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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 (7th 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
Mycah Baker says
As my 11-year old self walked into the cold hospital room, I found my previously healthy and energetic grandmother lying in the bed extremely fragile and feeble. My grandmother, or mamaw, had just undergone her second aortic valve replacement and was in the worst condition I had ever seen her in. She first became ill when she was 26-years old, and she was quickly rushed into open-heart surgery and her first aortic valve replacement to repair the damage from rheumatic fever she had as a child. Despite her early health issues, I had only ever known my mamaw as being full of life and energy. Because I was young and didn’t understand much about her situation, I was greatly disturbed to see one of the most important women in my life in such intense pain.
I had always heard how my mamaw got sick when I was a child, but I never realized the severity of it until I was in high school. Finding out that my mamaw was actually expected to die from rheumatic fever at three-years old truly disheartened me. The emotions I felt ranged from sadness for her and disappointment towards my great-grand parents and the doctors. However, the more I reflected on her situation, the more I understood about the circumstances of that time. Her continuous health issues made me see the lack of basic health and preventative care education there was during that time, and even today.
I often wonder how different my mamaw’s life would have been had my great-grandparents known the symptoms and when to simply take her to the doctor. Although her particular situation cannot be changed at this point, other individuals’ lives can be by providing basic health and preventative care information. This idea is one of the main reasons I want to become a physician assistant. Unfortunately, these preventable experiences still occur quite often, especially in rural areas such as where I grew up. But if I could prevent even one person from experiencing what my mamaw had to go through due to lack of health care resources, it would make it worth it for me.
This desire to serve has lead me to join the medical field, however, I did not always think I would be a PA. As many others, I considered nursing school and medical school (M.D. and D.O.), but neither seemed to really encompass what I saw myself doing. I knew I had a great desire to diagnose and analyze patients, but I didn’t want to have to commit to only one specialty. Those two main reasons pointed me towards becoming a PA. During time as an undergraduate student, I was also exposed to many opportunities to learn about becoming a PA. Those times of personally talking to current PA students and certified PAs made me realize even further that a PA is truly what I desire to be.
Because I had those opportunities to learn about becoming a PA early on in my college career, it pushed me to do my best and finish as soon as I could. I was able to complete my undergraduate career early like I planned, however, I did have some set backs during my last two years when I got married and had to move two times. Those obstacles did make things difficult and did change my plans of applying to PA school a year earlier, but I was still able to persevere and finish as I had hoped. Learning to continue with my plan and persevere through challenging times in order to achieve my academic goals through my undergraduate program will definitely help me be prepared for the rigorous and intense coursework of PA school.
My desire as a PA is to fully listen to and provide accurate diagnostic and analytical skills to all patients from any background or area. My husband, who is a student pastor at our church, and I try to reach out to our community to help in anyway we can, and our goal is to further develop that dream in the future by creating different mission programs in our area. Another major reason I am motivated to become a PA is due to the fact that many PAs have more of an opportunity to connect and develop relationships with their patients, as opposed to doctors. I personally believe that healthcare is more than just the basics of multiple office visits and prescriptions, but rather it should be built on the trust and relationship between patients and their healthcare provider. My ultimate goal as a PA is to do just that—to know and fully understand patients as well as provide the best healthcare experience as possible despite where they are from or what they may look like.
Morgan says
Hi! I would love some feedback on my essay. I do not have paid HCE (so I am only applying to schools that don’t require it for this cycle) which I know will work against me so I struggled finding ways to put together a strong essay without it. Thank you!
One of the best gifts I’ve gotten to date is Neil deGrasse Tyson’s book, Death by Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries. My favorite thing about Tyson is that he is completely brilliant yet still so in awe of everything he doesn’t know about the universe. I may never reach his level of brilliance or wit, but I like to think I’ve taken a page from his book in embracing the unknown. Not knowing what I wanted to do or be for so long is what allowed me to fall into things along the way that looking back, turned out to be my ways of finally knowing.
I’ll start with the first and only lymphadenectomy that I’ve ever partially witnessed. Before the procedure, when we asked the patient for permission for me to observe, she agreed and laughed that she was counting on me to keep an eye on her. It turned out that I wasn’t the best person to count on since I made it through about two minutes of the surgery before passing out. My embarrassment subsided as the PA from the team sat next to me on the floor outside of the OR with a bag of Cheez-Its and can of ginger ale. She made sure that neither I nor my ego were too bruised and invited me to follow her for the day, explaining that she worked with surgical patients before and after their procedures. While I admired the surgeon’s confidence and presence, I admired the PA’s rapport with her patients and graceful ability to make them comfortable with each room we entered. Most notable was a patient named Warren who was in his early seventies and recently had a colostomy. I didn’t expect it but he broke down into tears and I watched as the PA listened intently while he vented his worries to her.
A year later, I found myself in a position not entirely different from Warren’s. I was trying to drink 96 ounces of TriLyte to prepare for a colonoscopy and it wasn’t going well. I was reeling from nausea, covered in tears, snot, and blue Gatorade, and only 14 ounces in. Desperate, I called and left a message for the on-call physician and got a call back that turned my night around. The physician was patient, encouraging, and understanding. She spoke to me as an equal and worked with me to find strategies to get through it. Like that day in the OR, or really out of the OR, this stuck with me. I knew that I wanted to be able to do for my own patients what the physician did for me and what the PA was able to do for Warren in some especially vulnerable moments.
That is definitely not to say that I’ve always known that I wanted to be a PA. The path I took, though maybe less traveled, nevertheless brought me to a place where I know that it is the profession that I want to be a part of, and some of the most unlikely experiences have been the ones that retrospectively were the most important.
Working as a tutor allowed me to forge relationships with students and their families, templates for the relationships I plan to build with patients in the future. One mom gave me a graduation card that said “We just can’t thank you enough for all the confidence you have given Sean these past two years.” If it’s possible to beam, then I was beaming when I read that because I felt honored to have helped Sean with something bigger than chemistry.
Time as a research intern taught me how to make mistakes, how to learn from them, and the importance of asking questions along the way. I was fortunate to have a mentor who always took the time to explain things to me, never made me feel dumb for not knowing, and shared her enthusiasm for her work with me. I look forward to the privilege of working under mentors to come who will do the same, pushing me to be the best provider I can be.
I’m a terrible dancer, but Zumba classes have been a source of fun and balance in my life. No matter how many assignments were due or how much studying needed to be done, I learned that there was always room for an hour of ridiculous dancing. This same concept of balance that the PA profession embraces is something that I feel is crucial in allowing PAs to provide the best quality of care to their patients because they’re able to make their own wellness a priority too.
Finally, planning a 5K taught me more than I could have imagined about leadership and teamwork. Without the combined strengths and talents of my assistants, co-coordinator, and committee members, I know that the event would not have been nearly as wonderful or successful. I’m excited to have the opportunity to be an integral part of a team that is equally committed and passionate.
I didn’t know it while it was happening, but all of these experiences, lessons, and influences have blended to create someone who genuinely cannot wait to be a PA. I didn’t know it while I was eating Cheez-Its on the hall floor or while I was sobbing to an on-call physician about how gross and weird TriLyte is or while I was embarrassing myself at glow-in-the-dark Zumba. But thanks to all of those things, now I know, and am looking forward to a future as a PA and cannot wait to get started.
Carla says
I really appreciate your help! Thank you!
Personal statement by Carla
I was finishing the noodles soup when the power went off. -It has been earlier today- my father commented in the penumbra on the other side of the table. I was used to it so the darkness didn’t scare me even when I was a little girl. Every afternoon we waited for the blackout, and we must adapt our eyes to the light of a candle and try to forget about the sweat and the mosquito bites. My parents used all their talent to preserve the happiness of my infancy from the scarcity and desperation our country was living. They invented all kind of tale so I don’t miss the TV shows when there was no electricity. My mother taught me to sew scrap dolls and then to knit cloth for them. My father by another hand, transmitted to me the curiosity for science and technology as he taught me how to take apart a broken fan and then fix it with recycled material. As well, they inculcated in me the interest in reading: my mind could fly miles away to travel through the desert in a camel or to spend days in the ocean trying to catch a huge fish.
I realized now that my privilege childhood was a training for my professional life. I started developing many of the essential characteristics a physician assistant has. I learned how to be creative to find solutions when the most elemental resources are lacking. Remaining confident and positive, I know how to turn scraps into useful things. Tension and discomfort may be around, as mosquitos, and I still will stay calm as a PA must do. Versatile as my infancy, are the variety of specialties a physician assistant can work in.
The further experiences I have had, have been a reinforcement of the aptitudes needed in this profession. The importance of being responsible and knowledge is something that I have learned when being related to the medical field. Working as a pharmacy technician put me in contact with many sick people. Many of them reflect in their faces the anxiety of being ill or having some family member in that situation. Dealing with insurance companies, counting pills or transcribing prescriptions are some of the tasks that my job implies. Trough the time I have realized that my accuracy and expertise on these activities influence directly the satisfaction of patients. Through my volunteer hours and shadowing experiences, I have likewise, verified the fundamental role that caregivers play, even more, if they have to make diagnoses or treat illness as a physician assistants do. I will always remember that day when I was volunteering at the emergency room and a PA ask me to serve as a translator with a patient who did not speak English. Trough simple questions, which I translated, in less than five min. the PA could distinguish the symptoms of a stroke. When the patient was sent to the CT scan area to evaluate his brain and confirm that he did have a stroke, the PA came to me and told me that I did a great job. In that moment, I felt such a satisfaction as if I formed part of a huge discovery or something similar. I could see the same emotion in the physician assistant who let me realize that it is a profession that each day renovates, with new experiences, the enthusiasm and motivation for professional self-improvement.
Having to adapt to a new culture, learning a new language while working and studying at the same time has been one of the most challenging training I have overcome. Determined to give the best of me to this society, I started college after five months of arriving at this country. My grades may not be outstanding compared to others, but for me are the result of my effort and determination to keep going and excel myself in every aspect of my life.
When I visualize my future as physician assistant the feeling of accomplishment reiterates my decision. Becoming into a PA will not only give meaning and utility to all the experiences I have had but also will be the way of personal fulfillment.
Rachel says
This is my rough draft for my personal statement, all help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!
There was never a pivotal moment when I realized I wanted to be in a health profession. It was an accumulation of little moments over the years that made me realize how amazing this field was and the impact it had on everyone’s lives. It was the body book I was obsessed with when I was 5, the episodes of Grey’s Anatomy I used to beg my mom to let me stay up and watch in 6th grade, the overwhelming feeling of awe when I visited a local medical school cadaver lab senior year of high school and realized I was surrounded by future doctors and surgeons; but mostly it was the personal experiences with healthcare that made me realize helping people become healthy again and get their lives back in order was something that I wanted to be a part of.
I began to understand that there was more to the medical field than hospitals and the pediatrician when I was in 5th grade. My grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2005 and my perception of medicine was completely altered. As I entered the world of oncology, I began to grasp how much research went into and continues to go into the treatment of cancer. Since I was 11, I did not comprehend how in-depth the research was or the complete set of logistics required for her treatments, but I have always been an incredibly curious person, so instead of just accepting it, I was always asking more in-depth questions, trying to figure out what my grandma was experiencing and how she was going to get better.
The medical world changed and enticed me further in 9th grade, when I experienced a shortened field hockey season due to a stress fracture in my right fibula. As my father drove me to my doctor’s appointment, I realized I was not going to my usual well-visit, and I experienced the world of orthopedic and sports medicine. This is where I realized that not all doctors’ care about how your tonsils look or how your lungs sound when you breathe. These doctors only cared about fixing injuries and getting everyone back to a normal, daily life or in my case, back on the field. Just like I was determined and motivated to get back on the field, my doctor was determined to make sure I got there. She answered all of my questions about my injury and recovery, explained my x-rays, and continually left me with more questions about how the bones in my body worked.
By the time I was a senior in high school I was fixed on studying a medical discipline upon entering college. I understood the basic functions of our body’s systems and was fascinated with the harmony of every organ and system working together within humans. I was shown yet another side of the medical world in January 2013 when one of my friends was diagnosed with a stage IV Glioblastoma. As I continued to learn more about the field of oncology, my eyes were also opened to neurology. Every time she went through a new treatment, my peers and I noticed little changes that she went through. The most noticeable change was when she went through a surgery to try to remove some of the tumor. The doctors entered a portion of her brain that altered her speech as well as the movement on the left side of her body, and everything became slower. As I began to realize how different portions of your brain control different things, we stood with her as the doctors continued to fight and she surpassed her prognosis.
My fascination with the field of medicine grows everyday as I learn more and more about what makes up this amazing line of work, and all of the little things that brought me here remain and flourish with each class I take. Though there have been hard at times, the struggles I have faced in a few of my classes have only pushed me to work harder in order to learn more and to achieve my dream of becoming a physician assistant. My passion and curiosity for this field will propel me to always learn and do my best when helping those who need it the most, just like all of the doctors in my life have done for me.
Leanne Hochberg says
I gratefully appreciate the feedback! First time applicant. I have two bachelor degrees (Physiology and German studies) and a masters (Exercise Physiology)..my transcripts are fine, which is why I never touch base on them in the statement. My healthcare experience is competitive and included in the actual application. I wanted my personal statement to truly explain why I chose the PA profession. This is my story:
I grew up in a rural county in northeastern Pennsylvania with fewer than 6,500 residents. In such a place, you learn at a very young age how to occupy yourself during your free time. I would often escape to my favorite meadow and lay for hours under a big willow tree, gazing into the sky. I would absorb all that I could about this big, beautiful world in which I lived. It was during these moments that I felt most safe and at peace. This all changed when I was exposed to the deficiency in rural healthcare.
In the small community where I was raised, there was only one health clinic run by an elderly physician. After experiencing back pain and swelling around my joints for a couple of days, our trusted physician informed my mother that my ailments were simply growing pains and the result of early onset puberty. This diagnosis didn’t cause any additional concerns because I was otherwise a very active and healthy child. I was referred to a chiropractor in town and we were on our merry way. For weeks I was subjected to more adjustments and manipulations than any child should have to endure, and yet my symptoms worsened. On the morning of a family party, I awoke with a fever and severe abdominal pain, but managed to convince my mom that I was not sick so that I could still make an appearance that evening. We spent the rest of the day preparing for family to arrive, and unbeknownst to my mom, my fever and pain worsened. It was not long into the gathering that I realized my presence was a mistake, but it was too late and the toxins took control of my body and provoked vomiting. Before long, the vomit turned to bile, consciousness to delirium and I began to tremor. My mother was faced with a difficult decision that she needed to execute swiftly: call an ambulance to take me to the nearest emergency room (a three-hour journey) or drive me herself. She wagered on the uncertainty of the ambulance even showing up, so we were off in the darkness of winding mountain roads. After what seemed like an eternity of exhaustive attempts to remain conscious, we arrived at the hospital and I was eventually stabilized. My mother and I learned that the growing pain I had been experiencing for weeks was actually kidney pain as a result of an over-accumulation of urine; or in medical terms: hydronephrosis. I had been misdiagnosed, which ultimately led to bilateral acute kidney failure; I was nine years old.
Many have questioned my mother’s decision wondering why it was a decision at all. Choosing an ambulance should seem obvious; the ambulance would have had the equipment and personnel to intervene had my condition worsened. However, in rural communities, access to advanced healthcare is oftentimes limited by large travel distances and low wages. Although my mother had medical insurance, it did not cover the cost of emergency transportation. The only financially feasible conclusion was to drive me herself because the cost of the transportation was unaffordable and there was always worry that the ambulance may not arrive on time, if even at all. The decision that my mother had to make could have been avoided if the clinic in my hometown had been adequately equipped with properly trained personnel. My condition would not have escalated as far as it did, I would not have had to undergo weekly treatments at a hospital located three hours from my home and my mother would not have had to quit one of her jobs to take me to those treatments.
That big, beautiful world that I once loved disappeared and my life was lived in caution because quality healthcare was unavailable. This is a burden no parent, guardian, or child should ever have to experience. This is why I want to practice as a physician assistant (PA) in rural and underserved communities. PAs are trained in all specialties, which would allow me to address a wide-range of medical concerns in the rural community. In the event that I come across a condition that I can neither diagnose nor treat, my training will enable me to recognize my limits. I will be able to refer the patient to a specialist and avoid the turmoil that I experienced in my own misdiagnosis. I want to be the healthcare provider that I so desperately needed as a child.
Tiffany Scott says
Greetings, this is my first time applying and I would really appreciate any feedback on my essay that you can provide. Thank you!
I helped by best friend get hospitalized after she sent me a suicide note in the middle of the night. I drove my friend and college roommate to the Emergency Room after she overdosed in a suicide attempt. I talked my current roommate into putting down the knife she was going to use to slash her wrists and sat with her while she got psychiatrically admitted. Providing care and assistance to those with mental health disorders isn’t only my passion, but it has extensively touched my life both professionally and personally.
Two years ago I met a woman named June while working as an Emergency Services Clinician in the Lynchburg General Hospital Emergency Department. She laid in her hospital bed with the lights dimmed and tears streaming down her face. Her hands were held in an awkward position, confined by the handcuffs around her wrists. A colleague and I made our way into the bay and sat down to listen to her story and assess her psychiatric needs. I calmly listened as she described the past two months of her life. They had been filled with hopelessness, helplessness, and social isolation. She had not bathed in several days and did not have the energy to get out of bed, where she struggled endlessly to sleep. Her depression had permeated every aspect of her life, and culminated in statements to her sister that she was going to take an overdose as it was the only relief and escape she could imagine. Police officers had gone to her home, placed her under an involuntary psychiatric hold, and were monitoring her bedside as she quietly answered my questions.
June explained with downturned eyes that she had come to the emergency department a month earlier desperate for help. She was treated well and given the earliest available appointment with a psychiatrist, which happened to be three months away. She became distraught as she struggled through tears to explain she had tried everything she knew to get help and felt she could not survive for several more months before seeing her doctor. We ensured her that she would receive immediate help, monitored her blood work and urine tests as they came back, discussed the case with her physician to ensure she was medically cleared, and promptly admitted her to inpatient psychiatric hospitalization.
I see patients like June every single day. Those that have discontinued their medications because of cost and are now manic or experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations. Those that attempt, or complete, suicide. Every time I am overcome with the same feeling, the overwhelming desire to do more; to keep patients stable and out of a crisis, to increase patient access to psychiatric care, and to lower treatment costs. This is what makes me passionate about becoming a physician assistant, because every day I see the overwhelming benefit the profession can have. The improvement in patients’ quality of life, the integrated, whole body wellness that can be achieved, the shortage of psychiatrists that can be alleviated, and the lives that can be saved.
In my time shadowing in the emergency department and working alongside physicians, PA’s, and NP’s as a medical scribe at Stroobants Cardiovascular Center, I am fortunate enough to observe the impact PA’s have on patient access in medical care as well. I admire the collaborative effort of the care they provide, as well as the patient education that I have witnessed. This exposure has solidified my desire to enter the profession and my interest in medical as well as psychiatric care as the two are perpetually intertwined, both waxing and waning as they exacerbate and alleviate one another.
When I was fourteen, my sixteen year old cousin Cameron committed suicide. He constantly kept my family laughing, was intelligent, creative, and wanted to be a police officer; he was also bipolar and un-medicated. As a physician assistant I will have the skills, training, and resources to better serve these patients and do everything I can to stop future families from being effected in this manner. I will finally be able to do more, and will do so with the memory of all those, including friends, family, and patients, who have suffered.
Toufiq says
Hi, i would love some feedback on my personal statement as i am applying this year to PA programs. Any help would be much appreciated.
It is a dark gloomy rainy night with thunderstorm raging outside. It is a very hectic night down in the emergency department (ED) as we battle one trauma after another. As I entered the ER, I can see the Medical staff already gowned up as the big doors to the ER flung open. A young child is on a gurney with a metal pole protruding from his abdominal area and severe bleeding head wound. I quickly put on my personal protective equipment, and followed everyone into the small crowded trauma room. I called to a nurse asking to see if they were going to start an IV line that way we can draw the blood and the poor child doesn’t have to be filled with holes. I hear no reply. I followed my instincts and jumped right in through the crowd. I tied the tourniquet, took out the needle, and held my breath as the needle entered the patient’s vein. I slowly started to draw back on the syringe, as the blood starts to fill the syringe. Once I had the right amount of blood needed, I filled the blood tubes in the right order and hurried back to the lab so analysis for blood compatibility can be done. How fortunate was this child to have amazing healthcare professionals working as a unit to save his life.
Looking at this child reminded me of my childhood and how I wished I had gotten the quality of care when I was born. Being born into poverty in a third world country was difficult. When I was born, I had a severe defect in my head in which I was missing part of my cranial bones. My internal organs were just held by tissue covering. To achieve the quality of care I needed required funds that my family did not have. Without money there was no treatment. Doctors told my family I would not live through the night. However, destiny had its own plans and I miraculously survived. Growing up was a challenge as I battled constant infections as well as isolation. Immigrating to the U.S. had its own challenges such as being introduced to a new culture and the language barrier.
Unfortunately, as the days progressed, our situation had worsened here in the States. Within the last five years, my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and has gone under two major brain surgeries. My father was diagnosed with a brain cancer, nerve damage and genetic heart disease. My younger brother, who is only 23 years of age, had just been recently diagnosed with the same genetic heart disease. Moreover, I am also battling numerous health issues one after another. Over these last few years, my world appears to have disintegrated due to rising medical expenses and experiencing the loss of numerous loved ones in my life. As a result of these events, my grades have declined during freshman to junior years of my college life. I fell into depression as a result of the medical situations and feeling the suffering that my family overseas had endured as a result of the recent war.
Growing up I witnessed the compassion and empathy healthcare professionals showed towards my family. I knew then I wanted a career in the medical field.
Working as a Phlebotomist at St. Joseph along side many health care professionals to volunteering and shadowing, I have learned that PA profession is my calling. I like the aspect that PAs can work in many different specialties. This is intriguing to me the most because medicine is so broad that it is hard to just focus on one aspect of medicine. PAs also work in a collaborate team environment as well as independently to serve the needs of others. Being a PA is not just about saving lives but also giving hope and being an educator. PAs do not just diagnose or prescribe medications, Being a PA is about getting to know your patient at a deeper level, learning their lifestyle, and their concerns in order to give the quality of care.
Although I have faced many setbacks that led to declining of my grades, I have never given up on my aspiration to be a PA. In the last two years from the time I transferred to Sacramento State University, I have worked tirelessly to improve my grades. My grades have shown a tremendous improvement especially in my pre-req courses leading to an upward trend. I have lived through numerous medical situations and hospitalizations. On a deeper level, I am empathetic to what each patient is going through. I have learned compassion, empathy, and courage. I have experienced feelings of helplessness, challenges in language barriers, and cultural differences that sometimes are obstacles in delivering quality care. As a PA I can help overcome these challenges as I have been down this road.
With a career as a PA, I can better serve the underserved community by assisting to change patterns of behaviors by focusing on nutrition, intervention and prevention. As a PA, I want to ensure the needs of the patients are met and that we would not give up on them without trying. I want my patients to realize that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength and courage. Being a successful PA is about having passion and drive to positively change the world. It is about helping others who are less fortunate and in dire need. The simple gesture of just smiling to make someone’s day can goes long ways. Without any struggles, you will never really know who you are and who you can become. Your failures define your character as every resistance carries with it an opportunity that helps defines oneself. There is a beautiful quote by Mahatma Gandhi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” I have chosen PA as my profession because it is not just a job I will love but is my passion to serve others.
Tiffany says
I am a re-applicant, anything helps!
A piercing scream echoes across the lecture hall. A female student collapses to the floor and begins convulsing violently. A few students try to help her as someone calls 911. I watch, frozen, as the paramedics arrive. I feel useless.
An urgent announcement rings out across the quiet airplane cabin, calling for a doctor. We all watch anxiously as a doctor assesses a man, checking his vital signs and finally recommending that we make an emergency landing. I feel helpless.
A male student is talking to some friends after a dodgeball tournament, looking distressed and out of breath. His skin is pale and sweaty, and he is rubbing the center of his chest with a clenched fist. I sense something might be wrong, but I do nothing. The next day, I find out that he had passed away from a cardiac arrest. I feel horrified.
“Medic!” I rush over to a man on the floor next to the concert stage. He had passed out and hit his head on the wall. With the assistance of other volunteer EMTs, I assess him, check his vitals, and transport him to the medical tent, where a PA takes over. I feel accomplished, yet I want more.
I always craved a career in healthcare, but it took me a long time to find my calling. I considered medical, dental, and pharmacy school, but after doing the research and shadowing, none felt like the right fit. I took pre-health courses, but they seemed pointless—I could not see why I needed to know the chemical structure of a molecule or the steps of the Krebs cycle. My feelings of futility combined with difficult circumstances at home caused my grades to suffer. But once I came across the physician assistant profession, everything came together. When I shadowed PAs, I was impressed with their capacity to operate autonomously as well as part of a physician team. PAs also have the opportunity to work in various fields, are able to spend more time with each patient, and can achieve a healthy work-life balance.
I became an EMT—something that seemed extremely intimidating. Although I was anxious, I knew was making my first steps to remedying the uselessness and helplessness I had felt before. During my training, I was awed with the importance of truly mastering the material, because making a single mistake could be the difference between life and death. I turned to my academic coursework with a new purpose, now that I knew that anything I learned now could help me treat patients in the future. Moreover, the fast pace of emergency medicine captivated me, which requires the nerves to work quickly while maintaining a careful eye to detail. To acquire practical experience, I joined an organization that provides free medical care at concerts. We dealt with everything from cardiac arrests to alcohol and drug overdoses. Helping patients through their worst moments imparted a feeling of intense fulfillment that I had never felt before. Every patient experience since has fortified my resolve that I am on the correct path.
That is not to say that the path is easy. Being an EMT in Chicago is a mental and physical challenge. I have woken up at 2 a.m., worked in negative-degree weather, pushed stretchers through snow, carried patients down flights of stairs, and felt the ineffable pain of losing a patient. As vexing as the long shifts can be, at the end of the day I return home knowing it was worth it. Learning to function as an integral part of a team and as a freestanding worker in the ambulance is vital for the range of responsibilities that PAs fulfill. My job entails much more than knowing the proper response to an emergency; it also requires attention to the needs, happiness, and emotional health of the patients.
I am also currently a patient transporter in a hospital, where I operate in the fast-paced, complex setting of a hospital and deal with a wide variety of patients and situations. I have comforted anxious patients headed into an operation, grieved with family members who have lost a loved one, and shared in the joy of new parents heading home with their baby. I often work closely with nurses and am able to observe hospital staff in action, including doctors and PAs.
While I enjoy my job now, I yearn for the next step in my education so that I can treat patients on a more advanced level. EMTs and patient transporters play a crucial role, but they are only able to do so much. Never again do I want be a powerless bystander or wonder if I could have saved someone’s life. In the past year, I have taken several more science courses to demonstrate that I am prepared for the rigorous PA program, and have continued to gain healthcare experience in the hospital. PAs are an increasingly vital component in our strained healthcare system, and I would be honored to be one of them.
Hannah Gill says
This is a rough draft of my personal statement. I am still working on writing a powerful concluding paragraph that relates back to my opening statement. I tried to focus on my reasoning for wanting to be a PA and took a step back from personal stories that I focused on last year. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
How quickly does a single cancer cell develop into a proliferate, life-changing disease? Why are some patients not aware until a stage-4 diagnosis? What can health care providers do to discover the presence of disease earlier? I began asking myself these types of questions when three close family members were diagnosed with cancer within a 5-year timeframe. My aunt was diagnosed with stage-4 breast cancer in 2009, my grandpa with prostate cancer in 2010, and my uncle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013. They have since passed but I witnessed the physical and emotional effects that cancer creates. These experiences furthered my desire to pursue a career in the medical field. All of the staff that worked in hospice, from the nursing assistants to the physicians, opened my eyes to what it means to be a health care provider.
My increased interest in medicine led me to set up shadowing experiences in a variety of medical specialties. I shadowed nurses, family medicine physicians, pathologists, and surgeons. I even shadowed the neurosurgeon that removed an intrasacral meningocele from my spine. During each of these shadowing experiences I gained a deeper knowledge of medical practice. I continued shadowing in college and realized that I wanted the ability to diagnose and develop treatment plans for patients, therefore, I compared the differences among a physician, a nurse practitioner (NP), and a physician assistant (PA).
My junior year of college I ultimately decided that I wanted to pursue the path to become a physician assistant. Through research, I discovered there are multiple aspects of the PA profession I prefer over a physician or an NP. I shadowed multiple providers and found I was already interested in a variety of specialties. I could not personally see myself working in the same specialty for 30-40 years. As a PA, I would have the ability to practice multiple specialties over the course of my career and this flexibility is the principal reason I am motived to become a PA. The support of a supervising physician, either in person or by phone, is something I see as beneficial when practicing medicine. While NPs have more autonomy in their practice, I am drawn to the collaborative setting in which PAs work. I personally like the idea of having a supervisor that I am able to verify diagnoses and treatments with. Working as a team and having cooperative guidance for complex cases is an advantageous aspect of this profession.
One of the main interests that I have in medicine is the science behind disease. I enjoy learning about the pathology and physiological workings of disease. PAs are trained with a medical model similar to a physician and use a disease-focused approach to treatment. I believe that the training in a PA program will allow me to truly understand the disease process when developing a treatment plan for my patients.
I shadowed Pete Thiele, a family medicine PA, at a rural clinic in Lyons, Nebraska. While working with him, I was able to observe a PA student that was completing her clinical rotation. This experience allowed me to not only familiarize myself with the career of a PA but also to get a glimpse into the life of a PA student. Mr. Thiele assessed patients with diagnoses ranging from the common cold, to high blood pressure, to possible skin cancers. He also allowed me to listen to cardiac and respiratory sounds on patients and to assist him in setting up for procedures. I was intrigued a PA could perform the removal of a skin lesion. It was essentially a minor surgery taking place in a clinic. I observed Mr. Thiele and the student perform the excision and he allowed me to assist in cutting sutures when he was finished. This shadowing experience gave me a deeper understanding of what is included in a PA’s scope of practice.
I recently began working full-time as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. I had a personal drive to work at a children’s hospital because I was a patient at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana in 2010. As a CNA in the NICU my duties include caring for patients through feeding, bathing, and taking vitals as well as assisting in circumcisions. I prepare rooms for admits, assure that the NICU floors are stocked, and assist with anything else the providers may need. My experience so far has strengthened my desire to become a PA and to one day provide the care I have witnessed at Children’s.
I want a career that challenges me and encourages me to continually expand my knowledge and experiences. Careers are not meant to be limiting but should promote academic, professional, and personal growth. I believe that the PA profession values and encourages this growth.
Karin says
Hi there! Thank you in advance for the feedback! This is my year applying to PA schools and I’m still determined to become a PA.
As our truck bounced roughly over dirt roads, my stomach churned deeper. If I couldn’t connect, what was the point? Finally, the truck stopped and as I crawled out of the backseat to unload our precious cargo, I noticed a monotonous brown covering everything… bamboo huts on stilts, scratched plastic chairs and even stray dogs. Slowly bits of color popped into the edges of my vision. A hint of red, a muddy blue and a once-bright purple skipped across the edges of the clearing. Soon giggling noises accompanied more scraps of color ambling towards us as we hauled boxes to the chapel also adorned in mud brown. Finally, the bits of color resolved into children with smiling faces and curious dark eyes. They took our hands saying “hello” proudly, as if they had spoken English all their lives. Not once did they grab for the boxes knowing full well Christmas presents were inside. They reached for us instead—to be seen and acknowledged. These kids needed to know that the world had not forgotten them, living in this ramshackle refugee camp on the edge of a jungle. They had fled their homes in hopes of safety from hostile troops. Perhaps our team represented that hope. The bigger world beyond Mae La Refugee Camp on the Thai-Burma border was reaching back to them.
After that visit, I realized I had more to give, but in what form I was uncertain. So, I spent the next 10 years in Southeast Asia as a communications consultant and project manager for non-profits working with the disadvantaged. I enjoyed using my compassion and intelligence to serve those who struggled with daily existence. I still do. I lead community groups for women, teaching how to process traumatic events. I listen to their stories and guide them to ask deeper questions in order to analyze the effects of these situations and to find healing. The family
practice PA I shadowed, Heather, treated her patients in a similar way. During a routine appointment, I met Jessica, the success story. Jessica was in her early 20’s and looked like she belonged to a punk rock band. She had come in for help with anxiety but after spending an hour with her backstory, Heather realized that ADD might be a big part of Jessica’s diagnosis. One year later, Jessica had a calm, confident and happy presence as she described how she was flourishing in her college classes and making new friends, all due to Heather’s determination to find the most effective treatment for her and not just write a prescription. Our greatest impacts in this world are born of both our hearts and minds.
Working in developing countries under harsh conditions is complicated—you cannot take everyone home with you. Locals befriend you or play on your sympathy in hopes that you will magically airlift them into a “better life” and yet becoming jaded or shutting down ostracizes you from the very people you seek to serve. Balance is key. Realistic expectations are vital. Discussing these aspects with my boss and team members enabled us to see each other’s perspective so we could work together cohesively. I’ve noticed the same type of intermediary role in most PA positions. Surgical PAs work closely with their surgeon while also engaging the OR nurses and surgery techs. Working in foreign aid organizations with multinational staff, I have learned this intermediator skill well and strongly believe it translates into the PA profession.
In 2009, I returned to working for the private sector and within a few years, realized something was not right. My natural curiosity, desire to serve, and ability to learn quickly seemed under-utilized. I made a list of professions that engaged people, used problem-solving and analysis, and allowed for compassion to be a part of the MO. My family reminded me of my fascination with biology and that I come from a family of medical professionals—my mother is an RN and my sister is an ATC. My management and people skills were utilized in corporate America, but I had more to
give. I knew I had to become a PA, so that I could serve people using both my intellect and interpersonal skills, to ease suffering and help people live healthier lives.
After this revelation I began pre-requisite courses for PA school. Genetics fascinated me. I could not wait to complete the coursework—I love learning about the human body and now realize this was a passion that I had somehow ignored earlier in life. I remain riveted by my postgraduate studies, even biochemistry. Since beginning this journey, my passion, dedication and outright excitement for becoming a PA have not waned. I believe that I will be incredibly successful as a PA and I will gladly dedicate myself to the field entirely and for many years to come. Why do I want to become a PA? Because being a PA fits my personality, skills, experience and compassion—and I still have more to give.
Neda says
Hi! This is my first time applying and I would appreciate any sort of feedback I can get!
Thanks in advance.
“You just don’t get it,” says Jessica, a young, homeless female, known to be a regular patient in our emergency room (ER). As I sat down at my desk to document her history and physical exam, her words echoed in my head and stayed with me long after her chart had been signed. No matter how accurately I scribed Jessica’s words, her chart would join the countless other documentations of patients unable to obtain fundamental care, their stories and pleas lost in the depth of the electronic medical records. It had been her 20th ER visit in the past month, and yet the system continued to fail her. Jessica was homeless and without insurance, stuck in an Escher-like loop of inaccessibility to resources and care. This patient, like many others, was unable to receive follow up for a condition with which she had already been diagnosed. Furthermore, I had to wonder what type of life this patient might have enjoyed, after having seen her mascara-streaked face and torn clothing, had she just had access to essential and basic health care rights. Regardless of what bothered me the most about this interaction, the encounter as a whole was a turning point for me.
In 2011, my parents encouraged me to volunteer at a hospital, as it was their lifelong dream for me to work in the field of medicine. Unfortunately, I didn’t really gain any medical experience stocking empty cabinets or delivering flowers. However, during this time, I witnessed providers of all types responding to acute disease manifestation, and throughout those three years, I felt a compelling emotional response to know more about the realities of medicine. I was only observing, yet I was affected emotionally, drawn to helping these strangers in their most vulnerable state. These patients had surrendered their wellness into the hands of the providers, whom I so skillfully saw deal with unexpected and critical declines in health time and time again. At the same time, I also felt an overwhelming sense of joy to see that these providers were able to give their patients that small sliver of hope in the midst of these urgent situations. I had gotten a taste of the life of a provider and knew that I needed more.
In 2015, I became an ER medical scribe at Swedish Edmonds. I went from having little medical background as a volunteer in 2011 to being able to link symptoms to differential diagnoses. As a volunteer, I never would have imagined that hearing the word “McBurney’s Point” along with “right lower quadrant tenderness,” would set off an alarm for appendicitis in my mind, nor would I have been able to know which imaging, such as a computed tomography (CT), would further confirm the diagnosis. I saw myself grow in multiple ways after seeing a vast array of patient presentations in the ER. What began as a heart attack and nosebleed soon became a more eloquent myocardial infarction and epistaxis. In addition to strengthening my vocabulary, I also found myself applying what I had seen, working up patients in my head and attempting to create plans of care for their stay in the ER. It did not take long for me to begin tying certain symptoms to particular diseases, further noting how we treated these patients based on my transcription of their history of present illness.
My time as a scribe, moreover a lead scribe, and working around multiple PAs has reassured me that I am on the right path in terms of education for my future. A PA program lasting two years in duration has greater return on investment than spending four years in nursing school for an ARNP, especially since my desired result is the maximum amount of direct patient care. In this case these two years can enable me the autonomy to treat patients on a one-on-one level. I can rely on my team, generally MD-PA, to consult and ensure that the most accurate and effective course of action is taken in the patient’s best interest, while at the same time expanding on team morale. I have personally encountered how real the connection is between the MD-PA and I have grown to appreciate it, as a leader myself.
Jessica was right – I just don’t get it. There are so many problems with the healthcare system that I don’t understand from the perspective of a patient who experiences it. But as a healthcare provider, I can be proactive about treating my patients to the best of my abilities while connecting them with available resources to help them thrive. Specifically, I would like to focus my attention on high-risk patients living with mental conditions, like Jessica, and the problems that encompass the “system’s” inability to treat them. I would also like to target lower socioeconomic communities who suffer a higher risk potential for healthcare concerns and an increasing incidence of health ailments. As a PA, I will aim to reach a crossroad whereby I am able to add value to a hospital network in identifying these patients and ensuring that there is a process where we can more holistically care for them. In the end, I believe the essence behind Jessica’s story was the driving force for why I wish to be a physician assistant and will be the foundation upon which I structure my patient care. There are “Jessica”s in every community, perhaps not identical, but those who are not receiving the healthcare they require, and as a physician assistant I hope to be a positive and reformative influence in their healthcare.
Meagan says
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Growing up, I was no different than your average kid. I loved playing sports, hanging out with my friends, and annoying my little sisters, but I absolutely hated going to school. Throughout elementary and middle school, getting me to pay attention in class or finish my homework before midnight took an act of Congress. In my young opinion, doodling in my notebook or simply staring out the window was much more entertaining than anything my teacher had to say. As a result, I struggled through the first 8 years of school – not from a lack of intelligence, but from a lack of interest. My struggle to find something more interesting to do in class than draw stick figures continued until I reached high school, where I discovered my love for science.
Physical science was the first class of my high school career. My teacher’s name was Tammy Freeman, and she was the strangest person I had ever met. Despite her unusual demeanor, the enthusiasm and passion with which she taught opened a door for me and inspired a curiosity to learn that I never knew I had. My own passion for science grew, and I started to excel in not only academics, but in all aspects of my life. As my passion for science grew, the idea of working in the science field became more appealing, but it wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I became interested in the medical field.
During my first softball practice of junior year, I was warming up with my throwing partner when I suddenly felt a sharp, tearing pain in my right shoulder. I refrained from telling anyone about my injury for as long as I could, fearing that my 12-year softball career would be ended. Eventually, I was found out and forced to see an orthopedist. After a few visits with the orthopedist and one disappointing MRI, I found out that I had a right SLAP tear. Although my dream of playing collegiate softball was potentially ruined, I became completely immersed in the entire healing process, and a new dream of working in the medical field blossomed. Through my interactions with surgeons, physician assistants, nurses, and physical therapists, I realized that the healthcare field was where I wanted to work someday.
While I was positive I would pursue the medical field, I was not sure as to what profession I would choose. The summer before my junior year of college, I decided to apply for a job as a medical scribe in the ED to further explore my options in the medical field. During my time in the emergency department, I was able to interact with doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses. Before my job as a scribe, I had interacted with physician assistants, but never understood the full extent of the profession. My first shift with a PA was about six months after I started working in the ED. During that shift I felt the same spark that I had felt during my fist science class in high school. I felt inspired, as I had previously been when I first discovered my interest in the medical field during my junior year of high school. After my first shift with the PA, I knew without a doubt that I wanted to become a physician assistant.
The physician assistants that I worked with over the next year continued to strengthen my desire to be a PA, and I began requesting more and more shifts with them. They were passionate and engaging with their patients, always taking the time to build a connection. I admired the way they comforted their patients and always took time to explain everything at great length in order to ease the mind of the patient. The great patient care that the PAs provided their patients with set them apart from the other medical professionals working in the ED. All the experiences I had with the physician assistants I worked with made me believe that the PA occupation was where I belonged.
I firmly believe that I would thrive as a physician assistant. Growing up in a military family, I was taught from a very young age to live a life dedicated to defending and caring for others, and to do it with enthusiasm and humility. Even now, I carry this lesson with me and strive to exemplify it in my every day life. I believe that my yearning for knowledge, passion for the medical field, and desire to take after my family’s dedication to humble service make me an ideal candidate for the Physician Assistant program.
Kris says
This is my first time applying and my first draft of my essay. Thanks for your help!
For some, their life’s purpose comes to them like flipping a light switch; one moment nothing is there, and the next moment it is clear and bright as day. These are the individuals who tell stories of the moment they knew what they wanted to do. Others discover their mission like the rising of the sun; over time it subtly grows until it is illuminated, but it is never clear when darkness became light. Once the light is present, it is as though it has always been so, though once it was dark.
I am one who discovered my passion like a sunrise. I was living a life that I thought was everything I wanted. I gained valuable skills in organization, communication, and problem solving in my years as a retail store manager.
When my father fell ill, I stopped my well-planned life to become his primary caregiver for the last two years of his life. I learned that I admire good nurses because they possess an instinct to sit with individuals in their suffering. I have family members who excel in nursing and I admired that someone would want to do what they do. I did not want to do it. There were many talented and compassionate providers that participated in my father’s care and I appreciated each of them. The one that left me in awe, though, was my mother’s PA, Jane. In a flurry of everything with my father firmly at the center, she was steadfastly there for her patient, my mother.
While sitting in the waiting room waiting for my father to come out of surgery, with no prior conscious thought about it, I turned to my mother and announced that I was going back to school for healthcare. Looking back, this was the very first hint of dawn for me.
Once I made that decision, I began a quest to discover what I really wanted to do. I talked with providers of all types, including Jane. She is a seasoned PA who loves the profession for all that is unique about it. While she currently works in primary care, she has had the opportunity to experience several specialties. She answered my questions and helped to give me a path. I still believe that her varied experience is part of what makes her such an amazing provider for my mother. Dawn was breaking.
I began taking general education classes while caring for my father until that was no longer possible. I took a semester off when he was placed in hospice and subsequently passed away.
Not long after losing my father, I met an emergency room physician who suggested that I apply to be a clinical scribe. I was given the opportunity to scribe for hospitalist providers, which allowed me to follow patient care over several days in the inpatient setting. When I finished my patient load for the day, or if I wanted to pick up extra hours, I could do admissions with the PAs. This gave me the opportunity to meet, and work side by side with several different PAs. Their varied experiences and backgrounds solidified for me that this was a good choice for me. Rays of light shown through the darkness.
During my time scribing and eventually working as the lead hospitalist scribe, I spent time with a variety of doctors and PAs. I learned much about the treatment of chronic diseases in an inpatient setting. I saw readmission after readmission for a handful of chronic diagnoses. It was clear that what these patients needed was a primary care provider invested in keeping them healthy, no just treating them when they were sick. Even if the chronic condition had not been prevented, the repeated hospital admissions might have been with more accessible primary care. There are simply not enough primary care providers to allow for the level of care my patients needed. Light began to bathe everything around me. What had been lost in shadow was now clear.
Now as a medical assistant for a neurologist specializing in headache, we tell patients with conditions like chronic migraine that if they are having too many headache days per month, it doesn’t mean they need something better to take when they already have a headache, they need an adjustment to their preventive plan.
Prevention is the key to a healthy population and great PAs in primary care are the key to prevention.
Though I don’t have a story of a singular moment when I was struck with my purpose, I do have a collection of experiences that have helped me to realize what I can contribute to my community, and to healthcare. Bit by bit, I have become the person I am today. Now the sun has risen and I can’t wait to greet the new day of my career as a primary care PA on the front lines of prevention.
Haley Sinclair says
First time applying to PA school. Would love any feedback on my personal statement. I do need to cut down a little bit. Thank you!
I have been fortunate to know what I want out of life and a future career at an early time in my education. No, it was not to become a physician assistant from the onset, but I have always been aware that I would work in the medical field. My constant fascination and desire to know what was going on whenever I would drive by an ambulance or pass by patients’ rooms while visiting family in the hospital was a key component of my life. I have always enjoyed being the person that friends would come to for advice when they were sick or in need; and I know that I could be the person to provide the knowledge and care to patients in a medical profession.
Initially, I thought I wanted to be a pediatrician while completing an assignment for seventh grade English. I was adamant that I was going to be one when I grew up until my biology teacher, Mrs. Lloyd, mentioned the profession of a physician assistant. It sparked my interest, so I decided to learn more about it. Not only did I become educated on what a PA profession entailed, but I learned that day what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. At first review of the career, I was drawn to the ability that one can begin practicing in the field much quicker than a doctor. I also liked the balance of career and family that was able to be achieved as a PA–something that is very important for me to have in my life. Aside from PA fitting into my wants and desires as a career, my exposure to the profession has solidified my decision.
When I began my secondary education, I thought that I wanted to go to a big university, and Penn State was the likely choice because it was close to home and I could receive a tuition discount. My time at Penn State was used wisely: I studied several courses in biobehavioral health and obtained my EMT-B certification. Achieving my EMT-B certification advanced my desire for a career in the medical field. It showed me I could succeed in the challenges of properly caring and assessing a patient in a hectic and time-sensitive environment; but I also learned that becoming an EMT was not enough. I enjoy diagnostics and want to be the one to create the plan of action for my patients; and as an EMT, that is outside of their scope of practice. My BBH coursework aided in developing my philosophy of medicine: approach a person’s health with a well-rounded understanding of the physiological symptoms, the patient’s life style, their environment, and psychological factors to develop an effective treatment plan. After spending two years at Penn State, I realized that Lock Haven University was a much better fit for my goal. I decided to transfer to LHU to make sure that I received the best possible education to set me up for success. And to date, it has been very rewarding.
Outside of the classroom, I have obtained valuable experience from shadowing various PAs and as an emergency department and patient floor volunteer at Mount Nittany Hospital. While shadowing a cardiology and orthopedic PA, I have gained a numerous amount of knowledge about the profession. My time observing Kip and D.J., exposed me to some of the most attractive aspects of the profession: versatility and career flexibility. I do not think one day of my shadowing was spent doing the same thing. I observed various patient appointments in an office and hospital setting, and I was able to witness patient procedures such as EKG, stress tests, casting procedures, and even spent time observing in the OR. Kip and D.J. were able to go above and beyond for their patients because they spent sincere one-on-one time with them to understand what they needed. They both addressed questions and concerns from patients about topics outside of their specialty. For example, Diane, who suffered a heart attack, came in for a routine checkup. After attending to her follow up, Kip was also able to inquire about her diagnosed anxiety and see if she needed any pertinent medications refilled. Kip’s medical knowledge and care as a PA isn’t limited to one specialty. As a life-time learner, having the opportunity to continue to grow and expand my knowledge is imperative.
My time as an emergency room and patient floor volunteer at Mount Nittany Hospital was just as beneficial. The responsibility of working hand-in-hand with nurses, doctors, patients, and other volunteers is much like that of the PA/physician team environment I admire. I do my best work when I know I have autonomy to make my own decisions while simultaneously being able to collaboratively work with others to come up with an effective course of action. As an ED volunteer, I am forced to keep up with the ever adapting environment and prioritizing the needs of the nurses and doctors. I also get the privilege of making meaningful connections with patients while transporting and providing them anything that will make their experience more comfortable. It is very rewarding when I have made even the smallest impact on my patients lives from a simple smile or touch.
I have grown professionally and personally while learning about the PA profession through receiving my EMT-B, volunteering within a hospital, and shadowing PAs. Juggling multiple responsibilities has given me confidence that I am capable of being successful of the challenges given as a PA. There is no doubt in my mind that the PA profession would complement my skills and qualities, and I know that I will be successful.
Nicole says
This is my first time applying. Any help is greatly appreciated!
Adrenaline surged through my body as I hit the throttle. Although I had never ridden a dirt bike before, it felt as natural as walking on two feet. In my first year of riding, I upgraded from a 150cc dirt bike to a 750cc cruiser. Some have asked what lead me to ride such a large bike. My answer to that would be the same as it is to the question, “Why are you interested in being a physician assistant?” It just happened. I could not explain why I felt the same rush the first time I swiped my new critical care tech badge as I entered the ER, as I did the first time I hit that throttle. However, because applicants are not accepted based on their “gut-feeling”, I will share my journey. Unfortunately, my story does not revolve around how I became the biker chick with blue hair. This story begins with a 14-year-old girl in fetal position on her bedroom floor.
It became a long, two-year journey to find the cause of my severe abdominal pain. No one thought to perform a colonoscopy on such a young girl until one doctor believed it was not just stress-related pain. He found the “jack-pot” (as he called it) and diagnosed me with Crohn’s disease. Finally, I felt relief that we had put a name to my pain. I assumed that because the doctor knew what the disease was, he could cure it. I quickly discovered this was not the case.
After many ups and downs, I learned a portion my small intestine was so inflamed, it was causing a stricture and needed to be removed. I was ecstatic to have the surgery. Other surgical patients with Crohn’s disease said it was as if someone had finally taken out the knife that had been stabbing them in the stomach for so long.
Still coming off the anesthesia, my surgeon informed me of the “good news”. The section did not look diseased enough on the outside to necessitate removal. The light at the end of the tunnel turned out to be a semi-truck hitting me head-on. I could not have been more angry and exhausted. Immediately, I snapped at a nurse who encouraged me to try standing up. I was expecting to wake up with a new life, relieved of my pain. Instead, I woke up with incredibly more pain and no results. I lost all faith in doctors and medicine. I wanted nothing to do with it.
Previously, I had been interested in the medical field. After going through this frustrating experience, I was not sure about the patient care aspect. How could I be the one to tell a patient I do not know what is wrong with them? How can I tell them they need to get up and move amid incredible pain? How can I be the doctor I was so frustrated with? After my recovery and self-pity, I decided I needed to be that person. I need to be the one to try to give answers and relief. I need to be the one who can be patient in the face of frustration.
That commitment was put to the test only a few months later. When the paramedics brought Jane into the ER, you could smell the mixture of mud and blood that was covering her face and most of her tattoos. They found her lying face-down in a gutter, passed out and drunk. After a herd of nurses and techs stabilized her, she woke up confused and scared. She became very noncompliant and refused to let any male help her, so I immediately jumped in. I helped her remove her muddy clothes we not-so-delicately cut through and change into a patient gown. While cleaning her up, she began crying. Jane grabbed my hand and said, “You are the nicest person I have ever met. No one has ever cared about me like this.” Those words shot through me like a bullet. In that moment, I remembered, “This is why I am here. This is what I came here to do.” Although I have never passed out in a ditch, I understood her pain. Her need for someone to listen—not write her off as just another patient, another chart—was as important as her pain. Now I was on the other side of the patient bed.
I truly loved my job in the ER. 12-hour shifts never felt long or arduous. It may seem odd that I worked there for such a short period of time. My health was so good that I seemed to completely forget about Crohn’s disease. It did not take long for my lack of sleep to remind me. My interrupted sleep schedule sparked a flare-up. While I took a medical leave, I accepted that working in the ER was not an option for me and my Crohn’s. Ideally, I will work in primary care in a small town, but life does not always go as planned. The flexibility to switch specialties as a PA would allow for more opportunities.
After establishing a sleep schedule and learning how to balance my life, I took back control of my health. My financial stability and lack of dependents allow me to completely focus on becoming a PA. I do not have 10+ years of health care experience under my belt, but I am ready. Just as I upgraded to a significantly larger motorcycle after only one year of riding, I feel confident in taking this next step. Although my journey was not based solely on my intuition, my drive to go into PA school was a result of my “gut-feeling” after all.
Wes says
Would love some feedback on my essay. I have revised this multiple times with the help of a school counselor and will be submitting CASPA soon. Hopefully you will have some time to see this before I apply. I am not a typical applicant. I do not have any paid hce. I have shadowed and volunteered just over 100 hours. Having a stay at home wife and 3 children, I was not able to quit my good paying job for a entry level healthcare job. This fact has made my essay different from others who have been in the health care industry for a significant period of time. Thank you for taking the time to help out.
With the cliché “I want to help people” words in my mouth, and dollar signs in my eyes at 18 years old I started toward my career goal to become a doctor. During my first spring break, my brother and I were the only witnesses to a motorcycle accident. No helmet, he crashed through a fence and was unconscious and bleeding from his ears when we found him. Minutes later, standing covered in a stranger’s blood, we watched the life flight in no hurry to take off, confirming in our minds that the man had most likely died before our eyes as he was struggling to breathe.
I changed my major.
At that young age, I had not considered the hard parts of the medical profession. The long days and nights, the delivery of bad news, and death. For the next ten years I searched for my passion. The perfect job with plenty of earning potential, but lacking all the unpleasant hard parts. The kind of jobs that high school advisers talk about. The job where I would wake up and go to work even if I wasn’t getting paid.
Some of the worst advice is given with the best intentions. Life isn’t about avoiding hard things; it is about growing until you can do hard things, and even enjoy hard things.
Going back to school to finish my bachelor’s degree while working full time, helping my wife deliver our third child, and volunteering for the Idaho Rural health association has shown me that I can truly enjoy hard things. These years have been the most difficult yet most fulfilling years of my life. Perusing a goal that will not only help my family, but also allow me to make a difference in the life of others has given me the strength to maintain my academics while still enjoying the childhood years of our little ones.
My determination has grown as I have shadowed and volunteered between semesters to witness firsthand the individuals who exemplify what I want to be. Doctors and PA’s in trauma, ENT, and family practice who not only take time to develop a relationship of trust with their patients, but are also willing to develop a relationship with me to help me learn what it means to serve.
I am not becoming a physician assistant because I enjoy seeing motorcycle injuries, but through applying myself in school, I will be the best of the best at saving the lives that can be saved.
As the father of three, I will never enjoy seeing the tears on the face of a child with a broken arm, but I will be the best at making them comfortable and unafraid.
I believe that anyone who applies themselves in school can learn how to diagnose and treat disease. Not everyone will take the time to treat not just the disease, but also the person. As a physician assistant I will be able to focus on each patient as an individual, learn who they are, alleviate their fears and tension, and take time to help them understand exactly what is happening and why. Individuals are scared of the unknown. By providing them with understanding of the situation, fear will automatically dissipate.
As a physician assistant, my deepest goal will be to be remembered. To be remembered by the team members I work with not only as a reliable teammate, but also as an emotional buoy to those around me. To be remembered by professors and classmates at my various schools as the student who will go on to become the best in my field and touch countless lives. And most importantly, to be remembered by my patients not simply because I alleviated their illness, but because of how I made them feel while serving them.
jarrodkearney says
I was sitting down, looking forward at thousands of ecstatic faces staring back at me. The anticipation was building for all those who stood in the rain and mud. They were waiting for the moment when I would raise my drumsticks in the air, and count off the opening song. The feeling was exhilarating and this was a common occurrence as my band, Junior Doctor made its way to #23 on the US radio charts. It was a great time in my life, but many nights on tour after the last song ended, I spent time reflecting on what my actual impact on the world was. I thought about when I was a teenager, listening to my favorite bands and wanting to be like them. Back then, I was enthralled by the fame and excitement of that lifestyle, but I didn’t have enough life experience to know that fulfillment comes from serving others.
While our record label, Toucan Cove, had us on the road nine months out of the year, I read many books on philosophy, and about how to strengthen personal connections. I read Plato’s “The Republic” which argues that authentic altruism must be void of reward, and the biblical writings of the Apostle Paul who says to “do nothing out of selfish ambition, but in humility consider others more important than yourself.” I couldn’t reconcile my pursuit to be famous with my newly developed understanding of joy and fulfillment. I felt a strong conviction that I was being called to serve others in a more personal way. When I got back to my hometown, I volunteered as a student group leader for my church. I mentored and organized a student led band for the youth group, as well as mentored troubled students with addictions and family crises.
When I reflected on how I could continue serving others, I considered a person in my life who was a shining example. As a child, I saw my father, a primary care physician, take care of many people. Whether I was in the backseat, listening to his hospital dictations in the car, or working alongside him at his private practice; I could understand that the work he did had a lasting impact on his patients’ lives. While I worked with him, he described many layers of the job’s significance. He told me that according to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, health is the most foundational need in life. It’s only after that need is met that a person can pay attention to other aspects of their life.
I have developed many relationships with patients over the 8 years I worked at my father’s practice. A patient of ours, I’ll call him Mr. L, made a regular visit to my office after every check-up. One of the last times he visited me, it wasn’t to share a memorable event from his past, or update me about his family; he came in to tell me something that will stick with me forever. He had recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and he came in to tell me that he hoped to live until he saw me practicing medicine. It was only 2 weeks later that he passed away. I think Mr. L and others are capable of sensing when a person sincerely cares for them. I strive everyday to show patients I care for them, whether I am taking a detailed patient history for the doctor, or explaining lab results and medications changes.
Although I believe in selfless service, I am being rewarded constantly through my education. Practitioners are tasked with learning some of the most exciting information about the world we live in. Unlike geologists or astronomers, mapping the movement of the earth or the cosmos, we are mapping the physiology of the human body. Because of my thirst for knowledge, I have excelled in the classroom, receiving straight A’s for the duration of my Pre-PA studies. The success I’ve had as a Pre-PA student, and the fulfillment I get from serving patients has bolstered my desire to practice medicine. My dad always jokes that he is a rock-star to his patients, and as it turns out, I am much more interested in being that kind of rock-star.
jarrodkearney says
The essay above is now outdated. I appreciate any help you can give me with this new and improved essay. I think I have developed my thoughts more since that previous attempt.
___________
Under the bright lights, amid cheering crowds, we took our positions on stage. Weeks of anticipation all came down to the moment when I would raise my drum sticks in the air and count off the opening song. This feeling was exhilarating and a common occurrence as my band, Junior Doctor made its way to #23 on the US radio charts. Still, even with all the excitement afforded by a music career, I was yearning for something more meaningful. Many nights on tour after the last song ended, my time was spent reflecting on the purpose and motivations driving my work. When we started the band in 2005, I was enthralled by the fame and excitement of stardom. But back then, I didn’t have enough life experience to know that fulfillment comes from serving others on a personal level.
During this search for meaning, our record label, Toucan Cove, had us on the road nine months out of the year. I read many philosophical books on altruism. That included reading Plato’s “Republic” which argues that authentic altruism must be void of reward, and the biblical writings of the Apostle Paul that say to “do nothing out of selfish ambition, but in humility consider others more important than yourself.” They taught me that material rewards are perishable and seeking a good reputation is only superficial. Considering these profound truths, I began to reevaluate my life. It was impossible to reconcile my pursuit of stardom with this sense of duty to pursue a life of altruism. After getting back home from tour, I turned my philosophy into practice and volunteered as a student group leader for my church. I organized a student band for the youth group and spent time mentoring students who struggled with addictions and broken homes. This counseling role allowed me to encourage them simply by listening and contributing the wisdom from my life experiences. These deeper and more vulnerable conversations reaffirmed my longing and ability to serve others.
It was clear that altruism provided me with the joy and fulfillment I was looking for in life, so I left music and meditated heavily on how to pursue a life of service. I considered someone very close to me who was a shining example of selflessness. Throughout my life, I saw my father, a primary care physician, take care of many people. Whether I was in the backseat of the car as a child, listening to his hospital dictations, or working alongside him at his private practice; I observed his passion to provide for the needs of everyone he encountered. He described many layers of the job’s significance. He told me that according to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, health is the most foundational need in life. It’s only after that need is met that a person can pay attention to other aspects of their life. He also told me that a medical provider must truly care for the work they do, because often, the toll of the work outweighs the reward. His advice resonated with my pursuit of altruism and so my heart was set on being a medical provider. After a lot of research, I found that the flexibility afforded by the PA profession perfectly suited my desire to practice in the specialty that has the greatest need within my underserved community and abroad.
I started working as a patient care coordinator at my father’s internal medicine practice, and I’ve developed many relationships with patients. A patient of ours, Mr. L, made a regular visit to my office after every check-up. One of the last times he visited me, it wasn’t to share a memorable event from his past or update me about his family; he came in to tell me something that I’ll remember forever. He had recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and he came in to tell me that he hoped to live until he saw me practice medicine. It was only two weeks later that he passed away. I think Mr. L and others are capable of sensing when a person sincerely cares for them. It is my commitment to show this to patients every day, whether it is through the attention I give while taking a thorough patient history, or the patience I show while explaining lab results and medications changes.
In addition to my altruistic duty, I am drawn to the PA field by my thirst for knowledge. Practitioners are tasked with learning some of the most exciting information about the world we live in. Unlike geologists and astronomers, mapping the movement of the earth and the cosmos, we are mapping the physiology of the human body. There is nothing more pressing and relevant to humanity than that. Because of this pertinence, it has been easy for me to excel in the classroom, receiving straight A’s for the duration of my Pre-PA studies.
The path I’m on is the result of arduous reflection and research. The fulfillment and joy from serving others altruistically and the intrigue of the field of research has bolstered my desire to practice medicine. My dad always jokes that he is a rock-star to his patients, and as it turns out, I am much more interested in being that kind of rock-star.
Russell J Ridulfo says
While touring the CTICU hoping to catch the eye of a patient who could use a healthy laugh or assistance, my attention was seized as I watched them wheel him into room 42 straight from the OR. Engulfed by a swarm of assorted pastel-clad specialists, I craned in an attempt to see the patient while a toothpaste colored specialist approached me. We observed for a moment. “Exciting, isn’t it?” She said, beaming, as I hastily agreed. I then thought, this is the most exciting thing I have seen since I began volunteering here. From inside the room, a burgundy specialist scanned the vicinity akin to a periscope, saw toothpaste, and waved her in. She outstretched her hand and said, “I’m Brittney, one of the cardio-thoracic PAs. Good luck!” And before I could say anything, she was absorbed by the team like driftwood in the undertow.
Meeting Brittany is what ignited my interest in becoming a PA. Prior to meeting her, I frankly did not know what a PA was. I had begun volunteering after graduation in order to land a clinical lab position at the hospital but never anticipated a detour such as this. I have always had a vague desire to help but never actually considered going into healthcare. In a matter of weeks, I left my job in the toxicology lab and started scribing for a geriatrician in nursing facilities. I was elated to have such an opportunity but naively entered it with audacity. I soon realized the shoes I was expected to fill were much greater than I was capable of, causing the job to end rather precipitously. What if I am not competent enough? What if my poor grades are suddenly now showing? This was a dark yet disguised glimpse of clarity for how much I needed to learn and I believe this early failure is the tide that has carried me to where I am today.
I despondently met my manager in the office the following week and he graciously set me up as a triage assistant within the company. This immediately proved to be an invaluable experience, allowing me to finally get comfortable talking with patients, office staff and family members. My confidence burgeoned, but I was still looking for eureka. This prompted me to determine if caring for patients really is my passion. I signed up for an International Health Fellowship and was in Peru that summer. From the day I met Dr Niranjan until now, I have learned two critical things: the importance of making someone smile and the effectiveness of communication.
As one of the villagers sat down across from me, I was still in the middle of changing the lancet from the previous patient. She was about 30, but looked 20, and was palpably nervous. She spoke Ashaninkan, from one of the indigenous tribes in Peru, but fortunately also knew some Spanish. I said “Hola” and nearly chuckled from the anxiety myself, considering my Spanish is horrendous in the first place. As a result, I spoke mainly by demonstration. I outstretched my arm palm up, looked at her, and nodded. She mirrored my gesture. My default phrase that I learned minutes prior was, “Duele un poquito”, which I promptly said as I saw her eyebrows furrowed, waiting. As I approached her finger with the glucometer, she covered her mouth and pulled away.
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On my second day with Dr Niranjan, knowing I was a novice to this work, he told me the best start is getting your patient to smile.This is the beginning of a relationship. Once achieved, they are willing to open up to you and see you as more than just their medical provider. I brushed this off as cliche and instead attempted to absorb his other, more concrete medical wisdom.
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I gently pulled her hand back to position while posturing myself in a defenseless manner, and placed my hand on her other, resting on the table. This time she didn’t pull away but yelped when it pierced her finger. No blood appeared. She laughed, likely from embarrassment, and I joined her. This time I set it longer, glanced back at her, and tried again, this time drawing blood. Her eyes squinting and her lips curled, I could still sense the relief and was sure I saw a smile.
Effective communication is the key to effective patient care, and I learned communication does not always have to be in the form of words. On my second day in Peru, I truly regretted having chosen a Spanish-speaking community but soon discovered this choice was a blessing. It made me realize the significance that can be felt from attempting to communicate in all ways: be it talking, gesturing, connecting.
Since last year’s application, the same company whom I failed 2 years ago has promoted me to a lead virtual scribe and their narcotics coordinator all while receiving a 4.0 GPA in critical prerequisites, shadowing PAs, and working at a restaurant. I even received the highest grade in my class in biochemistry. I understand my early college grades are below average but my resolve to become a PA is reflected in my last 40 credit hours.
After meeting Brittney, I knew lab work was not for me. The past few years has demonstrated that my niche is with people, not requisition numbers. I am comfortable working with patients from their testament and am now confident they would welcome me as their provider. As a physician assistant, I would have endless opportunities to learn from patients and allow their stories to flourish.
Caitlin says
For the last year, I’ve been retaking introductory science classes to improve my prerequisite GPA for this upcoming cycle. While this last year was about improving my grades I also knew the year was also going to be a soul search. Even though I’ve known for the last seven years that I wanted to be a PA, I never did much self reflection of why being a PA was so important to me.
I think back to my time in Argentina where I was a volunteer at a regional underserved hospital. Here I shadowed doctors and helped the nurses and medical aids where I could with my healthcare background. My time there was unforgettable to say the least, but there is one memory that I have always carried with me since. It was the end of March, and Argentina was just coming out of it’s respective summer time making the heat more bearable than it had been my few weeks there. I was observing doctors in the surgical rotation at the time and one day, after scrubbing down, I followed the surgeons into El Quirofano.
There was a young woman, who was around my age, laying on the operating table. One of the doctors explained to me they were doing a lumpectomy on one of her breasts, and as he proceeded to uncover her to examine the surgery site the young woman suddenly burst into soft sobs. The surgeons, clueless and confused, looked to the female surgery technician. As an understanding woman, the technician asked the young patient, “Are you crying out of fear or out of shame?” Through her broken gasps the girl managed to say she felt ashamed of herself.
Amidst my other memories at the hospital I could never understand why this moment was at the forefront. It’s as if a chord was struck within me and her shame became my vendetta. I kept thinking, ‘would I have felt shame as well?’ Yes, I would have, but why?
The next summer, I took a college composition class to improve my prerequisite GPA. For the last assignment we could write about anything as long as it was controversial. Having a passion for women’s reproductive health I decided to write about the progressive qualities of the menstrual cup. Proud of my thorough research, I give my paper to my group for peer editing while I half-heartedly glazed over papers discussing minimum wage in California.
After reading my paper, the girls in the peer review started asking me more questions about the menstrual cup. It wasn’t long until other girls from the class started joining in the conversation. I continued to explain that the period cup was a great gateway for adolescent girls to feel empowered about their reproductive health. A girl who was a bit younger than myself, chimed in saying she felt ashamed about being on her period and felt like she always had to hide it. To my surprise this was followed with several ‘me toos’ from the girls in my class.
It suddenly dawned on me that women feel a sense of shame about their reproductive health. I think of the woman in Argentina and how she was ashamed of her breasts. I think of the young girls at my school and how they feel insecure about themselves while on their period. Women should feel empowered about their bodies and their reproductive health. I want to turn my passion for women’s reproductive health and translate it into my work as a physician assistant. Women should be informed, they should feel confident, and they should have the resources to take care of themselves. Faced with impending cutbacks on the United States’ federal funding for women’s reproductive health I know that it is an important time to reach out to girls, adolescents, mothers, the rich, and the poor to take control of their health.
As I finish my classes for the semester, I think of the dramatic changes our country’s healthcare system is going through, and the discontent of the nation. Cutbacks will be made, preexisting conditions will be created, and prices will increase. However, as a future physician assistant I hope to be that glimmer of good patients see in the healthcare system. As I help patients I wish to give them the optimistic motivation that leaves a piece of myself with them.
Christine says
Hello, I am a second time applicant. I realize my first essay was kind of boring. I am struggling with getting the details in under the 5,000 character limit. Please help. Thank you!
Struggling with what I wanted to do in life, my cousin, Jessica, a medical student in Chicago, had invited me to visit. I jumped at the opportunity and reveled in every minute from the cadaver lab to shadowing her as she volunteered at a clinic and emergency room. I remember shadowing some of her cohort as they obtained a woman’s history. The patient struggled with naming her purple and yellow pill for acid reflux, and the students were stumped as well. I interjected and named the medication: Nexium. It was a small moment that had a big impact.
At that time, I wanted to be a doctor. Medicine seemed like a puzzle, and I wanted to be part of the team to solve it. But doubt crept in. My Aunt Joann, Jessica’s mother, did not believe that I would get into medical school. My aunt thought I should be a physician assistant (PA). It seemed like an insult because I did not know what a PA was, but she planted a seed.
I researched the physician assistant profession. The more I explored, the more I realized the PA route was a better option for me. It is a shorter program, but I still have a substantial voice in the care and treatment of my patients. Moreover, there are many specialties I can choose from including my interests, surgery and neurology, and I can change to other specialties later in my career.
Needing more experience after graduation, I participated in an internship at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington D.C. I gained valuable experience as a nursing assistant, and was able to watch procedures. After my internship, I worked in the Emergency Room for registration, and was able to shadow doctors and PAs. The more I talked to Lisa and Tamara, the physician assistants I primarily shadowed, the more steadfast I became in my decision to become a PA. Before they worked in the ER, I learned that Lisa was a primary care PA with the National Health Services Corp in the rural Midwest, and Tamara was a field PA for the Army. They took the time to teach me a great deal about medicine, and even let me help set up for small procedures. They helped guide me to become a better candidate. They prompted me to shadow more, take more science classes, and a certified nursing assistant (CNA) course.
Although the guidance from Lisa and Tamara increased my desire to become a PA, later experiences and realizations drove my need to be a physician assistant. During the clinical week at a nursing home for my CNA course, two events stuck with me. I was assisting a CNA with showers when he manhandled a patient to take a shower, and roughly stripped her of her clothing while she was screaming for help, reaching out to me with terror in her eyes. Her nursing assistant did not care to ease her in or make her feel comfortable. As a student, all I could do was hold her hand and try to assure her that it would be ok. After the shower, I was feeding her when she froze, her eyes glazed over, as part of her face drooped, and food began to slide out of her mouth. The patient was unresponsive. I realized that she may be having a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), and alerted the nurse immediately who was not bothered. Other employees jokingly shook her shoulders, and said that she always did this. I was upset with the ordeal and was told that I need to “harden up” to work in healthcare. My nurse instructor agreed the patient likely had a TIA, and I did everything right. I felt helpless with the patient’s fear, and that I could not do more to advocate for her.
What further drives me is seeing the gaps in medical service to military personnel, which includes the lack of compassionate, knowledgeable and understanding healthcare providers. My husband is in the Marine Corps and many of his friends have forgone treatment due to the providers as well as the stigma of reporting their issues, the backlash they may face from their command, and the possibility of being kicked out. Many military members are afraid to admit they have a mental illness or to seek help. This transcends to physical maladies as well. For instance, my husband was aboard the USS Reagan when it went through a radioactive zone during the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. Articles have surfaced of 50+ sailors aboard the ship developing cancer. He now has dozens of subcutaneous “bumps” all over his body, but will not go to his provider. Receiving medical help can be frightening, but no one should be afraid of his provider.
My family, physician assistants I have worked with, past patients, and my experiences with the military have all shaped my initial desire to be a PA. My current experiences as a psychiatric technician at Baptist Hospital, are continuing to stoke the fire. Every day, I realize my limitations in my role. I need to do more. As a physician assistant, I will take the time to listen and care in order to gain my patient’s trust so they are honest with me. If my patients are honest and at ease, I believe they will have a better treatment experience and outcome.