a way to get Gus on the zip line. That afternoon we worked together on a brace to support his head and neck, and a pulley system to pull him to the platform. When I saw his smile as he came out of the water to the cheers of his fellow campers, I realized I was part of something special. For a moment, Gus was free from his disability and accepted as a normal teenager. This was one of the early experiences that sparked my interest in healthcare.
In high school I worked at Sun River Medical Group as a receptionist/medical assistant. I assisted with minor procedures, helped room patients and measured vital signs. Observing the physician work and the relationship he enjoyed with patients was appealing and stimulated my further exploration of the healthcare world.
During college I volunteered for a five week internship under the Chief Privacy Officer for the Oregon Department of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority. I reviewed old HIPPA policies, and updated the language to reflect updates in the law under the direction and review of the privacy officer. I learned that good health policy is important in the protection and promotion of quality, reliable, and accessible healthcare. I also learned that health policy is complex, and that it is important to help patients understand how to navigate the health system in order to eliminate disparities. This work was primarily focused on healthcare policy; I wanted to experience direct patient care.
One aspect of the PA profession that appeals to me is the ability of a PA to practice in many different specialties. After my internship in Oregon, I had the opportunity to see the role of a PA in a surgical specialty when I shadowed at Redwood Orthopedics. I noticed the physicians in the practice spent a fair amount of time in a supervisory capacity, while the PAs spent their time involved directly in patient care and education. This experience helped me better understand the role of a PA within a healthcare team, a team I am eager to be a part of.
For the last year and a half, I have worked as a medical assistant in a pain management practice alongside physicians and PAs treating primarily injured workers. Working with a PA on a daily basis has solidified my desire to become a Physician Assistant. Currently my responsibilities include obtaining medical histories, assisting with injections, and informing patients about pre and postoperative care. I particularly enjoy spending time with patients after their appointments reviewing instructions for their prescriptions, and helping to clarify information in preparation for procedures. Often I listen to patients as they express frustrations with workers compensation insurance, and difficulties accessing the medical care they need. The PAs within this practice work hard to advocate for their patients despite the challenges they face. This has been an inspiring experience for me. As a PA, I will be committed to providing quality comprehensive care despite the obstacles within the healthcare system.
I am confident that my experiences combined with my passion for medicine will contribute to my success as a Physician Assistant. I am committed to patient care, advocacy, and envision a lifetime working to improve healthcare. My goal is for my patients to feel well-cared for and valued regardless of their background, their diagnoses, or the difficulties within the healthcare system. When I think of the smile on Gus’s face that day on the zip line, I feel privileged to have been a part of that experience for him. A PA has the unique opportunity to impact the lives of their patients. I hope all my patients will have their “Gus moment”.
Rebecca Kaffash says
It only takes one interaction in life to open one’s eyes to incredible things. Every day we are confronted with experiences and challenges that may unknowingly lead to great things. Whether that one interaction is positive or negative in that moment, can lead to life changing things.
My sisters and I were at century 21 looking for some clothes. At one moment we noticed my happy, always smiling, energetic nephew being unresponsive and looking into thin air. I have never seen more panic in anyone then in my sister on this day. She was trying to express what is wrong but words could not come out of her mouth. She was tremblingly pointing at my nephew. Her pale face was helpless, I wanted to do something, to know something, I scanned through my brain, all the biology classes I had taken in high school, passed family history but I was to no use. Then I heard someone say “call an ambulance, this child is having a seizure”. Seizure was not a word in my family’s vocabulary. Although my sister’s world seemed like it was crashing, at that moment, that moment when someone stepped in and understood what was happening I saw a sense of relief over come my sister’s face. This woman stood by my sister, held her and said everything will be o.k. She explained exactly what was happening to my nephew. She provided a deeper level understanding in appropriate language that we can understand.
From the moment of seeing someone have incredible medical knowledge and was also able to show a person, a stranger, compassion, and empathy, and give assistance changed my view of “helping people” in so many ways. I cant say that it was that moment that made me want to be a PA, but it was from that experience that I knew I wanted to be a person who is able and has the tools to bring comfort and knowledge to a person in need.
While shadowing a Physician Assistant I was relatedly able to show the compassion the lady showed towards my sister. When a patient seeks help from his/her health care provider s/he is often scared and concerned. While I was shadowing a gastroenterology PA, I was able to observe the critical role a PA plays in putting a patient at ease. While doing rounds, we came across a patient who was suffering from Crohns disease. Before we entered the patient’s room the PA notified me that the patient has not been compliant with taking her medication. Upon meeting the patient, it became apparent that she did not speak English well and did not comprehend the diagnosis. She was an Iranian woman and being that I was fluent in Farsi, I asked if I could help translate and explain the severity of her disease.
As I started explaining the severity of her situation, the patient understood her diagnosis and a sense of relief came over her. Instead of just telling the patient to take the prescribed medication, I was able to provide an explanation of how it will help her feel better. A few days later, the PA informed me that the patient was doing better and much more at ease thanks to the elimination of the language barrier. Educating and helping a patient understand the pathophysiology of their diagnosis improves outcome and gives patients control over their lives, along with relief from the fear and anxiety that comes with being in a hospital setting. Being a person who experienced the relief of care and understanding I want to continue to give that relief to others.
Troy says
Steam rolling off my freshly brewed coffee I listened intently as Dr. Wilkins told me his journey of becoming doctor. He described to me the impact he was able to have on the lives of his patients for close to 20 years. Dr. Wilkins worked in family practice and the unhindered joy that it brought him every day was evident through his wide smile and hearty laugh. I could see the passion in his blue eyes, his love of people, and the effect he had on those around him. In that moment I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to go into healthcare and make the kind of impact in patient’s lives as Dr. Wilkins had.
Soon after my conversation with Dr. Wilkins I was given the opportunity to be a clinical volunteer in Haiti where I helped to provide medical care to those who would otherwise have no access to it. My heart broke for the malnourished children I fed and that experience confirmed my decision to pursue a career in healthcare. Early in college I had considered physical therapy but soon realized that medicine appealed more to me. I loved the idea of using scientific knowledge and critical thinking to be able to diagnose and treat an individual. For most of my college career I thought the only way to do this was to become a physician, but that changed after I became a volunteer at University Health Services.
At UHS I met some phenomenal PAs who opened my eyes to the many advantages the profession had to offer. They showed me that PAs are on the forefront of patient care, performing procedures and building meaningful relationships with their patients. More than anything else, this was the largest draw for me to the PA profession because the reason I initially decided to pursue a career in health care was to do just that. I have a penchant for patient care and often PAs are the ones providing that care. Furthermore, I have always been interested in primary care and learned that PAs will be part of the solution to provide access to care for those that might not otherwise receive it. In short, becoming a PA was exactly what I wanted all along.
My desire to become a PA was solidified once I began working as a medical scribe in the emergency department. Working as a scribe I am not only able to gain a vast amount of medical knowledge, but also see firsthand the role that PAs play as part of the healthcare team. It didn’t take me long to realize that my personality fit the duties of a PA much better than that of a physician. I have never been one who relishes being in charge, and tend to do my best work in a supportive role. I love the idea of being able independently diagnose and treat patients, but also collaborate with an attending physician when needed. It is in this position that I believe I will be able to function best and provide the highest quality of care to my future patients.
Often times in life there is not just one moment that reveals all, but through a combination of experiences, emotions, and some serious soul searching we make the choices that we do. Such has been the case in my choice to become a physician assistant. I feel passionately that it is my function in life to serve others and I look forward to one day becoming a physician assistant who not only provides compassionate care but also brings hope to people through meaningful relationships with them.
Jerusha Lancaster says
While winding down the pre-op area of outpatient surgery, a worried mother and father unexpectedly arrived with their young son from the emergency room. While eating cashews, the young boy, John, began choking and aspirated a piece of the nuts. Unfortunately, his coughing proved to be unproductive and he needed surgery to remove the obstruction. As we prepared the young boy, the surgeon came out to introduce himself and his first assistant, a physician assistant. As a patient care technician interested in a career as a PA, it excited me that PAs could play such a significant part of the surgical team. To everyone’s relief, the cashew was retrieved safely from John’s lungs, preventing any further complications or infection. This example of patient-centered collaboration between PAs and doctors in the surgical setting reinforced my resolve to become a PA.
Admittedly, this level of commitment was not present during my first semesters of college and my grades suffered. I needed to make a change. With refocused efforts and the help of my family, invaluable study partners, and excellent teachers, I graduated with honors. My college career taught me a great deal in self-discipline and accountability.
Throughout my husband’s frequent deployments with the military, we both learned about adaptability and self-reliance. Much like a PA partners with their physician, my husband and I communicated with each other to help maintain the household and discipline of our daughters. Now, as a civilian family, we see ourselves as life-long learners, each on our own path of building healthcare experiences. As a re-applicant, I have focused on building my skills on all fronts.
As a volunteer at a free neighborhood medical clinic, I have joined others to provide much needed medical care for the surrounding community. Each clinic may run smoothly or be a night filled with challenges but no matter the circumstances, I always leave with a cheerful heart.
One evening, a provider asked me to draw blood from a patient named Elena. I remember Elena’s graciousness as the nurse and I attempted and failed to get blood from her. Four venipunctures later, we finally got the blood we needed. Afterwards, Elena was not irritated about the situation or the time it took, but instead thankful for our services. Not only did we feel extremely humbled by her reaction but proud to serve a community of people that showed such faith in our abilities.
As with any great healthcare provider, I desire to have strong relationships with my patients so their health improves over time. Our job is to listen and work with our patients to achieve common health goals. Mary, a family practice PA I shadowed, taught me not only how to effectively listen to patient’s concerns, but how to better communicate so they feel comfortable with the proposed care plan. Mary’s empathetic nature and patience in listening resulted in excellent care for all of her patients, from the child with a cough to the adult with appendicitis. She also helped me better understand the juxtaposition of autonomy while collaborating with a supervising physician. Mary saw many patients on her own during the day, but if a patient presented with complicated symptoms, she brainstormed with her doctor to come up with the best plan of action. As I shadow more PAs, I feel more comfortable that a career as a PA is best suited for me and my abilities as a good communicator and compassionate listener.
As a patient care technician in an emergency department I continuously use the opportunity to cooperate with my coworkers and strengthen my clinical decision making. When a critical patient comes in, it is paramount that the doctors, nurses, and techs all pull together for the most beneficial outcome. We put a strong focus on teamwork so there is no delay in our patient’s care. Paul, a patient complaining of dizziness and sweating, recently came into our triage. After an abnormal EKG reading, and the doctor’s confirmation of a STEMI, we quickly brought Paul back to prepare him for a stent placement in the cath lab. A controlled chaos surrounded Paul as I helped to undress him and place him in a gown. A nurse entered the room to place IVs and the doctor also came in to explain to Paul that he was having another heart attack. A pharmacist stood by with vital medications to be administered before Paul left for surgery. When a patient such as Paul comes through our doors, time is of great importance. I greatly enjoy being a part of the problem-solving healthcare team that makes such a difference in someone’s life.
After learning about the physician assistant profession in college, I focused on building my knowledge of medicine, healthcare experience, and critical thinking skills. I feel that many aspects of this profession match well with both me and my family. I’m excited about the opportunity to join an institution known for developing thoughtful and competent clinicians.
Lena N. says
As I took my first footsteps on Costa Rica, well known for its tropical beaches and thrilling adventures, I approached it differently than many other travelers did. I spent my vacation week at the National Children’s Hospital in San José to discover more about the healthcare systems outside of the United States and to help the underserved population. Although Costa Rica is known for having one of the best healthcare systems in Latin America, I was still able to see the less developed parts. I witnessed less medical professionals compared to patients and many of the medical equipment were outdated. There were children who were alone in beds because their parents were either at work or for other reasons and nurses came to check on them from time to time. My job included caring for the babies and the children by playing with them, holding them, and feeding them. I was also able to go on rounds with the doctors and medical students at site. I met a baby girl who had strabismus and was suffering from malnutrition. Strabismus is a condition that could be corrected early in life; however, there are numerous children who are left untreated. It was not just that baby girl who was suffering from malnutrition because suboptimal breastfeeding is one of the leading risk factors for the most disease burden in Costa Rica. The moment I saw people in pain so close was when I determined once again to pursue a career in the healthcare field.
During my years at Syracuse University, I majored in Public Health because I wanted to learn more about how to improve general health and quality of life. Through this study, I learned the importance of prevention and promotion of health. With the foundation I have done variety of researches on risk factors for different chronic diseases, significance of child vaccinations, and have also developed intervention programs to promote healthy lifestyles through exercise and nutrition. Many of my Public Health classes required group work because two heads are better than one in coming up with creative and effective interventions. One intervention that our team directed took place at South Side Communication Center in Syracuse, NY. We were to educate children age 9 to 16 through creative activities on healthy living, physical activity, nutrition, and food safety. After evaluating their behavioral change throughout 3 months period, I saw that those children were slowly exercising more and eating healthier and ultimately they were teaching their parents to lead healthier lifestyles as well. Through majoring in Public Health, I learned the effectiveness of working in teams and how much I was fascinated by human health.
After graduation, I had an opportunity to shadow physician assistants at the Endocrinology Consultants in Englewood, NJ. I realized how physician assistants at the Endocrinology Consultants not only care for the patients medically but also overlook their general health and lifestyles. The PAs carefully evaluated the patients, reviewed their treatments, and advised them to lead healthier lifestyles by exercising and eating healthy. That was when I knew that I wanted to be someone who can help clinically and preventatively by interacting with patients– a physician assistant. I had other clinical experiences working as a lead medical assistant at a pediatrician’s office. I measured children’s height, weight, vital, and performed vision test and hearing test. Working side by side with a doctor at a pediatrician’s office allowed me for more patient care experience and I found that I love to work with patients.
If I have to describe myself in one word, I would say love is how I would define myself. I have shown love to people who were less fortunate by volunteering at food kitchens in Paterson, NJ and Baltimore, MD serving foods to the homeless and interacting with children with disabilities every Saturday. Because of my character, people naturally surround me. Ever since young I have been someone whom friends come for advice or for help whenever they are sick or are in need. For example, my friends would ask me for advice when they are having difficult time due to constipation or when their leg is swollen. I enjoy communicating and interacting with people, especially those who are in need of my help.
In the near future I look forward to return to Costa Rica and to other less medically developed regions to help them as physician assistant. With my academic background, patient care experiences, and volunteer services, I believe I am comprehensively prepared for the studies and the duties of a physician assistant. I long to become a physician assistant who can provide medical knowledge to support the patients clinically and to educate them so that they will be able to prevent chronic diseases by enhancing their lifestyles through modifications in health habits.
Adrienne says
I’m having a really hard time developing my personal statement and have a very rough somewhat unfinished draft. I would love any suggestions on how to build on what I have and where to go from here. Thank you!
It’s never something immense that changes everything, but rather the slightest of details that irrevocably shifts the balance of the universe while you’re busy focusing on the big picture. One shift, no matter how profound, can disrupt everything.
Tuesday morning—shower, coffee, make lunch, go to work. I had spent two weeks working as a clinical information manager (CIM) in a busy, urban emergency room (ER) and while I was enjoying it, I had yet to feel a push in any one direction which was the whole reason behind taking this position. It was that same day that I got the jolt I had been waiting for, her name was Stephanie. Before even knowing who she was, I noticed this kind young woman moving about the ER with the greatest ease as if she knew exactly what her purpose was and exactly where she was going. Her stature small, but her presence larger than life. I got up from my seat and started walking, not realizing that I was following Stephanie, eager to know more. I saw her turn into bed 7, closing the curtain behind her. “Who is this person,” I thought to myself. It had only been two weeks since I started working there but in that time I had met almost all of the physicians. Stephanie was wearing the same black scrubs with the telltale stethoscope hanging poised from her neck, was she a doctor? “Hi, I’m Stephanie.” I looked to my right, realizing at that moment that I had been leaning up against the desk outside of the room waiting like a crazed stalker, and now had to come up with some kind of explanation for my odd behavior. My eyes moved to the edge of her scrubs, PA-C. Unfamiliar with this abbreviation, I asked if she was a doctor. The largest smile spread across her face as she told me she was a physician assistant (PA), something I had never heard of prior to our meeting, and asked if I would like to come with her to see some patients.
From that moment on, I learned everything I could about PAs and what it meant to be one. And I loved it. I had spent essentially my whole life on a pre-med path, eyes on the prize headed straight for medical school. Little did I know there was so much more out there, that I could be a part of a team, collaborating with a physician but yet making medical decisions with autonomy. I spent as much time as I could shadowing Stephanie and other PAs, not only to latch onto their vast knowledge but also to gain a better understanding of the profession.
At the age of 19 I found myself at a crossroads—pregnant and wanting to finish my undergraduate years so I could move on to graduate school. I promised myself and my baby that no matter what happened next, I would graduate from college. Despite the struggle I faced as evident by my not always spectacular grades, I was able to finish my undergraduate degree after taking almost two years off to work to provide for my young daughter. When I started in my current position as a CIM in the ER, I knew I had to see and do as much as I could in that capacity to better prepare myself for the next step. Since starting as a CIM in the ER two years ago, I have had the opportunity to interact with dozens of PAs, physicians, and nurse practitioners (NPs), developing side-by-side comparisons. What I have found is that the PA profession offers what I really want and what I thought I was going to find in attending medical school. I especially enjoy the relationship between PAs and physicians. PAs are confident and autonomous in their medical knowledge, but at the same time work alongside an attending physician in a diagnostic-centered collaborative.
Devon A says
*There’s some small things I still want to add in, but since I’m practically at the character limit, I need to figure out what to remove first*
On a frigid January night of 2001, my dad woke my baby sister and myself from our sleep. He instructed me to follow as he carried her down the hall. Even with my six year old ignorance, I could tell by his facial expression and tone of voice that something was severely wrong. Once in my parent’s bedroom, my dad helped me climb onto the bed and set my sister down beside me and my mom that appeared to be peacefully asleep. “Tell momma you love her,” he whispered. Confusedly, I did so. A faint smile touched the outside of lips, but her eyes did not open. This was the night my mom lost her battle with breast cancer.
In the few years I had with my mom, she instilled in me a passion for learning and the natural world whether it was through reading challenging books together or caring for the animals on our farm. It came without surprise that I was drawn to and excelled in the sciences early on. I was fascinated as I learned about the diseases and ailments that affect a great majority of the world’s population, and I was amazed as I conducted my first couple dissections in anatomy class. It was in high school that I realized my desire to put my knowledge to use to help as many people as possible through medical care and education. This, coupled with the intrinsic motivation I have from my mother’s death, and I wholeheartedly knew I belonged in a facet of health care, although I was still unsure of where the exact place for me might be.
As I explored several healthcare careers during my freshman year of college, I had the opportunity to observe an open heart surgery: a mitral valve repair. While I thought the person assisting across from the surgeon might be a resident, the anesthesiologist I was speaking with instructed me that they were actually a PA. Although I knew little about the profession at the time, I was riveted seeing a PA so involved and crucial to the surgery. It was during this surgery that I knew becoming a PA was the career path I was most interested in following. Unfortunately, this realization came at a dark period in my life. Not only did my family deal with the unexpected death of my grandpa, but I also struggled to remove myself from a toxic relationship. I kept my depression a secret for a very long time as I had always been seen as a very strong and independent person by my peers and family, so I feared that bringing attention to such things would change people’s perspectives. With my emotions bottled up, my emotional/physical health and my grades took a negative hit. After my sophomore year, I realized the necessary measures I needed to take to prepare myself for my future. As I began to see my worth once again, I found it harder to stay around people who did not. I changed my methods of studying and dedicated much more time towards it. I surrounded myself with people who genuinely cared about my wellbeing and wanted to see me succeed. I began to see my health and happiness improve, and my grades took a significant positive turn. I can definitively say that my last two years of coursework at Loyola are representative of my aptitude and capabilities as a student. I culminated my successes by earning Dean’s List in my last several semesters at Loyola.
After my mom’s death, and as I see the health of loved ones begin to deteriorate, I hold an impeccable appreciation for life. This was especially put into perspective when I began working in a healthcare setting. Working as a CNA turned out to be more meaningful than just a prerequisite for PA school. It was not until several months of work had passed that I realized my necessity and truly enjoyed the work I did. I tried to see things from the patient’s or their family’s perspective, and in doing so I realized that these people could be my dad, sister, grandma, etc., and I would want the utmost care for them. I developed a new level of tenderness and compassion as I cared for people who could no longer care for themselves.
It was in Ann that I saw my grandma. She was a 93 year old with nearly perfect vitals, but was hospitalized for chest pain and a minimal amount of strength leaving her in bed for the majority of the day. Each morning of her stay, I was greeted with an elated, “Hi there sweetie, you’re back again today!” We bonded over the highlights of the Chicago Cubs’ games, and in turn I was able to motivate her to regain her strength in walking, even if it was just down the hall and back. When asked about my plans for the future, she was ecstatic to hear I was applying to PA schools because her son is also a PA in primary care. She assured me it was the perfect career to set my sights on.
Observing several PAs and the relationships with their patients solidified my desire to enter this profession. They knew a great majority of their patients down to personal details and were familiar with their medical history beyond their chart. Although they may treat patients of lesser acuity than physicians, it was clear how much more they focused on their time spent with the patient. Not only is the amount of patient interaction a large importance to me, but I am especially drawn to becoming a PA as they have the capability to explore specialties and are granted a large amount of independence and autonomy. I greatly despise laziness, stagnation, and complacency. Becoming a PA will feed my desire to constantly improve upon myself, celebrate the successes of my patients, and learn from the ever-changing field of medicine.
In the past couple years I have grown and matured immensely, more than I thought would be possible from the condition I was in several years ago. I am hopeful that admissions committees will see past my lacking GPA and afford me the opportunity I know I deserve. I have proven my capability and motivation in my last two years of college as I refocused my goals, became involved in health care, found happiness, and significantly improved in my academics. As a physician assistant, I will further my knowledge and expertise so that I may diagnose and provide the care and education my future patients will require.
R S A says
I was always the last one at the dinner table while my brothers ran off to play video games, do homework, or be anywhere but there. I wasn’t there because I was still eating, in trouble, or being polite, rather I was there because it was when my mother, a Registered Nurse, and my father, a General Surgeon would share stories about their day. Rarely were they discussing how amazing their days were because everything went according to plan. More likely than not, there was a patient who passed out from a blood draw, a surgery that started later than it should, or a complication with a hot appendix. Throughout my youth and early adult years, I continued to ignore all signs directing me toward the field of medicine and unconsciously was trying to fill the void with other jobs and hobbies.
In Elementary School, at the age of 6…and 7…and 9… I had an affinity for breaking bones. Being lactose intolerant, really hurt my growth of bone density. Although young, I remember responding to the question of “what happened” with… “I have a hairline fracture in my left radius”, or “I fractured my left humorous (and it wasn’t funny)”, while most kids would respond… “I broke my arm.”
In Junior High, I felt so privileged to be able to bring my father in for career day. He was always allowing my older brothers to watch him in the OR and I couldn’t wait to see what he had in store for us. The day my Dad was invited in consisted of watching my father remove a gallbladder on video and passing around gallstones and kidney stones for the class to look at closely. While most kids had to run out from being squeamish, I sat front and center staring at my father’s steady hands in amazement.
In High School I fell in love with biology. This may have been the only textbook that I read cover to cover without direction from the teacher. We had just finished our Mitosis and Meosis unit when we got to choose either a plant or animal cell to make from resources around our home. I dug through the trash and sifted through drawers and cabinet. I was so excited that I found a shoebox lid for my plant cell and an old frisbee for my animal cell that I ended up not being able to choose and made both! To this day I see rubber bands as golgi bodies and golf balls as nuclei.
In my Junior year of High School, I was nominated to participate in the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine (NYLF). For 10 days in the summer I was able to be a teenage med student at Georgetown University. It was then that I was forced to face my fear of death. Unbeknownst to me, we were brought into a morgue in the hospital. Without being able to halt walking in, I was suddenly thrust upon my actual nightmare; being surrounded by the dead. I found myself totally at peace staring at this old man with salt and pepper hair and really long nose hairs. There was something about those nose hairs that made me start asking questions in my head. When did he die, how long until his nose hairs go away, what makes these hair cells so strong and alive? At no point was I afraid of coming face to face with him, as my inquisitive side took over.
I declared Psychology as a major my second semester of Freshman year. This seemed like a no brainer since my friends and family reminded me that I wanted to be a relationship therapist at the age of 12. Those of all ages felt comfortable coming to me with issues that I would empathize with, talk through with them, and make them feel comfortable that they weren’t alone. I went through the next four years working toward a BA in Psychology. It wasn’t until my last semester of my last year that I took a course titled Helping Skills. This course was supposed to get me practice being a Clinical Therapist. As someone who had been to therapy before, I was shocked and amazed at the techniques we were learning. I had flashbacks to sessions where I realized my therapists were using these very same techniques I was learning in this course, on me. All along I thought they were therapists because they were so genuine and it was in their blood, not learned. I pride myself on having the innate ability to be kind, sensitive, intuitive, brave, and relatable.
As a young adult I finally realized that being an Account Manager in the Ad Tech world was just appeasing my skillset that would be best used as a Physician Assistant in the medical world. I hurt my right hip doing sprints and ended up needing an MRI to fully diagnose my injury. The MRI not only showed a labral tear and a stress fracture of my pubic remi, but it also helped discover orange-sized ovarian cysts. With that I was referred to a Gynecologist to look at and eventually remove. Right before the surgery, a nurse did a blood draw and within hours realized my platelets were quite low and that I indeed had von Willebrand disease. With that, I was referred to a hematologist. Most people would be stressed out and exhausted by this health rat race that they were sent on, but not me. I was intrigued, excited, and wanted to figure out what next and how many more doctors could I be exposed to to learn from.
It took me up until now to realize that I am not a product of medical exposure, yet the product of medical interest and enjoyment. I am unable to suppress my need to help patients through diagnostics and health care management. Drawing Punnett squares on napkins at parties, making Doctor appointments for friends, and thinking a Periodic Table of Elephants T-shirt is funny, is not because I grew up with a nurse and a doctor. I love the field of medicine and have been trying to fulfill my need in ways that weren’t possible. To this day, I still sit at the dinner table listening to this foreign language hoping I too can be fluent one day.
Elizabeth Daake says
Making choices about a career as a young child is often a daunting task. As soon as career days start in grade school, kids are often pushed toward careers that society deems successful and worthy of their intelligence and personal sacrifice. 16 years ago, that was when my journey to health care began. I sat in my second grade classroom on our first full career day. I was surrounded by 18 other squirmy kids wanting to get to look at the puppy that the Veterinarian brought to show the kids participating. I could have cared less about the puppy as I glanced at the clock waiting for this half an hour to pass when I knew that I would be able to go to the classroom with the doctor. The session with the surgeon was the only session I really cared about anyways.
As soon as the bell rang to announce the end of that terribly long half an hour, I was out of my seat and out the door to see the doctor in the next room. I wanted to be the first in line and in the very front row. As we filed into the room, we were handed a pair of latex gloves, a mask, a scrub cap and a small blue surgical gown. My eyes must have lit up as if it were Christmas morning. I hung on to every word that physician said.
Through middle school and high school, I did everything in my power to prepare myself to be the best Medical School candidate. I took all the Advanced Placement classes and exams, I shadowed doctors and nurses, and I was so incredibly blessed to earn a full tuition scholarship that provided me with a provisional seat to the Indiana University School of Medicine after finishing my undergraduate career.
Four years of college and countless hours preparing, with only one goal in my mind. 15 years of organizing could not be wrong. But something felt wrong. I ignored the feeling of impending doom as I submitted my application. A few months went by and the feeling never got better. People asked what I planned to do after graduation, and there was no joy in my voice as I mumbled two words, “medical school”. Shortly after graduation, I was confronted with the fact that I seemed to be incredibly unhappy with my life. So I chose to make a change. I retracted my remaining applications and enrolled to take courses to fulfill requirements to enter a program to become a Physician’s Assistant. I was terrified to change my career path, 15 years of preparation I believed I was abandoning.
As it turns out, I believe my preparation to enter medical school was the best thing for me. Medical school is no carnival ride, and preparing for it demands persistence in studying, a solid work ethic and interpersonal skills to communicate vital information to potentially very sick and scared patients.
Post-graduation with a degree in biology, I took a position at a hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana as a patient technician. I work side by side with nursing staff and the hospitalist group at the hospital to care for many critically ill patients in the Progressive care unit. I have learned through my employment there appropriate bedside manner and that I love direct patient care. This position was a discernment I needed to solidify my choice to enter Physicians Assistant’s school.
I have also taken a teaching job at Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis as an Anatomy Lab Teaching Assistant. I spend many hours each week teaching my students the fundamentals of anatomy and the way the body works. I have been able to connect many things that I have learned through the hospital with relevant material I am teaching in class. I love to engage my students to find what they love to learn and to dive in at whatever pace they can absorb and understand the material.
Through my career as a student, teacher and hospital employee, I have learned a very important lesson; to do just what is expected is simply not enough. You have to be willing to take steps into what drives your passion. Becoming a physician assistant is not going to be easy, but I believe that I will stand up for the challenge and excel in my work and with my skills as a medical care provider.
Krystal says
Dr. LaChina and I walked up to Ms. Evelyn in the therapy gym as she finished her last set of bicep curls. One of her arms appeared significantly weaker than the other but still our patient smiled brightly. Quite suddenly, she sighed and tears began to roll down her face. “What’s the matter, dear? Is everything okay?” “Yes, actually everything is wonderful, yesterday I finally felt the urge to go to the bathroom! I was finally able to call for help before having an accident.” Tears kept tumbling down but her smile returned as she saw the pride on our faces. It wasn’t until this particular moment that I realized how many things we take for granted. Our bodies are able to have even the gentlest of sensations such as warning our brain that it is time to urinate. This was never something I ever felt thankful for or had given much thought to— it was just another human function. For Ms. Evelyn, however, having bladder and bowel sensation was so much more. She was no longer depending on nursing staff to check if she had urinated on herself or risked bedsores from skin breakdown. She was finally able to have slightly more control over her life and had taken a large step towards her recovery and independence. It was an honor to share this victory with her and her doctor. Later that afternoon the stroke researching began, my intrigued mind wanted to learn as much as possible to understand Mrs. Evelyn on a deeper level. The more I learn about a patient’s experience, the more I understand, relate, and share in the joy of their recovery.
Another pivotal moment in my journey towards pursuing this career was studying abroad in Ghana and working with another student to help a midwife at a military hospital create a culturally competent curriculum for childbirth educators. We interviewed several pregnant women in the community and learned how limited prenatal care knowledge they had. This midwife had been offering pregnancy classes to women but wanted to expand the class with nutritional information and fetal development stages. Witnessing the contrasting type of healthcare received in Ghana was an unforgettable experience that has inspired me to want to become a PA and use my own culture and fluency in Spanish to work in underserved communities who would benefit from having a provider who they can easily communicate with.
Currently as a scribe to the director of the rehabilitation facility, the patients have motivated me to become as an efficient helper to the director as possible. This job has not only kindled my passion but has taught me the importance and satisfaction of honest teamwork in healthcare. I prioritize the rehab director’s day by highlighting abnormal labs, diagnostic testing and informing him of the nurse notes imminent to the care that may be barriers for a safe discharge. My position as a scribe has taught me the true value of teamwork in healthcare and am convinced that as a Physician Assistant, I will gain the expertise necessary to directly make a more significant impact in these patients’ lives.
My previous background in social work has benefitted me tremendously in my post-graduate career. I not only see these patients as a scribe, wanting to learn the best way to illustrate their visit in the progress notes, but am able to provide suggestions for safe discharge planning and recommend possible resources that can help with a smoother transition to home during discharge meetings. My background in social work is a unique attribute that I bring to the table. I am able to relate on a psychosocial level and can see a patient as a person who is fearful of losing a job or a being branded with lifetime disability and how this will affect the family as a whole. These different sets of skills allow me to be analytical in both a social and medical way that the healthcare system is beginning to adopt. My experience with translating for a psychologist has allowed me to truly listen to patients’ feelings. It has allowed me to develop a keen eye for what a patient experiences during such a vulnerable time.
A wise doctor once told me, “most of healthcare is about exposure, the more you have seen the more you will know to treat”; the past 10 years have been full of different patients with various diagnosis, personalities and stories. It is experiences such as Mrs. Evelyn teaching me the importance of being grateful for the small things in life that keep me fascinated with the field. During a time where healthcare providers are in high demand, the change to electronic health records, and healthcare reform, the need for collaboration is essential to a patient’s health. When given the opportunity as a Physician Assistant, I will revel in the opportunity to become part of a person’s journey towards improved health. Given my current skill set and those I aspire to acquire in PA school, I will be a great asset in helping to tackle a patient’s disease and taking part in their roads to recovery.
Jessica Ruff says
This is a very rough first draft, so I am sure there are a lot of grammatical errors and it’s several hundred characters over the limit. Please help me with structure and content if possible! Thank you!
There was not just one single moment in my life that made me decide to pursue a career as a physician assistant (PA). Rather it was through many experiences and people in my life that led me down this path. In high school I developed a fascination for learning about the complexities of the human body when I took an anatomy & physiology class. I had never enjoyed a class so much before in my entire education. At the same time, I was doing a semester long project that required me to present on the career that I wished to pursue after high school and college. I had no idea what I wanted to do, let alone know that I wanted to work in the medical field. Originally I thought that maybe I would like to be a veterinarian because of my immense love for animals. However, even though at that time I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, there was something in me that didn’t absolutely love the idea of becoming a veterinarian; I felt like there was something missing.
My senior year I spent a lot of time volunteering for different clubs that I was a part of. During this time I volunteered at a rehab facility and soup kitchen. It was through these experiences that I discovered why I didn’t want to become a veterinarian, but wanted to work in health care. What I loved the most was being able to interact and listen to people. I knew I had some research to do about what career I wanted to pursue now that I decided the medical field was best suited to my personality. I can vividly remember spending hours on the computer researching numerous professions from nursing, to nurse practitioner, doctor, and everything else in between. The PA profession was one of the last that I stumbled upon in my research. The more I researched about it, the more I became interested in the profession and the roles of a PA. By the time I ended high school I was starting to think that maybe this is the career path for me.
I can recall the first time I met a physician assistant. My grandfather had been admitted to St. Mary’s hospital because he needed to have coronary artery bypass surgery. Amy, his physician assistant, came in to explain the procedure and answer any questions he had. I admired her because she had the ability to help him during his time of need. After she left I told my grandfather that I wanted to care for patients, just like she was caring for him. His eyes lit up with happiness and he told me how proud he was that I wanted to help people like him get better. Shortly after the surgery my grandfather had passed away, and I never felt more certain that I wanted to be a part of the healthcare team.
My desire to become a physician assistant has only grown stronger over the last several years through my patient care experience at work and shadowing opportunities. After my grandfather had passed away I wanted to shadow Amy and learn more about the roles of a physician assistant. The time I spent shadowing her strengthened my love and admiration for the profession. I observed her work both autonomously and at the right-hand of her physician to provide patients with the best care possible. I ultimately developed a better understanding of a physician assistant’s role.
As I continued to work towards my goal of becoming a physician assistant, I decided to continue not only learning about the sciences in college, but also Spanish. I never knew how useful Spanish would be in the medical field, until I decided to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) to gain patient care experience. At the nursing home where I began to work, one resident only knew Spanish, and sadly no other CNA knew it. I was able to use my knowledge of Spanish and provide her with comfort and understanding. I was able to gain much more than just patient care hours for my PA application here. This experience provided me with a new level of compassion and understanding about life. It was a privilege that I was able to help not only the residents living in the nursing home, but also their families. This experience instilled in me a determination to become a PA, so that I could use my knowledge of the Spanish language and compassion to provide patients with the best care possible.
I wanted to challenge myself and branch out from the nursing home. This led me to work at the Saginaw Valley Endoscopy Center as an endoscopy technician. One of my roles is to assist physicians in the procedure room during colonoscopies and upper endoscopies. The first time I was in the procedure room I was terrified. I was responsible for cutting the polyps while the doctor was cauterizing it at the same time. We had to work as a well-oiled machine. I observed several procedures, and then it was my turn. The first time I had cut the polyp off too fast, and this resulted in the physician not being able to cauterize it thoroughly. The patient was fine, but this meant that the physician had to spend more time trying to cauterize it, which did not make them happy. I have learned how to handle stressful situations while working with many healthcare professionals, and have been able to improve my communication skills and learn how to solve problems in a mature and respectful manner while working here with this team of professionals.
I believe that through my experiences I have acquired a valuable set of skills that will contribute to my success at a PA program, and to achieve my goal of a career as a physician assistant. Each of these events have shaped me to become a more genuine, mature, caring, and determined individual. I strongly believe that due to these qualities and many others, if given the opportunity, I would become a successful physician assistant.
Abbie O'Brien says
For me each day is an opportunity to grow as a person, but one day continues to stand out in my mind. On June 11th, 2015 a life or death situation arose, and it was my duty to respond. When I was hired as a fitness center attendant for University of Arkansas Recreation in December 2013, I never imagined that I would potentially save someone’s life while at work. Working in the exercise facilities is usually extremely laid back and relaxed. All fitness center attendants are certified in CPR. However, a circumstance that requires this training is exceedingly rare. During CPR training, I always wondered what I would do in a position that required my attention. Knowing that there is a major difference between classroom instruction and field experience made me question my abilities. Nonetheless, the 11th of June I was able to put my knowledge and skills to the test. That morning I was working at the UREC fitness center when a lady came running in asking for assistance. She urgently inquired if either my coworker or I were certified in CPR. After both responding yes, she informed us that during a financial meeting down the hall a staff member had become unresponsive. Along with university police, I rushed into the room with my AED and medical bag in hand to find the woman pale and limp. My nerves suddenly escaped me and were replaced with a great rush of adrenaline. There was no time to hesitate as both the police and I lowered her to the floor and began hooking her up to the AED machine. I assisted with CPR and her care until the paramedics arrived at the scene and rushed her to the hospital. Janice made a full recovery, and I will never forget the moment when she visited me a couple weeks later at work to personally thank me for help save her life.
From an early age, I have had a strong calling to help those in need, and this situation further strengthened my desire to work in the medical field. I greatly enjoy hands on experiences and being able to put my knowledge to use. When I entered college, I originally planned on pursuing a career in physical therapy. After numerous observation hours in a physical therapy, I could not see myself as a physical therapist. It was not until the end of my junior year that I learned about the physician assistant career. This career sparked my interest because the options are endless and always changing. I am excited to become a part of such a rapidly growing profession. After making the switch to wanting to become a physician assistant, I enrolled in a certified nursing assistant (CAN) class so that I may begin attaining direct patient care hours.
Being a full time student with two other jobs has made it difficult to accumulate direct patient care hours. I know that I will not have as many hours as other applicants; however, whether it be working for University Recreation as a fitness center attendant, babysitting, working as a CNA, or enjoying everyday activities, I am always looking forward to having the chance to provide assistance to someone. Sometimes, I feel that many people forget that one does not have to have a certification to help those in need. A simple smile or conversation can change a person’s entire mood or day. Mother Teresa was quoted saying “I alone cannot change the world. But I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples”. I will strive to set an example as a good person for others to emulate both in my everyday life and through my work as a physician assistant.
By being involved in a variety of organizations and working multiple jobs, I have encountered people of different ages and back grounds. These experiences have allowed me to develop communication skills and relationships in a wide range of settings. I owe my successes to the myriad of people I have interacted with including: coworkers, professors, students, patients, friends, and family. I look forward to being able to give back to the community that has shaped me into the well-rounded person I have become. Being alongside university police and paramedics to help Janice was my first experience working as a team with other medical professionals. The feeling of all of us working towards a common goal is irreplaceable. As a physician assistant everyday will be an opportunity to strengthen teamwork within the medical community and make a difference in countless people’s lives.
Gary Barnes says
“Trauma alert category one!!” is called on the intercom. I rush down towards the emergency department and gather up all the different types of cassettes needed to perform the various types of radiographs that may be needed. The trauma patient would be arriving shortly and I had to be prepared for the worst. The EMTs came through the double doors of the ED with the patient. To my surprise it was that of a two year old boy who had suffered a severe head injury. He was playing on his cart wheel and had fallen head first into an empty below ground pool. The boy was in a c-collar with his head wrapped in gauze soaked with blood. I stood by watching the nurses, physician, and physician assistant working together as a team in a chaotic but controlled effort to bring the young boy back to life. I could see the father and other staff members on their hands and knees praying silently but enough that you could hear the Lord’s Prayer for a positive outcome. After an IV had been placed, and the endotracheal tube had been positioned I then heard Dr. Cortez yell out, “I need chest x-ray, now!” My eyes shifted from the praying father to the boy, I had to focus for now I had a job to do. I immediately guided the mobile machine to the right side of the cart and with assistance lifted the lifeless boy up in order to slide the cassette underneath him. I stepped back and yelled out, “X-ray!!” the staff cleared out of the room and I took the radiograph. I then rushed to the boy to remove the cassette and headed back to the processing area with Dr. Cortez and the physician assistant close behind. They both looked at the developed image on the computer screen and stated they would have to inform the father that there was nothing else they could do for his son.
As a veteran of the United State Air Force and an x-ray technologist for the past 12 years, this experience of tragedy has left and everlasting impression in me. I could only imagine the heart break and stress that happened to that family after this event. I started to think that if something of this magnitude happened to me or anyone I knew would I know what to do for my child or friend? It’s a question that has been in my mind ever since. Even though I know the job as an x-ray technologist is an important part of a trauma team I couldn’t help but wonder if my skills and experience could be utilized in a manner that could be even more beneficial to that of the community I serve. That is when I had decided to look into a career that would allow me to have more to do with a patient’s care and to develop a relationship with them more than I do now.
I first researched nursing as a possibility but didn’t like the nursing model and was not interested in pursuing one specialty. At one point I even thought about being a physician, but I didn’t believe the amount of schooling or debt would benefit me. I remembered seeing the important role the physician assistant played during that code with the boy and how he assisted the physician and directed the nurses. I appreciated how the PA was an extension of the physician and the flexibility the PA had on his/her scope of practice than that of a single specialty or credential. I also appreciated the teamwork atmosphere and the autonomy that comes with being a PA, and the correlation between the PA and physician. Most of all, I valued the teamwork between the PA and staff something that I was already naturally accustomed to.
Entering the world of the PA is an incredible challenge. I realized that if I decided to go to PA school that I would have to complete the prerequisites required just to apply. I spoke to my family about this task for I knew I would need their support in order to have a chance in becoming a PA. My family responded encouragingly.
Being that I already have a vast amount of healthcare experience, I decided to shadow a PA to gain a better sense of what other modes a practice that a PA is able to offer. I also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Target Dayton Ministries, and Cub Scout Pack 234 in order to become closer to the community I already serve. This service included helping to build homes for those in need. I helped provide meals for the poor and less fortunate as well as being a positive parental role model with the cub scouts den and community events. I was happy to help. It made me more humble as a person and thankful for what I already have.
With my current healthcare experience and patient care techniques I feel I have the developed skills, concepts, and passion needed to be successful in the program. Becoming a PA motivates me to develop more within the healthcare field. I’m confident that I will be successful in completing my goal in becoming a PA and look forward to such a life changing opportunity in becoming a more valuable asset within the healthcare sector.
Gary says
(Revised Essay)
“Trauma alert category one!” is called on the intercom. I rush to the emergency department and gather up all the different types of cassettes needed to perform the various radiographs that may be required. The trauma patient would be arriving shortly and I had to be prepared for the worst. The EMTs came through the double doors of the ED with the patient. To my surprise it was a two-year old boy who had suffered a severe head injury. He had been playing on his cart wheel and had fallen head first into an empty pool. The boy was in a c-collar with his head wrapped in gauze soaked with blood. I stood by, watching the nurses, physician, and physician assistant working together as a team in a chaotic but controlled effort to bring the child back to life. I could see the father and other staff members on their hands and knees praying quietly, but loud enough that I could hear the Lord’s Prayer for a positive outcome. After an IV had been placed, and the endotracheal tube had been positioned, Dr. Cortez yelled, “I need chest x-ray, now!” My eyes shifted from the praying father to the boy — I had to focus on the job. I immediately guided the mobile machine to the right side of the cart, and with assistance lifted the boy up in order to slide the cassette underneath him. I stepped back and called out, “X-ray.” The staff cleared out of the room and I took the radiograph. I then rushed to the boy to remove the cassette and headed back to the processing area with Dr. Cortez and the physician assistant close behind. They looked at the developed image on the computer screen, and stated they would have to inform the father that there was nothing else they could do for his son.
Although I have seen much as a veteran of the United States Air Force and an x-ray technologist for the past 12 years, this tragedy left an everlasting impression in me. I could only imagine the heartbreak and stress that family suffered after this event. When I saw the nurses and PA working on the child, all I could do was stand by until I was called to do the chest x-ray. If I had the knowledge, might I have helped more during this time? I wondered if something of this magnitude happened to me or anyone I knew, whether I would know what steps to take. It is a question that has plagued me ever since. Even though I know the job as an x-ray technologist is an important part of a trauma team, I could not help but wonder if my skills and experience could be utilized in a manner that would better serve my community.
This major tragedy was the catalyst that prompted me to act on feelings I had been experiencing for some time. I have wanted to spend more time with patients than the average of the minute it takes to perform a chest x-ray. I have wanted to provide a diagnosis and treatment plan, to be involved from the beginning the patient walks in to discharge and through follow-up. I want to feel more useful. This is when I decided to look into a career that would allow me to have a greater role in patient care.
I first researched nursing, but I did not like the nursing model and was not interested in pursuing one specialty. I thought about the important role the physician assistant played during that code with the boy, and how he assisted the physician and directed the nurses. Essentially, he was an extension of the physician, working autonomously, yet independently, and a crucial part of the team. Shadowing a PA provided even deeper insight into the PA’s role. Everything about the profession appeals to me, and the skills I have developed over the last 12 years will transfer seamlessly to the job of PA.
Entering the world of the PA is an incredible challenge. I realized that if I decided to go to PA school that I would have to complete the prerequisites required just to apply. My family supports this endeavor.
I am already invested in the community I serve through volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, Target Dayton Ministries, and Cub Scout Pack 234. Through volunteering, I helped build homes, provide meals for the less fortunate, and offer a positive parental role model. I am happy to help.
With my current healthcare experience and patient care techniques I feel I have developed the skills, concepts, and passion needed to be successful in the program. Becoming a PA motivates me to develop more within the healthcare field. I am confident that I will be successful in completing my goal in becoming a PA, and look forward to such a life changing opportunity of becoming a more valuable asset within the healthcare sector.