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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 (23rd April 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 seven 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
Darian Molter says
She dropped to the ground in and out of consciousness, trying to stay alert; a 15-year-old goalkeeper crashed into the soccer goal post as she was attempting to make a save. As the player shooting the ball and witnessing the collision, my first instinct was to assist the opposing player. Concerned with her inability to remain fully conscious, I advised my teammate to call 911. While paramedics were on their way, I remained calm while helping her stay alert, and when they arrived, she asked that I stay with her until she was taken to the hospital. This experience made me realize that my passion for sports was trumped by my passion and instincts for helping others.
Throughout my collegiate career as a student-athlete, I matured tremendously and learned many valuable lessons that could not be learned in the classroom, such as teamwork, leadership, and communication. Three months before my senior season of collegiate soccer, my head coach resigned. This created many emotions amongst staff and team members that thought they were a part of a stable athletic program. As a captain and leader of the team, I was forced into uncomfortable situations and conversations. However, it was my obligation to take control of these tense moments. Once an interim head coach was appointed, I shouldered the responsibility of bridging the gap between what the players requested, and what coaches wanted for the program. Overall, the transition of coaches went extremely well, and I was able to form working relationships with coaches and friendships with teammates, both of whom trusted and respected my desire to lead. I firmly believe that there are moments in life that shape a person’s character, and this experience in my last year of collegiate athletics prepared me for a leadership role in my next step in life.
Building relationships and reacting to uncomfortable situations has created a strong foundation for my ability to excel as a CNA. I have learned how to create professional and trusting relationships with clients while using effective communication skills. I was able to develop an understanding of each client’s situation and help them through the hardships they were enduring.
I have had the opportunity to shadow multiple physician assistants (PAs), with most of my experience coming from the Emergency Department. During my shadowing experiences, I observed the daily routine of a PA. As a former college athlete, my world thrives off chaos and working on the go; this is what I experienced in the Emergency Department.
I learned about the fast-paced environment of treating multiple clients with a variety of conditions in a short window of time, and immediately sensed that I possessed the split-second critical thinking skills to thrive in this situation. Throughout my experiences, I properly held two pieces of skin together, as the PA placed nine staples in a patient’s head. Along with the staples, the PA also drained his subungual hematoma. I held the patient’s hand and helped him remain calm in an uncomfortable and painful situation. As a result, I became even more fascinated with this career, as I sensed the immediate physical and mental impact I was able to have on patients. In addition to assisting with patients, I witnessed the close and personal relationship between the PA and the physician. I learned that this working relationship is vital to the overall goal of helping someone and I look forward to developing these relationships as well.
From observing athletic trainers and fitness coaches as a student-athlete, to working closely with nurses as a CNA, to shadowing PAs and physicians in a prestigious clinic, I’ve not only gained valuable experiences, but I have witnessed what differentiates each specialty, along with the strengths of each profession. Because I am enamored with the medical field as a whole, I have found that each profession has intriguing aspects. With that being said, I am fully confident that being a PA is where my true passion resides. It is also where my defining characteristics and leadership qualities will thrive.
I know that academic excellence is crucial in PA school, so I would like to explain a transcript discrepancy. During my first semester of college, I was somewhat overwhelmed as a student-athlete, and my grades briefly and minorly suffered. After a brief period of self-reflection, I was able to redefine my time-management skills, and I learned how to excel in both the classroom and on the soccer field. Although my grades were not up to the high standards I set for myself during my first collegiate semester, I am proud to say that I quickly self-corrected and was able to set and maintain excellence in the classroom. I firmly believe that my final seven semesters of college represent the type of student that I am. The time-management skills I developed as a student-athlete have fully prepared me for the rigor that a PA program presents, and I am excited to combine my life skills with knowledge that your program will provide.
Eric says
“You don’t need to graduate high school.”
This is what my mom told me after I failed the high school exit exam the first time I took it. And this was also the phrase and moment that changed my life.
Growing up, my four siblings and I were homeschooled by my single-parent mom. And when I say home-schooled, I mean we played a lot of video games, explored the acres of woods behind my aunt’s house, and overall, we never studied anything.
Despite our lack of childhood education, I’ve always wanted to work in the medical field. In my siblings’ pretend-play scenarios, I always volunteered to be the medic. When the cowboy got hit with an arrow, I would carefully remove the shaft. When the dragon slashed open the knight’s arm, I was there to stitch it up. Helping people get better just seemed fun! But when I told my homeschool representative that I wanted to be a doctor, she actually laughed!
So when I first failed my high school exit exam, my eyes were opened for the first time. I realized that if I ever wanted to reach my dreams, that I had to study… and hard! I needed to show everyone that I could graduate high school and that I would work in the medical field! I worked tirelessly for months, studying topics that I had never even seen before. And my work paid off. I passed the exam and graduated high school.
I have continued to work hard throughout college and have been very proud of my efforts. And through my studies, I’ve found that I really do want to join the medical field as a PA. I find the human body fascinating, and I feel proud of myself when I can use my skills to help people recover.
And I’ve discovered that I’m good at it! I graduated with honors from my extensive Army medic training and I love keeping up with my certifications. These experiences, like bandaging up a soldier who accidentally shot his finger, and helping the mental health patients during my current MA job, has all helped to confirm to me that I enjoy patient care.
I want to show that kids from even the most humble background can work hard and achieve their dreams, even if their dream is to work in a highly competitive field like health care. With hard work and dedication to a single goal, anyone can achieve great things. Just like I know that through many long hours of study and hard work, that I will become a PA and accomplish my own personal dream.
Rae says
I never expected my experiences in crisis management to be such a monumental driver in my life. My first experience utilizing crisis management was during college when I found myself homeless and couch surfing at the apartments of friends and living in my vehicle. If you were to ask me, “Rae, do you see yourself being homeless?” I’d belt out laughter in confidence, because who knowingly looks forward to a future of hunger and homelessness. Despite a year of not knowing whether the roof over my head would be my car or a friend’s couch, I maintained a tenacious stride in securing two jobs all while being a full-time student. Granted, my grades freshman year did reflect a bit of upheaval in my personal life; however, my GPA never again dropped below a 3.0.
It is being confronted with crisis and identifying different avenues to deal with situations throughout my life that draws me to becoming a physician assistant (PA). As an advanced practice provider, PAs are often the first and sometimes only point of medical contact when assessing crisis in patients. My desire to become a PA amplified during my professional experience dealing with crisis as a shelter manager for refugee, undocumented women and children fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and homelessness. While working as a shelter manager at International Women’s House, I became the first trustworthy professional to provide supportive services. One very significant service I provided to everyone I encountered was emotional support at each clinic visit. It was at those clinic visits where each of the clients rarely met with a doctor but more often was seen by a PA. The practitioners’ compassion and willingness to understand what was medically the best options for each client showed me how I could better serve an underrepresented population; a population with whom I’m all too familiar. A familiarity of not only being a minority but also a first generation American.
While working at the shelter, I recognized both health and healthcare disparities among undocumented women and children. My research as a delegate in Model United Nations and Model African Union as an undergraduate allowed me to understand why these disparities exist. As a former delegate, I spent much of my time traveling abroad researching and debating health risks that plague countless nations. My main focus areas included researching the high burden of illnesses in poverty-stricken populations, health inequalities in foreigners residing in America, and healthcare providers’ quality of treatment to poverty-stricken communities. I realized that my undergraduate studies only took me as far as my textbooks, so I committed to investing my time into the fundamentals of delegating real world health crisis which has become the framework for my future in healthcare. The desire to become a healthcare provider extended beyond wanting to diagnose and treat conditions with medicine, I found it also necessary to increase my knowledge of federal and state responsibilities regarding health and healthcare disparities. With the insight I gained on the inner workings of government and state agencies and its effects on the health of society, I knew that I was more than prepared for the journey of becoming a healthcare provider.
My journey started with taking night classes to become a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant while working as a shelter manager during the day. After I completed the program, I accepted a position as a medical assistant at Summit Medical Associates where I was trained to assist with gynecologic procedures. Working in a high traffic clinic propelled me from drawing blood for STI testing, performing capillary and dermal punctures, educating and counseling women regarding sexual health risks to most recently being trained in Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). As a Medical Assistant, I learned that medicine shows no bias to a person’s race, religion, social status, or age. Which is also why I now understand why each encounter with the PA during clinic visits must be met with no judgement and compassion. While I enjoy my job as a medical assistant, it is only a stepping stone towards the professional training and education of becoming a PA.
Personally, the desire to become a PA isn’t simply for bragging or monetary advancement. I am committed to advancing my education so that I can promote health and wellness to underrepresented communities while focusing on ways to reduce health issues and healthcare disparities in these communities. As a driver of excellence, I refuse to let any obstacles negatively impact my journey to becoming a PA. With the help of both personal and professional experiences in managing crisis, I am more than confidant that when I start I will be 110% committed to excelling in and completing your Physician Assistant Program.
I applied to Mercer..didn’t get in 🙁 Literally lost on how to make myself a stronger applicant.
Any feedback would be nice..thank you
Kylie says
I never had that “ah-ha!” moment that made me realize I wanted to one day be a medical professional. A part of me has always been drawn to medicine and science. Perhaps the countless eye surgeries I have had since the age of two, time spent in doctor’s offices for sports physicals, or the amazing physician’s assistant that was my primary care provider growing up was what kept me driven to pursue this path. I started to explore options in the medical field and find ways to obtain experience and education to make me successful in this pursuit. Growing up, everyone told me I should go to medical school and while that seemed fitting, I wanted to explore my options. My second year of undergrad I began to shadow my PCP who was a physician’s assistant. After only 2 days of shadowing I knew what I wanted to be. I saw how she was able to see, treat and discharge patients on her own and consult the physician she worked under when needed. The physician there didn’t seem to have the opportunity to see as many patients or dedicate time to patient care as he was often in his office working on budgets or other bureaucratic aspects of running the office. That type of work did not seem fitting for my passions and goals.
I have worked almost an entire year in the emergency department as a medical scribe in my college town and have become even more passionate about the medical field. Doing the “not-so-fun” part of a medical professional’s job, charting, has made me further appreciate the work that goes into each patient. I have seen this job drive some people away from pursuing a career as a doctor or PA, but I never questioned it. Aside from charting, I have gained experience by observing proper bedside manner, communication between the doctor/PA and their nurses or other doctors they may consult, as well as several procedures performed in an emergency department. I enjoy every second of this job and experience and I realized how excited I would get talking about my job to others, within the restraints of HIPPA of course. Even the tough parts of this job have not pushed me away or discouraged me. Having to write about a pediatric, sexual assault case was one of the hardest charts I have written, and I realized how drawn I was to pediatric cases and wishing I could follow up with those patients. Working in the ED has been an amazing experience, but I have found myself wishing I could see these patients through and follow up on them.
I had no idea how life changing and eye opening my medical internship in the Dominican Republic was going to be. I spent 2 weeks observing in a poorly, government-funded hospital in an underdeveloped part of this third-world country. I was able to witness leg amputations, cholecystectomies, live births, C-sections as well as a stillbirth. I learned the importance of preventative care, as that was something this population lacked severely. I appreciated the exposure to a completely new culture and way of medicine, which also made me further appreciate the opportunity to practice medicine one day because I realized not everyone has the opportunity for this type of education. The exposure to underserved communities in the Dominican, patient’s without insurance in the emergency department at my job, and the oncology patients I worked with as a volunteer have given me a greater appreciation and desire to provide medical care to all types of populations. I don’t know what specialty or field I will thrive in, but I am certain I will be passionate about my future patients and their care no matter where I am.
Faith D says
Personal statement
My mother has so many stories of my curiosity of animals and children. When I was 6 I found a snapping turtle and insisted on making it my pet. She had an in-home day care around the same time and I was her helper. There was a toddler so attached to me she would cry when I left for school. I also remember being so concerned when my younger brother or sister would hurt themselves. I would sit with my mom while she bandaged them and watched with curiosity and intent. I am a person who loves a puzzle. I had a high school job at a grocery store. My manager helped bag the groceries from a big order and he complimented how well I organized the items into the paper bags “just like a puzzle”. These are the characteristics that have drawn me to health care.
My mother went back to school to get her nursing degree when I was in the seventh grade and she was in her late 30’s. I have vivid memories of her listening to her recorded lectures while she was sitting on the couch in our lavender living room. I ended up using her small recorder once I was in the ultrasound program at Mizzou. At that point in my life I had accomplished what I thought was impossible, and that was getting accepted to that program. I graduated Magna Cum Laude in May of 2004. This was one of the best days of my life.
I blossomed and found my passion in the very challenging work of ultrasound and echocardiography. I was offered a job at my main clinical site. I later traveled to experience different parts of the country and learn different techniques and protocols for ultrasound and echocardiography. I found excitement in learning and performing 3D echocardiography and then teaching it to ultrasound students. I love a complicated and challenging case where the patient history and physical exam puzzle pieces all help to determine the final diagnosis and treatment plan.
Over the last five years, I find there is something lacking. It’s the follow-up with the patient and the person I’ve spent time with. The recurring and profound relationship a healthcare provider like a Physician’s Assistant can have with a patient. They can counsel them on how to better care for their heart, kidneys or their liver. They can treat and help cure some conditions that I am only able to visualized through ultrasound. My passion for ultrasound and echocardiography has become more of a passion to diagnosis, treat and follow the patients that I see.
All of my experience and innate traits would make a very dedicated and staunch PA-C. I have spent 15 years in ultrasound and echocardiography and I have learned and seen so much. I have applied my love of puzzles, my curiosity and my instinctual concern for others throughout my career and I am ready to take the next step to further help the patients I see everyday.
Faith D Pre-PA
Lina says
When I was only 45 days old, I was diagnosed with mal-rotation of my colon—a congenital, but life-threatening condition. I quickly developed failure to thrive as my body could not properly absorb nutrients. To this day, I remain incredibly thankful for the medical team that saved my life by correctly diagnosing my condition and treating me with corrective surgery. Post-operatively, I began to develop normally; medicine had saved my life.
Fast-forward seventeen years later. I was in high school and started losing weight. I felt weak. I was shuffled from specialist to specialist, underwent a variety of testing, and no diagnosis was determined. After begin taken to the emergency room for the fifth time in three years, I took my health into my own hands. I refused medical treatment and requested to speak to a general surgeon. I asked for an exploratory operation because in my heart, I knew that my symptoms were related to my past medical history. The surgeon listened thoughtfully to my experience and agreed to take me to the OR. After waking up from the anesthesia, the surgeon told me he had found adhesions in my abdomen that were causing my colon to rotate upon itself. Without the surgery, I could have died; in just 20 years, medicine had saved my life on two occasions.
From this experience, I developed a desire to explore the inner workings of the medical field on a day to day basis. I decided to become an EMT and volunteer on weekends. I used my knowledge in biology and extended it to patient care and diagnosis. I quickly fell in love with being an EMT and being able to help people in emergency situations. I learned to respond quickly and intelligently under pressure and most importantly how to reassure my patients as I provide care. This lead to my desire to understand what occurs after a patient is transferred to a healthcare facility. This inspired me to dive deeper into the medical field.
I obtained a job as a medical assistant in a financially challenged community in New Jersey at Trinitas Hospital, which serves patients from Elizabeth and Newark. During this time, my job was to take detailed descriptions of each patient’s complaint, record their vitals, and create a relationship with each patient. Being bilingual allowed me to help the doctors and Spanish speaking patients communicate more effectively and create more effective treatment plans. My favorite part of the job was having the opportunity to work closely with each patient. Through this experience, I confirmed my desire to become a physician assistant.
While my curiosity and desire to work closely with patients are my biggest motivations for becoming a physician assistant, the ability to have a flexible schedule is also reassuring. Since I hope to join a foundation like Saving Mothers or Maria Luisa de Moreno International Foundation (FIMLM) that will allow me to provide medical care to people in South America at least a month of the year, a flexible schedule is essential. I am fortunate to know the founder of FIMLM and believe in her mission in Colombia, which consists of providing free medical care to the most poverty stricken areas resources are scarce. I also personally know the Guatemalan program director for Saving Mothers who travels to Guatemala to teach Indigenous midwives how to deliver a child safely. As a physician assistant, I will contribute to these foundations which I admire so deeply.
Ultimately, I hope to practice medicine with intuition, critical thinking, and analysis. I hope to listen and spend time with my patients in order to really hear what they say and not simply listen for buzz words. I hope to make an honest living while helping people reach their health goals. I hope to contribute to research and make a difference in the lives of those in my community.
Libby Sipp says
Personal Statement: Character Count approx 4,880
A young girl no older than 15 whimpered into the starched hospital beds sheets, curled up in the fetal position. A physician assistant uttered soothing words as he watched his syringe fill with clear fluid from her spinal canal. Olivia had arrived at the emergency department two hours earlier with a high fever and headache. I had nearly forgotten about her amidst the chaos of other trauma patients when a nurse tapped on my blue observer polo and pointed to Procedure Room B. Throughout the entire process, the PA was completely attuned to Olivia’s needs. He calmly expressed his concern for meningitis and explained her treatment plan in terms that both Olivia and her parents could appreciate. The ability of a single PA to de-escalate an emotional, menacing situation and deliver thorough patient care has stuck with me ever since.
Three months prior to that night in the ED, I was walking on my college campus when the bold red letters “EMT” caught my eye. I pulled the brochure from the board on a whim, never imagining that one EMT course and 13 observation hours in the ED would sway my career pursuits. Switching my college major from engineering to cell biology initiated a completely new educational experience, one burgeoning with curiosity that lectures and laboratory hours hardly satisfied. Though school gave me a theoretical foundation in the health sciences, my understanding of a medical career did not humanize until I graduated from MSU and began working directly with patients.
My time as a nurse aide quickly withered my romantic impression of the medical field. Handling large patient loads demanded immense efficiency, and many days were marked with breathless runs from room to room with little time for anything unessential to medical floor operations. During these hectic hours I learned the importance of a personal connection with patients. Recalling a unique detail or a touch on the arm diminished the gap between us and showed them that they were more than a checkmark next to A.M. vitals. I stepped away from that job with a renewed understanding of service and the responsibility held when caring for people intimately in their most vulnerable moments.
I am now well into my second year serving as a medical assistant to an orthopedic and functional medicine specialist. Our diverse patient load requires that I adapt each appointment to the patient’s unique history and health goals. As the sole MA, my daily routine is variable and may include coaching patients through therapy regimens, administering B12 shots, or drawing blood for PRP injections. Rather than default to a prescription, the provider invests significant time seeking out the root cause of ailment and addressing pain at its source. This exposure to true patient care and investment in wellness will be the blueprint for my PA career. I want to teach my patients to share in a vision of optimal health so that they can pursue a future free from the hindrance of pain.
Unique opportunities have given me insight into caring for people who require fierce advocacy. I spent three years training and volunteering for the MSU VOICE Center, a resource for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Working as a victim’s advocate exposed the debilitating grip of fear and pain on people’s lives. Listening and validating their emotions shows survivors that they are worthy of respect and kindness. Only after this trust is established can I empower survivors, return control, and enable them to make informed choices. Similarly, an effective PA must also listen and be willing to walk humbly with her patients toward solutions.
My VOICE Center skills translate well into my volunteer work with Eagle Mount, a ski program for physically and mentally handicapped children. We teachers diligently work to progress the student’s skill set beyond skiing and into the realm of appropriate self-expression and obstacle coping. To establish focus in a rollercoaster of unrestrained glee and horrific fits, I have found it effective to identify a unique functional goal for each child. We all desire a future in which we are capable of doing the activities that enrich our lives. This vision for my own life drives me to invest in healthy choices, and this vision for my patients’ lives will motivate me to provide them with the best possible service and tools to better care for themselves as well.
Though I will always be a biology nerd, I am most motivated to become a physician assistant because of the patients, survivors, and children I have helped so far. A PA has the ability to build trusting relationships, educate, and empower patients to pursue lives marked by wellness. Beyond the absence of disease, my goal for each patient will be framed by optimization of function and investment in preserving a high quality of life.
Sirri says
Hi,
Do you all still offer these services?
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Yes, absolutely. Do you have any questions regarding the review service that I can help answer?
Warmly,
Stephen Pasquini PA-C
sheri sanford says
Hello! This will be my first time applying for PA school and would love some feedback as I am currently way over the 5,000 character limit.
The clock struck midnight and the halls were hushed. Breaking the silence, code red echoed over my radio. The nurse was shrieking for the provider on call. The physician assistant on call ran in and started CPR. As I peered over her shoulder, my brain was in a haze as I saw the light leave her eyes. That was the night that would change my life. Six months earlier I was a CNA working in a nursing home and I cared for a lady named Marg. Marg became my story teller and my friend. Holding her weak frail hands, Marg would tell me stories of a world she once knew. Fast forward six months to that night. The night Marg passed away. It was the compassion, drive, and empathy of that PA, that I was able to say good bye to Marg. I have come across many experiences in my life that have led me to pursue a career as a physician assistant.
I did not let that night destroy or define me. This was a lesson from which I grew. I let it strengthen my intuitions and frame my future. I aspired to be like that PA that attempted to resuscitate Marg and I propelled myself to become something in the physician assistant world. Along the way I met several PA’s that enhanced my love for patient care and cultivated my interests in the PA profession. Working in rural Minnesota, we treated everything from farmers scattered with skin cancers to those with rare skin conditions that didn’t have access to a dermatologist. Not only did my interest in learning intensify while pursing my prerequisites, it was complemented as I met Denise Barnhardt PA-C, who inspired my career decision.
Working with several prodigious providers on a daily basis, my curiosity for medicine amplified. Working with Denise I saw her passion for patient care in the traits she displayed. She not only cared for those with severe skin conditions affecting their daily lives, she highlighted her prolonged compassion and adaptability to care for those patients from all walks of life. She spent her time finding specialists to cater to her patients in ways she felt necessary that may be beyond her specialty. Skipping her lunch break to hear a patient’s story that goes deeper than a chronic skin condition. Meeting Denise has given me an interest in primary care to adapt to different medical conditions and preventative actions.
Learning from Denise, I was able to build on my own interpersonal skills. Growing up in Miami, surrounded by a melting pot of individuals, I learned that everyone has their own unique story. Patients will never be black and white in their personalities and symptoms, there will be a gradient of colors that will be presented in front of you. Working as a team, I was able to excel in my position as I knew the right questions to address with patients, could relate to diverse populations, was a supportive second-hand assistant in profound procedures, and document using extensive medical knowledge. I found that the skills I developed and put to use working in the medical field gave me a sense of recognition in serving my patients in the best way possible as a physician assistant in the future.
Although there were several skills I developed while working in direct patient care, some skills I already bared were enhanced. Miami has an immigrant population that consists of 70% of its residents. While living there, I was able to learn diversified cultural aspects that are valued when assimilating into a physician assistant environment. I was able to volunteer in homeless shelters, schools and community events amplifying my knowledge in team building and communication. Working in rural areas of Minnesota as a home health aide, I was able to assist disabled individuals in underserved towns with small populations. Shadowing and working with several physician assistants in a variety of specialties, I gained and reinforced essential skills to cater to patients and my enthusiasm for the physician assistant profession heightened.
The twists and turns I encountered in my life allowed discovery and ability to grow. As my peers got pushed through life like a whirlwind, I fluttered along making my own path. Moving to America as a first-generation college student, I pushed myself to success using my own motivation alone. Having two jobs to support myself throughout college, I was overwhelmed with pride as I stood among four people at my college graduation in recognition of “magna cum laude.” As many pre-physician assistants have a science-based background, I chose political science and law. As I did a u turn into the medical field, I felt the void in my heart filling with excitement. Through financial strains, I was able to excel in my prerequisites while working full time in direct patient care. I do not regret pursing political science. I learned what it feels like to have a vacancy in your heart and as it filled while in the medical field, I found my true passion.
Every opportunity I have had since my fork in the road has brought me to this decision. My experience with Marg, shadowing in the ER and watching lifesaving practices for a 3-year-old with third degree burns, and watching tears roll down my patients face as she finally had clearance from a lifelong history of severe guttate psoriasis. Experiences like these have propelled me into a love of medicine and patient care. My ability to harvest knowledge I have learned from PA’s along the way has given me the tools to work as a valued physician assistant in a health care team. I am eager to broaden my medical knowledge and watch my life mature and thrive as a successful physician assistant. My motivation for this profession will be to provide the highest quality of care, inform patients of their specific needs and diagnoses, and have them leaving with a sense of empowerment and encouragement that a provider will be on their side every step of the way.
Judy B says
I have always been very passionate on finding ways to decrease the physical, mental, and the emotional scope of human suffering. I have witnessed first-hand the detrimental and the long lasting effect of death and suffering on human beings, including myself.
I have been introduced to the medical field in the summer of 2000, when my maternal grandmother was diagnosed and passed away from ovarian cancer. In 2005, my mother was diagnosed with Stage II Breast Cancer, her treatment included chemotherapy, radiation, and a partial mastectomy. Fortunately, my mother survived this heinous ordeal. However, on August 29th, 2010 I received news that my mother was diagnosed with stage IV Liver cancer. Again and for the second time, she underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and multiple surgeries to control this disease. Her doctor and team of medical staff announced that she would have three months left of her natural life, however, she fought for a gracious 10 months. The cancer metastasized to her brain and on June 27, 2011 she has passed away. I was only sixteen years old. Throughout her illness, our relationship grew stronger and brought us closer and I cherished every moment that we shared together.
Unfortunately, another emotional encounter I experienced during my first year at the University of Florida. My father was involved in a tragic vehicular collision that left him disabled. An emergency surgery resulted him to stay in the intensive critical unit for approximately 3 weeks. In a result, my father was unable to continue working and the head of our household is no longer able to provide for myself and my siblings. During my first year of college I was contemplating dropping out and staying home to take care of my father and my siblings. However, I know if I did, my parents’ dream would be non-existent. Therefore, I have managed to maintain a good academic standing while visiting my family as often as possible. During this time, my academia struggled and my grades were not the best. However, I persisted.
I completed my Bachelors in Science degree in three years. Upon graduation, I was certain I wanted to assist and make a positive impact on the needy and the underprivileged. Therefore, on August 22nd, 2016, I was hired as a Child Welfare Case Manager and later transitioned to become an Extended Foster Care Case Manager. Throughout my time as a social worker, I have observed children who are medically needy, children with a physical disability, and/or a mental illness. Working as a social worker was the catalyst that increased my desire to become a Physician Assistant. Throughout my experience, I have observed children in foster care, are prescribed psychotropic medications at a rate 2-3 times higher than the level of children in the normal populations. This is also includes, prescribing the wrong dose and/or wrong treatment. I have observed clinicians and medical teams lack fundamental understanding and compassion on how the trauma has affected this particular population. I have also observed children who are aging out of the system, abruptly stop taking these medications. Individuals who have been taking psychotropic medications should not stop taking these medications without consulting with their medical team. However, due to the lack of trust and understanding between the foster care population and their medical teams, these individuals’ are failing to receive the care and advocation they need.
Experiencing my maternal grandmother, my mother, and my father’s pain I have always been interested in the medical filed, however; I have always considered myself to be a social advocate for the underprivileged. I never realized I can do both by becoming a physician assistant. I want to be a physician assistant because I want to continue to advocate for this and every population. I want to become the voice to the voiceless. I can influence and inspire individuals and have a positive impact on their life due to my past experience, because helping others means caring for others. That is what motivates me the most, because I believe I can meet and exceed my patients’ expectations.
Michelle F says
Seventy-two hours. That is all the time this squirmy, fuzzy, positively adorable little boy had experienced of the world. Here I was, a stranger, and I had to be the one to cause this angel pain in his first days. An unexplained fever was his primary ailment and his parents looked on with apprehension. As a medical assistant at Central Oregon Pediatric Associates (COPA), I had proven a talent for phlebotomy, so I had been called to a satellite clinic to try to keep him out of the hospital. I felt confident after warming his arms and palpating, but my palms remained sweaty as I felt the pressure of diagnosing his affliction. This family had driven half a day from Burns, a rural town with a population of less than three thousand, and no pediatric facilities of their own. They likely would have to stay at the hospital hours from home if I wasn’t able to collect the needed samples. My coworker helped to stabilize his arm which was less than two inches across. Dad asked me what we would do if I failed and I replied mustering all the optimism I had, “we will cross that bridge if we have to, but we are going to do everything we can right now to make Jasper feel better.” Mom buried her face in her newborn’s chest and when she was able to lift her head, tears in her eyes, I had enough blood to send the needed culture and other hematology tests. The physician squeezed my shoulders and thanked me for traveling over to help. She was able to look over the STAT results and determine that the newborn could safely return home with his grateful parents.
Though the visit with Jasper only took twenty minutes of my afternoon, it was countless similar moments at COPA that sparked my passion for primary care and pediatrics. While a medical career has been my focus since a young age when I was gifted an anatomy coloring book and obsessively watching Grey’s Anatomy, my attention turned toward becoming a physician assistant after college during my first clinical job. I recall shadowing Gerry, an orthopedic PA, on his morning rounds of his postoperative patients. I would shadow early morning with him and then head downstairs to the surgical recovery room to work as a patient care assistant until surgeries were done for the day. It was during these days I discovered I could maximize my patient interaction, my love for working on a team, and practice advanced clinical skills all under the scope of PA credentials.
As a previous applicant, I have reflected on the improvements and experiences and know they have only intensified my drive to become a PA. I now have a well rounded background of patient care experience covering multiple specialties and have graduate degree proving that I can balance a rigorous course load. I was a young, over-confident, twenty-five year old when I first when through this process. At COPA I developed meaningful relationships with practitioners who believe in my ability and have provided mentorship. While working the past year and a half at COPA I developed a deep passion for primary care and worked with numerous capable and dedicated PAs. COPA has allowed me to work as a member of a team of medical professionals all aimed at improving the health outcomes of children in a rural and underserved region of Oregon. I have gained a clear understanding of the role that I am pursuing and know that I possess the competencies required to provide quality care to my future patients. I look forward to applying the skills I have learned through my patient care experiences to help families like Jasper’s, who need it most.
GaBria says
May 17, 2018. I assumed that it would be another ordinary birthday.
“Catherine! Catherine, wake up!” All of us were screaming her name. Catherine wasn’t responding. There she lay in the procedure chair. Eyes closed. Abdomen extended. Cyanosis of both her face and lips. This can’t be happening. Surely, not on my birthday. This can’t be the same day that will be commemorated as death for Ms. Catherine.
Everything happened so fast. It was just another surgery day at the office. The protocol was consistent. For me, preparation was just as much of a routine as getting dressed for work every morning. Vitals were checked. Procedural gown on. Sedation was given. Topical anesthetic and neurosurgical cottonoids were placed. Ms. Catherine was led into the procedural room. My physician entered and the time-out was completed. I stood and assisted with the instruments amid other duties, everything was going as planned. After several minutes, Ms. Catherine had
drifted off into a deep slumber.
As I began with the sinus irrigation, somehow I noticed that the snoring ceased. “I need some water,” said Ms. Catherine in her usual soft-spoken voice. How ironic was it that she was requesting water at the exact time that her sinuses are flushed with saline water? My inner self knew that something was not right. As she repeated herself, she quickly became combative. We attempted to restrain her; however, her persistence created more chaos. “Catherine, calm down!” “Catherine, listen to us!” “Catherine! Catherine!” She slowly became more relaxed and laid back in the chair. We prepared to proceed with surgery; however, it quickly became apparent that she was motionless. She had stopped responding. Ms. Catherine had aspirated.
I checked her pulse; she had none. Her hand was extremely feeble and pale. While my physician was vigorous in CPR administration, I connected her to the BP monitor for pulse oximetry. The other nurses were rapidly attempting to assemble the oxygen tank, although, we soon realized that we were missing equipment and unable to provide further oxygen therapy for her. The BP monitor was aggressively playing its own rhythm similar to a beeping siren. Ms. Catherine was critically hypoxemic at 15% O2 level. The beeping was a relentless reminder that we were in a race against time. By far, this was the longest 45 minutes of my life.
As I reflect back on that day, I recall being overwhelmed and consumed with so many thoughts and emotions. I can now appreciate what Pastor and Author Charles R. Swindoll said best, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” In that moment, Ms. Catherine affirmed for me that I want to be a part of the 90%. In a strange way, I have come to appreciate what this profession embodies for patients each day. I value both the unknown triumphs and challenges that may come with each day. In my two years of working as a Clinical Assistant, I have encountered hundreds of patients that have created lasting footprints on my journey to
becoming a Physician’s Assistant. As for lasting impressions, this experience with Ms. Catherine undeniably represents “Bigfoot”.
Till this day, Ms. Catherine remembers nothing except waking up in the hospital. How ironic is it that she had given me the best birthday gift without even realizing it-my empowered and confirmed sense to become a Physician’s Assistant.
*Note: Actual name of patient was changed to protect confidentiality
Kira Oliver says
Responsibility. Determination. I have had to balance carefree youth with maturity from a young age. My father, who is a single parent, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease 15 years ago. As a young woman, I learned quickly, the logistical and emotional difficulty in helping someone manage a chronic illness, helping him dress, walk, and in the bathroom, especially on bad days. Despite this challenge, he has helped me find who I am and know the career I want to pursue: helping others manage chronic illness as a Physician Assistant.
Swiftness. Adaptability. To hone my ability to help others with chronic illness, I specifically sought out experiences with underprivileged populations. Through Global Brigades, a non-governmental organization I joined as a Freshman, I have had opportunities to work with patients in Honduras. I worked with Dr. Romeo Morales, M.D., as his assistant in general health, as well as local Honduran doctors in gynecology and dentistry rotations. Dr. Morales tasked me with determining various ailments after examination. Having him to look to for collaboration with knowledge yet being able to problem solve on my own, was an unforgettable opportunity. Because the patients I worked with had few health resources, many of their conditions became chronic. Patients sought help managing parasitic diseases, accessing antibiotics, dental treatment, implementing oral self-care routines, and the anxiety with receiving medical treatments. For example, I worked with a patient who needed treatment for dental caries. Through this experience, I continued to expand my ability to be a caregiver; I used my interpersonal skills to help the patient manage their anxiety during treatments, something I acquired through my experience with my father. I have returned to Honduras upon acceptance to Global Brigades’ annual Leadership Institute, where I gained essential skills that carried over as a Brigade Leader in the Spring and Summer of 2018. I continued to hone my skills to be a Physician Assistant, working, again, with underprivileged communities to provide care, leadership, and sustainability.
Empathy. Approach. I took on a role to help the expanding geriatric community in our country, working with dementia patients as a Resident Assistant to further my knowledge and care to those struggling with chronic illness. Dementia care encompasses a necessity for appropriately handling intense events such as a stroke, paired with mental breakdowns with confusion, hostility or sadness. I was able to use my acquired knowledge with my father to aid dementia patients also struggling from Parkinson’s disease with an empathetic view, understanding the sensitivities and encouragement that must be utilized.
This experience led me to obtain a Medical Assistant position in gastroenterology where I continue assisting those with chronic illness and further develop my clinical, administrative, and patient-care skills. Here I found the value of teamwork and communication, to ensure patients be seen efficiently, and self confidence, pushing me to shadow PAs that I formed relationships with and advance to be trained in phlebotomy shortly after starting my position. Understanding patients individually is essential in this field. How would my father or vulnerable citizens of Honduras want to be treated? Knowing what residents need in order to feel calm or safe and having a relationship with them made taking care of them, medically, less difficult. I value the compassion and insight that is added to practice of medicine as a Physician Assistant.
Taking into account the significance of any moment is a challenging thing to do. Life with my father, disadvantaged lives in Central America, and the fading memory of residents with Dementia have made me more aware of that. I am a lifetime learner and want to be able to take knowledge from a professional above me, but I also do my best work when pushed to excel when my compassion, dedication and hard work are on display. My desire to work alongside others to improve the health of individuals both globally and domestically has only grown. Increasing populations and shortages of primary care physicians is something we face all over. As a Physician Assistant I will thrive with the ability to bring access to care, with direct patient relationships and a plethora of clinical skills, as well as administrative capabilities.
Chris says
FIRST TIME APPLICANT, FFEDBACK IS APPRECIATED!
On my 23rd birthday I found myself wanting nothing more than to sit and read behind my hut in the Senegalese desert. An escape from the constant mental strain that came with cultural integration and communicating in Wolof, Senegal’s major language. I had been in Senegal for nearly five months working as a health volunteer for the Peace Corps; most of my days were spent at the nearby clinic, holding information sessions, and assisting with vaccinations. I had decided to join the Peace Corps to experience another culture firsthand, and this came with many unforeseen obstacles. Having to deal with these obstacles taught me that barriers to communication, whether cultural, educational, or psychological can have a significant impact on an individual’s perceived image and the associated consequences. This experience had a large influence on my desire to become a physician assistant, and encouraged me to approach health care with patience, awareness, and a desire to build trust.
Upon arriving in Senegal, I was given a plethora of training, leaving me with ideas for possible projects, culturally acceptable actions, and a conversational level of Wolof. Despite this, the first day in my village was overwhelming, and the limits to my language skills were quickly apparent. When I wasn’t using my more extensive health-related vocabulary, I was talking and being talked to like a child. I felt patronized, and many conversations seemed condescending. For the first time in my life, I noticed a stark contrast between the person I was, and my perceived image. I was able to comprehend better than I could speak and would listen to my host brothers joke about me when I was lying in bed at night. The fact that I couldn’t outwardly demonstrate my intelligence gave them the impression that I wasn’t able to understand what they were saying. It may not have been their intention, but these sorts of comments made me feel inadequate. My inability to verbally express myself was the major obstacle I faced, and I was determined to overcome it. This was difficult as Wolof is not a written language. Luckily, I found two individuals in my village that knew basic English and for the first few months we clumsily attempted to tutor one another in our native languages. Sadly, our low language levels led to frustration and ended with no significant increase in my language ability.
As time went on, I shifted my approach from perfecting the language to becoming comfortable with the language I had already acquired. A majority of the shift came from personal changes, but I would not have been successful without the patience of a few village health workers. They were able to look past the perceived image attached to my language abilities and work with me based on my limitations. I imagine this is a similar scenario faced by those experiencing American culture for the first time, or have other stigmas such as those seen with a physical or mental disability or illness. As a healthcare provider I intend to show this sort of patience to those who are facing their own barriers, knowing how big of a role it played in my experience.
Once I began feeling more comfortable I was able to make changes in order to continue to overcome those cultural barriers. I built a support system of volunteers, set short term health related goals, and made sure to give myself alone time to decompress. These changes helped me stay months longer than I originally thought I would be able to, allowing me to gain the experience I had hoped to receive. I look back fondly on my time there, and grew immensely as an individual. This growth was also apparent in my passion for health care. Health information made a drastic difference in Senegalese communities, and encouraged me to find ways I could continue working in health education back in the US. I found myself excited by the prospects of becoming a PA, having a more influential role in health management and education. I am drawn to the PA profession particularly because of the flexibility to work with a variety of populations over one’s career, a benefit not afforded to physicians. Along with this, I value the work-life balance the PAs I have interacted with are able to have while still playing a large influence on a patient’s treatment.
Having decided to pursue this profession I now consciously try to understand what might be the limiting factor of my interactions from a cultural, educational, or psychological perspective, and have incorporated that into my current job working at a psychiatric facility. I have more empathy and understanding of underserved populations and the difficulties they face throughout society. My emphasis as a healthcare provider will be on recognizing these barriers and breaking down stigmas attached to them. This will require patience, an awareness of the obstacles someone faces, and the ability to build trust. These skills are important to the role I hope to play in patient care moving forward.
Jess says
First-time applicant! Appreciate any/all feedback!
“Pulse check,” a voiced called out over the noise. Pulling my gloved hands off the patient’s chest, I stood back. I couldn’t hear anything over the sound of my pounding heart.
“Any objections to calling it? Anyone have any ideas?” the woman in a white coat called out. Everyone seemed so calm after 22 minutes of constant activity. “Time of death: 0917.”
My hands shook. I was in my final semester of nursing school, and I had just experienced many firsts. First intubation. First code. First real compressions. First death. Once my heart returned to a normal rate, I opened my mouth, questions pouring out. As a naturally curious person, I was drawn to healthcare where there will always be more to learn.
After being a critical care RN, my hands no longer shake and my heart no longer drops to my stomach when patients are declining. I am calm and assertive. I ask for help. I advocate for my patients. My critical thinking and judgment are fine-tuning every day. But my questions continue. I keep a notebook in my workbag; every day, I write a new question in it. When a lull hits, I pepper my Fellow and Attending with questions, supplementing their answers with research of my own.
As the only Level I Trauma in West Michigan, my facility receives the big bad traumas from half of the state. On the Burn/Surgical/Trauma ICU, we have become a well-oiled machine. Every day, we perform interdisciplinary rounds with the Attending, Fellow, PA, Residents, RN, respiratory therapists, and dieticians. Every piece of the puzzle comes together. Each person participates; all concerns are addressed. I love rounds. It’s one of my favorite parts of the day.
The more comfortable I have become in my role as an ICU RN, the more challenges and additional training I have taken on. I believed this would satisfy the voice asking, “What’s next?” The notebook filled up. I realized I want to be the one deciding the interventions, not just implementing them. While I enjoy my role at the bedside, I want to play a bigger part in decision-making and diagnosis. As I examined the roles where I would have this opportunity, I asked myself who I went to when I had a question, wanted to suggest an intervention, or needed an issue addressed. I went to the PAs. Consistently. Shift after shift, I would ask the various providers about their training, roles, advice, and satisfaction.
The more I found out about the various professions, the more I shadowed and worked alongside PAs, the more convinced I became. I want to fill the role of a PA on the interdisciplinary team, always pursuing the why and the how.
My path to finding this profession has been crooked at best. There was a period of my undergraduate education when I did not know if I would ever function normally again. I began suffering from severe and debilitating migraines early in college; my sophomore and junior years were spent in emergency rooms, doctors offices, and dark rooms. Amid threats from my parents to pull me out of school, countless failed medications, and offers from my scholarship to postpone my education until my health issues were under control, I had a choice to make. I could push pause on my goals and education to focus on my health, or I could choose to continue to pursue my nursing degree. Without a guarantee of health, I was not willing to jeopardize my education.
Upon graduation, I began working nights as a new RN. The migraines were still poorly controlled, but I managed. I carefully controlled my routine, diet, and environment to enable me to perform. I found that my experience with pain allowed me to have more empathy and compassion with my suffering patients. In order to ensure my success in PA school, I have waited to pursue this opportunity until I found an effective treatment plan. With migraines under control, I look forward to pursuing my career as a physician assistant.
I am not quite sure how to end the essay… I don’t think I really nailed the conclusion..
Kelci Bethke says
Hi! This is my first time applying to PA school. I have posted the rough draft for my personal statement below. Any advise is greatly appreciated. 🙂
With her tiny limp body and no head control to look up at me, Clarisa Grace, a two-year-old foster child was brought to my family’s door step. It was placed upon my family’s heart to begin the foster and adoption process through our church. Within two days of receiving the certification to foster a social worker called. She stated that she had a two-year-old little girl with mild medical setbacks. Little did we know upon acceptance of Clarisa into our home she was extremely medically fragile. The first glance of Clarisa I knew we were not prepared to handle the amount of medical attention that this delicate girl would need. Clarisa was born with hydrocephalus, this condition was left untreated, consequently cerebral palsy took over her life. Clarisa instantaneously captivated my heart and immediately expanded my passion for medicine.
I began researching everything there was to know about Clarisa and every one of her medical conditions. We walked into Children’s Hospital in Dallas Texas where I met her pediatric physician assistant. The amount of time and passion that this Physician assistant took with Clarisa was none like id ever seen. The holistic approach taken as the provider to prove with medicine anything is possible for Clarisa solidified that I had found my calling in life. I began shadowing her primary care physician at Children’s hospital as I aspired to be the same amazing provider that our family was blessed with. The impact that medicine has done for Clarisa has been such an amazing eye opener. She will never be able to walk and will forever be on a feeding tube, but her quality of life is better than ever as she now approaches seven miraculous years on this early. My ambitions in life are to daily assist in improving that quality of life in every patient that I encounter, now as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist and in my career as a Physician Assistant.
Being a Physician Assistant will give me the opportunity daily to give someone exceptional patient care to be preventative as well as corrective in their health. I have been working in the medical field for five years now and could not see myself being anywhere else. I leave the hospital everyday with joy knowing that I have positively impacted my patient’s life’s. Medicine is rapidly growing and changing, I strive to be a part of that as I expand my knowledge in the medical field. Once I began the Pre-PA process going the extra mile has been my moto. I wanted to know everything there was to know about the profession. I joined TAPA as a Pre-PA student and attended the annual conference. I sat in every seminar, made business cards, and engaged in getting to know the PA professionals. I was overwhelmed with the warm welcomes from PA’s all-around Texas. I felt as if I was already home in my profession, little did they know the impact that they had on justifying my calling in life.
From the TAPA conference, shadowing a wide variety of doctors and physician assistants, to being offered a Pre-Med fellowship to Portugal, my love for medicine grew more than I could have ever imagined. I had spent many hours shadowing here in Texas, but nothing compared to my shadowing experience abroad. I submerged myself into a completely different culture, I didn’t know the language or how different their health system was before I arrived there. I spent my mornings shadowing a wide variety of surgeries while the physicians spoke broken English to teach me every move they made in surgery. After surgery I spend hours researching each surgery that I watched. The hospital that I was at, Hospital De San Jose a teaching hospital, was an extremely old hospital for low income patients. It was an amazing place to truly understand the differences in the American health care and treatment. These hospitals are eye openers to appreciating the health system that we have in America. I spent time learning the culture, language, and history of this gorgeous town. I was extremely blessed to have this opportunity as I came home to another offer to travel to Australia to explore their health care as well. I believe to be an amazing physician assistant one must be able to connect with patients on a wide variety of cultural levels.
I have remained a full-time employee at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano as I have taken my prerequisites, shadowed, and volunteered. I know being a physician assistant is a very rewarding career but being an amazing physician assistant means going above and beyond. As the oldest of 5 children I made this path to set the example to my younger siblings. Unto everything that I do I will always strive to make a difference in those around me and take every opportunity thrown my way. The events during my Pre-Pa process have brought so much joy and ambition into my life I can only imagine what else medicine has in store for me.
Eric T says
FIRST TIME APPLICANT, FEEDBACK IS APPRECIATED!
The bell rings at 5am, I get up and put my gear on without opening my eyes. The familiar voice comes from the speaker in the bunkroom first giving the address and then a complaint that wakes me up instantly, cardiac arrest. I’m on the ambulance this time, so we rush to the truck and are out of the station with no time to waste. We arrive on scene and I get the backboard and jump bag while my partner pulls the drug box and monitor on to the stretcher. We enter the house and find our patient laying prone, unconscious between the bathroom and the hallway. We hurry to rotate him on to his back on the backboard, only to find a pool of black coffee ground emesis on the floor and around his mouth. He is not breathing and does not have a pulse, so I begin CPR while my partner prepares to secure his airway. Our station’s engine crew is right behind us helping with setting up the defibrillator pads and starting IV’s.
The patient’s wife tells us that he had surgery on his small intestines and that he has had abdominal pain all night, and he collapsed when trying to go to the bathroom. With no shock advised on the monitor, we finish the round of CPR and load the patient on to the stretcher and in to the ambulance as quickly and safely as possible. Two engine crew members hop in to the back of the ambulance and I get in front and drive to the hospital. On the way, I hear from the back of the truck that they have a pulse and stop performing CPR. We arrive at the hospital and the ER team is waiting for us in the room we were given. As I am helping to move the patient from our stretcher to the hospital stretcher, I see every member of the ER team performing their various tasks as efficiently as possible. At the head of the hospital bed is the attending PA who is receiving the report from my partner. He gives a nod to my crew and I, saying “Thanks guys, we’ve got it from here.” He then turns to the ER staff and continues to coordinate steps following a ‘return of spontaneous circulation’ (ROSC).
This story is but one example of the countless incidents I have responded to as a firefighter and as an EMT. Over my 11 years spent in EMS, I have responded to every standard of living imaginable, from the depths of poverty to the upper echelon of wealth. I have treated and transported patients that come from various ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, and religions. I have made it a point to always build rapport with my patients while they are going through the most egregious events in their lives. I have learned through my experiences how to build relationships with families and how to have crucial conversations with them when dire treatments may be necessary. My bedside manner is not all that I possess, I have ideas that I can only begin to implement with a better understanding of healthcare. I believe patient care is an ever evolving entity, and I want to be at the forefront of every new discovery to help foster better patient outcomes and faster rehabilitation periods.
Understanding patient care, and treatments in a pre-hospital setting are ultimately methods that sustain patients until they are able to be treated at a higher level of care. My curiosity has turned into a desire to move towards that next level of care. I want to be that PA that receives a patient in bad shape and work with my own team to help them. Assist them in having the best possible outcome, given the situation. I want to be the PA that people can collaborate with and return too. Not only that, I want to be the PA that people talk about. I want peers to request my consultation on difficult cases, I want my staff to be proud they are a part of my team, and I want to make a positive impact in the future for healthcare.
Chely says
The warm breeze whipped through my hair as we drove past rivers of trash. Barefooted people waded precariously through murky streams, selling goods that ranged from tropical fruit to bottles of local Haitian rum. The ride from Port-Au Prince was long as we bounced up and down the dirt roads. Smoke filled the air from the heaps of burning rubbish and clung to our clothes. By the time we reached Leogane my face was black. I normally would have shrieked, but that felt too indulgent after having seen such poverty and desperation. It was my initial foray into a nation riddled by poverty and corruption. It was inhumane, and yet after what I witnessed I had never felt more driven to help. In the coming week our task was to hold impromptu clinics with patients and ascertain their overall level of health.
After a long day of check-ups and sweat we were finally done and heading back for lunch. The press of gathering crowds, clamoring for us to take their blood pressure, would make our brief walk back take over an hour. About ten minutes away from our compound an elderly man sitting on a rock called us over. He spoke softly to our guide in Creole as his gnarled hands gingerly rolled up his sleeve. I walked over and knelt in the dirt beside him. He smiled in no particular direction as I took his arm and began taking his blood pressure. As I spun the knob to release the pressure cuff I looked up into his eyes and realized that he was blind. I told him what his blood pressure was and that it was normal. He took my hand in his and began saying “mesi mesi.” I responded “you’re welcome” and smiled, painfully aware of the fact that he wouldn’t see it.
Later on, I confirmed with the nursing student in our group that the man was likely suffering from glaucoma. When I asked if there were any treatments he replied with a defeated “no.” He explained that there are procedures such as laser surgery, but even if the man had enough money to pay for the surgery, there were no facilities nearby. A simple procedure was all the man needed to restore his vision, and the only thing preventing this was being destitute in a nation lacking a functional health care system. That being said, what was needed was not a miracle, it was feasible.
My experiences in Haiti directed the current of my life inextricably towards health care. When I returned to Boston I became an EMT. On the second day of the job we transported an elderly woman to hospice. When we arrived, a neighbor explained that she had been checking in on the patient, Milly, from time to time. She told us that she hadn’t seen any of Milly’s relatives in some time and became concerned. As we opened the front door a wave of urine and feces crept into our nostrils. We found Milly lying down on a filthy bed that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in weeks. Milly resembled a skeleton, weighing no more than 90 pounds. While I spoke to her I quickly realized she was suffering from some form of dementia as she kept repeating the list of groceries she needed to get on her next trip to the store. When we gently turned her over to examine her she screamed in agony and begged us to stop. She had a large bedsore on her lower back and was likely suffering from a pelvic fracture. This was a textbook case of elder neglect. We carefully moved her to the stretcher as Milly wailed with tears rolling down her face. I felt useless. I tried to calm her down by reassuring her it would be over soon. She squeezed my hand with all of the strength that she could muster and, to my surprise, began apologizing. “I’m sorry, I’m such a wimp.” She apologized over and over again, doing her best to fight through the pain, until we got in the back of the truck. As the doors closed, her wrinkled hand still in mine, she looked me in the eyes and softly said, “thank you.”
I cannot sit idly by, hoping for someone else to help the blind man in Haiti or the elderly woman suffering from neglect. I have been blessed to grow up in a world filled with opportunities, and I aspire to use those to advocate for the defenseless and forgotten. My background as a volunteer, an EMT, and a researcher has granted me the ability to meet people from different walks of life. As a volunteer I received an education about the world, and the difference medicine can make for those living in it. As an EMT I learned compassion, empathy, and teamwork. Now as a researcher, I have reignited my love for science and curiosity. As a physician assistant I would be able to use my knowledge and hone my skills in different specialties to help those deprived of proper medical treatment. The education I receive will give me the foundation I need to become a more well-rounded healthcare provider and the experience I gain during clinicals will allow me to master those techniques. I would be in a position that would allow me to interact with patients, on a daily basis, capable of making a difference that’s deserving of their gratitude.
Chely says
The warm breeze whipped through my hair as we drove past rivers of trash. Flocks of people waded through murky waters, careful of where they stepped so as not to injure their bare feet, selling goods that ranged from tropical fruit to bottles of local Haitian rum. The ride was long as we bounced up and down the dirt roads, trying to maintain our balance in the back of the truck. Smoke filled the air from the heaps of burning rubbish and clung to our clothes. By the time we reached Leogane my face was black. It was my initial foray into a nation so riddled by poverty and rife with corruption; the squalor so many had to live with made my heart ache. It tormented my sense of justice, it was inhumane, and yet after what I witnessed I had never felt more driven to help.
In the coming week our task was to hold impromptu clinics with patients and their families; ascertaining their overall level of health, assisting with the management of their medications, and determining whether a specific ailment warranted a higher echelon of care.
After a long day of check-ups and sweat we were finally done and heading back for lunch. The press of gathering crowds, clamoring for us to take their blood pressure, would occasionally make our brief walk back take over an hour. About ten minutes away from our compound an elderly man sitting on a rock called us over. He spoke softly to our guide in Creole as his gnarled hands gingerly rolled up his sleeve. I walked over and knelt in the dirt beside him. He smiled in no particular direction as I took his arm and began taking his blood pressure. As I spun the knob to release the pressure cuff I looked up into his eyes and it suddenly dawned on me that he was blind. I told him what his blood pressure was and that it was normal. He took my hand in his and began saying “mesi mesi.” I responded “you’re welcome” and smiled, painfully aware of the fact that he wouldn’t see it.
On our way back, I confirmed with the nursing student in our group that the man was likely suffering from glaucoma. When I asked if there were any treatments he replied with a defeated “no.” He explained that there are procedures such as laser surgery, but even if the man had enough money to pay for the surgery, there were no facilities nearby. A simple procedure was all the man needed to restore his vision, and the only thing preventing this was being destitute in a nation bereft of a functional health care system. The reason he couldn’t get it was due to the lack of healthcare. That being said, what was needed was not a miracle, it was feasible. As a physician assistant, I could provide quality care to underserved areas such as Haiti.
My experiences in Haiti directed the current of my life inextricably towards health care. When I came back to Boston I became an EMT. On the second day of the job we transported an elderly woman to hospice. Upon arrival, we were met by a neighbor who explained that she had called. She’d been checking in on the patient, Milly, from time to time. The neighbor explained that she hadn’t seen any of Milly’s children in some time and became concerned. As we opened the front door a wave of urine and feces crept into our nostrils. We found Milly lying down on a filthy bed that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in weeks. Milly looked like a skeleton, weighing no more than 90 pounds. While I spoke to her I quickly realized she was suffering from some form of dementia as she kept repeating the list of groceries she needed to get on her next trip to the store. As we gently turned her over to examine her she screamed in agony and begged us to stop. She had a bedsore on her lower back the size of a baseball and was likely suffering from a pelvic fracture. This was a textbook case of elder neglect. We carefully moved her to the stretcher as Milly wailed with tears rolling down her face. I felt useless. I tried to calm her down by reassuring her it would be over soon. She squeezed my hand with all of the strength she could muster and, to my surprise, began apologizing. “I’m sorry, I’m such a wimp.” She apologized over and over again, doing her best to fight through the pain, until we got in the back of the truck. As the doors closed, her wrinkled hand still in mine, she looked me in the eyes and softly said, “thank you.”
I will no longer sit idly by hoping for someone else to help the blind man in Haiti or elderly woman suffering from neglect. I have been blessed enough to grow up in a world filled to the brim with opportunities. As a physician assistant I would be able to hone my skills in different areas and use my knowledge to help those deprived of proper medical treatment. I would be in a position that would allow me to interact with patients on a daily basis capable of making a difference that’s deserving of their gratitude.
Cambley Sassman says
“The next child you’ll visit is very dear to this hospital,” my advisor told me while volunteering at a pediatric hospital one Saturday. “She’s very special because she was actually born here and has spent her past 12 months in the NICU. She only recently moved onto a pediatric floor, and she could always use extra love.”
As I began to make my way to her room, I was saddened to hear of such a long stay in the hospital. Although I did not know anything about the patient’s story, I knew it was probably not a story that would make my sadness dissipate.
After introducing myself, I carefully juggled the many tubes connected to the girl so that I could hold her. She tightly clung to me as I lifted her out of the crib, and after this task was complete I was able to take a look around her room, which looked more like a nursery room than a hospital room.
All around me were children’s books, toys, stuffed animals, and letters written by nurses and doctors that had taken care of the little girl while she had been in the NICU those 12 months. I noticed letters written to “Future Mom and Dad” detailing what nurses had learned about the girl’s personality. The impact that this patient had made on the medical team was overtly evident – everyone loved this child, no matter her story or her background.
As we played, I thought more about not only the impression the little girl made on her medical team, but how big of an impact the medical team made on her life and would continue to make on her life even after discharge. The nurses and doctors went above and beyond – not only saving this patient’s life but also making her life better in colorful ways, with books, toys, and letters, that would go with the little girl to her future home.
Having said goodbye, I came to the realization that this was exactly what I needed to do. I needed to practice medicine so that I could not only save lives but better them as well. I wanted to give hope to patients the way that the medical staff had given hope to this little girl.
At this point in my college career, I was fairly sure I wanted to become a physician assistant – I knew the position would give me autonomy and that I would be able to diagnose and treat patients, while also giving me the freedom to move specialties throughout my career. I had heard from physician assistants how much they loved what they did, and this only further solidified my desire.
I began scribing in the emergency department at hospitals in undeserving communities; I was anxious to dive deeper into medicine and wanted to see how different aspects of healthcare worked together to save lives. I charted for physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners alike. Not only did I learn a lot about medicine as a scribe, but I also learned a lot about practicing medicine. I realized quickly that I much preferred the way physician assistants practice medicine, and as I built relationships with the people I worked for, I gained valuable insight into the physician assistant career.
I found that physician assistants had deeper, more meaningful interactions with their patients. The physician assistants I worked for took more time to obtain patient history and always invited patient questions. They printed a copy of the patient’s x-ray results to give to the patient, and always had me print out a work note. I have always believed that educating patients should be a huge component of treatment, and I saw more education when working with physician assistants. These may all seem like little things, but when working in a fast-paced, extremely busy ER, physician assistants continually impressed me with their bedside manner.
I was also impressed by how patients interacted with physician assistants; they tended to be more open to answering questions and more willing to ask questions, and I found that this ability to connect with physician assistants more led to better care.
When not interacting with patients, I continued to be inspired by physician assistants’ teamwork with other staff. They were considerably closer with the nurses they worked with; furthermore, they were able to ask attendings questions without hesitation. I found that teamwork played a much bigger role when working as a physician assistant, and I really liked this aspect of the physician assistant career.
Lastly, I loved that physician assistants were constantly striving to learn new techniques and new ways to treat patients. I was and am inspired by physician assistants constantly, and I would love the opportunity to practice medicine as a physician assistant. Practicing medicine is an act of service, and I believe that the physician assistant career embodies that truth while bettering the lives of the communities in which physician assistants serve. If as a physician assistant I can impact the lives of patients in positive way, I feel that I can provide hope to those who need it like that little girl I held years ago.
Dirk B says
Like many healthcare professionals, there have been many events in my life that have pushed me towards the dream of helping and healing patients. My story begins when I was quite young, only 8 years old when my baby sister was diagnosed with a Wilms Tumor, a very common type of children’s kidney cancer. I have countless memories of being with my sister at Saint Luke’s Mountain State Tumor Institute in Boise. I remember the way the doctors and nurses treated her with care, and to this day I can still remember the name of her physician, Dr. Chang because of the great respect and admiration in which my parents would speak of her to all of their friends and anyone who they talked to about my sisters treatment. It was around this time that when people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would tell them “I want to be a cancer doctor.”
As I grew older my dream of being a doctor stuck with me. When I was 13 years old, my next door neighbor and best friend was diagnosed with leukemia. Unlike my sisters who was treated with a surgery and a year of chemotherapy, my friends cancer was much worse and I experienced first hand the suffering that is caused by intense radiation and chemotherapy. During this time, I realized that treating cancer wasn’t as easy or magical as I had thought as a child. This experience only strengthened my resolve to be involved in medicine.
When I was a senior in highschool, I had the opportunity to take a pharmacy technician class at Idaho State University Meridian campus. On our first day we were taken on a tour of the facility and our guide talked about the ISU PA program and how they were doing community health screenings for people who couldn’t afford them. This was the first time I had ever heard of a PA and when I went home I immediately jumped on the computer to learn what exactly they were and what they did. I was amazed to find out the huge list of responsibilities and specialties that PAs could cover. After talking to my mom about it she informed me that the person at the health clinic I went to was actually a PA as well which blew my mind!
I choose Idaho State for my undergraduate studies because I knew I wanted to go into healthcare. My first year of college I began researching other healthcare professions as well, looking at everything from nursing to physical therapy. After all of my research Physicians assistant still felt like the career for me. I realized I would have to excel in my classes if I wanted to get accepted to a graduate school so I began to study more and more delving deeper than I ever had into my studies.
After I made the decision to go into PA school I realized it was time to see what working with patients was all about. I decided to get my CNA license because the job description really appealed to me. I wanted to help those who did not have the ability to help themselves. While working as a CNA I did some of the most rewarding work of my life. After 6 years of customer service jobs, I was finally in a place where I not only was interacting with patients in a positive and healing way, but I was also able to make their day by simply listening and talking with them. Out of all the fun and interesting jobs I have had, being a CNA has been by far the most rewarding because I love the feeling of helping others and to me there is no help greater than healthcare.
The final piece to my PA journey came when I had the amazing opportunity to shadow at the Boise veterans hospital. I was given the chance to shadow many amazing physicians assistants from many different disciplines and learn how each of them contributed to and worked with their healthcare team for the betterment of the patient. As someone who played football and rugby in high school, I understand that teamwork and effective communication are major players in reaching a desired goal.
My whole life I have been drawn to healthcare because of its promise to help others, as well as its pure intentions. I hope to one day help others in the same way that myself, my family, and my friends have been treated. My dream is to work in oncology, helping others that are going through the same thing my sister, friend, and countless other people I know have gone through. I also hope to put my skills to use outside of the United States in areas where healthcare access is limited. I can not wait for the day I help my first patient, and hopefully I won’t have to wait much longer.
Thank you for considering me for your program.