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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 (28th March 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
Jordyn says
As a teenager, I struggled with obsessive compulsive behaviors that resulted from living in an environment beyond my control. Having grown up in poverty, I experienced what it was like to live on scant resources, to live in a trailer that lost power if I made toast and coffee at the same time, and to be raised by a single mother who struggled to keep food in our mouths and gas in the car. Knowing that I could not fix the situation we were in, I resulted to behaviors that awarded me the slightest comforts – folding my shirts perfectly and color-coordinating them on my shelf, rewriting my school notes because one letter stood out more than the others on the page, and obsessing over my GPA to the point that I sacrificed a social life. I became obsessed with making things perfect and developed harmful behaviors. When I graduated high school and moved in with my aunt to be closer to my college campus, I decided quickly that my life would never be the same. I obtained a job at the campus recreation center, saved up all my money, and at the age of 19, moved into my own apartment. I built a stable life, free from obsessive behaviors, that was worlds away from the one I had growing up. What would seem to a normal person as burdensome, such as washing dishes or paying bills, instead reminded me of the independence, hard work, and resilience required to get me to that point.
I soon would become attracted to the independence, hard work, and resilience that being a physician assistant required. Despite the structure in my life throughout college, I did not have a career plan for after graduation. Knowing that I wanted to go into the medical field, I researched different healthcare professions. By the time I was a sophomore, I had decided that I was going to become a medical doctor. I frantically researched medical schools, overwhelmed with the options, and feeling as though I had no direction and was running out of time. It wasn’t until I had a conversation with a family PA during my junior year that I really connected with the profession. All of the stress that accompanied researching medical schools was replaced with confidence while researching PA schools. From then on, I lined up the experiences that I needed to introduce me to the PA profession and help me determine whether or not it was the right path for me.
I obtained a job as a scribe for medical professionals in the ER at Adventist Health Bakersfield. I directly shadowed physicians, PAs, and FNPs during every patient encounter. I took detailed notes on the reason for the patient’s visit, the resulting treatment plan, and the outcomes of all diagnostic testing from the time the patient walked through the door, or was wheeled in on a stretcher, to the time the patient left. I saw the effects of drugs, homelessness, neglect, and the accumulation of years of terrible health decisions that consumed people before they even realized it. Anyone outside of medicine would turn away in disgust at ulcerated feet from uncontrolled diabetes, active vomiting from quitting alcohol after years of abuse, or profuse bleeding from the foot of a 6-year-old who stepped on a nail. Instead of turning away, I had the desire to help. Knowing my limitations as a scribe, I dedicated time to studying the array of health problems that I encountered, their typical symptoms, how physicians, PAs, or FNPs would treat them, and the resulting effects on the patient’s health. I absorbed the flow of the ER, the interactions between PAs and physicians during consultations, and the roles that every healthcare worker played in the treatment of disease. I determined that becoming a PA is exactly what I want to do.
As I gained knowledge about medicine, I began to focus on my WHY. As I pursue the PA profession, why would I do it, and what would be my purpose? I could think of many benefits of being a PA – less time in education and cost compared to MD school, great job satisfaction and work-life balance, and having the flexibility to switch between specialties – but I wanted to go deeper. As I interacted with patients alongside healthcare providers, I soon could not fathom the amount of people that visited the ER who did not know much about their medical problems, who could not name the medications that they were taking, and who could not see the effects that their biology, psychology, and environment have on their health. It saddened me to see how out of touch people were with their own health. This introduced me to my WHY. To be a PA to me is to guide people toward becoming in touch with their health – to understand their diseases, how taking medication can influence their outcomes, and how they can have power over those outcomes. To truly understand the effects of their lifestyle on their well-being. Just as I realized that I had the power to overcome poverty and my obsessive behaviors, I hope to help others realize that they have the power to live a healthier life. I will accomplish this end as a PA.
Whitney Prosperi says
Jordyn,
You are off to a good start!
I would suggest elaborating on your shadowing experience. What about the interactions you witnessed (between PA/patient or PA/supervising physician) confirmed your desire to become a PA?
I would also explain some of your clinical skills/knowledge you’ve gained in your current role and emphasize your desire to collaborate with a healthcare team.
Reinforce your desire to combine your clinical expertise with a personal touch to support patients. You want to show what you have to offer as a future PA.
Good luck to you!
Nishat Nahar says
‘‘Life is like a zebra full of white and black stripes. When you find yourself on a white stripe, walk slowly and enjoy it because it represents all that is positive in life. But when you come to a black stripe, or a time of turmoil and pain, raise your collar, shut your eyes, and ran as fast as you can. Remember, there’s always a white stripe on the other side.’’ My grandma always told me that. She wanted me to grow up to become a woman with a strong personality who knows what the real world is like. But she wasn’t holding me back anymore; January 29, 2009 was a day I would remember for the rest of my life. My day started with the muffled sounds of the phone ringing at 3:00 A.M. I remember asking myself, why would someone call that early? – My heartbeat was going so fast and I had a strange feeling. I walked into my parent’s room; it was filled with sadness and the air was thick. “Your grandma passed away”, my mom said as her eyes got glassy. As we arrive at the hospital, I felt heavy, and the elevator ride felt like a decade. As soon as I stepped my foot into the room, all the emotion rushed out of me and I started crying. I found out that she passed away due to a wrong diagnosis from her doctor which became a great obstacle in my life. Her death due to negligence of a doctor inspired me more to become a Physician Assistant; because in my country there is no such professional as Physician Assistant who will help the doctor to come up with a great decision for the patient’s treatment. Those circumstances kept me going when my family migrated from Bangladesh to America and helped me to become the person I am today.
As a Muslim teenage girl, it was very challenging for me learning American culture, being that it is so distinct from mine. As time passed, I discovered myself interested in math and science from my high school teachers and students. I set my mind on doing my best in school, so I could achieve my goal of becoming a Physician Assistant. However, one major barrier was English. As I grew up as a scholar student of Bangla Academy, I was not quite well at English. On the first day at school, I took the state English exam for immigrant students; my score was not as high as. But second time, I earned a perfect score in the state English exam which put me first out of almost 500 students. I tried hard to work and never gave up on my English barrier. It was then that I entered the Pre-Med program at my school, in which I enrolled in several AP classes, signed up as a lab monitor, and I also began volunteering at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital until now. These experiences solidified my desire to pursue a career in medicine at Hunter college. Currently, I am a senior in the Human Biology honors major with a 3.70 GPA and the upper-level biology courses are inspiring me more towards my career. I firmly believe that I will be very successful in the medical field. It will bring me the most profound sense of joy helping those in need.
Volunteering and Interning as a CNA at a Nursing home shapes my perspective because it makes me feel like I am making a difference in the world. Helping out the nurses and the patient’s makes me feel strong and connecting with the patient’s brings me one step closer to my goal, which is to make an impact in the world. I remember my grandmother’s words and her misfortune death every day motivates me to reach my goal of becoming a Physician Assistant. Volunteering shows me that materialistic items don’t make me as happy as talking and interacting with patients. From the outside they are just patients, but once you get to know them, each and every person has their own incredible story to tell. Sitting and talking to the patient’s makes a huge impact in their treatment because they won’t feel alone in their health journey. Each week I’m always looking forward to going back and meeting new patients and old and catching up with the nurses. Volunteering does not feel like a job to me, it feels like responsibility. I am very lucky to be healthy and well, therefore it is my responsibility to take care of those who are not as fortunate as I am. For this reason, I chose this prestigious Physician Assistant program to make a strong grip towards my career and underserved people in my community.
My English professor once told me, “Believe in yourself and all that you are. The biggest obstacle you will ever have to overcome is your mind. If you can overcome that, you can overcome anything” which gives me deeper understanding behind the word “Zebra”, which my grandma always talked about. As human beings, we all have our ups and downs. But the more I mature, I have come to an understanding of how valuable certain matters are: namely, that we should all be treated with equality and respect, particularly when it comes to the one thing, we cannot put a price tag on our health. The people in the medical field that I have encountered serve to fuel my desire to reach what I consider the noblest of careers.
Whitney Prosperi says
Nishat,
I am so sorry for the loss of your grandmother. She sounds like she was such a wise woman and that her life shaped the direction yours would take.
I would suggest you consider softening your language about the mismanagement of her diagnosis so that it doesn’t appear you are being critical of another provider.
I would also elaborate on what aspects of the PA profession speak to you. Is it the ability to have more time to connect with patients/develop relationships? The ability to switch specialties? Balance of autonomous responsibility and working with a healthcare team?
I would also add a paragraph about any shadowing experiences you may have had. What did you admire about the interactions the PA had with patients? The supervising physician? How did this confirm your desire to become a PA?
Also, add a few lines that connect your strengths, your interest in caring for patients directly, and why you will excel at combining clinical expertise with a personal touch to support patients. You want to show why you are suited for the PA profession.
I would also add a patient care story that shows you in action caring for a patient that motivated you to do more for patients.
You will likely need to condense where you can so you can add in the suggested elements. I’m not saying you need this, but should you want further help, we are taking essay submissions for our revision service.
Good luck to you, Nishat.
Claire A Leveck says
As my medical squad and I approached the bunker, we came upon a wounded soldier in the mud. While this was a simulation experience, I recognized the urgency of the situation. We found a gushing leg wound. I immediately applied a tourniquet, which saved my patient’s life. This army training experience solidified my decision to become a physician assistant (PA). It highlighted my critical thinking skills to produce direct action, my strength in communication, and efficient performance in a leadership role of a collaborative medical team.
I also solidified my desire to become a PA while serving as a lab teaching assistant. It showed me that I have a strength in explaining complex concepts in a simple way that people understand. By prioritizing education and collaboration, I can empower my patients to maintain a sense of autonomy and control in making educated health care decisions. I can also communicate effectively with my colleagues to provide excellent care.
Throughout my education, I was excited by studying the integration of concepts from a vast variety of disciplines in medicine. The integrated nature fueled my interest to continue studying how I could apply these concepts as a PA. I was stimulated by collaborative topics such as malaria, the complexity of social determinants of health, and studying intricate processes such as electrical stimuli igniting a heart beat.
I struggled in my performance in a few courses while pursuing my degree, but I challenged myself and ultimately succeeded in improving my performance through perseverance and determination. I consistently attended professor and teaching assistant sessions. Through these challenges, I solidified my knowledge, strengthened my mental resilience, and triumphed.
Physician assistants require a mindset of flexibility and teamwork to fill the evolving needs of their patients and coworkers. Through my experience shadowing Diane Siem, PA-C at UW Medical Center, I noted that she supported her colleague by sharing her patient load to accommodate for additional time spent with one patient. The quality of being flexible contributes towards providing holistic care. During my shadowing experience, I also observed how Diane discussed chemotherapy and other treatment options with her patient and actively listened to their concerns to help prioritize the patient’s needs. I am interested in providing holistic medicine by presenting the whole scope of a patient’s condition and identifying a treatment plan as a team by guiding them through their choices.
I will prioritize preventative care in my future PA practice, when appropriate. My top priority as a future PA is to preserve my patients’ highest quality of life while effectively utilizing resources and balancing the art and science of medicine. I plan to work together with my patient and additional providers to support my patient in preventing further escalation of their condition and prevent its impact on their life.
As a current nursing assistant at Seattle Children’s Hospital, I utilize critical thinking skills to meet the changing needs of the patients and department. I prioritize tasks effectively to offer excellent and efficient care. I collaborate with the bedside nurses and other providers by notifying them of abnormal patient symptoms. I think in the moment to quickly solve problems and provide assistance to resolve patient or family concerns and ensure that the patient feels supported. Through my nursing assistant experiences, I have recognized that working in a team allows me to perform to my personal best by challenging my perspective and opening my mind up to new ideas.
I will succeed in serving as part of the interdisciplinary care team as a PA by collaborating with other providers while focusing on the patient. I will continue to prioritize being an advocate for my patient and I will continue to implement this priority when I practice as a PA. I utilize active listening and validation of the patients’ concerns, prompt action and follow up. This displays my strength for recognizing the holistic needs of patients. Each day, I come into work with the mindset that I have a new opportunity to learn and improve my skills while providing for my patients. I look forward to receiving a diverse patient load with varying physical and emotional needs.
My overall goals are to care for patients by providing excellent clinical care, focusing on holistic medicine, patient education, and guiding my patients. I plan to achieve my goals through my effectiveness as a team leader and collaborator, prioritization of tasks, and serving my patients with a mindset to learn every day. My patients and colleagues would benefit from what I consider my strengths in critical thinking, problem solving and responding under stressful conditions. My patient, our team, and I will work together to progress towards protecting their highest quality of life. I will serve as the patient’s advocate along the way.
Whitney Prosperi says
Claire,
You do a good job of capturing the reader’s attention in your opening.
I also think you effectively show your desire to collaborate with a healthcare team.
Your paragraph about your shadowing experience was also effective.
I would suggest moving the paragraph that discusses your grades to the paragraph before your conclusion. This allows you to set up the positive aspects of your experience first, plus this is where schools expect to see this information.
I would suggest condensing your essay word by word so you can add a patient care story in that shows you in action providing clinical care of some kind. You want to show your desire to do more for patients. Describe how you connected with a patient on a personal level. You want to show what you have to offer as a future PA.
Good luck to you!
Alexis says
On one horribly snowy night, rushing to get to Canada from New York City for my grandmother, we found out that she had to have her brain tumor removed. The trip was a total of eight hours long and I remember the franticness of getting to our destination, which inevitably was the fear of the unknown. As we arrived at the hospital I was overcome with a sense of nervousness and eagerness to see her as I was only a child. I began to wonder if she was going to be okay and if the doctors can help her. I began to think of all that I’ve experienced observing many people in the hospital and offices with different professions that were able to help my family members that have undergone procedures ranging from triple bypass heart surgery to my grandmother’s brain tumor. I came across this at such a young age and I appreciated the help of everyone, and I grew up wanting to help people the way they helped my family members. Thankfully, the surgery went well and we found out that the tumor was benign.
That one snowy night gave me perspective into paving my path into wanting to go into the medical field. The special interaction with a PA that night, what I’ve witnessed at a young age, and eventually having a job that requires patient interaction gave me the motivation to want to be the change in this world. Due to recent events, such as the Covid-19 pandemic I realized how appreciated health care workers are and the qualities that they possess, for example, their humility and patience that it takes being under pressure during certain high-risk situations. The Covid-19 pandemic was unknown and never experienced before.
Having family members in the hospital as both essential workers and patients shaped my mindset. As I got older I realized that the exchanges between the health professionals and I guided me to wanting to become a PA. As I observed how they helped my grandmother and family members I began to wonder if my impact would have the same effect. That night my grandmother was admitted to surgery a PA helped to reassure me that she was strong and would do great. As I got older, I realized and appreciated the gritty and compassionate side of medicine; it inspired me to want to help others and better my community to encourage others to feel the same compassion I did.
I have also learned a lot of lessons throughout my health/patient care experience in that everyone has a different mindset when walking into a hospital or doctor’s office. Some have genuine fears and it is our job as health care professionals to be patient and help ease any of their concerns. As I stated before, my fear was not knowing how my grandmother was doing in surgery. Patients and family members have fears of medicine. In acknowledging this I obtained a job to become a dental assistant this past summer. One memorable moment was this child that was scared to get a filling at the dentist and I reassured him that everything would be okay I explained the procedure and all of the instruments that were going to be used. I even put on Netflix for him so that he would be occupied while the procedure in process. In our viewpoint it was a small filling, but it was a big moment for him. Being able to reassure him and calm him down is what motivates me to become a PA, I felt the same way he did when my grandmother was in the hospital and having numerous health care worker interaction made me feel as though everything would be okay. This interaction along with many others challenged me to develop and learn several skills. It made me work under stressful situations such as tooth extractions or even taking x-rays, which was uncomfortable to some people. For them to be comfortable it forced me to reassure them that everything would be fine, and I can help make it less difficult. Patients came in with various complications that sometimes led to difficult procedures sometimes lasting over an hour. They are often stressed out about it and irritable. My goal was to empathize and understand what they were going through no matter what.
While working with patients from my past experiences in a hospital to now in a dental office, I found it important to collaborate with my coworkers and make sure we all work together to create a safe space for these patients. During my work in volunteering along with my recent ventures, I appreciate each opportunity I had with all of my peers and educators that guided me into the PA path. With my memorable moments and many more to come, I feel as though I am ready to start my path to becoming a PA. I have faced some difficulties during undergrad due to adjusting to a different environment my first two years but that has motivated me even more to continuing my education and gaining more experience. I know there will be many more obstacles, but with everything I have overcome so far, my fear of the unknown has been diminished as I have a more positive outlook due to my patient interactions and ongoing support.
Whitney Prosperi says
Alexis,
I would suggest elaborating on the story about the PA who calmed you before your grandmother’s surgery. This will make for a strong introduction and show your introduction to the PA profession. What about that PA calmed your nerves? Describe some more of that interaction.
I would also add a paragraph that details what about the PA profession appeals to you. Is it the ability to switch specialties? More time/contact with patients? The balance between working with a healthcare team and autonomous responsibility?
I would also write a paragraph that describes your shadowing experiences. What about the PA reinforced your desire to pursue the profession? Elaborate on an interaction between patient/PA or physician/PA.
I would detail more of your path in healthcare. What are some of the clinical skills you’ve gained that will make you a strong PA? Also, describe how you connect with patients as you show empathy and educate them. We need to see what you have to offer as a future PA and how you perform your duties.
You are wise to mention your collaboration with your team as this is such an integral part of the PA’s role.
If you have grade issues you need to discuss, devote a short paragraph to that (paragraph before your conclusion) that explains what happened that resulted in lower grades and any improvement your made and how you’ll continue that trend in a rigorous PA program.
For your conclusion, reiterate your desire to care for patients directly and have increased clinical responsibility in their care. I would also tie back to that initial introduction to the PA in some way here.
Good luck to you on your journey!
Kerri Marie says
I made a silent vow; it was during the second semester of college and I was about to embark on my first clinical as a Physical Therapy Assistant. I was an eager student who wanted to do anything that was asked of me and jump at every opportunity my clinical sites offered. We were coached and rehearsed and … ready? Yes, I was ready. I had shopped for the appropriate clothes, reconciled that sneakers with khakis and a polo would be my uniform. My anatomy clip board was prepped with an insane amount of paper, my goniometer was labeled and calibrated. I looked the part, but I was petrified of one thing. My vow, kept close to my chest, never spoken of until now… was the fact that I wouldn’t- just don’t ask me to- touch an amputated leg. I would be alright if I didn’t have to work with a new amputee. With a poor understanding and never having seen one in person before, I felt like it was incredibly painful, and if I’m being completely honest, weird. Anxiety and fear got the better of me. That silent vow is also my private joke. Life is full of ironies and this was no different.
I graduated from college managing to avoid any amputees during my clinicals, but within the first month of work it happened. The name went up on the admission board and the Admission Coordinator was describing the most horrific car accident to the Physiatrist. I overheard words like “traumatic”, “degloving”, “above knee, below knee on the other”, and did I hear the word “guillotine”? Why on earth was I hearing the word “guillotine” in the healthcare setting?
I had allowed myself the luxury of thinking she would never show up on my caseload, but there was no avoiding this patient. My supervising PT put her on my schedule the very next day. According to her, I would probably be better suited since I grew up on a farm and saw this kind of “stuff”. I wanted to argue that owning horses was hardly a farm, but something inside told me resistance was futile. When I walked into her room for the first time, she looked at me without looking at me. She had been through so much and had met so many people, I was no different. She was numb; not angry, not resentful, her brain had allowed her to forget most of the accident. She knew enough to know her condition was grave and yet she had made it to rehab, man-handled and in pain. Nurses were attempting to adhere another wound vac dressing that kept leaking. The room was hot with a single fan trying to push around heavy, iodine laden air, but it wasn’t succeeding. Her drainage was copious.
My reaction was surprising. After all that anticipation, it was anti-climactic. The anxiety I had built suddenly disappeared, melted into thin air, I could no longer access the panicky feeling of trepidation I had just moments ago felt. For the next 45 minutes I held her leg to alleviate the RN’s burden and spoke to her. It wasn’t Physical Therapy, but it was needed in that moment. Two days later I was in a gown and gloves showing the per diem RN how to pack an amputated leg that was not sutured shut. Three months later she was wheelchair independent and her wounds were slowly healing, she called me her “girl” and we ended up having a powerful impact on one another. Every residual limb since then has been beautiful and I’ve never thought twice about touching, wrapping, stretching, desensitizing or applying a prosthesis. The lesson I took was twofold- your patients aren’t a diagnosis and anxiety is useless.
I have worked hands on for the past 20 years as a PTA. Physical Therapy has been a great fit for me. I believe in the work I do, and I took opportunities to become a better therapist through certifications. As an Assistant, I’ve grown as much as I can within the field but have an ambition to do more. Being part of a healthcare team, I can confidently approach this application process with an understanding of the demands of being a Physician’s Assistant. This, along with the robust scholarship opportunities within the Veterans Administration has prompted my desire to advance my career. At no other point in my life have I been more prepared for this journey.
Whitney Prosperi says
Kerri,
I can sense your passion for patient care woven throughout your essay.
Your introduction is powerful, but I think you will need to condense it where you can so you can allow room for additional parts of your journey to round out your essay. (To punch up the drama, you may consider opening with the amputee story more directly.)
I would add a paragraph that details more about why the PA profession is right for you. What first drew you to the profession? What aspects of it really speak to you? (e.g., the potential for more time/contact with patients? the balance between autonomous responsibility for patients and working with a physician and other members of a team?) Detail why you chose the PA profession and why it’s a good fit for you.
I would also add a paragraph that describes your shadowing experiences. What did you learn from observing this PA? The physician? What did you admire about the interactions the PA had with patients and the supervising physician? How did this experience affect you interest in the profession?
It would also be a good idea for you to describe your path in healthcare, including your current role. Please outline the clinical skills you’ve gained that will make you a strong PA, and then describe a bit about how you connect with patients, showing them empathy and educating them, etc., while caring for them clinically. We also need to see more of what motivates you to do more for them as a future PA.
For your conclusion, I would reiterate your desire for increased time with patients and advanced responsibility and clinical knowledge to intervene in their care.
If you should need further help, remember we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
Good luck to you, Kerri!
Rachel says
There are two sides to healing: physical and emotional. Healthcare workers are some of the few individuals who have the ability to do both. We are the ones on the front lines fighting to save lives and constantly seeing so much pain but are the ones who choose to take responsibility to heal that pain. While we are healing others’ wounds, we are simultaneously healing ourselves. I wanted to be a part of that healing. Over time, the path I have walked ingrained within me a passion for providing the highest quality of care for my patients.
Watching Arnold, an orthopedic physician assistant (PA), in surgery, was an unforgettable experience. As we prepared, I was immediately taken back to when my arm was sutured after being bitten by a dog and reminded of the fascination I had as my skin was reunited by a single piece of string. The recollection of images of my blood streaming down my arm, my parents frantically trying to communicate with what little knowledge of the English language they had, and me dumbfounded at the situation and shock of what happened, unable to get even a bit of reassurance that everything would be alright. The event, so deeply rooted within me, sparked my curiosity of how I, not as a patient but a medical professional, would act to alleviate the pain of a family so desperate for help. The passion to partake in surgery, the ability to help and comfort those in medical need while expanding my own knowledge was gained from that moment. The memory was gone in a flash, and all I wanted to do was to stand where Arnold was and take part in the harmonious teamwork that was being performed before me.
My dad’s selfless nature taught me that sometimes offering empathy, sympathy, and a listening ear was more than enough. I remember the moment when the silent five-year-old girl I spent weeks with in Ensenada finally felt comfortable enough to sit on my lap and smile. She had been broken by the very people who were supposed to keep her safe and I was determined to piece her back by offering her something she never received: warmth. The once distant girl I sat on the beach and talked with shocked me as she sat in my lap and hugged me. We were separated by an entirely different language and culture, but healing a person with sincerity, proved it had no boundaries. I realized that the warmth I offered acted as an emotional band-aid to heal and help the girl to be able to trust again.
At first, I did not know what I wanted to do in healthcare, but after exposing myself to new experiences and my own life journey, I knew that I wanted to provide physical and emotional healing. Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) at UCLA, is a summer medical program focused on providing healthcare to medically disadvantaged communities. During a conversation with Dennis, my program mentor, I expressed my interest in providing holistic care and wanting to help patients heal both in mind and body. I wanted to collaborate with professionals across all specialties to develop treatment plans for patients. I hoped to form relationships with patients, have the autonomy to diagnose, and be directly part of the team responsible for a patient’s care plan. Dennis responded with just two words, “physician assistant.” After listening to Dennis explain, I knew this was it. Dennis was finally able to put a name on what I have wanted to do.
Working as a medical assistant at an internal medicine clinic has allowed me to develop my collaboration and communication skills. At the clinic, my team focused on providing the best care for our patients by arranging treatment between our doctors and other providers to prepare their bodies for the fight. Although our jobs are to physically heal the patients, we are also responsible for providing emotional care and support during some of their most vulnerable moments. I serve as a link between my doctors and patients to relay concerns while building a relationship and trust with both. While working in this clinic, I have received valuable insight into how a PA, as a mid-level practitioner, can serve as a bridge between the patient and doctor, and how serving as a bridge produced a range of emotions in our patients. For some, it is heartbreak and sorrow; for others, it is happiness and joy.
From a young age, I witnessed the importance of emotional and physical healing; moving forward, I want to combine both. Being a PA continuously gives me the opportunity to learn and experience new specialties and strengthen my medical knowledge so that I can be an asset wherever I am.This role allows me to combine my various interests such as my desire to constantly develop my skill sets, work seamlessly within a medical team, and gain the ability to help diagnose and develop treatment plans for patients. I am confident that my experiences have brought me to where my passions, capabilities, and purpose intersect as to be a future physician assistant.
Whitney Prosperi says
Rachel,
You are off to a great start! There are many strong elements in your essay, including the description of meeting Arnold and the section about what speaks to you about the PA profession.
You also do a good job in your conclusion.
I would add a description of any shadowing experience you have. What did you witness that confirmed your decision to become a PA? Describe the interaction between PA/patient or PA/supervising physician.
Good luck to you, Rachel!
Kayla says
On the outside, Sarah had it all: a beautiful home, a fulfilling job, and a great family whom everyone in the community adored. When she first came into the psychiatric clinic where I worked as a scribe on a hot summer afternoon in 2019, her shoulders were hunched over, her head was turned downward, and her eyes were filled with tears. I introduced myself during her intake process and she asked, “Kayla, why am I so sad and discontent all the time? I try to be happy for my family, but I cannot do it alone anymore.” My heart went out to Sarah, but I was unable to answer her question other than telling her it would be alright. After her encounter with the psychiatrist, Sarah was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, Type II and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. While stunned initially, she understood and accepted her diagnoses.
Sarah was started on a medication regimen which worked very well for her from the beginning. As she returned each month for her follow up appointments, it was evident she had found more happiness in her life. It was during my encounters with Sarah where I realized I wanted to eventually be able to diagnose and treat patients like her. When patients asked me why they were experiencing physical/mental issues, I wanted to have an answer and to help them find the solution.
Although I was technically a scribe, my responsibilities included triaging patients independently from the physician along with documenting patient encounters. This allowed me to become very close with Sarah, along with all other patients. I was able to know their families and discuss their careers with them, along with other aspects of their lives. Patients would tell me they felt as though their voices were heard when they spoke with me because I was able to acknowledge their issues and sympathize with them. It is such an honor to gain a patient’s trust and have them share details of their lives they would not share with anyone else.
It was during a conversation with a close work colleague where the PA profession was introduced to me. She told me a former high school classmate had started her career as a PA and she enjoyed it immensely. After extensive research, it was evident the PA profession was something I wanted to pursue. I immediately enrolled in night classes to complete all prerequisites for PA programs while working full-time. Although challenging at times, I knew the end result would be a fulfilling career where I would finally be able to deliver quality patient care in underserved areas.
Growing up in one of the poorest counties located in one of the poorest states in the nation, I realized at a very young age how difficult it is for a majority of individuals in rural areas to access adequate medical care. Since PAs are able to order labs/advanced imaging, prescribe medication, and diagnose, I believe they are essential in closing the gap between the increased need for medical care in rural areas and the shortage of physicians regardless of specialty. The versatility of PAs is what makes them unique from other healthcare professions, and this is a driving factor as to why I am pursuing this profession. Teamwork and exceptional communication skills are essential in becoming a PA and this is something I pride myself in. During my time as a medical scribe at a psychiatric clinic, I was able to collect information from the patient and relay anything of importance to the physician prior to their encounter. I enjoy working as a member of a healthcare team because everyone has their own unique role in order to achieve one common goal: quality patient care. From the scribe, to the RN, to the PA, and to the physician, each individual has a purpose.
I would like to be honest and forthcoming when you have a glimpse at my transcript. During the spring semester of my junior year, I had a difficult time adjusting to the academic demands of the course work and managing my time. Also during this time, my grandmother’s health started to decline rapidly, and she was diagnosed with vascular dementia. I had difficulty putting that aside in order to focus on my studies and as a result, I performed very poorly. I did not “fail” anything, but I am well aware multiple Cs in science coursework does not work in my favor. As you can see during my senior year, my grades began to show an upward trend as I learned to prioritize things and allow my family to care for my grandmother while I lived in Oxford full time. I have made As in all my courses after undergrad and I hope an upward trend is noted.
From my first encounter with Sarah, I knew my life would not be same as it was previously. My encounters with her gave me a passion for helping others and giving them the answers they are looking for. There is nothing more rewarding than to witness someone’s progress after experiencing one of their lowest times. Along with developing a trusting relationship with patients, I believe this is what being a PA is all about. I look forward to a future where I am able to help people like Sarah have a better quality of life and find their own happiness.
Whitney Prosperi says
Kayla,
I can sense your desire to help patients woven throughout your essay. Your introduction (as well as conclusion) shows that.
You also do a good job of showing the reasons why you are drawn to the PA profession.
If you have any shadowing experience, I would describe an interaction between PA/patient or PA/supervising physician. If you don’t have shadowing experience, this could be from observing a PA you have worked with. What did you admire from these interactions that confirmed your desire to become a PA?
I would add a few lines that connect your strengths, interest for caring for patients directly, and why you will excel at combining clinical expertise with a personal touch to support patients.
Good luck to you!
megan says
What was a normal day quickly changed all due to one phone call. I was a fifth grader, looking into the rear-view mirror from the backseat when my mom’s phone rang. I watched a tear roll down her face as she listened to the person speaking. Later that evening, my mother told me that she had been diagnosed with melanoma. Fortunately, it was caught at an early stage and my mom was cured after one surgery. Although I was young, from doing my own research and attending doctor appointments with my mother, this experience was the seed that initiated my interest in medicine.
That seed only grew as I got older when my uncle Louie began losing his battle to liver cancer. During my junior year of high school, he moved in with my mother and I and was eventually placed on hospice care. I would watch as the hospice nurse came throughout the week to provide medical care and emotional support. Through this, I learned the true meaning of compassion and knew that I wanted to spend my life helping others just as past medical professionals helped my family. My uncle’s unfortunate death only fueled my determination to pursue a career in medicine. I immersed myself in researching different medical professions when I came across a career as a physician assistant (PA). By becoming involved in different organizations, volunteering, shadowing, and working in a healthcare setting, I learned that various qualities within myself aligned with those of a PA.
I began shadowing a PA, Micah Lust, the summer before my junior year of college. Micah specializes in geriatric family medicine, and through shadowing, I gained valuable knowledge regarding the role of a PA. I was intrigued by how she worked independently as well as collaborated with other health professionals to provide quality care for her patients. Most of all, I was captivated by the amount of time she spent directly assessing and interacting with patients; a quality that I am looking for in my own professional career. In addition to these two aspects, I also observed admirable characteristics such as compassion, integrity, and her ability to be reliable for both her patients and co-workers. These are characteristics that I possess and have further developed through working in a healthcare setting.
I have been exposed to diverse medical circumstances while working as a medical scribe and as a geriatric caregiver over the past two years. As a medical scribe, I worked in both adult and pediatric emergency departments. Working in such a fast-paced environment instilled the importance of communication and organization to provide exceptional team-based care. I used my job as a medical scribe to not only help physicians and PAs complete all medical documentation, but also as an opportunity to learn their perspectives in overall medical decision making. I challenged myself to learn medications, diagnoses, and closely observed how each medical professional interacted with various patients.
Working as a geriatric caregiver taught me firsthand what it takes to support clients with various medical issues. I was directly responsible for administering medications and paying close attention to any acute changes that could be a sign for further medical evaluation. Through caregiving, I utilized my abilities to be empathetic and attentive; important skills that I have acquired through shadowing a PA and working as a medical scribe. Caregiving was a wholesome experience that allowed me to touch the lives of my clients and their loved ones, while further developing skills that I have observed a PA must exhibit. I enjoyed learning different aspects of each specialty that I was exposed to while working as a medical scribe and caregiver. With such a broad interest in multiple medical specialties, I favor the lateral mobility that the PA profession offers.
I was always aware that academics are crucial when becoming a PA. During undergrad, I lost four significant family members all in a span of one and a half years. Grief overcame me in what seemed to be a cascade of death during that time. I found myself losing ambition, which unfortunately, was reflected in my grades during my junior and part of my senior year. I soon realized that I could not proceed depriving myself of a goal that I had been working so hard for. I decided to take-action and began believing in myself again; knowing that the loved ones I had lost would be proud. The last semester of my senior year I worked hard to bring my grades back up and became a first-generation graduate.
I am grateful for the obstacles that I have faced. I have learned from my mistakes and became a stronger woman than I ever thought I could be. Becoming a PA would allow me to apply all the skills that I have acquired through shadowing and my work experience to leave a positive impact on others’ healthcare experience. The knowledge that I have gained through all my experiences only confirmed my passion and ambition to become a remarkable physician assistant.
Whitney Prosperi says
Megan,
Your introduction does a good job of showing your early interest in medicine and helping others.
Your section on shadowing is strong.
I would include a patient care story from your work as a geriatric caregiver. Show yourself in action performing clinical care of some kind while connecting with a patient on a personal level. You want to show what you have to offer as a future PA and how you perform your duties.
You do a good job of addressing your grades. If you applied any study techniques or time management skills, briefly mention those.
In your conclusion, I would tie back to your introduction in some way. I would also reiterate your desire to directly care for patients and have advanced responsibility for their care.
I’m not saying you need this, but should you need further help, we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
Good luck to you!
Michaela says
The spring that I broke my right wrist and was told by one of my professors to “learn how to write with my left hand”, in order to take my exams, is the same semester I was taking my hardest physiology and kinesiology classes. In addition, I lost my grandmother. It is also the same semester that I was promoted at my part-time job, remained an active member of my sorority, won an intramural championship, and received a 4.0 GPA and a spot on the Dean’s List. It’s was after that treacherous semester that I finally admitted to myself that I could do just about anything as long as I continued to work hard. After many visits with my hand and wrist Physician’s Assistant, I realized my extreme passion to become one myself.
My interest in the human body began when I took an elective class in high school called Human Physiology and Anatomy (HPA). It led to the declaration of Biology as my major for my first year at Colorado State University. When I began desiring more anatomy driven courses rather than biology, I changed my major to Health and Exercise Science where I could take physiology, microbiology, kinesiology, biomechanics, nutrition, and anatomy. One of the most amazing classes I was able to enroll in was a cadaver lab. Identifying muscles, nerves, arteries, and veins by holding these structures in my hand was the ultimate way for me to learn.
I took classes like Theory of Health Behavior and Population Health and Disease Prevention which aided in the interest of not just physical structures of the human body but the mental and emotional structures also. I studied the adversity that some populations and cultures are faced with when it comes to healthcare. I have been educated on the healthcare gap that occurs between underprivileged communities and wealthy communities. I have developed extreme interest in helping to bridge this gap. I am drawn to rural, poverty struck, areas where individuals have trouble acquiring the care they need to maintain a healthy life.
As a senior in high school I obtained a job that required me to visit a seventy-five-year-old woman every other day. She had dementia and although lived alone, required someone to check up on her constantly. Along with encouraging her to do her exercises and take her medicine, occasionally I helped her out of her soiled pants and into clean, dry ones. I learned patience and love from my friend, Jackie. She helped me to grow and encounter the thought of becoming a Physician’s Assistant.
For the past year I have been working in a dialysis clinic. I see the same patients three days a week for three to four hours each day. The patient interaction that I am able to experience has solidified my desire to work directly with people. These patients live an incredibly hard lifestyle. With diet and fluid restrictions, uncontrollable treatment schedules, and constant maintenance of their access site, patients are often stressed, uncomfortable, and irritable when they come for treatment. With compassion and empathy my goal is to be a pleasant, friendly face for these patients. Besides being someone that pokes them with needles and sends their blood through a machine, I love creating personal, yet professional relationships with these human beings. These relationships are what fuels my ambition and enthusiasm for health and life, while providing fulfillment and joy. I believe that this is what drives me towards a PA career.
The past 9 months have been monumental for the world of medicine. The Covid virus has impacted millions of lives. Being an essential worker myself, I have experienced the chaos and distress that has effected not just patients, but healthcare workers. My knowledge of public health has aided my ability to calm and reassure patients that although thousands of people including their friends and family are dying, there is hope. I have seen how doctors, PA’s, nurses, and other personnel have stepped up to work even longer shifts in overcrowded hospitals and clinics. I myself have volunteered to work in the covid cohorts that are reserved for dialysis patients who have tested positive for the virus. I may be young, but my experience during this pandemic has made me even more dedicated and motivated. I am more than ready to start my career as a PA.
I want to help people be the best they can be, physically and mentally. Working with medicine is inspiring. Like teachers, physicians treat patients who are able to venture out into the world and create change. It starts with one person providing health and wellness which contributes to the betterment of other people’s lives. This is able to create a domino effect and opportunity for the improvement of society. I believe my curiosity and eagerness for learning is perfectly matched with the endless education and research obtainable in the medical field. I have worked with PA’s in the emergency room, operating room, dialysis clinic, and countless offices. I have seen the autonomy PA’s are able to have while also being able to work as a team with nurses and assistants alongside the partnership they share with a Physician.
I am still working quite intensely, I also am still thinking of the perfect ending statement.
Whitney Prosperi says
Michaela,
You are off to a good start.
I would describe a patient/PA interaction you have witnessed during your shadowing or work with PAs. What about this interchange confirmed your desire to become a PA? What did you admire about their clinical knowledge and skill?
I would also expand on the clinical skills and knowledge you’ve gained working at the dialysis clinic. Also mention your collaboration with your coworkers since this is such an integral part of the PA profession.
For your conclusion, tie back to your introduction in some way, reiterating your desire for increased patient care and advanced responsibility and clinical knowledge to intervene in their care.
Good luck to you!
Teresa says
On what seemed like just another rainy night, turned out to be a life changing and memorable night. As I look back through the lens of my twelve-year old self sitting in that hospital room and vividly remembering the awe feeling when telling myself, “The doctor trusts me to translate the medical diagnosis to my immigrant uncle.” I remember the helpless feeling of wanting to be able to do more when the doctor had entrusted me to deliver the news of a near fatal case of infant jaundice for my newborn cousin. Being helpless in the moment didn’t translate into being hopeless for the future as my vision steered towards becoming a medical care provider serving others through quality and compassionate care. From that moment, I’ve immersed myself into experiences to develop skills that will allow me to take the next steps in serving others in the healthcare field as a future physician assistant.
Growing up as the only daughter to Vietnamese immigrants, I fully embraced my responsibility to serve those whose voices are silenced due to language barriers. Just as I was the primary translator in the family at medical appointments, I leveraged my bilingual skill to help the underserved in my community seek care at our Annual Southeast Asian Health Fair. During this experience, I developed my interpersonal communication skills and was able to build positive relationships with people in the community I lived in. Lending an ear to listen to the complications the underserved face with our increasingly complex healthcare system. This feedback challenged me to discern how I could cast a wider net to be a voice for the underserved. That’s when the path led me to join like-minded individuals in the Pre-PA club at Portland State University, where I learned about the variety in specialities that PAs can pursue, therefore I strongly believe that this will allow me to be the ear that listens, the hand that aids, and the voice for the voiceless in my community.
Navigating through life’s journey with servant leadership in mind led me to serve clients as a certified nursing assistant. Through the 2,100+ hours of service to patients I was challenged to further develop my skills in practicing patience, effective communication skills, and quality decision making. Over 3 years working as a CNA, 94-year-old client Sandy, profoundly impacted and helped me reaffirm my decision to pursue the PA profession through our frequent hospital visits for her osteoarthritis. Preferring to see her PA, Sandy was always impressed by the level of care she received along with positive interactions, clinical competence, and meticulousness that PAs have. When COVID-19 spiked in senior living facilities in America, we experienced many uncertainties given the high-risk coronavirus posed to the residents. With unusually high transmission rates in senior living facilities, I made the tough decision to step away from my duties as a CNA in order to protect high risk individuals in my household. Being sidelined from serving others during the pandemic left me itching to do more. That itch was relieved when I made and contributed face masks for my local hospitals to support the healthcare heroes on the frontlines of battling COVID-19. It was rewarding to contribute to the battle but with the disproportionate effect COVID-19 has had on minorities, I am eager to provide great preventative care to minorities to prevent future tragic outcomes.
Fully immersing myself as a student of the profession led me to opportunities to intern a Medical Doctor as an office assistant and shadow a General Practice Physician Assistant and a Lead Specialty Surgical Physician Assistant. I gained valuable insight into visiting patients, practice history and physical examinations (H&Ps), charting notes, and collaborating with other specialties. During these opportunities, I learned about the daily workflow of each profession and how impactful each can be with their patients. I admired the PA’s willingness to focus on quality patient care by giving the gift of time to their patients. The autonomous workflow while also showcasing humility when collaborating with other medical care providers allowed me to see how my practice of servant leadership will translate.
The obstacles that presented itself along the way has challenged me to adapt to changes. It was my freshman year of college when I was blindly t-boned by a driver who ran a red light. The sharp pain running down my back was the only thing I could register as the initial adrenaline wore off. On the road to recovery, the pain and physical therapy sessions started to affect my grades negatively. Navigating this challenge allowed to rededicate my focus by finding new ways to be effective in the classroom. This is illustrated as my GPA improved subsequently after I completed my physical therapy sessions and I finished my undergraduate degree with strong positive momentum.
The journey to this opportunity to apply for PA school certainly hasn’t been easy but as I look back at that twelve-year-old girl at the hospital. I’m grateful for each opportunity and challenge that was presented along the way because its prepared me to be the bring my best individual self to a PA program. In the spirit of serving others, just as I have served my friends, family, peers, clients, and community, I look forward to the opportunity to serve your PA program knowing that in the process of touching others’ lives, it is actually my life that is saved.
Whitney Prosperi says
Teresa,
I think your emphasis on servant leadership is strong throughout your essay. Also, I think it is effective how you tied your conclusion back to your intro.
I think it would be helpful to see you interacting with a patient who increased your desire to do more for patients. Show yourself, in your work as a CNA, providing clinical care while connecting with a patient on a personal level. You want to show what you have to offer as a future PA and how you perform your duties.
Also, I would describe what aspects of the PA profession appeal to you. Do you desire more time/connection with patients? The ability to switch specialties? The ability to collaborate with a healthcare team and supervising physician?
I wish you good luck in the process!
Tim David says
“Rescue 50 – you’re responding to an auto versus pedestrian at the intersection of John Trail and 18th Street. A deputy is on scene working a code.” It was 0630 hours, nearing the conclusion of my second shift as a paramedic. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes as I was contemplating the reality of my situation. I could feel the accelerating build-up of adrenaline and anxiety as I stared off into the bright red emergency lights of the fire engine in front of us. Arriving on scene, we saw a young man in the roadway laying in a pool of blood. In the moment I stepped off the truck, the ray of clarity burst through the clouds of anxiety.
We began resuscitation as no pulse was felt. Confidently and clearly, I delegated tasks to crew members. The protocols and algorithms were performed with much acuity. All interventions were well-orchestrated amidst the chaos of other emergency sirens, cars rushing by and gut-wrenching screams of bystanders. Despite getting the patient off-scene within ten minutes to the trauma center, he was pronounced dead upon arrival. The adrenaline began to wane as I walked out of the trauma room, feeling defeated. I found solace knowing that I gave it my best effort, despite an uncontrollable circumstance. I received further confirmation that I perform best when the stakes are at their highest.
By this time, I had already been on the pathway to the physician assistant (PA) profession. I knew that the prospect of high-stress situations I would face as a PA would be handled gracefully and without any reserves.
My choice of the PA profession was a process, rather than an epiphany. It began as a young, nineteen-year-old missionary serving in the Marshall Islands of the central pacific. After learning a language in four months and doing my all to provide temporal and spiritual support to others in a secluded area with limited resources, I knew I had a talent for making the best of challenging situations. In pondering my future career path at the time, I knew that I was being prepared for a career that required these
attributes.
Upon returning to the United States, I began working and going to school. I decided to pursue firefighting. Although I had no prior knowledge or intention of getting into medicine, I found excitement with the prospect of becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT); it is a requirement in my state to become a firefighter. The resilience I developed from past experiences was tested further, as my father was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer and eventually succumbed to the disease as I was completing the fire academy. Regardless of the harsh circumstances, I knew I had stay my course and
persevere.
A year later, I was hired with the fire department and immediately began paramedic school. The challenge of being a full-time paramedic student, a probationary firefighter, and working a side job was daunting. Through it all, I became more intrigued with medicine. Each call I ran came with more experience gained, and my desire to indulge in medicine deepened.
Over time, my desire to learn more about medicine grew into the consideration for taking my level of care higher. I began to take notice to the PA’s who I transferred patients to in the emergency department. Their role intrigued me because of the extensive knowledge they displayed and their personable vibe with patients and with other healthcare providers. They seemed enthused with my reports and with their craft, and they had an uncanny ability to gain the trust of their patients off the bat. My interest was especially piqued upon learning how versatile and flexible PA’s are across an array of specialties. As one who is skilled in multiple fields, this seemed to be an adequate fit for myself.
This interest grew into action, as I sought to shadow a PA for a better understanding of their crucial role in medicine. During my shadowing experience, I witnessed a family practice PA make a complex diagnosis of a hiatal hernia simply through a detailed patient assessment and physical examination, without any imaging tests. I desired to emulate the level of competency, knowledge and versatility shown by that PA
During my time shadowing, I entered into fatherhood with the birth of my son, all the while being a full-time student and firefighter paramedic. The reality of becoming a father confirmed to me that all of the sacrifice and effort to become a PA will be worth it in the end for my family.
The clarity of my thought process on Rescue 50 in those early hours is a testament to my ability to perform under high-stress. My ability to master new skills in a short time, against high stakes, is a certainty. My dedication and time management skills, despite hardship, has stood the test of time. Even
now, as I work on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic on an ambulance with a high call volume, I continue to defy the odds and make this goal a reality. These developments will carry me through school and my career as a PA.
Whitney Prosperi says
Tim,
Your introduction is compelling, showing your ability to think on your feet in a traumatic situation.
I would suggest elaborating some more on why becoming a PA is a good fit for you. What aspects of the profession speak to you? Is it the ability to switch specialties? More time/contact with patients? I would mention your desire to collaborate with a healthcare team since this is such an integral part of the PA role.
I would also highlight some of the clinical skills and knowledge you’ve gained in your time as an EMT.
I think you are off to a good start.
I’m not saying you need this, but remember that if you’re in need of more help, we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
Good luck to you!
Tim David says
Hello. Thank you for the reply and for the feedback. Here is a revised version of the previous one. This one is slightly over the character limit, but my problem is fitting everything since I have so much I want to talk about. I wanted to mention my skills learned as an EMT and medic but I included that in my experiences tab.
Over the course of my mortal journey, I have walked in the shoes of many roles. Some of these roles have been temporary, whereas others are everlasting. Each role has provided me with the necessary development needed to fill the prestigious role of physician assistant (PA). The challenges and tribulations I have faced in these roles have awarded me precious skills, attributes and opportunities that can be neither given, nor taken away. Indeed, these experiences have been my compass in the wilderness of life. I thrive in tribulation, and I am well-acquainted with situations of high-stress.
This was confirmed to me during my second shift as a paramedic. The dispatch came out: “Rescue 50 – you’re responding to an auto versus pedestrian at the intersection of Orange Blossom Trail and 39th Street. A deputy on scene is working a code.” The accelerating adrenaline and anxiety filled my being as I contemplated the reality of the situation. Supervising my first cardiac arrest call, traumatic in nature at that, is the pinnacle of paramedicine. As I saw the young man laid out in the roadway in a pool of blood, my anxiety was met with an undeniable feeling of inner peace and clarity. I immediately delegated tasks and assigned roles to my crew members, as we started resuscitation and invasive interventions on the pulseless young man. The appropriate algorithms and protocols were followed with much acuity, despite the chaos of surrounding emergency sirens, cars rushing by and gut-wrenching screams of bystanders. Off scene within ten minutes, the patient was pronounced dead upon arrival. As the adrenaline began to wane, I walked out of the trauma room, feeling disappointed with the results. A feeling of solace came over me, as I knew that my relaxed temperament and competence in that dire situation facilitated my greatest effort.
I had already begun my journey to the PA profession prior to this experience. I understood that the prospect of high-stress situations faced as a PA would undoubtedly be handled gracefully and without reservation.
My choice of the PA profession was not so much of an epiphany, as it was a process. As a young nineteen-year-old missionary, the seed of resilience was being planted. I lived and served in the Marshall Islands of the central pacific. I navigated the struggles of a developing country, while learning the Marshallese language in approximately four months, surviving through harsh living conditions with limited resources, and learning the customs and laws. These sacrifices were afforded to provide assistance and love to this underserved populous.
Returning to the United States and entering the fire service provided me with my first exposure to the medical field. During such time, as I attended EMT school and the fire academy while working on the weekends, my father succumbed to the effects of cancer two weeks prior to the completion of my training. This difficult circumstance was at odds with my resolve to push forward, but I did not cease my progress. Enrolling in paramedic school immediately after being hired with the fire department is a testament to that. The amount of skills, experiences, and information I gathered truly exceeded the amount of time allotted for such a task in normal circumstances. I persevered through long nights of running a plethora of medical and fire calls, while either attending classes or working my side-job the next day.
Overtime, I began to consider taking my level of care and education higher. I started taking notice to the PA’s who I transferred patients to in the emergency department. Their role intrigued me because of the extensive knowledge they displayed and their personable vibe with patients. They seemed enthused with my reports and with their craft. As someone who is skilled in multiple fields, my interest was especially piqued upon learning how versatile and flexible PA’s are across an array of specialties. Perhaps the most important component about PA’s that stands out to me is their ability to work in a team environment, as that is a skill I have developed in my experience. This interest grew into action, as I sought to shadow a PA for a better understanding of their crucial role in medicine.
During my shadowing experience, I witnessed a family practice PA make a complex diagnosis of a hiatal hernia simply through a detailed patient assessment and physical examination, without any imaging tests. I desire to emulate the level of competency, knowledge and versatility shown by that PA.
Perhaps the most crucial roles I have filled during this sojourn have been those of a father and a husband. While sacrificing to shadow, work and go to school full-time, the birth of my first-born son has borne new-found meaning in all my endeavors. I have overcome the treachery of the isles of the sea, suffered the pain of loss, persevered the raging inferno of structures, witnessed death and life anew, and continue to battle through a pandemic on the front lines. I am proud to be a future heir to the dedication, fortitude and sacrifice that awards one who crosses into the realm of the PA profession.
Amber Heuwagen says
A patient named Murphy was rushed into the back with a hemoabdomen from a splenic tumor that had ruptured and was actively bleeding into the abdomen. I obtained vitals and a hematocrit via a blood sample. The patient was hypotensive, tachycardiac and anemic. Without hesitation I placed two intravenous catheters to start the blood transfusion and lactated ringers fluids into the other catheter. The patients owners were in shock and distress. I sat down with them because our doctor was prepping for surgery and explained the urgency of this situation and the risks associated with surgery and post-operative risks. I helped claim their nerves and told them I would hold his paw during the whole procedure while monitoring his anesthesia and that gave them a sense of comfort to help them through this situation. When I discovered the physician assistant profession and was able to talk with people in that profession through contacts I knew that this was the path I was supposed to be on that could combine the best parts of myself and what I love to do. Switching career paths and species may seem unconventional, but everything that makes a physician assistant is the path that will give me the most out of life and the passion and support that I will be able to give back to the patients.
Murphy’s procedure was five hours long with needing to have his stomach tacked , because during surgery we discovered he had gastric dilation volvus and the doctor decompressed the stomach and tacked it to the abdominal wall. I placed a nasal gastric tube and moved him into recovery and he was able to see his family a short while after. This was the first time I fell in love with medicine. Providing the best care for my patient and communicating with the family and helping them through this difficult time with providing them with detail and comfort throughout and develop a relationship with them.
My grandfather was in congestive heart failure and chronically in the hospital and had many doctor appointments. I would accompany him and the physician assistant he would see was named Paul. He always showed compassion and humility during every appointment. I asked questions and my grandpa was not always the most patient or approachable person, but Paul never strayed from his humbling demeanor . If he didn’t know the answer he worked with his team to provide us with the best information. Paul was the physician assistant that inspired me to look into this career and provide the same care and experience for patients that my grandpa had experienced. I immediately began researching the career and what attracted me was not being limited to one area of medicine. I was able to shadow a physician assistant for a couple of days in an urgent care five years ago. Before going to see the patient she would review the chart thoroughly and greet every patient with a smile and would actively listen to their concern. During my time shadowing there it cemented my dream of becoming a physician assistant. I felt through the virtual shadowing alongside my interactions with physician’s assistant I have got a taste of what it would be like to be a physician assistant.
Through volunteering my time and giving back to those who are dealing with hard times or short comings in their life has been humbling. The Ronald McDonald house was an heart warming experience to make food for those who are going through hard decisions and hard diagnosis with their children. During my time has the surgery lead veterinary nurse in my hospital I would volunteer my time off the clock to help those families that were restricted on funds
My job as a veterinary nurse has prepared me on this journey of becoming a physician assistant in couple different ways. Working with the same team members for twelve hour days four-five days a week strengthens your communication skills , patience and understanding. Providing patient care and treatments to our animal patients we have to look for the slightest signs of change in their behavior and advocating for them. Being in a leadership role has prepared me to be able to developed my time management skills alongside organizational skills. Being able to communicate effectively with my staff members and clients when issued arise or had concerns. I love learning and being able to continue learning throughout my career through continuing education . During my time has a veterinary nurse I have gone to four national conferences, twelve wet labs and six local conferences to continue my growth has a medical professional.
During my time in vet tech school I was in an abusive relationship. My grades suffered from the embarrassment of going there with black eyes and not being able to study until my partner went to sleep of the fear of him not wanting me to be “smart”. As I have had withdrawals on my transcript, because during those times I had suffer tremendously with major depression and anxiety that stemmed from being in a abusive relationship for six years. I have grown and continue to grow by finding a therapist and continuing with self-care on a daily basis. Being in the medical industry finding your own work-life balance can be a challenge, but I have been developing tools that will help me succeed. I was able to escape that relationship and help myself grow and became a domestic violence advocate to help those in the same situation has me. The lack of volunteer and in person shadowing hours from the past two years was due to working full time, going to school full time and assisting with my grandma’s care after my grandfather passed. I have began to volunteer at the American Red Cross and sought out virtual shadowing experience that have been amazing on shedding light on many career paths and the in and outs of the day in the life of physician assistant.
The hospital may be hectic and emergencies may be coming in every 3 minutes, but in those situations in challenges me. It challenges me to be quick thinking, prioritize the most critical patient to the one who could wait to be seen and seeing the patient has the most important person in the room. Regardless of their background , race, religion, social status, sexual identity and culture I will treat them with the respect and treatment they deserve without judgement. There will be days where you fail your patient, but mistakes and failures can make you a better PA when you learn from them. The days you leave the hospital after talking about her life with the elder patient who has dementia to help comfort her and being help to bring happiness to her day. I want to make a positive difference in peoples life and these are the reasons why I want to be a PA.
Im still working on trying to condense it.
Whitney Prosperi says
Amber,
You are off to a good start.
As you said, you’ll still need to condense throughout. Word by word is the best way to do this.
I would elaborate on what aspects of the PA profession really speak to you. Is it the opportunity for increased time with patients/connections? Collaboration with a healthcare team? The ability to switch specialties?
I would also connect your strengths, your interest in caring for patients, and why you will excel at combining clinical expertise with a personal touch to support patients. Here, you want to show why you are suited to the PA profession and what you have to offer as a future PA.
I’m not saying you need this, but remember we are taking essay submissions for our revision service should you need more help.
Good luck to you, Amber!
EJ says
“And that’s all the time we have for today, are there any questions?” the PA said as she closed her powerpoint. I thought to myself “ask something, anything, put yourself out there and show why this is the career for you”. I asked the PA “ What is the best advice you could give to a future PA”. She responded “I encourage you to truly figure out why this is the career for you and what will motivate you to keep showing up day after day”. I found myself torn on the subway ride home as I knew what my goal was, but couldn’t formulate the right explanation as to why I wanted to have this career. My goal of becoming a PA remained strong, but I realized the “why” would have to be equally as strong if not greater. I realized I needed to devote time to understanding what motivates me to want to be a PA.
Working within the medical field has been a long standing goal of mine which will allow me to employ my passions for helping patients and practicing medicine as a provider. Naturally I have always been fascinated with practicing medicine and how the human body functions ever since a highschool AP forensics class. My initial interest in becoming a PA made me eager to learn more and led me to take advantage of shadowing opportunities at my place of employment. Shadowing at the Lymphoma Service was eye opening as I finally was able to witness a PA in action. Jillian saw patients on her own or with a physician and during each visit confidently introduced herself, carefully took patient information and complaints, and thoroughly performed physical examinations.I was enamored at the level of comfort and knowledge that she provided for the patient and couldn’t but feel inspired to provide the same as a future PA. Before leaving Jillian asked if I wanted to see a lumbar puncture, which to my knowledge I didn’t know PA’s could perform. During this procedure the patient had stated that she has this procedure done multiple times, but never by a PA. This patient wasn’t nervous as she knew what needed to happen, but was curious as to why this time Jillian was performing the lumbar puncture. Jillian assured and calmed the patient during the procedure with a simple explanation of what she does and the full scope of her practice. Leaving this experience left with a desire to provide the same quality of care that Jillian provided for her patients.
Shadowing Jillian was an eye-opening experience that reassured me of my choice to become a PA. I was captivated by Jillian’s understanding and experience, but left with a burning desire to see more of my future career. Thus I shadowed at other services within MSK; Radiation Oncology (inpatient) x2, Urology (inpatient), and Heme Onc (inpatient). Shadowing broadened my perspective of PA’s within medicine as the role has emphasis on versatility and teamwork, allowing them to utilize knowledge and experience to provide patients with . This level of versatility results from being able to traverse different environments similar to my role as a care coordinator II. The CCII role relies on being able to use time management and critical thinking skills to successfully manage clinical settings ranging from managing high patient volume chemotherapy suites to long arduous Genitourinary Medical Oncology clinics. Having experienced situations that demand versatility within my current position at MSK prepares me for versatility, flexibility, and teamwork needed during PA school and in the field. In seeing this aspect of the PA career I am enticed byt the challenge of working within different environments and having to hone my
The opportunity to work with medically underserved patients as a PA greatly motivates me. Living in a medically underserved community in Queens has highlighted the major differences of the healthcare system especially when people of color are involved. Within these communities residents face many obstacles when seeking proper health care, resulting in increased health disparities ultimately leading to premature death. Attending a community meeting last fall brought to light how residents of the community felt that medical needs are not being met and this leads to many not seeking the proper help. Having two family members who passed away due to not being able to receive medical attention and education sooner than later has inspired me to seek a solution for myself and others in a similar situation. Devoting my life to practicing medicine as a PA provides a chance to make that difference and provide relief to medically underserved communities such as mine. Treating residents and allowing them to receive proper medical education and attention will contribute to decreasing the high number of medically underserved residents within communities, especially those highly populated by people of color.
Choosing to become a PA is not only about serving the medically underserved, but allowing myself to become a role model to people in communities such as my own. It is important that role models come from all aspects of life and are relatable on various levels. I had always been interested in medicine, but found that people who looked like me or looked similar were not represented. Representation of people of color within healthcare matters, especially within the minority community, as we tend to imitate and emulate those in positions we seek to be in. Among the 109k PAs registered in 2019, only 3.6% were African American. This statistic is not guaranteed to increase, but I would like to contribute to increasing representation of people of color as PA’s, especially within the African American community. It wasn’t until the age of 25 that I met an African American PA who was the manager of advanced practice providers at a healthcare facility. This moment was monumental for me as my goal had materialized in the form of a role model I sought after in my earlier years. Seeing this person in a position to positively affect patients and clinical staff reinforced my desire to become a PA and have that same impact. It made me realize how crucial role models and representation can be in reinforcing your goals, especially those with aspirations of a career in medicine.
Allotting myself time to grow and gain experience for PA school provided clarity and perspective on the road to PA school. I had recognized my natural desire to help treat and care for patients. With each experience I’ve become more intuitive, more compassionate, and most importantly more understanding with every patient I’ve encountered. Through this career I can work within medically underserved communities like mine to ensure patients receive proper medical treatment and education. As a african american PA I can serve as a role model for people of color who think their dream of practicing medicine is unobtainable. My “why” had finally become clear. My interest in becoming a PA is due to the positive outcomes that will occur from being in a position to make a difference.
Whitney Prosperi says
EJ,
You are off to a good start!
I would suggest condensing where you can, word by word.
I would also describe a patient interaction that increased your desire to do more for patients. Show yourself in action performing clinical care while connecting with the patient on a personal level. You want to show more about how you perform your duties and what you have to offer patients as a future PA.
I’m not saying you need this, but should you need further help, we are taking essay submissions for our revision service.
Good luck to you, EJ!
Tyler says
You’re killing my child! screamed a distraught mother pleading to a room full of white coats and blank faces.
Her child was bare and naked in an open and intensely lit room of an intensive care unit. Lines and cords were wrapped around her infants’ chest, leading in and out of areas red and scabbed from repeated line changes. Her child didn’t look like this at home. Before the surgery, before her child had a tube put down their throat, they had been better, and now while being left exposed in a cold hospital room, her child had congestion and to her understanding it was because they had acquired a cold.
The truth of the matter was that the child needed a tracheostomy due to a collapsed and poorly formed airway brought on by prolonged intubation after surviving heart surgery. For the past two months clinical staff had exasperatedly tried to convey to mom the need for the procedure, and each time they were met with resistance and confidence from mom that her child would be safe without it. As medical professionals, they had been trained to understand that a tracheostomy was simply a minor surgical procedure that would allow for safer breathing and could be eventually taken out as the child continued to grow.
However, what the medical staff didn’t take into account was what mom had seen or heard for those few months. She had come into a room filled with various machines and monitors all beeping, ringing, and buzzing, her child wheezing, crying, or gagging. Every day a different nurse, a new face updating her on what was going on with her child. If she was lucky enough to make it for rounds, she would have to process a plethora of new diagnoses, recommendations, medications, and interventions all within the 10 minutes of the doctors’ bedside visit
In this instance, seeing her child bare, and struggling to breathe because of a collapsed airway, was her breaking point. Exhaustedly she exclaimed, I don’t want to hear any more of your textbooks terms. I’m not stupid, just tell me why my child is naked in this hospital with something they didn’t have before.
Hearing this outcry, only a few weeks into working in a clinical setting is what solidified my desire to become a physician assistant. When I was 7-years-old my mother was diagnosed with stage-4 metastatic breast cancer. For 10 years, I became well versed in medical terminology and quite comfortable in the medical setting all while watching my mother fight not only for her life but her voice. While those that took care of her were more often than not fantastic health care workers, some would walk into her room not having read her chart and she would be berated with the same questions she had heard before. As a confident woman, my mom would speak up, maybe with a few choice words, but she taught me the importance to advocate not only for yourself but for others.
When I was a teenager I shadowed in an Urgent Care, where I saw how for most patients the diagnostic providers they would consult with were commonly the physician assistant rather than the physician. I quickly realized that as a physician assistant I would have the important role of providing that initial bridge between patient and physician, allowing for my increased involvement in advocating for my patients’ voice.
I have been privileged to be able to receive a bachelor’s of Public Health in the Honors College at the “College”, which provided me with a learning environment where I was able to explore issues such as health literacy and other health disparities in an academic setting. As my work and volunteer experience have shown, I have sought to apply this knowledge to my career in health care. I look forward to gaining further experience that will inspire thoughtful solutions to these issues. I have been applauded for my drive, compassion, and reliability especially during high-stress situations, which are not uncommon working in a pediatric intensive care unit. In addition, there have been times I have been recognized for not only showing support for the staff during these crises but also the family members.
I believe my professional and academic experiences have set me up to be successful as a physician assistant and that this career would allow me the flexibility to engage with a multitude of patients in various settings that support not only the health of the individual but an entire population.
Whitney Prosperi says
Tyler,
Your introduction is compelling, but I would suggest trimming it where you can so that you can allow room to add more elements to round out your essay.
You also want to make sure you never appear critical of other healthcare workers with your tone or stories.
I would suggest elaborating on what aspects of the PA profession speak to you. Is it the opportunity for increased time/connection with patients? The ability to switch specialties? Collaboration with a healthcare team?
I would also describe your shadowing experience. What about these PA/patient or PA/physician interactions affirmed your decision to pursue the PA path.
I would also add a paragraph that shows you in action connecting with a patient while providing clinical care. You want to show your desire to do more for patients and reveal the characteristics you possess that will make you an effective PA.
For your conclusion, elaborate on your desire to care for patients directly and gain clinical knowledge so you can intervene in their care.
I’m not saying you need this, but should you need more help we are taking essay submissions for our revision service.
Good luck to you!
Brooke Zabawa says
I have learned that I no longer want to stand at the back of the room and stay behind the computer screen. Instead, I know that I need to be there beside the patients, letting them know that everything will be ok and that I am there to help them. There have been far too many times that I have watched and documented as a loved one has passed, or as a fearful patient is explaining their symptoms of a possibly life-threatening disease. Scribing in the emergency department has taught me countless things, but the most important one is that I cannot only stand by and only watch.
Over the past four years, I have been discovering what area of healthcare that I wanted to be a part of. I have always had an innate sense of belonging in the medical profession. I began with working as a certified personal trainer and falling in love with the movement of the human body, thinking that I wanted to become a PT but it didn’t feel quite right. Later, I found scribing and was emersed in a new realm of health care where I was able to see the inner workings of an ED and I immediately knew that it was where I was meant to be.
Within the last two years has been where I have zoned in on my passions for becoming a PA. While working as a scribe in the ED I have also been working as a CNA at a skilled nursing facility. It is there that I have developed my direct patient skills and the impact that I have on the residents. To me, it is not just about getting the job done, but it is about going beyond that and ensuring that the residents are happy, comfortable, and are well cared for. It is especially difficult at this time right now where we all have to be hyperaware and careful about our every move. But, the residents are missing seeing their families and so I strive for them to feel loved each day.
It is now more than ever I feel the urge to fulfill my dreams and passion to be in the medical field, I have recently been volunteering my weekends at the local drive-through COVID testing center. During my time there I am in the hot sun with full PPE and swabbing the patients for the virus. I felt the need to volunteer my time thereafter I myself needed to be swabbed and I saw how incredibly hard these wonderful people were working.
While in the ED I have learned about what it means to be a PA and the essential role that they play. I admire all of the physician assistants that I had been able to work with or have shadowed. Every single one of them has one similar trait, that being the passion for quality patient care and advocacy. It may not be every day that someone wants to be inches away from a gaping wound and spend hours suturing it closed, but it is always the PA that is the first one to jump up and is ready for the task. I want to become a PA because to me there is no grater and fulfilling profession where you are can make a difference in someones life all the while being supported by the team.
Although my grades may not have been the best, I believe that my experiences and drive outweigh my less than exemplary GPA. Throughout most of my college history in the last four years, I have moved homes at least once a year due to my husband being changed from different locations while he was serving in the US Marines. Also with that came long stretches of time where I had to live alone in a foreign area while he was deployed. Those periods of moving came with the difficulty of keeping up with classes whether they were online or in person. Although I was still able to maintain average grades, I know that they could have been improved on. The last two years have been where I have improved the most, not only with my education but also improving my patient care. Scribing has shown me the educational aspect of the job, while CNA’s work taught me humanity. I will continue to strive to achieve my terminal goal of becoming a physician assistant, for each human connection that I have made along my journey furthers my ambition and drive, in hopes that I can be a part of someone’s care and well being.
Whitney Prosperi says
Brooke,
You do a good job of showing your passion to help people.
I would suggest elaborating on what aspects of the PA profession speak to you. Is it increased time/connection with patients? Collaborating with a healthcare team? Ability to switch specialties?
Also, I would describe your shadowing experience. What did you observe from PA/patient interactions, PA supervising physician interactions that confirmed your decision to become a PA?
I would also describe the clinical skills and knowledge you’ve gained in your CNA role so we can see what you’ve experienced that will make you a stronger PA student. I’d be sure to mention your collaboration with coworkers since collaboration is such an integral part of a PA’s role.
Also, it’s “greater” not “grater.” 🙂
I wish you good luck on your journey.
I’m not saying you need this, but should you need further help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
Paige Lee says
Oftentimes as healthcare workers we believe that everything we will experience in the real world can be practiced in a clinical rotation, read in a textbook, or taught in the classroom. However, this is not the case. There was no lecture, clinical instructor, or simulation activity that could have prepared me for the night I was about to have. I was working as a caregiver for a family friend named Doug who was diagnosed with multiple system atrophy. Doug was paralyzed and had recently undergone a tracheotomy.
The evening started out like any other night. Tracy, Doug’s wife, and I transported him from the living room to his bed, gave him his breathing treatment, and made sure there was nothing else Doug needed. I had just sat down and was trying to find something on the television that Doug would enjoy watching when I heard a hoarse productive cough. I look over and am instantly filled with immense panic as Doug’s tracheostomy tube had dislodged. I immediately called Doug’s wife into the room so together we could address the situation. Tracy asked me to hold his head back so that she could try and place the tracheostomy tube back where it needed to go. After multiple unsuccessful attempts, we decided to call 911 so that Doug could be brought into the emergency department. Upon arrival the providers were able to successfully use ultrasound to reinsert the tracheostomy tube.
The adrenalin I felt that night and my ability to remain calm in an extremely stressful situation made me realize maybe I do have what it takes to be a successful healthcare worker. After spending a night alongside a nurse as we both held the hand of a resident as she passed away, I began considering nursing as a career. I loved the direct patient interaction that nursing would allow me to have. After completing two years of nursing pre-requisites and one semester of nursing school I experienced a change of heart. The ability to work with patients continued to inspire me, but as I learned more about the disease process, I became eager to be involved in diagnosis as well.
My fascination with the human body began in sixth grade. During this time, I was enrolled in a biology course that covered cell structure. I remember being so amused with the cell that I spent multiple nights at home watching YouTube videos to expand my knowledge of cell structure and function. After receiving my first one hundred percent on a science exam I determined I must pursue a career that would allow me to use my newly obtained sixth grade knowledge of the cell.
My decision to work in healthcare has allowed me to work in acute, long-term, and rehabilitation care settings. In these positions I have had the opportunity to work along-side many other healthcare workers. Although each job was unique, the ability to work as a team was consistent amongst all of them. Through my experience of shadowing physician assistants, I have learned that this is also a characteristic that is crucial to be successful as a physician assistant. The opportunity to work as a member of a team is what inspires me to become a physician assistant.
As a child, I had a lot of uncertainties and questions regarding what I wanted to be when I “grew up”. I was always afraid that I would not be able to find a career that was right for me. However, now that I have discovered and studied the career of a physician assistant, I am able to confidently say this career was meant for me. I am filled with joy when I think about my future as a physician assistant.
Whitney Prosperi says
Paige,
You are off to a good start.
I would suggest condensing where you can throughout your essay to leave room for other elements.
You introduction is effective, but I would also condense this story where you can.
Additionally, I would move the story about 6th grade you and the cell to the paragraph after your introduction.
Also, I would elaborate on your shadowing experience. What did you witness in PA/patient interactions, PA/supervising physician interactions that confirmed your decision to become a PA?
I would also describe more about what aspects of the PA profession drew you to it. Was it the ability to switch specialties? More opportunity for time/connection with patients? Collaboration with a healthcare team?
I would also describe the clinical skills and knowledge you’ve gained in your rehab roles that will make you a stronger PA student.
For your conclusion, I would reiterate your desire for increased time with patients, advanced responsibilities, and clinical knowledge to intervene in their care.
Nadia K says
FYI I am 119 characters above the limit after already making some cuts. I appreciate your help!
Families of Syrian refugees walked into our clinic with apprehension. There for the sensitive cause of their health, they did not speak the language, know the staff, or know who they could rely on. Relief would wash over anxious faces when they saw a familiar smile behind the front desk. Recognizable from my community involvement and from my family’s Arabic deli, I offered assurance. My drive to be an agent of solidarity in my community and collecting moments like these leaves me with no other option than to expand my scope by becoming a physician assistant.
The idea that people feel most comfortable with healthcare providers of mutually shared background is foundational to me. My mother explained this when I saw a doctor for bronchitis as a child. Growing up without health insurance made seeing a doctor rare, but I have the distinct memory of the waiting room filled with veiled women, their children and the familiar sounds of spoken Arabic. There were so few middle eastern families in our part of town that I was amazed to see people I identified with concentrated in this space. This was one event to spark my critical thoughts on representation and culturally competent public health efforts. Eventually, I would want to become a provider to foster relationships with people like me and to offer direction in the confusing system that is american healthcare.
I paved a way to educate myself on my issues of interest while studying for my degree at one of the world’s top ranked institutions for biological sciences. I gained an alternative perspective abroad by connecting with refugees in Berlin’s Moabit Hilft center. I had been organizing with the Syrian American Council in San Diego at the beginning of the Arab Spring, and later worked with the influx of over 450 Syrian families resettled into San Diego. The El Cajon Family Health Center was another location of volunteership where I attended to this population. It was here that I observed a PA in action for the first time. She managed her own, often non-compliant, prenatal patients with autonomy. Each patient visit would require involvement of our steadfast team of case workers and clinical staff. Yet, seeing her orchestrate the plans, give her patients compassion and a sense of stability made me unwaveringly certain about seeking this level of care.
I began adding depth to my sense of what good patient care entails as I obtained my EMT license and later hospital experience in the middle east. I was blown away witnessing everyone from technicians to anesthesiologists working harmoniously in a level one trauma center. Collaboration is a necessity, and having been heavily involved in team-based activities in high school and college, it is one aspect of this career which excites me most. Another is patient education. In Kuwait, a nurse and I were once sent with old-school, bulbous suction leads for an EKG on an emotionally distressed adolescent patient. She was hospitalized for the first time in her life with Typhoid fever, and already received more than a fair amount of poking and discomfort. The rapport I quickly established enabled me to explain the procedure, soothe her apprehension and place the leads. I made a note to check in with her often during the remainder of her stay. It was validating to see the tangible difference my words made at that time and afterwards. I await the opportunity to repeat this experience with advanced clinical knowledge as a PA.
I have continuously improved my ability to juggle academic success and work responsibilities as evidenced by my last set of grades. Returning to school full time for prerequisites while maintaining my full time medical assistant (MA) position, not to mention our COVID transitions in March, fully demonstrate my diligence and abilities as a student. Further, working very closely with providers in my rheumatology office has exemplified that learning never ceases when working in medicine.
I sought this MA position over one as an EMT to boost one on one time with patients, and also in hopes of finding mentorship with a PA. I am lucky enough to work with four providers–an MD, DO, NP and a PA–each sharing their respective insight. Our PA Amanda draws from her past in a handful specialties and performs thorough investigations. At times she may question how to proceed with a case, but she has partners to rely on. My clinic is unique in being fifteen minutes from the Tijuana border; appointments frequently require time-consuming translation. Amanda nevertheless asks about each symptom and gives her patients complete answers in explaining the source of their pain and their options. Taking patient histories in Spanish gets me a closer look at difficulties faced by non-English speakers, and it continues to motivate me.
As the providers in my clinic, I strive to create an inviting healthcare environment in order to deliver the highest quality of care to all. I will go on establishing trusting relationships with individuals who feel foreign, and I look forward to fulfilling the subsequent steps of diagnosis and treatment in my future as a PA.
Whitney Prosperi says
Nadia,
You are off to a good start.
As far as being over on your word count, I would suggest going through your essay slowly and condensing where you can, word by word.
You do a good job of showing your desire to help those who may feel marginalized. I also see your broad range of experience throughout.
In your patient care story, I would give a few more details that show you in action connecting with this woman. You may even want to provide her name to make the story come alive even more.
I’m not saying you need this, but remember that we are taking essay submissions for our revision service should you need more help.
Good luck to you!
Crystal N says
Hello! Here’s my personal statement. I was debating b/w using a paragraph for why PA and not MD/DO/NP ~or~ my experience as an allergist MA? Any critique would be appreciated.
character count: 5000
The patient squinted in discomfort as Gretchen, the ED physician assistant (PA), shined the light in the patient’s red, blistered right eye. The patient stated that the pain and redness wasn’t going away after using over the counter eye drops. Gretchen proceeded with a fluorescein eye stain test that came out negative. I watched as Gretchen sat in silence, thinking of what her next plan was. Still stumped, she excused us from the room and consulted with the nurses. She suggested ocular herpes in which the nurses responded with different opinions. She then escalated the case to her supervising physician who supported her diagnosis. I realized I wanted to become a PA when I saw Gretchen methodically plan a course of action. Just like Gretchen, I want to methodically utilize the resources in a collaborative setting to improve my patient’s welfare and better my overall understanding in medicine. This will benefit my goal of life long learning as a PA because it lets me understand and learn from different perspectives to improve the care for my patients. A PA that continues to grow professionally and personally to provide long term high quality care through learning and knowledge is something I aspire to be.
When I shadowed Anthony in orthopedics, I was able to witness the professional relations he had with his patients. When a patient was coming in for a follow up visit for MRSA, Anthony asked about the patient’s previous weekend plans, and how he was doing overall. The conversation quickly, but smoothly transitioned onto the patient’s infection and how he was going to drain the infection site. I value Anthony’s warm personality which allowed his patients to feel entrusted in his care. He was personal to ask how their weekend was, but professional where he used patient-friendly jargon for explanations. After witnessing multiple patient interactions, it further confirmed my desire to become a PA because I aspire to have that PA-patient rapport that is built on mutual trust and understanding.
As I volunteered as a health scholar, I found more reasons why being a PA was the best fit for me. Starting off in telemetry, I worked alongside nurses who suggested nursing to me. However, I had already completed 2 years of my undergraduate degree and did not want to change majors when I was already half way done. During my pediatric clinic rotation, I learned that nurse practitioners (NP) have similar decision-making abilities to PAs. I shadowed the NP on the floor and saw how he performed physical exams and even prescribed medication just like a PA. However, being a NP was not the best fit for me because I did not hold a bachelors in nursing. Additionally, PA schools consist of more clinical training hours that can help further promote my learning and preparedness for real-world application compared to NP school. While medical school does provide many clinical training hours as well, it does not provide lateral mobility that I want. With lateral mobility, it can enable me to continuously learn across multiple specialities while working in a collaborative setting. My educational background and my desire to learn in an environment that best suits my goal of life long learning was met by becoming a PA.
Also as a health scholar, I worked collaboratively with the medical staff to help feed, bathe, ambulate, or even transport patients. During one of my shifts, I was paged to transport a Spanish speaking patient multiple times to visit their sick loved one. While the patient and I didn’t share the same language, his sadness was shown through his facial expressions and body language. Towards the end of my shift, I checked on him one last time where I witnessed him breakdown and thanked me in broken English. As a health scholar, I learned the importance of empathizing and providing the time and care to my patients when others don’t have the time to. Because my actions can be louder than words, I gain a sense of gratitude and connection with my patients, especially if the same language isn’t shared. I want to provide patient-centered care that is built on empathy as a PA.
Through the interactions I witnessed between Gretchen, Anthony, and their patients, and through the interactions I faced, it sparked my desire to become a PA. With Gretchen, I learned that through continuous learning from my peers and patients, I can provide high quality care for my patients in a collaborative setting where I can challenge myself each day. With my healthcare experiences and shadowing Anthony, I learned the importance of understanding my patients as a whole which enables me to be in a better position to work with other healthcare workers in a collaborative setting to help meet my patients concerns. Additionally, my time as a health scholar provided me insight on other professions that further solidified my decision to become a PA. A PA that doesn’t plateau in growth and constantly provides better care from the day before is something I aspire to be.
Whitney Prosperi says
Crystal,
I can sense your passion for patient care in your essay.
As far as discussing NP/PA, I would suggest focusing on the aspects of the PA profession that speak to you the most. I wouldn’t use too many characters on discussing other professions and instead focus on why you want to be a PA. What makes that a great fit for you?
Your shadowing section is effective.
I would elaborate some more in your story about your Spanish-speaking patient. You may want to give him a name even. Describe more about your interaction with him and your desire to do more to help patients. You want to show what characteristics you have that will make you an effective PA.
To your question about mentioning your work as an allergist MA, I would include this as well as some of the clinical skills and knowledge you gained in this role. You may also want to spotlight your collaboration with the healthcare team, since this is such an integral part of a PA’s role.
For your conclusion, I would reiterate your desire for increased time with patients as well as advanced responsibility for their care.
Good luck to you, Crystal.
Katie says
A pretty rough first draft. Im not sure if im in the right direction or not.
“To save a life, hold a hand, and be prepared to respond in our community when and where our patients need us”, the mission statement that was introduced to us on the first day of the academy. This community is somewhere I’ve lived my entire life but hardly know. I realized not everyone has the same access to healthcare and can maintain health and wellness the same as others. When I started my job as an EMT, the part of the community I did not know about was put right in front of me. Much of the city is medically underserved which leads to extreme medical problems and frequent trips to the ER. I spent much of the next year trying to educate those I met with the available assistance that the city has, as well as the hospitals and shelters. I also spent this time to educate myself on why these areas are underserved, and how I becoming a PA could help.
My partner and I have saved countless lives in high risks situations, but what’s most important to me now and at the end of the day is holding hands. This became one of the most important aspects of a call this year when I had to inform family members no visitors were allowed with us or at hospitals. It holds heavy when a patient passes en route and the last thing told to the family was that they could not come with us. In the back of that truck, you get to meet people of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. The back of an ambulance, in my opinion, is one of the most diverse places of healthcare. In one shift I’ve seen stomach aches to death, people who call us just because they have no one else or because they are in dire need. Sometimes they really only need a hand to hold. It doesn’t matter to me who is back there but that they get the upmost care they deserve. Often times I wish I could do more for them and see patients through their treatments and recovery. I always find my self asking higher level providers “why?”, why is their body working against them and what does their future hold. Becoming a PA gives me the opportunity to further help patients, plan treatments, follow thru with recovery, and educate patients to prevent disease. As a PA I get to answer those “whys” with disease process and research. I want to be able to provide my community as long as I am able, having the opportunity to possibly switch specialties throughout my career is encouraging in thought of practicing for a long while.
A PA is part of a team but also has to make decisions on their own with confidence. Currently I work on a team that sometimes consists of police officers, firefighters, and paramedics, and when the time comes to transport I am in control of the decisions I make for my patient. The team is made of all different skill levels, you learn to respect each persons ideas and opinions. It also teaches you to keep an open mind and that there are multiple ways of treatment. A team is a very important aspect of the PA profession that I highly value. I encourage and respect multiple opinions as well as think a team makes the best medical decisions for a patient.
At an early age my father always wanted me to have a career in healthcare, he saw that I was caring and helpful but also someone who liked a challenge. We never were able to have a conversation on what career path I wanted because he passed of suicide right before my high school graduation. I spent my first couple semesters of college lost with no goals, and in hindsight should have taken a gap year. I found help and it can be reflected in my last few semester grades. It was recommended to me by a professor to get my EMT certification, since I was still unsure of what I wanted to do. EMS has given me more hope and desire for the medical field than I could have ever thought. The PAs I have seen have always been the most present and understanding in room, they interact with patients for longer periods of time and always want to learn about each person. I don’t have a lightening bolt moment of when the PA profession became perfect for me. I learned gradually through experience which medical profession was right and where I see my self helping the community and also staying the best provider throughout my career.
Whitney Prosperi says
Katie,
I can see your desire to help patients woven throughout your essay.
I would suggest condensing where you can throughout your essay so that there is space to add more elements that will round out your essay.
I think it would be helpful to see you interacting with a patient who really motivated you to increase your scope of practice so you can do more for patients. Can you add a paragraph here that shows you in action performing hands-on clinical care of some kind while connecting with a patient. (possibly calming an anxious patient?) You want to show more about how you perform your duties and support patients, and what you have to offer patients as a future PA.
I would also add a paragraph that details your shadowing experiences. What did you learn from observing this PA? The supervising physician? What did you admire about the interactions the PA had with patients and with the supervising physician? How did this experience affect your interest in the PA profession?
Additionally, in the section where you discuss your grades, I would explain any academic or time management strategies that will help you in a rigorous PA program.
Remember, should you need more help, we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
Good luck to you!
Mallory K says
“I have endured, I have been broken; I have known hardship; I have lost myself. But here I stand, still moving forward, growing stronger each day” (Anonymous). My senior year of college was the hardest year for myself academically due to a few different stressors, but most significantly, my grandmother had been diagnosed with cancer and my mental health began to decline. I found it impossible to get out of bed or to focus on the one class I had been so eagerly awaiting my whole academic career for: Human Gross Anatomy with a cadaver lab. It was as if there was an overly persistent weight that held my body and my mind down that felt so relentless. It seemed that trying my hardest to focus on the tasks that needed to be accomplished only stressed me out more and made the overall process impossible, and unfortunately, my grades suffered. However, with the right medication and mindful practices of living in the present through meditation I learned in counseling, I am now confident, ready, and able to pursue the academic and clinical experiences necessary to pursue the career as a physician assistant that I have always dreamed of.
I discovered the career path of the physician assistant in my high school anatomy class and have since focused on the career. The PA often has more time to spend with the patient than a physician is able to due to a strict schedule. The profession is diagnosis and treatment driven, modeled after medical school curriculum and the flexibility of the practice, in terms of fields of practice, is a trait I am excited to explore.
I currently work as an inpatient pharmacy technician, a role in which I am responsible for the sterile compounding of inpatient medications and intravenous solutions in a hospital setting. Prior to my certification, I worked in retail pharmacy as a registered technician where I fell in love with learning the different medications and their physiological impacts to the body. With the knowledge of medications and insurance billing I have learned from my pharmacy experiences, I feel confident that I will be able to better assist my future patients when prescribing medications by knowing which prescriptions are more likely to be covered by their insurance policies, which are to be denied, and the other options we can explore should a treatment not work for the patient.
Although I currently do not have shadowing experience with a PA, I am continuously searching for the opportunity. The pandemic of the Corona virus has made this area much more challenging to pursue, as many hospitals, and even the Cleveland Clinic where I currently work, have suspended taking students for shadowing and observation experiences indefinitely. I have, however, been in contact with the coordinator of physician assistants throughout the Cleveland Clinic, Ms. Deb K. who has been a PA for 27 years in a plethora of medical settings including surgery, orthopaedics, and intensive care to name just a few. Ms. K. has answered the burning questions I have about the profession and has given me some of the advantageous advice I required in pursuit of this career. As I continue to search for observation opportunities, I feel that I have an insight on the profession that I may not have experienced through shadowing alone.
I have learned that my most influential experience was not the career research project in high school; it was not the experience of being a pharmacy technician in a hospital closer to patients, but was my own mental health struggles and the journey of accomplishing my health that is my most influential experience. My personal growth has exceeded my own expectations through the compassion and empathy I feel for others who are struggling with their health and I seek to be the professional to help others feel that they are optimistic in their health and treatment plans.
Although I am so fond of my job as an inpatient pharmacy technician, it does not provide enough of the patient care experience as I desire. It no longer fulfills my passion to work behind the scenes of one’s health. I do not just want to provide the right medication; I yearn to be on the forefront of helping others and to have the knowledge to answer patients’ questions in order to bring a sense of comfort along with a diagnosis. My passion for healing can no longer be mollified through my current role. My commitment to my future patients is to make them feel hopeful and assured that their health can be improved. There are endless opportunities for the expansion of knowledge, in both my professional and personal growth, and in service to others in the profession of a physician assistant and these opportunities of growth call to me.
Whitney Prosperi says
Mallory,
You are off to a good start.
I would suggest moving the section about your grades to the paragraph before your conclusion. This is where schools expect to see this information, and it allows you to set up the positive aspects of your experience first.
For your introduction, I would reveal a clear picture of how you arrived at the PA decision. You want to grab the reader’s attention and show the spark that began the journey toward becoming a PA.
I would also suggest elaborating more on why the profession is right for you. What first drew you to the profession? What aspects of it really speak to you? (the balance between autonomous responsibility for patients and working with a physician and other members of a healthcare team? the ability to switch specialties?) Elaborate more on why you chose the profession and why it’s a good fit for you.
Also, I would add a section that connects your strengths, your interest in caring for patients directly, and why you will excel at combining clinical expertise with a personal touch to support patients. I would show more about how you are suited to a PA profession and what you have to offer as a future PA.
If you should need more help, remember we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
Good luck to you!