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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 (29th April 2024): Accepting New Submissions
(Photo: Me circa 1987, just thinking about my future PA School Essay)
- Are you struggling to write your physician assistant personal statement?
- Are you out of ideas, or just need a second opinion?
- Do you want an essay that expresses who you truly are and grabs the reader's attention in the required 5,000-character limit?
We are here to help perfect your PA school essay
I have written countless times on this blog about the importance of your personal statement in the PA school application process. Beyond the well-established metrics (GPA, HCE/PCE hours, requisite coursework, etc.), the personal statement is the most crucial aspect of your application.
This is your time to express yourself, show your creativity, skills, and background, and make a memorable impression in seconds. This will be your only chance, so you must get it right the first time.
For some time, I had been dreaming about starting a physician assistant personal statement collaborative.
A place where PA school applicants like yourself can post their PA school essays and receive honest, constructive feedback followed by an acceptance letter to the PA school of your choice!
I have been reviewing a ton of essays recently, so many in fact that I can no longer do this on my own.
To solve this problem, I have assembled a team of professional writers, editors, and PA school admissions specialists who worked to revise and perfect my PA school application essay.
Beth Eakman has taught college writing and worked as a professional writer and editor since the late 1990s. Her projects have involved a wide range of disciplines and media, from editing technical reports to scriptwriting for the PBS Kids show Super Why! Her writing has appeared in publications including Brain, Child Magazine, New York Family Magazine, and Austin Family Magazine. Beth lives with her family just outside Austin, Texas. She is driven to help each client tell the best version of their story and achieve their dream of becoming a physician assistant.
Deanna Matzen is an author with articles featured in Earth Letter, Health Beats, Northwest Science & Technology, and the Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. With an early career in environmental science, she developed a solid foundation in technical writing. Her communication skills were further honed by producing and editing content for a non-profit website, blog, and quarterly journal. Inspired to extend her craft, she obtained a certificate in literary fiction, which she draws on to build vibrant scenes that bring stories to life. Deanna loves working with pre-PAs who are on the cusp of new beginnings to find their unique story and tell it confidently.
Carly Hallman is a professional writer and editor with a B.A. in English Writing and Rhetoric (summa cum laude) from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. She has worked as a curriculum developer, English teacher, and study abroad coordinator in Beijing, China, where she moved in 2011. In college, she was a Gilman Scholar and worked as a staff editor for her university's academic journal. Her first novel, Year of the Goose, was published in 2015, and her first memoir is forthcoming from Little A Books. Her essays and creative writing have appeared in The L.A. Review of Books, The Guardian, LitHub, and Identity Theory, among other publications.
Read more client testimonials or purchase a revision
We Work as a Team
Our team of professional editors is wonderful at cutting out the "fluff" that makes an essay lose focus and sets people over the 5,000-character limit. Their advice is always spot-on.
Sue, Sarah, and Carly are amazingly creative writers who will take your "ordinary" and turn it into entirely extraordinary.
I mean it when I say this service is one-of-a-kind! We have spent countless hours interviewing PA School admissions directors and faculty from across the country to find out exactly what it is they are looking for in your personal statement.
We even wrote a book about it.
To collaborate, we use Google Drive. Google Drive is free, has an intuitive interface with integrated live comments in the sidebar, the ability to have a real-time chat, to collaborate effortlessly, and to compare, revise, or restore revisions on the fly. Google Drive also has an excellent mobile app that will allow you to make edits on the go!
Our team has worked with hundreds of PA school applicants within the Google Drive environment, and we have had enormous success.
The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative
I have set up two options that I hope will offer everyone a chance to participate:
- One-of-a-kind, confidential, paid personal statement review service
- A collaborative, free one (in the comments section)
Private, One-On-One Personal Statement Review Service
If you are interested in the paid service, you may choose your plan below.
The Personal Statement Review Service is:
- Behind closed doors within a private, secure network using Google Drive.
- It is completely interactive, meaning we will be able to provide real-time comments and corrections using the Google Drive interface.
- Telephone consultations are included with all edits above the single edit level. It’s often hard to communicate exactly what you want hundreds of miles away; for this reason, we offer the option to edit right along with us over the telephone while sharing in real-time over Google Drive. This is an option available to all our paid clients who purchase above the single edit level.
- We provide both revision and editing of all essays. What’s the difference? See below
- We will provide feedback, advice, and help with brainstorming and topic creation if you would like.
- We will help with a “final touch-up” before the big day, just in case your essay needs a few minor changes.
Why Choose Our Service?
- It’s not our opinion that matters. We have gone the extra step and personally interviewed PA school administrators from across the US to find out exactly what they think makes a personal statement exceptional.
- We are a team of PAs and professional writers, having worked over ten years with PA school applicants like yourself, providing countless hours of one-on-one editing and revision.
- Our clients receive interviews, and many go on to receive acceptance into their PA School of choice.
Because we always give 100%, we will open the essay collaborative for a limited number of applicants each month and then close this depending on the amount of editing that needs to be done and the time that is available.
Our goal is not quantity but quality. We want only serious applicants who are serious about getting into PA school.
Writing is not a tool like a piece of software but more like how a photograph can capture your mood. It’s more like art. The process of developing a unique, memorable personal statement is time-intensive, and it takes hours to compose, edit, finalize, and personalize an essay.
As Antoinette Bosco once said:
And this is why I am charging for this service. We love helping people find stories that define their lives, and we love helping individuals who have the passion to achieve their dreams. It’s hard to describe the feeling I get when an applicant writes back to tell me they were accepted into PA school.
There is no price tag I can place on this; it’s the feeling we get when we help another human being. It’s just like providing health care. But this takes time.
Interested? Choose your plan below.
Read more client testimonials.
Free Personal Statement Review
Post your essay in the comments section for a free critique
We want to make this opportunity available to everyone who would like help with their essay, and that is why we are offering free, limited feedback on the blog.
You post your essay in the comments section, and you will get our critique. It is that easy. We will try to give feedback to every single person who posts their COMPLETE essay here on this blog post in the comments section.
Also, by posting your comment, we reserve the right to use your essay.
We will provide feedback on essays that are complete and fit the CASPA requirements (View CASPA requirements here). We will not provide feedback on partial essays or review opening or closing statements. Your essay will be on a public platform, which has both its benefits and some obvious drawbacks. The feedback is limited, but we will try to help in any way we can.
Note: Comment Rules: Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That’s how we’re gonna be — cool. Critical is fine, but if you’re rude, I will delete your stuff. Otherwise, have fun, and thanks for adding to the conversation! And this should go without saying: if you feel the need to plagiarize someone else’s content, you do not deserve to go to PA school.
* Also, depending on the time of year, it may take me several weeks to reply!
We love working with PA school applicants, but don't just take our word for it!
How to submit your essay for the paid service
If you are serious and would like to have real, focused, and personalized help writing your personal statement, please choose your level of service and submit your payment below.
After you have submitted your payment, you will be redirected to the submissions page, where you can send us your essay as well as any special instructions. We will contact you immediately upon receipt of your payment and essay so we may begin work right away.
Pricing is as follows:
Choose your plan, then click "Buy Now" to submit your essay, and we will get started right away!
Every purchase includes a FREE digital copy of our new 100-page eBook, How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement, Our 101 PA School Admission Essays e-book, the expert panel audiobook, and companion workbook. This is a $65 value included for free with your purchase.
All credit card payments are processed via PayPal over a secure HTTPS server. Once your payment is processed, you will be immediately redirected back to the essay submission page. There, you will submit your essay along with some biographical info and all suggestions or comments you choose to provide. You will receive immediate confirmation that your essay has been securely transmitted as well as your personal copy of "How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement." Contact [email protected] if you have any questions, comments, or problems - I am available 24/7.
The hourly service includes your original edit and one-on-one time over Google Drive. It is simple to add more time if necessary, but you may be surprised at what a difference just a single edit can make. We find our four-hour service to be the most effective in terms of time for follow-up and full collaboration. We are open to reduced-rate add-ons to suit your individual needs.
Writing and Revision
All writing benefits from rewriting when done well.
When you are in the process of writing a draft of an essay, you should be thinking first about revision, not editing.
What’s the difference?
Revision refers to the substantial changing of text. For example, it may include re-organizing ideas and paragraphs, providing additional examples or information, and rewriting a conclusion for clarity.
Editing, on the other hand, refers to correcting mistakes in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
On all submissions, we perform both revision and editing.
How to submit your PA school essay for the FREE editing service
Follow the rules above and get to work below in the comments section. I look forward to reading all your essay submissions.
- Stephen Pasquini PA-C
View all posts in this series
- How to Write the Perfect Physician Assistant School Application Essay
- The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative
- Do You Recognize These 7 Common Mistakes in Your Personal Statement?
- 7 Essays in 7 Days: PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 1, “A PA Changed My Life”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 2, “I Want to Move Towards the Forefront of Patient Care”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 3, “She Smiled, Said “Gracias!” and Gave me a Big Hug”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 4, “I Have Gained so Much Experience by Working With Patients”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 5, “Then Reach, my Son, and Lift Your People up With You”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 6, “That First Day in Surgery was the First Day of the Rest of my Life”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 7, “I Want to Take People From Dying to Living, I Want to Get Them Down From the Cliff.”
- Physician Assistant Personal Statement Workshop: “To say I was an accident-prone child is an understatement”
- 9 Simple Steps to Avoid Silly Spelling and Grammar Goofs in Your PA School Personel Statement
- 5 Tips to Get you Started on Your Personal Essay (and why you should do it now)
- How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement The Book!
- How to Write “Physician Assistant” The Definitive PA Grammar Guide
- 101 PA School Admissions Essays: The Book!
- 5 Things I’ve Learned Going Into My Fourth Physician Assistant Application Cycle
- 7 Tips for Addressing Shortcomings in Your PA School Personal Statement
- The #1 Mistake PRE-PAs Make on Their Personal Statement
- The Ultimate PA School Personal Statement Starter Kit
- The Ultimate Guide to CASPA Character and Space Limits
- 10 Questions Every PA School Personal Statement Must Answer
- 5 PA School Essays That Got These Pre-PAs Accepted Into PA School
- 7 Questions to Ask Yourself While Writing Your PA School Personal Statement
- 101 PA School Applicants Answer: What’s Your Greatest Strength?
- 12 Secrets to Writing an Irresistible PA School Personal Statement
- 7 Rules You Must Follow While Writing Your PA School Essay
- You Have 625 Words and 2.5 Minutes to Get Into PA School: Use Them Wisely
- What’s Your #1 Personal Statement Struggle?
- 31 (NEW) CASPA PA School Personal Statement Examples
- How to Prepare for Your PA School Interview Day Essay
- Should You Write Physician Associate or Physician Assistant on Your PA School Essay?
- Meet the World’s Sexiest PA School Applicants
- PA School Reapplicants: How to Rewrite Your PA School Essay for Guaranteed Success
- How to Write a Personal Statement Intro that Readers Want to Read
- PA School Reapplicant Personal Statement Checklist
- How to Deal with Bad News in Your Personal Statement
- Inside Out: How to use Pixar’s Rules of Storytelling to Improve your PA Personal Statement
- Ratatouille: A Pixar Recipe for PA School Personal Statement Success
- Personal Statement Panel Review (Replay)
- Mind Mapping: A Tool for Personal Statements, Supplemental Essays, and Interviews
- Start at the End: Advice for your PA School Personal Statement
Patrick Powers says
One of my earliest memories is at summer camp when I was in first grade. I vividly remember a counselor running out of the pool area screaming “help he drowned”, and watching my older cousin sprint to the pool and dive in without hesitation. I was then whisked away by my counselor to the gym where our group watched the ambulance arrive to the scene. The paramedics quickly unloaded a stretcher, ran into the pool area, loaded an unconscious man into the ambulance, and drove away sirens blazing. That day marked the beginning of my dad’s fight against brain cancer, and was the catalyst that sparked my interest in the medical field. My desire to become a physician assistant stems from my father’s battle with cancer, my love for patient interaction, and the flexibility to work in different medical specialties.
Shortly after drowning due to a seizure, my father was diagnosed with grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma and was given 2-3 years to live. My dad is still alive to this day, and is now fighting a second brain tumor after beating the first one during my high school years. He accomplished this amazing feat of survival through a holistic approach to his health, including a combination of drastic diets, exercise, and medicine. Growing up I watched the cancer take an immense toll on him, physically, mentally, and emotionally; and that process ignited my desire to find a career that centers on helping others. I wanted to learn all I could about diseases so I could help my dad, and others like him, to beat these illnesses that hinder them from achieving their highest quality of life. This decision was further supported by my immensely competitive nature, a trait that I got from my dad. When countless doctors told him it was hopeless and that he should say his goodbyes, he refused to give up. This competitive drive and desire to fight through adversity is apparent in my own life through my love of sports. After tearing multiple ligaments in my ankle while playing basketball, I fought through the pain and played only 5 days later to lead my team to victory in a playoff game. When I realized that being a professional basketball player at 5’9” was probably not a reasonable goal, I shifted my competitive drive and keen interest in the human body to the medical field.
As I progressed through college, my fascination with the body and my desire to help others led me to become a personal trainer. This allowed me to study how the body adapts to a variety of stimuli and to develop a personal connection with my clients. My favorite aspect of personal training is becoming friends with my clients, and it is tremendously rewarding to watch their confidence grow as they achieve their goals. From these experiences as a personal trainer, I knew I wanted a career that centers on direct patient interaction. Talking to someone and learning their history, goals, and fears, allows for a more personalized and successful treatment plan that is optimal for that specific patient. This method of increased patient interaction allows for a holistic approach when treating a patient. As a physician assistant, I would employ this strategy in an attempt to treat and heal the whole body, not just a single issue.
My first exposure to the daily life of a physician assistant came while working at a cardiology clinic in College Station, TX, and I very quickly knew that I found the career I had been searching for. They primarily spent their time in clinic interacting with patients, while the doctor split his time between the clinic, the cath lab, and various board meetings. The physician assistants worked as a team with several nurses to evaluate and treat their patients. This team aspect is enticing as I have played sports my entire life, and thoroughly enjoy working with a team to achieve a common goal. Another enticing aspect of a physician assistant is their wide scope of practice, and their training in all specialties of medicine. As a personal trainer, my greatest joy is helping a client who has been fighting knee pain for years, to regain full mobility and enjoy playing sports again. As a stress test technician, I love connecting with my patients and guiding them through a test that might save their life. From these experiences, I have an immense desire to further expand my scope of practice, thus enabling me to diagnose and treat a much wider variety of patients.
My desire to become a physician assistant stems from my family history, the focus on patient interaction, and the ability to switch medical specialties. Physician assistants are essential to the future of healthcare. Their unique training to evaluate the whole body strongly correlates with my belief in a holistic approach to healthcare. I have personally witnessed the success of this approach through watching my father battle brain cancer. As a physician assistant, I would be able to live out my belief in the holistic approach and help my patients live healthier and happier lives.
Whitney Prosperi says
Patrick,
Your opening is compelling and grabs the reader’s attention immediately. Your dad sounds like an amazing and tenacious man who will have ultimately have inspired you to impact many patients.
I would suggest condensing somewhat so you can add more details describing your medical experience and clinical skills.
Also, I would include a patient care story. You may want to elaborate about the patient you helped who recovered from knee pain. Add details that show your ability to connect with patients and how you perform your duties.
Your mention of the teamwork of PAs is effective since that is such a big part of the PA profession.
Also, add a paragraph that details 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 with the supervising physician? How did this experience affect your interest in the PA profession?
I’m not saying you need this, but remember we are taking essay submissions for our revision service should you like more help.
Good luck to you.
Nicole p says
I was enjoying a candlelit Christmas meal with friends and family when suddenly, I felt hot wax seal my eyes shut as a candle fell onto my face. Eight-year-old me was panicked, in pain, and instantly scared for my future. Would I be blind for the rest of my life? Quickly and calmly, my mother and her friend Jonie, both nurses, doused my face in cool water and drove me to the nearest ER. While I’ve since forgotten the details of my care, I distinctly remember that each medical worker involved, including my mother and Jonie, took care of me with tenderness and confidence, making me feel comfortable and supported. I left the hospital the next day with third degree burns on my face, an appreciation for the compassion in medicine, and a desire to follow in my mother’s footsteps as a healthcare professional.
Growing up, I frequented the dialysis center where my mother worked. I became well acquainted with the different roles that healthcare professionals played and discovered the Physician Assistant profession. It attracted me for having just the right level of autonomy, collaboration with other providers, and responsibility for patients. I was especially drawn to the origin of the profession—a clever solution to the increasing need for skilled providers in areas of need. I began my pre-PA journey studying biochemistry and piano performance with a music scholarship, and sought to gain clinical experiences.
To learn about a provider’s thought process, I became a scribe for a pain management doctor. Knowing my aspirations to become a PA, my doctor invited me to contemplate diagnoses for new patients, think of the next steps to take for follow-ups, and debrief these with him. Through this, I grasped what it meant to work collaboratively and have autonomy in practice—PAs have sufficient knowledge and training to make diagnoses on their own, and have the benefit of a supervising physician to seek advice from if needed. With a taste of what it would be like to be a PA, I desired to play a more direct role in patients’ care.
In between scribing, I asked the medical assistants where I could be of extra assistance and quickly learned how to room patients, call in prescriptions, and process blood. When an urgent question arose from our patient about whether she could take aspirin before her Platelet Rich Plasma procedure, I was able to respond immediately due to my additional training. I saw how furthering my medical education allowed me to take greater responsibility for my patients’ care. This experience motivates me to go on to PA school where I can receive solid training in primary care and various specialities, allowing me to serve where the need of the population is.
Eager to learn more, I arranged to shadow several different PAs in my community. Unfortunately, these were cancelled due to the COVID-19 crisis. Determined to find a way around this, I attended PA-C Archana Patel’s virtual shadowing session. I learned that she often was the only provider in the Urgent Care Clinic, being responsible for all the patients that day. It was impressive how vast her knowledge was, having to identify various causes of red-eyes and rashes, and how acute her judgment was in knowing when to send patients to the ER for immediate care. With my willingness to seek advice and continually learn, I knew that being a PA would be suitable for me.
Beyond clinical work, teaching piano for the last eight years has taught me to be a culturally competent provider. Charging a fraction of the average piano lesson price, my studio attracted students from various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Over time, many of these students became like family friends. As a child of first generation immigrants myself, I knew that being a culturally competent mentor was important to recognizing each student’s individual needs. Some students could only afford digital pianos, and we worked around that. Some were interested in playing ethnic music, so I designed a curriculum that would improve their technique and allow them to explore music from their own background. PAs often work in areas with great diversity. My background as a teacher and child of immigrants make me well-suited for this role. I know deep in my heart that being a PA would allow me to impact people in the best way possible, given my compassion, team spirit, and desire to see people’s quality of life improve.
As a piano teacher, scribe, medical assistant, and volunteer, I have interacted with people from many backgrounds and feel confident in being an empathetic and patient-centered provider. As the daughter of immigrants, I’ve witnessed firsthand how medical care can be out of reach for many, and I want to help fill that gap. As a once mortified third-degree burn patient, it would be an honor to be part of a compassionate, understanding, and confident team like the one that was there at midnight on Christmas Eve to care for a little girl whose eyes were sealed shut with wax.
Whitney Prosperi says
Nicole,
Your introduction is effective at grabbing the reader’s attention and showing your early interest in healthcare. Also, what a scary experience that must have been for you. I’m grateful you are okay and that you immediately got the care you needed. I also like how your conclusion ties back to your introduction.
You do a good job of explaining your desire to do more for patients, but I would also include a patient care story that shows you in action providing hands-on care for a patient while also connecting on a personal level. Here, you want to reveal how you perform your duties and what you have to offer patients as a future PA.
One note: physician assistant is not capitalized unless part of a formal title, although PA is.
Good luck to you on your journey.
lexi says
Growing up, I had a profound interest in dentistry. At 8 years old I suffered a traumatic incident, leaving three of my teeth partially attached after mistakenly being kneed in the mouth at my community pool. Trembling with fear, I was rushed to the dentist who suggested immediate extraction of all three teeth. A terrifying experience, yet I felt a profuse sense of comfort during the procedure and relief afterwards knowing that my suffering was over. As I aged, my appreciation for dentistry grew, inspiring my decision to pursue a career in that path. During my college years, my admiration for the field only grew stronger after joining pre-dental groups, engaging in shadowing opportunities, and connecting with other dental students. Further research lead to my realization of how vital an individuals oral health is to their overall systemic health, and I dreamed of the day I could connect with patients and enhance their health.
Leading into my sophomore year of college, my grandmother experienced several attacks of acute diverticulitis eventually leading to colorectal surgery. Unfortunately, she had to return for a second surgery to remove mesh as she started to develop a hernia. Before the procedure, she consulted with the surgeon about removing her gallbladder as recommended by her gastroenterologist due to the presence of gallstones. Following the surgery, my grandmother asked if he had performed the cholecystectomy, and he replied “I held your gallbladder in my hand and it was healthy”. Months afterwards, she continued to experience severe abdominal pain, but she was advised not to worry as her body was just taking longer than expected to heal. Eventually, she scheduled cholecystectomy with a GI specialist as she began to believe her symptoms were related to her gallstones. During the operation, a tumor was identified, growing out of her gallbladder and into her liver. She was devastated to learn the news that she had stage four cancer.
Months before graduating, my beloved grandmother lost her long, painful battle to cancer. Throughout her journey, I witnessed her disease progress, her health decline, and the chain of doctors appointments and further surgeries she had to attend. A strong, faithful woman I had always admired had become faithless. While her experience was wearisome, from that point forward I cherished the doctors who took the time to listen to her, and make a difference in her time remaining on earth. Following this unplanned tragedy, my clear path to dental school had faded as I approached by graduation. My grandmothers experience inspired me to research career paths that would allow me to be an advocate for patients health and promote preventative care. After contemplation of all different options in the healthcare field, I became found of a career as a physicians assistant.
Fortunately, I had the opportunity to start working as a medical scribe at Princeton Sports and Family Medicine to kick-start my experience in the healthcare field. Starting this position in the middle of the pandemic enhanced my ability to anticipate change, learn to adapt quickly, and collaborate effectively with patients and other members of the healthcare team to provide the best patient care. Our office specializes in primary care, sports medicine, physical therapy, and nutrition which has given me the opportunity to work with a diverse population of patients. It has been a pleasure to connect and build relationships with patients, and even more gratifying to hear patients ask “Is Lexi in today”? While interacting with patients, I have dealt with objective behavior more often than expected. Remaining calm, patient, and sympathetic in those situations has allowed me to crack their shell, provide comfort, and allow for a more efficient provider visit.
My passion for becoming a physician assistant was solidified after being provided with with opportunity to work with two different PA’s at our office. While PA’s have less training than doctors, through my observation they have proven to be trusted health care providers that patients and the healthcare team rely heavily upon. Observing patients, and how they improve over the course of weeks and months through the care of our PAs has been unimaginable. One day, I had the privilege of meeting a 22-year-old girl, Kaitlyn. She had been battling severe anxiety and depression after the loss of her mother to cancer, and her brother to suicide within the course of a month. My heart broke for her as her life was put on standby, trying to pick up the pieces in her life. Throughout many appointments with our PA, I watched her transform as she slowly began to find herself again. Each visit efficient and personable, our PA Kaceyanne consistently provided compassionate, and comforting care. The quality and efficiency of care I have personally witnessed provided by PAs in a clinical setting has captured my heart and motivated me to pursue a career as a PA.
Steve Jobs once said, “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do”. As a PA, I hope to be the light at the end of a tunnel for patients and their families. I aspire to be an advocate for patients, someone who they can trust who will always make them feel heard and cared for. One visit could make the difference in a patients life, and as a PA I will always strive to provide the most secure and efficient care to enhance their quality of life. Being a physicians assistant would allow me to live a life of endless opportunities to change patients lives for the better.
Whitney Prosperi says
Lexi,
You do a good job of showing your commitment to helping others. I am sorry about the loss of your grandmother, and I trust her legacy will propel you to make a difference in many lives.
I would suggest condensing where you can so you can include more details about your journey. You want to highlight your clinical skills and experience where possible.
Also, the fact that patients ask for you by name shows your ability to provide connection and exceptional care. I would include a patient care story that shows you in action providing hands-on care and connecting with a patient on a personal level.
I would eliminate the comment about PAs having less training than doctors since you want to stay positive throughout your essay.
You may also want to mention your commitment to collaborate with a healthcare team since this is such an integral part of a PA’s role.
Good luck to you, Lexi.
Sydney says
Although the holidays are a time of celebration for many, not all people are in a position to enjoy the festivities. Each Christmas, my Opa shares the story of the first holiday season he took me to New York City. “I can never forget this Syd,” Opa would say. “Oma and I took you to New York City to see the holiday decorations for your first time. On the subway heading home, you noticed a homeless man in the corner. Without hesitation, you took a candy cane you had in your pocket, walked over to the man, placed it in his lap, and said ‘I hope you have a Merry Christmas’. Every year your small act of kindness helps to remind us of the importance of showing kindness to others, acting selflessly, and being appreciative for what we have.Thank you, Syd, for keeping the spirit of Christmas alive.”
For as long as I can remember, like my natural desire to help this homeless man, I have always genuinely enjoyed caring for others. From my first job as an ocean lifeguard, to my current job as a patient care technician and all those between, I have continuously sought out careers where my main responsibility was to come to the aid of people. I knew this was something I wanted as a part of my long term career and is what prompted me to pursue a profession in medicine. In more recent years, I have discovered my passion for serving those who need help the most, including the homeless and underserved communities, especially when it comes to improving their access to medical care. My experiences in healthcare, which include volunteering in an emergency department, interning on numerous floors of a hospital, and working as a patient care technician, have exposed me to various professions in the medical field. In particular, the physician assistant career has been of interest to me because they play a crucial role in helping bridge the gap in our healthcare system that leaves many poor people and those in rural areas with little access to care. Additionally, a career as a physician assistant will allow me to improve patient satisfaction and enhance the quality of care by collaborating with a team of healthcare professionals.
The physician assistant role was created for the purpose of improving access to affordable healthcare by increasing the number of professionals capable of treating patients. Many people are limited to healthcare access because of the high cost of care as well as the absence of physicians working in underserved communities. Physician assistants are highly qualified professionals who often serve as a primary care provider. Physician Assistants do many of the same things as doctors but perform at a lower cost, which allows more patients to be seen and benefits the healthcare system overall. Furthermore, because of their flexibility to change specialties, physician assistants are able to address the specific needs of their individual communities.
By volunteering in underserved communities, I have had the opportunity to experience for myself just how severe this healthcare access problem is for many people. As a part of the Flying Samaritans club, volunteer staff and medical providers provide free monthly healthcare clinics to a community in Mexico in need of care. Most of the patients who come to the clinic rely solely on this volunteer clinic for their medical needs. We have encountered pregnant women who can’t afford regular check ups, injured patients who are forced to wait for this free clinic to receive care, and patients who rely on essential medications provided by the clinic. It’s upsetting that people are unable to receive the care they desperately need.
Physician assistants are trained to work together with physicians and other medical providers using a team-based approach to coordinate care, maximize the quality of care, and improve patient satisfaction. By joining efforts, physician assistants help alleviate some of the duties of the physician, allowing them to best utilize their skills to focus on more complex cases. As a result, physician assistants can spend more time ensuring that the needs of the patient have been addressed, creating a better healthcare experience overall. My desire to become a physician assistant stems from my wish to care for others. I hope to be a part of improving the access and quality of healthcare worldwide. A physician assistant career is suited to meet these goals due to the ability to provide cost effective care, work in all fields to fill physician shortages, and to work alongside a team of providers enabling the best possible treatment for patients. Overall, a career as a physician assistant will allow me to pursue my passion of serving those in need and dedicate my time to providing high quality care to my patients.
Whitney Prosperi says
Sydney,
Your passion to help others shines throughout your essay.
I suggest condensing where you can so that you can elaborate more on your clinical skills and medical knowledge.
Also, I would include a patient care experience that shows you in action providing clinical care of some kind while connecting with a patient on a personal level. Here, you want to show 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 the PA? The physician? What did you admire about the interactions the PA had with the patients and with the supervising physician? How did this experience affect your interest in the PA profession?
I’m not saying you need this, but remember we are taking submissions for our essay revision service should you like further help.
Good luck to you.
Eliza says
I removed the last square of betadine-soaked gauze setting free the unmistakable scent of bacteria ridden flesh. The diabetic ulcer on the bottom of Miguel’s heel was about an inch in diameter and was getting worse each week. I had just started my job as a Clinical Support Assistant (CSA) at a podiatry clinic when I met Miguel. He was a kind man with a contagious smile. Each week, despite his failing health, Miguel brought positive energy to our clinic. He and I quickly developed a friendship through our shared love of Michigan basketball. One day, Miguel’s positivity was tested when his doctor admitted the only option for his foot was amputation. Miguel nodded his head. I imagined how losing a foot would affect his and his family’s lives. Working in a podiatry clinic has opened my eyes to the great number of people whose lives are negatively impacted by chronic disease, many of them preventable and reversible, such as type two diabetes. Working here not only confirmed my decision to pursue a career as a PA, it also provided me with a clear cut vision of the kind of PA I want to be, and the patient population I wish to help. As a primary care PA, I will work hard to increase patient quality of life through focus on preventative care, chronic care management remission, and by proving to each patient that I care.
My desire to work in healthcare started a when I was young. My mom is a pediatrician, so the idea of becoming a doctor like her was always on my mind. Throughout college I took a rigorous course load of medical school prerequisites. During my junior year in college. I went through a personal health transformation, physically and mentally. It all started with the introduction of resistance training by my sister who played college soccer. She showed me some of the exercises she learned from her strength coach, and just like that, my newfound love for fitness, strength, and most importantly self-improvement, was ignited. I began to push my body to new physical limits, lifting heavier weights, jumping higher, running faster. The progress I made was visible and progression became my goal. To aid my advances in fitness I focused on nutrition, consuming a balanced diet of filled with minimally processed foods. In less than a year, I had lost 15 pounds of fat, and gained 10 pounds in muscle, and a refreshed and enlightened view on health. , my eyes were opened to the idea of becoming a nutrition and fitness coach My view of health transformed from being based on how I looked, to how I felt and performed, and I wanted others to experience the same. To help other students struggling with their fitness, I became a mentor for the University of Michigan Muscle Club. Each week I held personal training sessions for an individual looking to become stronger, mentally, and physically. After an hour of training, we would discuss dietary goals for the week. With my own eyes, I saw the improvement in many of these students. Little did I know I would get just as much, or even more of a sense of accomplishment watching others improve than I did myself. I knew I wanted a career centered around helping others achieve health and fitness goals.
I learned of the PA profession while working as medical scribe at a family medicine office in Ypsilanti, Michigan. I had just recently graduated college and was deciding between a career as a physician, or as a nutritionist and fitness coach. I was placed with Dr. George, an incredibly smart, compassionate physician. Dr. George introduced me to Jacyln PA-C, with whom she worked. Jaclyn briefly explained her role as a PA, and immediately I knew that the PA position aligned with my career interests of preventative health as well as health interventions. I began research on the PA profession on my own, and steps towards becoming one. I quickly learned I would need to work hands on with patients, take the GRE, and take several more prerequisite courses. I found a position working as a CSA in an IHA podiatry clinic and jumped at the opportunity. While continuing to scribe part time, I began working full time as a CSA.
Working directly with patients for the past two years has allowed me to gain skills that will make me a better PA. We see patients of all types with vastly different problems, from limb loss due to diabetes, to plantar fasciitis from too much activity. I have learned how to adapt to individual patient needs. I have also learned what it is to be a team player. For me, that is showing up. In the past two years of working, I have not missed work or called in short notice, and that is because I know I am part of a team which includes physicians, Medical Assistants, and the front staff. We all rely on eachother, and that is apparent when working in a small office with minimal staff. I believe that our best qualities that come natural to us, but those that we choose.
The culmination of my experiences has all brought me to this moment. From mentoring college students in the weight room, to helping people like Miguel who face loss of limb from chronic disease. The common thread is that I want to assist people in making progress towards living healthier lives. As a PA, I want to guide those struggling to set attainable goals. Reaching those goals will provide the confidence to continue setting and reaching small goals.
Whitney Prosperi says
Eliza,
Your introduction paints a great picture of your compassion and desire for patient care and connection.
You also effectively explain your progression to deciding on the PA path. You do a good job of showing your commitment to teamwork and building relationships with patients.
If you have any shadowing experience, I would mention that and how it solidified your decision.
I wish you good luck in the process.
D says
Thanks for taking the time to read my statement. I feel that my statement is weakest in its answering the question “Why PA?”, and I think this is because, one, I have a lot of “backstory” that I’m telling and, two, I made the decision to go for PA instead of doctor only recently. With respect to one, I’m not sure how much of this “backstory” is central to the personal statement itself, even if I strongly feel it’s central to who I am and how I came to medicine generally (though not PA specifically). I’m also over the 5,000 limit. I had a version that was under the limit, but I just recently made some modifications that put me back over.
One very big question I have for my statement (aside from the clarifications above) relates to my opening story about my being in jail. I recognize that this is probably not the appropriate medium to seek legal/professional advice around this issue, and I’m not at all asking for that here. But, I would like to get an opinion if possible about whether it’s prudent to put this in my PS, given that it plays such a crucial role in my personal journey. (For what it’s worth, the incident is legally expunged from my record.)
Personal Statement:
I lie on a cold, hard mattress, powerless to fall asleep. How could I? A man pending for murder charges lay in the bunk above me. In jail, all I could think was, “How did it come to this?”
I was at rock-bottom, the nadir of a years-long downward spiral beginning while living with a parent struggling with drug addiction. A choice presented itself: settle for the familiarity of the life that led me behind bars or reach for something better. The latter would mean to embrace the uncertainty of the future and responsibility for the past.
I reached for something better.
I began by taking an interest in my education, switching majors from undeclared to philosophy. Classmates and I traded ideas and perspectives on diverse and profound issues. We learned together how to think critically and empathize with other’s points of view. A campus tutoring job allowed me to help student-athletes reach a more concrete understanding of abstract philosophical concepts. Life finally began to take on meaning. However, I felt called to make more of a tangible impact on the world, not merely think deeply about it.
An exercise science course introduced me to physical activity, nutrition, and behavior change. First, the class compelled me to take control of my health, then to help others take control of their health. I found my way to personal training post-graduation.
PT was an edifying profession. Memorably, one client tearfully thanked me with one of her characteristic bear hugs for giving her her life back after reaching her weight loss goal. At that moment, I knew I was on a path toward something profoundly fulfilling, that tangible impact for which I was searching; I still write free online programs to this day.
However, being a PT meant being limited in my knowledge and scope of practice. I wanted and felt capable of more. One of my clients, a former pre-med advisor, exhorted me to pursue medical school.
Fast-forwarding one year, I sat slouched, weary-eyed at the desk of a dimly lit hospital room. I was studying for an upcoming Physics exam, next to my newborn son.
Being a working student-parent was difficult, a test of my dedication and determination. Learning how to study and manage my time was critical. That said, I am, without a doubt, a stronger person because of my experiences being a father.
One day, my new role as a father collided with my new role as an ED tech, my first day in the trauma unit no less. A six-year-old child was brought to us by ambulance. A car had run the boy over, and he was in critical condition. We prepared the room, and I prepared myself. My son’s birthday was that upcoming weekend, so the temptation to imagine him being the child on the stretcher was immense.
The EMTs rolled the child into the ER through the sliding glass doors, two on the side of him, one on top giving compressions. A fellow ED tech took over compressions. I hooked the child up to the ECG monitor, oximeter, and blood pressure cuff and handed nurses and physicians whatever they needed (towels, syringes, saline flushes, tubing, etc.). After about ten minutes of team effort, we got back a pulse, and the flight paramedics swiftly airlifted the child to the nearest pediatric hospital.
After comforting the parents, an act that felt both irresistable and natural given my newfound parenthood, I immediately went to the bathroom and cried. After collecting myself, I went back to the nurse’s station.
We had three more codes that day.
The child, I learned the next day, did not survive the flight. The news crushed me, but it forced me to reflect. Could I accept the failure, mystery, and ambiguity of medicine? Patients would die after my best efforts, and I may never know why. I would often have to make life or death decisions based on little information. I reflected on my journey, from the jail cell to my philosophy education, from my experience as a PT, to now ED tech. The self-reflection only strengthened my passion for medicine.
I first heard of the PA profession as a pre-medical student, often in stigmatizing terms. Unfortunately, this stigma delayed my exploration of the profession. But PAs began standing out to me in our hospital through their personable demeanor and human character. I also yearned to start making a larger impact on patients’ lives, and the thought of six or more years between me and that impact deflated my motivation. I started researching and shadowing PAs.
The PA-patient relationship stood out to me most during my shadowing experience. For one, we spent more time together, reminding me of being a PT. This extra time would allow me to, when appropriate, discuss nutrition, exercise, and other preventive health measures with my future patients. Furthermore, the versatility of PAs excites me, given my eclectic interests discovered during my philosophy education. Being able to explore multiple areas of medicine and collaborate with diverse groups of people impassions me. For these reasons, I believe the PA profession is right for me. Because of my nontraditional background and set of experiences, I would bring a unique presence to your program and the PA profession.
Whitney Prosperi says
You do a good job of revealing your passion to intersect a patient’s life and make a difference.
To your question, I hesitate to say include this story. I wonder if opening with that raises questions in the reader’s mind that will distract from the positive aspects of your story – your commitment to patients, school, and fatherhood. Without knowing the whole story I feel like there is a risk of that standing out over who you currently are.
I also think the story about the child coming into the ER and you comforting the parents is such a compelling story that it may make a more effective introduction.
I would suggest eliminating comments about the negative connotations of PAs, as well as your early MD path. You want to stay positive in your personal statement and focus on what qualities will make you an excellent PA.
I would also highlight your experience, clinical skills, and desire for direct patient care.
You do a good job of describing how your shadowing experience solidified your desire to become a PA.
I’m not saying you need this, but remember our editors are available should you wish to use those services.
Good luck to you on your journey!
Dylan Kittrell says
Thank you so much for your comments! I really like the suggestions you made, and I will definitely use them in my editing process.
Mary says
One well known thing about North Carolina summers is that they are sweltering, and this one was no exception. I’m standing in line outside of a food truck when I hear the girl ahead of me say she isn’t feeling well. Her blonde ponytail begins to shift back and forth as she sways from side to side. In an instant she crumbles to the ground as I lunge forward to catch her while she seizes. She slowly regains consciousness while I reach for her hand attempting to provide some comfort and reassurance.
Years have passed and my daily interaction with patients looks very different than reaching for a seizing teenager in a parking lot. The door of the clinic swings open as the bell chimes to announce the arrival of a patient. Gwen is a post op knee replacement on her second week of recovery and I know the moment she walks in the door something is wrong. Her face looks sunken, her eyes are tired, and she gingerly places her left leg down as she puts all her weight through her upper body onto her walker. She struggles to sign in as I take her temperature and go through the COVID-19 questionnaire with her, her hands are shaking and I notice the color drain from her face with each movement she makes. I gently guide her back to an exam table with my hand on her shoulder while making eye contact with her physical therapist, giving him a slight shake of my head with a frown. As we lower her to the table she grabs my hand with surprising strength, trembling from the pain as she begins to flex her knee slightly. I stay with her throughout her session, never letting go of her hand, as I ask her about her grandkids and the trip she is taking with her husband for their anniversary, attempting to distract her from her pain.
This is not one of the more technical roles of my job as lead rehabilitation technician, but it is my favorite. Knowing I am able to provide comfort and support for patients in their time of need is something I look forward to bringing with me to my future profession as a PA. Sitting there holding Gwen’s hand the statement as told to me by a PT, “sometimes your touch is the only human contact a patient will have today, this week, or even this month” flashes through my head. I think back to the girl in the parking lot, I look over at Gwen, and I think of all the other patients I see in a day and I know my perception of what it means to be a good healthcare provider does not rely solely on the clinical aspect of healthcare because for me the empathy, compassion, respect, and understanding I want to convey to my patients along with knowledge and expertise is what has driven me to choose the profession of a PA.
Due to the impacts of COVID I was unable to continue with my shadowing as planned, however after extensive conversations with a pain management PA I met while working, I was able to fully understand the complexities of the role of a PA. The ability to provide quality healthcare through independently assessing patients, collaborating on treatment plans with a doctor, and the ability to execute through the prescription of medication, procedures, or even a referral immediately caught my attention along with the positive energy Shannon was exuding during our conversations. I could instantly connect the dots with my current job, the teamwork, multiple modalities, and the need for both compassion and enthusiasm and see myself in her shoes as I listened to her discuss her typical day and patient experiences.
Working fulltime in healthcare during a global pandemic while completing my undergraduate degree was never something that crossed my mind, I don’t think it would cross anyones mind. Every morning I get up, drive to work through the empty streets, put on my layers of PPE, and then proceed to see around forty patients a day, return home stripping my clothes off to wash on hot, showering, and then sitting down to do hours of school work. I won’t lie, I was scared, I still am at times. There are moments when the anxiety creeps in, the panic bubbles to the top and I feel helpless, scared, and so out of control. Then I stop and pick my head up and realize I am not the only one in the room. Every person in the clinic is scared of facing this unknown, but they are here, and so am I. Proving to myself that I am able to persevere and adapt in the most challenging of circumstances has given me the confidence to know that I will become an outstanding PA one day. I will bring the same sense of determination, grit, and adaptability with me alongside my empathy, respect, and understanding. I now know the simple act of laying a reassuring hand on a patient is not always a guarantee, however I will strive to provide this sense of security and trust no matter the circumstances I am faced with because as a healthcare provider these are the things I value the most.
Whitney Prosperi says
Mary,
Your opening captures the reader’s attention immediately and shows your ability to respond quickly in an emergency.
You do a good job of revealing your compassion for patients throughout your essay.
I would suggest highlighting more of your experience and clinical skills where you can.
Also, in your paragraph about shadowing, you may want to add “more” before fully so that it doesn’t sound like you are saying you fully understand the PA role as a result of your conversation.
I wish you good luck on your journey.
Christian Herbster says
It was just another day in the Intensive Care Unit as a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) student. I had become accustomed to navigating the entanglement of wires and tolerating the continuous dissonance of alarms. However, immediately upon entering this patient’s room, I noticed something was different. There was a whiteboard on the table next to the intubated patient. It had appeared heavily used, stained with remnants of marker ink. Usually, this was how he communicated with the outside world. He was in the end stages of esophageal cancer, and his throat, mouth, and face were so swollen that he could not talk, see or barely hear. He had been swiftly declining in the last few days, and when I met him, he was not able to write to communicate. His only communication with me was thumbs up and thumbs down. I treated him with passive range of motion exercises, which was all he could do at the time. Of course, I was incredibly grateful to be able to serve him in any way, but I could not help but feel a deep, overwhelming feeling of responsibility. I must do more for this patient, I thought. I noticed the Physician Assistant’s in the hospital and other clinical sites I worked in at this time. Shortly after multiple experiences as a PTA, I began to research the PA profession.
My choice to pursue a career in medicine was one I had not expected growing up. I had grown up with little interest or passion for anything. I had an arduous experience early on finding a sense of purpose. I did not have any interest in school and coincidentally did not take any science courses in high school. However, all this changed for me when I enrolled in PTA school. I was allowed the blessing to communicate and provide for those in need. I recognized that medicine has the potential to supply the purpose I had relentlessly searched for all those years. More importantly, I realized that as a health-care provider, I could inspire a sense of purpose in others who need it most desperately. From my first clinical experience, I felt an incredible amount of meaning in helping my patients to a better and more functional life. Early on, however, I realized there was much more I could provide for more patients as a Physician’s Assistant. After researching the profession more, I recognized it was the right choice for me based upon a multitude of reasons and an array of experiences I look forward to in the future. The first thing I look forward to as a PA is to serve, communicate with, and instill purpose in people who may lack proper medical care. I plan to do this through the National Health Service Corps, where recent graduates work as a primary care provider in a health-deficit area, and through humanitarian aid missions with the National Guard, providing medical services throughout the world. Secondly, I look forward to the ability to work in multiple specialties, serving a spectrum of patients. Work-life balance is crucial to me as well, and I believe that as a PA, work-life balance is one of the best within the medical field. Lastly, I hope to give my all to change medicine as I have had personal experiences where I have noticed flaws I would like to address as well.
My interest in emergency medicine developed from an event at Wilkes Barre General Hospital, where I had a clinical as a PTA. Working in the hospital, I had experienced the same emotions through the eyes of the patient I had once faced in my youth, hopelessness, and an opaque perception of a positive future. I had felt a personal connection and a sense of responsibility. There is one event that stands out to be as a defining moment for me. I happened to see the entire process involved in an emergency response event, was when a patient had gone unconscious in my arms as I was transferring him into bed. He was recently out of the ICU, and his heart wasn’t doing well. Immediately, I yelled for the nurses at the station, and an emergency response team was requested urgently. In a few minutes, there was a host of doctors, PAs, and nurses gathered around his bed. I watched, fascinated by the whole process. During this high-intensity moment, I felt a strong sense of clarity, ready to jump into action if I could. Again, just as with my patient in the ICU, I desperately yearned to do more, to be there with the emergency response team, knowing I am doing everything I can for this patient. Later, I found out the patient had gone into supraventricular tachycardia and was promptly transported back to the ICU. A familiar feeling, I was left with a fervid responsibility to do more. Despite my passion for emergency medicine, I recognize the same commitment I have towards saving patient’s lives and returning them to a functional level will also present an obstacle to me. One of my greatest adversities I will face as a PA is the fear of losing or not being able to help a patient. I deal with feeling personally responsible for any negative patient outcome. Regardless of my insecurities, I will not let any personal issues get between me and my ability to provide for my patients. I am confident in my ability to adapt to the situation and continuously grow as a person and provider.
The PA profession appeals to me for an array of reasons. However, one of the main factors that I look forward to is the options within specialty choices. Unlike a physician, a PA can switch professions more seamlessly than a doctor. This option is vital to me as an individual with several aspirations as a PA. As mentioned previously, I look forward to the opportunity to serve those in need through the National Health Service Corps as a primary care PA, especially those within my community who are in need. This experience means a lot to me as someone who grew up in a health-care deficit area, a low-income community, and raised within a single-parent household. I empathize with people who face adversity as a youth and recognize the enormous potential for an incredibly successful turnaround. I spent a semester volunteering with STARS (Students Together Achieving Remarkable Success) at Marywood, where I tutored and mentored Latino-X youth from the Scranton area. This experience has given me insight into the impact an individual can have on younger people who are in need. One of the students I worked with was noticeably shy and anxious around others. Even though we come from different backgrounds and ethnicities, I saw qualities of myself in him. I did whatever I could to help him towards his goals, career aspirations, and achieving whom he aspires to be. It was an extraordinary experience to have an impact on the life of someone with whom I recognized my struggles. I passionately look forward to similar experiences where I can have a positive influence on a patient’s life as a future PA. I had experienced the blessing of hardship throughout my life, and I want to help others see adversity through the same vision.
Humanitarian effort is an idea I have always held a deep interest in, despite my medical pursuit arising only in the past few years. I have always focused on the issues within underdeveloped countries and communities that I believe are important. As a PA, I hope to enlist in the National Guard as an officer and participate in any humanitarian aid missions I can, as well as service to my country. Again, I see the military as an opportunity to pursue my value of leadership. Another aspiration of mine as a Physician Assistant is to work for the United States government in the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure fair, equitable and sustainable medical services to people in need within the United States. Shortly before the coronavirus pandemic had plagued the globe, I signed up to participate in a Medical Mission trip in San Lucas Tolimán through the campus ministry at Marywood University. This trip was an activity I had always wanted to take part in but never expected myself to do. I had not felt prepared, as I was never out of the country at the time. However, when I saw the stand at the activities fair, I rushed to the stand setup without hesitation. I was overwhelmed by a desire to give back to the world that has done so much for me. I was incredibly excited and nervous simultaneously. Unfortunately, the night we were ready to leave, we had been informed by Marywood that they canceled the trip due to cases within the county. I was greatly disappointed, yet the deep feeling I had when I first signed up had not faded, it had only gotten much more vigorous. I have many opportunities I look forward to as a PA, as well as several difficulties that I am ready to face fully. However, this alone presents another potential setback for me.
The final difficulty that I believe I will face as a PA is balancing work and life. I have a multitude of interests, hopes, goals, values, and a strong vision within my future profession as a PA. Since high school, I have feverishly intent on achieving my aspirations in life. I have noticed that it is difficult for me to focus on resting as much as I should. I have created a habit of pursuing productivity each day. I believe my goals and vision are beyond myself, and consequentially I occasionally have trouble keeping my mind from wandering to work during leisure time. This mindset could present an obstacle to me as I may face difficulties such as missing precious time that I could spend with my family instead of working towards my goals. I manage this now by spending time with my girlfriend and family on the weekends after I get out of work, and only focusing on small tasks on those days. Because I view my goals as beyond myself, it is incredibly easy for me to get into a mode where I do not have as much of an interest in resting, even when it is necessary. I desperately yearn to change medicine. I have had negative experiences within my youth, where I had not felt heard by medical providers, and because of this, I had to figure out what was causing my health problems by myself. My main goal as a PA is to guarantee every one of my patients feels cared for and heard. I refuse to settle for less and oath that I will never let what is going on in my life affect the care I provide for my patient. I believe medicine could experience a drastic improvement if we had more providers who were adamant about compassionately and actively listening to their patients, proactively focusing on a more holistic approach. As providers, we should always focus on bringing purpose into our patients’ lives as well as our own.
The medical field has offered me an opportunity to pursue my values in life, giving me a strong sense of purpose. Through my future profession as a PA, I can achieve my goals and live a fulfilling life. Every part of what a PA represents is what I value most. The career allows me not only to garner a sense of purpose in my own life but also to provide a sense of purpose to others. I believe everyone in the medical field should develop their leadership qualities, meaning they should inspire others to be leaders themselves. Whether it is students, other medical providers, family, or patients, we should always aspire to inspire. The multitude of opportunities I look forward to as a PA includes providing humanitarian aid, serving those in communities of need through the NHSC, and serving the protectors of my country. I also hope to change medicine, develop myself as a provider, instill purpose in my patients with a renewed sense of independence and improved function, as well as saving lives in the emergency room. The main difficulties I will face are maintaining a healthy work-life balance and dealing with a strong sense of responsibility to help patients while managing feelings of insecurity over not being able to provide for or losing a patient. I will also deal with occasional feelings of anxiety, that my pursuit of medicine allows me to conquer daily. Overall, the medical field enables me to provide for my patients what it gave to me, a visceral sense of purpose. I yearn for the experience of making a difference in someone’s life, in turn, creating a difference within my own.
Whitney Prosperi says
Christian,
I can sense your desire to help others woven throughout your essay.
You do a good job of showing your volunteer work and desire to make a difference.
I would suggest condensing where you can, word by word. You also will want to eliminate phrases that appear critical of the medical system. You want to remain positive and hopeful throughout your essay and stay away from comments that come across as negative. I would also eliminate much of the discussion about work/life balance.
If you have any shadowing experience I would include that. What about that solidified your desire to pursue this path? Did you observe any interactions between PA/patient or PA/supervising physician that confirmed your decision? If so, briefly describe that.
I would also highlight your clinical skills, experience where you can. Show yourself in action helping a patient while connecting with him/her on a personal level.
Good luck to you.
Mallory says
I am walking down a busy bazaar when I stumble across a rustic gold container that looks suspiciously similar to a genie lamp. My curiosity takes over, forcing me to rub the lamp three times. I stand there in awe as a tremendous genie-like figure floats out from the lamp. He says to me, “I am the genie of this lamp. You’ve awoken me from my deep slumber. As my master, I now grant you three wishes. You can have anything in the world you desire with these wishes.” I’m overtaken by excitement because I already know what my answer is. In fact, I’ve known the answer to this question for a long time. I smile and say to the genie, “Thank you, but I only need one of those three wishes. My one and only true wish is to become a physician assistant.”
My passion for the PA profession took root during my first healthcare class in high school. I was tasked with making a poster presentation on a healthcare career that interested me. Although I knew I wanted to be a part of the medical field since I was a young girl, the task still seemed daunting. Growing up, I lived in a medically underserved community in Northern Michigan. I witnessed first-hand the hardships and strain it put on families, especially those below the poverty line. The lack of basic healthcare providers in my community, as well as surrounding communities, stuck with me in my research for my career presentation. I discovered the PA profession during my research and immediately knew it was my dream career.
In the past two years, I have grown and learned more than I ever thought I would as a certified nursing assistant. Working as a CNA in a skilled nursing facility over the past two years has been a rewarding learning experience. One of the main priorities of my position is to effectively communicate my patients’ needs. Sometimes I am their voice and only advocate. Doing this has allowed me to understand the importance of communication in the PA profession. Effective communication leads to trust, which leads to being able to understand and connect with patients. As a CNA, I learned how to form this important connection and also recognized that it was lacking in my underserved community. As a PA, I will strive to establish this connection and relationship with my patients.
Shadowing experience solidified that there is no other profession in the world I desire more. Witnessing the relationship between physicians and PAs working together, furthered my excitement to begin my career as a PA. I was captivated not only by the partnership between them but also the PA’s ability to work independently simultaneously. Through my undergraduate course work and shadowing experience, I came to love multiple specialties. The opportunity to study and practice various specialties throughout my career is an added bonus. Knowing that I have the opportunity to experience all of this and more solidified my choice that the PA profession was made for me.
When tasked with something, whether it is big or small, I give it my everything in order to be successful. As I offer myself to you as a PA candidate to your program, I bring to the table an unrelenting pursuit for knowledge, compassion, and a belief that the PA profession is one of the best careers in the world. Throughout my journey as a PA, I’ve never lost my path or passion, and I hope that you will allow me to continue my path at your school. I’ve rubbed the gold lamp, and now you’re my genie. You already know my one true wish; it only needs granting.
Whitney Prosperi says
Mallory,
You do a good job of showing how your desire to become a PA developed. You also effectively show what appeals to you about the profession.
I would suggest elaborating on your clinical skills/experience where you can.
Also, I suggest adding a patient care example that shows you in action connecting with a patient on a personal level. This will display some of the qualities you possess that will make you an effective PA.
Good luck to you on your journey.
Madison L says
“I think my brother is sexually abusing my daughter.” The panicked mother stated. “What do I do?” Her eyes welled with tears as she frantically searched my face. I gazed back at her, speechless. I had just started my job as a medical assistant, and this was one of the first families I had taken back alone. Overwhelmed by the gravity of her situation, I took a deep breath. “Everything will be okay,” I replied. “I will let the provider know, and we will work through this. You are not alone.” I offered her a hug, and she accepted, seemingly grateful for any gesture of comfort. I notified the physician assistant (PA) of the encounter, and he took it from there. I left work that day with a new perspective on medicine. It is raw, and often dark; but in people’s most desperate times, they turn to their providers to be a light. This experience perpetuated my desire to pursue a career in medicine, as I watched the provider counsel and support the family. Through interactions like these, I have learned that a life dedicated to healthcare is a life dedicated to advocating for and helping the helpless– a life full of meaning and purpose.
Growing up, I had always known that I wanted to work in the medical field. Science was exciting and came naturally to me, and I loved the idea of working with the human body. In high school, I would spend hours researching different jobs in an attempt to find one that was “just right,” to get a head start on my future. After jumping from surgeon to physical therapist to optometrist, I discovered the PA profession: a career that provides the ability to diagnose, treat, and prescribe, as well as allows for lateral movement between fields and constant teamwork. I was sold.
To gain more knowledge of the profession, I shadowed two PAs in college. By doing so, I was able to view first-hand the critical thinking and compassion that is required of a PA. I watched the PAs build trust with their patients and rely on their rapport and extensive training to formulate a personalized health plan for each individual. I am excited to implement their practices into my career— attention to detail, positivity, and willingness to collaborate with other PAs and doctors in order to provide exceptional healthcare.
The foundation for becoming a lifelong team member was laid early in my life, as I had played competitive soccer throughout my adolescence. At a young age, I learned the importance of resilience and hard work for the betterment of a team. As my passion for soccer led me to play at the collegiate level, I became more acquainted with disappointment and the challenges that came with being a student athlete. My team had made it to the NCAA final four round. Together, we sacrificed much by taking exams on the road, missing classes, and being away from our families during the holidays. We had trained relentlessly, and felt prepared to win the national championship. However, when game time came, we lost. Even though we did everything we could, we were unsuccessful. I have found that medicine is much like soccer. You can do everything in your power to treat and educate a patient. You can use all of your knowledge and training, but the outcome may still be abysmal. However, you keep going. You keep doing your best to become a better person and team member in hopes of making an impact in the future.
Seeking more purpose in college than playing soccer, I started a club that was dedicated to serving our classmates and community through Fellowship of Christian Athletes. One night, while delivering Christmas presents to low-income families, a woman approached me and held my hand. She tearfully said, “there are so many things you college kids could be doing tonight, but you are giving my children a night they will remember forever. I cannot thank you enough.” Because of volunteer experiences like these, I have learned that my life is nothing but an opportunity to help others and bless them in any way I can.
Now, while working as a medical assistant in a pediatric clinic, I find my love for medicine, service, and teamwork coalesce. As a result, my passion for becoming a PA grows daily. Although I enjoy administering vaccines, taking vital signs, and helping providers with minor procedures, I continually find myself yearning for more. Instead of being the one performing a hemoglobin screen, I want to be the one who discusses the results with the patient and explores solutions if anemia or hemochromatosis are indicated. Each day, I long to dive deeper into medicine and to, one day, educate and work with patients to achieve holistic health. I am ready to continue learning about medicine and grow my skills to become a patient-centered provider.
As a PA, I will make my patients my priority and use my education and abilities to give a voice to the voiceless. I will advocate for those who feel lost, and commit myself to educating individuals and families on how to achieve total health. I look forward to being a part of a healthcare team, and growing as an individual, in hopes that, someday, I too, may be a light.
Whitney Prosperi says
Madison,
Your essay is very strong.
Your opening shows your compassion and ability to connect with patients.
You do a good job of showing your desire to do more for patients throughout while also revealing your clinical skills and why this is a good fit for you.
I also like how you describe your journey of deciding on the PA profession.
Lastly, you effectively show your ability and desire to work on a team.
Good job here and good luck to you!
Kellie Wydrinski says
A calm Thursday morning in the NICU turned into a chaotic afternoon as a nurse raced me to the ER after I doubled over in pain. After waiting for what felt like hours for medicine, nurse Lindsey started an IV and distracted me from my stabbing pain long enough to learn that we attended the same school. As our conversation flowed, I was smiling and laughing despite my pain and didn’t realize that it had subsided until Lindsey asked me about it. Morphine healed the physical pain, but Lindsey healed the emotional pain. She made me her priority and was my advocate when I could not be my own. This experience piqued my interest in healthcare and inspired my mission to advocate for my future patients as Lindsey did for me.
My mission led me to Mercer University, where I first learned of the PA profession and began working as a CNA to learn about patient care. I became more compassionate and empathetic and formed close relationships with residents by spending time with them each morning and caring for them in ways more than physical. I brought Johnny coffee as she told me about her daughter. I fixed Shirley’s unicorn comforter while she told me to avoid boys. I styled Cecil’s beard and hair while he told me about being a pastor. Through these conversations, I learned to actively listen and used this skill to care for residents in new ways. From coaching Judy through panic attacks to helping Cecil look his Sunday best, I became my residents’ best advocate by validating their feelings and reassuring them that I was listening. As I talked Judy through anxiety attacks about her son in jail, I realized my strengths of compassion and guiding others through difficult times. As a CNA, I learned accountability, time management, empathy, and the value of communication. My experience taught me how to be a patient advocate, and I am eager to continue in this role as a PA.
I confirmed my passion to be a PA by shadowing Kristen, a GI PA. I admired Kristen’s commitment to lifelong education and that she challenged herself to gain new knowledge to better serve her patients. Witnessing Kristen practice showed me why a focus on patient connection is essential as a PA. During an appointment with Emily, a discouraged mom of four with Chron’s, I watched as Kristen listened patiently and validated Emily’s feelings. I felt Emily’s lost hope as I too struggled with GI issues for years without relief. Listening to Emily recount feeling exhausted, depressed, and alone in her illness, I empathized with her and remembered similar feelings during my own illness. As Kristen navigated Emily through a vulnerable time by suggesting therapy resources and how to adapt to living with Chron’s, I watched Emily’s tears dry and her breathing slow. In that moment, I modified my understanding of a PA to include a patient advocate who is with her patients every step of the way. I admired how Kristen supported Emily in her illness and never gave up on her. Kristen’s approach encompassed what I desired to accomplish in my career and solidified why the PA profession is for me. As a PA, I will use my strengths to carry out my goals of patient advocacy and lifelong education.
Mercer on Mission: Peru further prepared me for PA school. Our team interviewed natives to investigate gold mining’s effect on community health. As a novice Spanish speaker, I was out of my comfort zone but became a skilled communicator by listening for and using common phrases and communicating through non-traditional means. I showed natives our instruments and used gestures to explain concepts. Through group outings and discussions, I learned how to work in a team, adapt to new situations, and resolve conflicts. During an interview with Cori, a doctor, I learned about access to healthcare and how cultural differences influence healthcare. For example, Peruvians often misconstrue mental illness as physical, and I admired Cori’s commitment to educating about mental illness. As Cori described Serums, a preventative healthcare educational program she started, I was captivated by her mission to bring quality healthcare to a town of part-time doctors in an office without floors or lights. Cori was an advocate for her town and inspired me to serve my community with a focus on healthcare education. My trip to Peru highlighted global healthcare disparities and taught me the value of access to quality healthcare, especially in medically underserved communities.
If you asked me after I left the ER about my experience, I would say that my nurse made me feel better. However, if you ask me now, I would say that experience was foundational to my future because it encouraged me to seek a rewarding career as a PA. My experiences in patient care, volunteering, and shadowing have confirmed my strengths and shown me how the PA profession will help me reach my goals. My mission is to serve my community as a patient advocate, and I am ready to continue my passion for patient care in my new role as a PA.
Whitney Prosperi says
Kellie,
You are off to a strong start.
You do a good job of showing your motivation to become a PA.
I would suggest spotlighting the clinical skills and knowledge you’ve gained so we can see what will make you a stronger PA student. I would also make sure you mention collaboration with team members since it is such an integral part of the PA’s role.
I wish you good luck on your journey.
Keyara Allen says
“The two most important days of your life is the day you were born and the day you find out why.” A quote by Mark Twain once caused me to wonder why I was born and what my purpose in life is. Although I grew up in an affluent neighborhood, I am from a low-income family and lived in a home paid by Chicago Housing Authority with a mother who did not complete high school. I fell in love with basketball and it became my dream to play in the WNBA to provide a better life for my family. My promising sophomore year of high school, I tore my right ACL and my career has not been the same since. I’d heard so many negative comments about the injury as an athlete that I instantly began to grow a thicker skin to the scrutiny. However, once classmates directed those negative comments towards me while crutching through the halls, my attempts to disregard the negative thoughts failed. Once I was evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon, and officially diagnosed with a torn ACL, the hope that I had for a basketball career nearly diminished. A few months later, after a repair surgery and extensive rehab, I was cleared to play basketball again. Hearing the doctor say “looks good! You can play again” ignited a new feeling inside of my heart. This feeling was hope. After months of uncertainty and doubt, I felt hopeful again. From that very moment in the doctor’s office, I knew that the feeling of hope was one that I would never forget and a feeling that I would love to pass on. At that moment, I knew that my new passion was to enter the medical field and give others the same hope that my orthopedic surgeon gave me at the age of 15. This day in my orthopedic surgeon’s office is the day that I found out “why”.
Although my initial interest in the medical field began in high school, I was unprepared in college. I entered college as a first-generation student without much guidance to my career path. Nevertheless, the errors I made in college were mainly due to being irresponsible and focusing on fun in the present rather than building credentials or preparing for a career in the medical field. Since receiving my degree in German studies, I have continued my education to focus completely on medical sciences. Since then, I have matured into a student with scholarly accomplishments such as joining the national honors society at the Saint Xavier University as well as earning a 4.0 GPA during my first semester as a transfer student. Not only have I improved academically, I have gained more knowledge and experience in the medical field since then as well. Once my interest in the medical field heightened, I began to research and attempt to gain actual experience. The first time I experienced medicine as a learning experience occurred while studying abroad in Vienna, Austria. During this time, I had the opportunity of shadowing in the Austrian emergency department. Not only was I able to shadow the head doctor, I occasionally assisted the medical team with small tasks such as applying casts to patients. Although I was doing something so simple, I knew that these simple acts helped the patients, which was the greatest thrill of all. Upon graduating, I was offered a job as an emergency medical scribe. Working as an emergency medical scribe was the most influential learning experience I have received.As I continued to research medical field careers, I quickly became interested in the benefits of becoming a physician assistant in an orthopedic setting. To gain patient care experience, I have worked as a physical therapy tech as well as a patient care assistant in an assisted living home. Throughout each shift, I was able to see those sparks of hope in the people that I was helping. As a physical therapy tech, I noticed the glow of patients once they were able to complete a task that their injury once caused them issues with. This experience was relatable and extremely satisfying since the patients felt that I had impacted them just as much as I felt they impacted and motivated me.In the assisted living home, I often watch the abilities of the elderly or dependent decline. However, neither the residents nor I lose hope. Each day, a resident strives to complete tasks independently or with as little help as possible. Observing the hopeful look on the resident’s families faces when they visit makes the shift worthwhile despite any difficulties or frustrations that may occur. My understanding of the physician assistant profession was assembled during my time working as an emergency medical scribe. In the emergency department, I spent 8 hours observing physician assistants and in the immediate care center, I spent 11 hours next to a PA listening to their thought processes while learning from them as well as the doctor that I was scribing for. The trait that I admire most about PAs is their dedication to their patients. The entire 11 hours of every shift, I observed the physician assistant searching for ways to improve their patient’s conditions. Although all professions have times of frustration, the single most impressive thing that I admired about working with physician assistants was how welcoming and personable they were to each and every patient. Reoccurring patients would often energetically greet the PAs by first name as soon as they entered the room. After extensive research and working aside a PA, becoming a PA allows me to deliver the same hope and one on one treatment that I received but in various specialties. For a few years of my life now, I’ve known the “why” in Mark Twain’s quote. I was born to instill hope into others, and I intend on doing that by becoming a physician assistant, then helping struggling students with their process into the medical field as well. I desire to be able to tell my story of how I transitioned from a struggling first-generation student into a successful physician assistant someday.
Whitney Prosperi says
Keyara,
You are off to a good start.
I would suggest condensing where you can so you can add more detail about what speaks to you about the PA profession. (potential for more time/content with patients? balance between autonomous responsibility and working with a supervising physician and other providers? collaboration with a healthcare team?)
I would also recommend moving your grade discussion to the second to last paragraph of your essay. This allows you to set up the positive aspects of your experience first and it’s where schools are used to seeing it.
Good luck to you, Keyara.
Keyara Allen says
“The two most important days of your life is the day you were born and the day you find out why.” A quote by Mark Twain once caused me to wonder why I was born and what my purpose in life is. Although I grew up in an affluent neighborhood, I am from a low-income family and lived in a home paid by Chicago Housing Authority with a mother who did not complete high school. I fell in love with basketball and it became my dream to play in the WNBA to provide a better life for my family. My promising sophomore year of high school, I tore my right ACL and my career has not been the same since. I’d heard so many negative comments about the injury as an athlete that I instantly began to grow a thicker skin to the scrutiny. However, once classmates directed those negative comments towards me while crutching through the halls, my attempts to disregard the negative thoughts failed. Once I was evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon, and officially diagnosed with a torn ACL, the hope that I had for a basketball career nearly diminished. A few months later, after a repair surgery and extensive rehab, I was cleared to play basketball again. Hearing the doctor say “looks good! You can play again” ignited a new feeling inside of my heart. This feeling was hope. After months of uncertainty and doubt, I felt hopeful again. From that very moment in the doctor’s office, I knew that the feeling of hope was one that I would never forget and a feeling that I would love to pass on. At that moment, I knew that my new passion was to enter the medical field and give others the same hope that my orthopedic surgeon gave me at the age of 15. This day in my orthopedic surgeon’s office is the day that I found out “why”.
Although my initial interest in the medical field began in high school, I was unprepared in college. I entered college as a first-generation student without much guidance to my career path. Nevertheless, the errors I made in college were mainly due to being irresponsible and focusing on fun in the present rather than building credentials or preparing for a career in the medical field. Since receiving my degree in German studies, I have continued my education to focus completely on medical sciences. Since then, I have matured into a student with scholarly accomplishments such as joining the national honors society at the Saint Xavier University as well as earning a 4.0 GPA during my first semester as a transfer student. Not only have I improved academically, I have gained more knowledge and experience in the medical field since then as well. Once my interest in the medical field heightened, I began to research and attempt to gain actual experience. The first time I experienced medicine as a learning experience occurred while studying abroad in Vienna, Austria. During this time, I had the opportunity of shadowing in the Austrian emergency department. Not only was I able to shadow the head doctor, I occasionally assisted the medical team with small tasks such as applying casts to patients. Although I was doing something so simple, I knew that these simple acts helped the patients, which was the greatest thrill of all. Upon graduating, I was offered a job as an emergency medical scribe. Working as an emergency medical scribe was the most influential learning experience I have received.As I continued to research medical field careers, I quickly became interested in the benefits of becoming a physician assistant in an orthopedic setting. To gain patient care experience, I have worked as a physical therapy tech as well as a patient care assistant in an assisted living home. Throughout each shift, I was able to see those sparks of hope in the people that I was helping. As a physical therapy tech, I noticed the glow of patients once they were able to complete a task that their injury once caused them issues with. This experience was relatable and extremely satisfying since the patients felt that I had impacted them just as much as I felt they impacted and motivated me.In the assisted living home, I often watch the abilities of the elderly or dependent decline. However, neither the residents nor I lose hope. Each day, a resident strives to complete tasks independently or with as little help as possible. Observing the hopeful look on the resident’s families faces when they visit makes the shift worthwhile despite any difficulties or frustrations that may occur. My understanding of the physician assistant profession was assembled during my time working as an emergency medical scribe. In the emergency department, I spent 8 hours observing physician assistants and in the immediate care center, I spent 11 hours next to a PA listening to their thought processes while learning from them as well as the doctor that I was scribing for. The trait that I admire most about PAs is their dedication to their patients. The entire 11 hours of every shift, I observed the physician assistant searching for ways to improve their patient’s conditions. Although all professions have times of frustration, the single most impressive thing that I admired about working with physician assistants was how welcoming and personable they were to each and every patient. Reoccurring patients would often energetically greet the PAs by first name as soon as they entered the room. After extensive research and working aside a PA, becoming a PA allows me to deliver the same hope and one on one treatment that I received but in various specialties. For a few years of my life now, I’ve known the “why” in Mark Twain’s quote. I was born to instill hope into others, and I intend on doing that by becoming a physician assistant, then helping struggling students with their process into the medical field as well. I desire to be able to tell my story of how I transitioned from a struggling first-generation student into a successful physician assistant someday
Mackenzie L Kirkwood says
I was 17 years old when I was sitting in an orthopedic surgeons office and the medical assistant told me that they were finally going to move forward with the decision to do exploratory surgery on my shoulder. I had been to many doctors, had numerous scans, and even cortisone shots to relieve the pain I felt every day for months on end. I had some doctors tell me there was nothing that could be done and the scans didn’t show any kind of tear or damage. I was so discouraged and starting to feel like no one would believe how real the pain was. The one surgeon took the time to do what the others didn’t and that was listen to me. He had little concern for my parent’s opinion or even the numerous scans that didn’t show anything. I knew at that point that I wanted to work in the medical field to help patients the way the surgeon helped me.
Physicians Assistant is the career I have wanted to pursue for years. I have been a valuable team member in many jobs and becoming a PA will be no different. It is appealing to me that I will work on a team of skilled PAs and doctors to give patients a well-rounded diagnoses and ultimately better patient care. I am currently an emergency medical technician for an ambulance company and I have learned have valuable a well-rounded team can be in the medical field. When you work on an ambulance you and your partner work together to treat the patient within your scope of practice, gather information about the patient’s medical history, and make the decision on whether that patient needs higher levels of medical interventions. The ability to work together with your partner in the benefit of your patient is the most important skill you can have in the prehospital setting. This is why I feel that becoming a PA is the best fit for me and where I can give the best patient care.
I have worked hard for many years and are often described as a determined and focused individual. Academics have not always been easy for me, and I have struggled to stay hopeful. I feel like to be a good healthcare professional it is not always about the paper resume. I think being able to stay motivated and know how to handle situations that don’t come naturally to you is just as important. In college I worked part-time, and managed to be a full-time student at the same time. This resulted in a lower GPA, but I don’t feel like that is an accurate representation of who I will be if I should be admitted into PA school. I believe my determination and hard-work can make up for where my natural academic abilities are weak. I am determined to keep bettering myself, my medical experience, and my achievements in order to become the best PA I can be and give every patient the highest level of care possible.
Whitney Prosperi says
Mackenzie,
You are off to a good start.
I would add a patient care example from your work as an EMT. Show yourself in action while also connecting with a patient on a personal level. You also want to highlight your clinical skills and medical knowledge here.
I would also add a paragraph that describes your shadowing experience. What have you observed from shadowing/observing PAs? Describe an interaction between patient/PA or supervising physician/PA that affirmed your decision to become a physician assistant. (singular physician assistant- not physicians assistant :))
I think it is wise to highlight your commitment to teamwork and would also elaborate on other elements of the profession that speak to you. (more time/connection with patients, etc.)
Good luck to you.
Daniel says
Whether directly or indirectly, the life circumstances we find ourselves in are a result of all the decisions we’ve made up to that point. We often defer blame for our misfortunes on external factors rather than looking at how our actions contributed to them. Undoubtedly, the choices available to you are determined by your background to an extent, but depending on how you make them, you can achieve your goals.
In 2018, I was so determined to buy a new car that I was willing to work 60 hours per week while in school to do it. During that time, I also decided that I wanted to pursue a career in medicine. My mom battled with cancer throughout my high school and early college years, and the team that treated her deeply inspired me. But since the concept of a ‘career’ seemed so distant, I couldn’t see how the decisions I made at the time could impact my ability to achieve that goal. As a result, I struggled academically. I didn’t struggle because I worked too many hours or because my ADHD made it harder to focus; I struggled because I made poor choices. I felt that all I needed to do was make a few substantial steps in the right direction, which included becoming a medical scribe, rather than make a consistent effort all around.
When I saw the link between my future career and the choices I made, I began actively working toward realizing my goal; my focus sharply turned to excel academically, which came at the expense of selling the car I worked so hard to attain. Additionally, I no longer saw being a medical scribe as a means to an end, but rather, an end in itself. Working in urgent care, I noticed that teamwork is an integral part of medicine. Each team member played a role in making the facility function as a cohesive unit, and sometimes that meant scribes would do things outside of charting. Often, this included point-of-care testing, interviewing and vitalizing patients, or even assisting with a laceration repair. The importance of role fluidity was abundantly apparent in every position on the team. But, more profoundly, being a scribe showed me that medicine is full of gray areas; nothing is ever black or white. A clinician must interpret clinical information and apply it to the social, physical, and mental nuances in each patient, narrow their differential accordingly, then formulate a treatment plan that changes their patient’s life for the better.
While working as an ED scribe, many homeless patients came to us not because they needed large carbuncles or fungal skin infections treated; they came to us because we were the last option they had for shelter that night. I want to be one of the practitioners to see past the acute pathology of their patients to provide care that considers the social implications related to their state of health. The unique way with which each clinician blends the abstract nature of humanity, critical thinking, and concrete science is what makes the practice of medicine an art form, and also what I love about the field. Moreover, the ability to take this approach and apply it in multiple specialties concurrently is what attracts me to pursuing the Physician Assistant profession.
I find great joy in new experiences; they allow me to view things from different perspectives. One of my favorite things to do is drive, especially on twisty roads. Driving, like medicine, is an art. The open road is my canvas; the brakes, steering, and throttle are the tools I use to convey my emotions. When I decided to start doing automotive photography, I saw that I could express what I feel while driving in a way that others could see. And when I moved into portraiture, I gained a new perspective. Here, I could see what I was feeling emulate from another person, then capture that emotion.
Likewise, with my background based heavily on acute care, when I began working with a plastic surgery PA, my perspective shifted here, too. In this specialty, the HPI’s take care to explain how a patient’s cosmetic defects make them feel, which highlights similarities between a clinician and their patients. While triaging patients on my shifts in urgent care, I often allowed this mindset to spill into the interview process. Connecting with those in need on a human level builds a level of trust that just isn’t possible otherwise. This trust element makes a patient more likely to divulge pertinent information that I could then pass on to the PA I was working with, often causing a change to their treatment plan. When people feel understood by the team caring for them, their outcomes are much better.
The horizontal flexibility inherent to the PA profession makes it easy to gain varied experiences that allow one to approach a case from different perspectives, which I think can lead to more compassionate and holistic care across more than one specialty or community. It also allows for a level of personal growth that is unlike any other medical profession. That is why I firmly believe it would be the most fulfilling career path for me.
Whitney Prosperi says
Daniel,
You are off to a good start.
I would suggest moving the section about your grades to later in your essay in order to highlight the positive aspects of your experience first. Schools are accustomed to seeing this information in the paragraph before the conclusion.
For your introduction, you may want to more clearly explain a “lightning-bolt” moment that set you on the PA path.
Condense where you can so you can leave room to discuss your work experience and clinical skills.
Also, I would include a patient care story in your essay. You want to show yourself in action providing clinical care. This will show what you have to offer patients as a future PA. You may want to mention collaboration since this is such an integral part of the PA’s role.
If you have any shadowing experience, elaborate on that. What did you observe in patient/PA interactions or supervising physician/PA interactions that affirmed your decision.
For your conclusion, I would reiterate why you want to be a PA, your desire for increased time/responsibility for patients, and connect back to your introduction in some way.
Good luck to you!
alex says
hi there, thanks so much for reading, and for your amazing resources!!
She’s in the ambulance for approximately four minutes before her eyes roll to the back of her head. The next 30 seconds are almost a blur; her CPAP mask is practically ripped from her face and my paramedic lowers the gurney while tossing me a BVM.
“She’s desatting. We need to intubate. Do you remember how to use this?” His words register, but my mind is moving in slow motion. Wordlessly, I place a seal over my patient’s mouth before squeezing the bag. Like a duck hand. Count to five. I’m in week one as an EMT. Such calls are a regular occurrence in Las Vegas, but for someone whose medical knowledge stemmed purely from EMT classes and college anatomy, this was a whole new ballpark. This patient is dying, and I need to breathe for her – now. I recuperate and continue bagging the patient while the rest of the crew flies around me to complete treatments. Following the call, my preceptor praised my sense of composure; it was the first compliment I had received since the start of my internship, and in turn, the first sign that I was in the right place. It’s situations like these I look back on to realize that work was the impetus for my transformation as a provider. Knowing I was fully within my scope of abilities to actually impact a life in an emergency situation gave me affirmation that I’m on the right track to becoming a physician assistant.
An intense curiosity for the human body that was always present in my youth propelled me to study neuroscience in college. This decision almost certainly stemmed from watching someone as headstrong as my 70-year-old grandma transfigure into an amalgamation of disjointed memories following a hemorrhagic stroke. She was my grandma, but she wasn’t. Daily routines turned into full efforts from my family; feeding, bathing, even trying to have a conversation became strenuous and disheartening. And always, at the back of my mind – How can life change so instantly? An eerily similar situation followed in my second year of college, when a close friend went into cardiac arrest during what was supposed to be an exploratory surgery and returned in a vegetative state. In an attempt to make sense of these losses, I sought out education. In hindsight, it’s clear that my almost obsessive pursuit for insight translated into advocacy for good patient care. Had my family known what neurological deficits follow a stroke, perhaps we could have prepared better for its consequences. Had I known the potential outcomes for my friend, perhaps I could have advocated for her. Due to these events, I now have a sense of duty to myself and others to educate and apply.
That period of time, as difficult as it was, was a blessing in disguise. It was the first time I was forced to step back to reassess myself and my goals in life. This was when I finally understood how imperative my education was to achieve my goals. While my grades initially suffered, I gained a renewed discipline for school, succeeding in my later years. I look back at my struggles in college and take them in stride, as I was able to come out of them with an appreciation of what I can persevere through and with a newfound tenacity to serve those who have dealt with similar hardships.
Earning my bachelor’s degree laid my foundation, however my times in the field were what empowered me to continue my journey to become a PA. In truth, working as an EMT/ER technician exposed just how little I actually knew about healthcare. In childhood, my only perspectives of medicine were from romanticized TV shows (read: House, Grey’s Anatomy) and an occasional word from my grandpa, a long-retired nurse. The economic disparities, the lack of public medical knowledge, the sometimes-blatant prejudice and racism towards patients or providers – these realities were all new to me. Rather than discouraging me from pursuing further, these experiences have only emboldened me. I am compelled to apply myself further due to my intimate work with underserved populations such as the homeless, and I do not shy from necessary discussions of discrimination in healthcare, as I have witnessed and dealt with them firsthand. Naturally, the next step is to further my education and increase my platform to provide.
My times in healthcare humble me every day. The transitions from being a student, working as an EMT and now an ER tech were smooth; I’ve been able to apply these experiences to become an efficient and compassionate provider. By being aware of the current obstacles in healthcare, I’m able to be smarter about my future treatments in addition to considering creative ways to help disadvantaged patients. It further excites me to know that as a future PA, I will play a major role in treatment plans while maintaining an open line of communication with my patients. Through my triumphs and failures, I’ve focused on an upward trend, with a singular emphasis on achieving the privilege of being a PA.
Whitney Prosperi says
Alex,
You are off to a good start.
Your introduction does a great job of showing you in action caring for a patient while remaining composed in a stressful situation.
I would suggest elaborating more on what specifically draws you to the PA profession. Is it the opportunity for more time/contact with patients? The ability to collaborate with a healthcare team and supervising physician?
Also, if you have any shadowing experience, elaborate on that. What did you witness in interactions between PA/supervising physician or PA/patient that confirmed your desire to become a PA?
Good luck to you in the process!
Tiffany Davis says
It’s ten o’clock at night, and another long day of work finally came to an end. My day began at 11:00 AM, providing treatment and rehabilitation, covering basketball, baseball, softball, cross-country practices and a volleyball game, and finally, after completing injury reports for the day, I could let out a sigh of relief. Serving as the Head Athletic Trainer (ATC) for Claflin University for four years, this was routine; however, this night was different, prompting a ball of emotions, releasing tears running down my face. Apprehension and dissatisfaction surfaced, causing me to wonder, “Is this what I will be doing for the rest of my life? If not, what else?” My love and commitment to Claflin was robust, but I reached a glass ceiling, and was burning out of fuel necessary to fulfill my responsibilities as their Athletic Trainer. I was searching for something more profound; desiring to achieve more as an individual, but even more as a healthcare provider. Then, the perfect opportunity arose for an ATC/Cast Technician for Albert Einstein Healthcare Network’s regional orthopedic office (EHN) in Philadelphia, PA. Though no casting experience, I was hired for the job, and ready to exhibit how easily I adapt to my surroundings, especially involving my passion for healthcare. The joy of practicing in a new setting stimulated a sense of achievement; yet, more importantly, my pursuit on becoming a Physician Assistant, whom should encompass empathy, determination, unwavering commitment, yet welcoming the unforeseen. As a kindhearted person who deflects the attention to others, I know my passion lies in medicine. My devotion to ease the pain of others is unconditional and sincere, yielding perseverance to construct a resolution. The anticipation of unexpected circumstances sparks exhilaration for critical thinking and planning.
Moving out of state to Philadelphia was the change I craved that would enhance my skillset as a healthcare provider, while offering work-life balance. The routine of a traditional athletic trainer became monotonous, and after four years, my fire was slowly burning out. Philadelphia offers a range of schools for medical professionals, which was one of the main reasons for my transition to the city. I knew I wanted to return to school, it was the profession of choice that was puzzling. In search of stable work hours and exposure to various medical professionals, the clinical setting was the perfect fit, which led to a new job opportunity at EHN as an Athletic Trainer/Cast Technician. It’s valuable to work amongst other healthcare professionals and be formally linked in their unanimity. Shortly after assuming my role, I mastered casting techniques, but then desired to undertake more administrative responsibilities, leading to lateral advancement as an Athletic Trainer directly assisting a Physician Assistant. Though I love the role I assumed, I strongly desire to be “the” Physician Assistant providing care, and my professional evolution ensures I am capable of achieving that aspiration.
Initially making a big transition to a new area and starting a new job was nerve-wracking, but soon invigorating and self-empowering, reminding myself I can accomplish any goal set before me. I conquered the climate change, established new working and personal relationships, and most significantly, revived old hobbies I could not manage while working for Claflin. The change re-energized my motivation personally, professionally, and academically. I developed a new understanding of who I am, what I aspire to become, why it aligns with me, and how I intend to make it happen. An Athletic Trainer is who I am, but I aspire to become a Physician Assistant, allowing more fluidity as a healthcare provider, further, expanding my range of specialty practice. My academic improvement and experience will make this vision a reality. As an undergraduate, academics was not my strongest, but upon attaining my Master’s in Business Administration, and excelling in recent courses, I have confidence it will not hold me back from success in PA school.
After recollecting on my move to Philadelphia, assessing my skills as an Athletic Trainer, and honing-in on my strong characteristics, I have never been more confident that a physician assistant is who I am destined to become. Living in the City of Brotherly Love has been an unforgettable, life-changing decision that fostered personal growth as I stepped out of my comfort zone seeking self-improvement. Though saddened to leave my biological and Claflin family, I admit starting a new life and career in Philadelphia was the push I needed to achieve holistic growth. Although it may have taken some time reach this point, I am excited to take a step out on faith again and accept the new challenges before me on my journey to become a Physician Assistant. Ultimately, I have genuine appreciation for who South Carolina raised me to be, but more grateful for who Philadelphia has encouraged me to become.
Whitney Prosperi says
Tiffany,
Your desire to help others is shown throughout your essay.
I would suggest condensing your introduction where you can. This will leave room for you to add some more elements to your essay.
I would add more details about what appeals to you about the physician assistant role. Is it more time/contact with patients? The ability to switch specialties? The ability to work with a supervising physician yet have autonomous responsibilities?
I would also include a paragraph that describes any shadowing experiences. What did you admire about the interactions between the supervising physician/PA? PA and patients? How did this confirm your decision to pursue the PA path?
I would include a patient care story that shows you in action providing clinical care of some kind. Show yourself connecting with a patient on a personal level while highlighting your desire to do more for patients in the future. You want to show what you have to offer as a future PA.
In your section where you address grades it would be wise to briefly explain what resulted in lower grades and how you improved them. You want to show that you will continue that trend in a rigorous PA program.
In your conclusion, I would reiterate your desire for collaboration with a healthcare team and increased responsibility to clinically intervene for patients.
Good luck, Tiffany!
Tiffany says
Thank you Whitney! I truly appreciate you for taking the time to review my essay! I’ll certainly be making some revisions!
Gabrielle says
I changed some things flowed a bit better i suppose
It was a white winter evening in Germany full of winding curves and wet roads,
I am on the lookout for deer when I see in the distance a shadow wagging on the side of the road. I pull off and make my way to the now squirming shadow, “can you help me?” I heard as a low groan. This was a person. When I arrive, I see his tibia and fibula at a 45-degree angle pressing against his skin. This road was a side road and it was 11 at night. There was no telling how long he had been out there, and shock was evident. He is a hit and run victim, an active duty soldier who was walking home from the local restaurant. I kept track of the young man throughout the 3 years following his accident to find he was transitioning out of the Army due to the inability to maintain his fitness. He was unable to get quality face to face time with his provider because of the ratio of patients each provider was assigned to. His pain became unbearable and he became addicted to pain medication. One of the largest disparities in America is the lack of healthcare providers.
Even greater is the lack of women providers. As leaders in tragic cases such as sexual assault in the military the victim is provided with an escort usually a leader in their chain of authority. As a young and new supervisor, I was to accompany a victim to the hospital where she was greeted with a male provider and a female nurse. She mentioned the comfort and confidence she had with the nurse reassurances. The provider however encouraging, professional, and kind was a male. It was at that moment I decided the best way to help my brothers and sisters and by bridging the gap in healthcare becoming a physician assistant. While I am not able to serve along side them actively anymore, my passion towards education in healthcare and bridging healthcare gaps and disparities begins in the underserved who serve.
My transcript early post-baccalaureate shows a student accepting the challenges and rigors of taking ahold of a full-time class load as a single parent. Learning how to manage my time, balance my studies, and enjoy the growth of my children is evident in my late post baccalaureate journey. While shadowing PA’s on a normal schedule was not available during my high uptempo in the military and as a single mother. I have served alongside several Army physician assistants; I have been encouraged during our encounters and motivated by their flexibility to train and maintain positive quality healthcare to our service members. I want to serve as the positive civilian support to our troops as a physician assistant to keep them proactive in managing their healthcare.
After over 1000 hours in the military community volunteering under the spiritual roof of our installation I learned the essence of teamwork up close and personal. Everyone coming to the ministerial chapel came seeking growth in some way or another. As the Minister of Music, my position was not always music, and our Army Chaplains had more than just his or her congregation to serve. It was in that opportunity where I mentored young girls in the children’s choir and received countless advice from my elders in the adult choir. Being able to consistently develop my craft by taking in the experiences from around me made me a better woman and director. In this same environment I will thrive as a physician assistant front. The victim who needs a female provider, or the soldier who needs to see their provider sooner, has driven my ambitions to be a physician assistant
Whitney Prosperi says
Gabrielle,
Thank you for your service.
Throughout your essay I can sense your passion to elevate others in significant ways.
I think your introduction does a great job of grabbing the reader’s attention while showing your quick thinking and desire to help others.
I would suggest adding more details about your path in healthcare. Outline any clinical skills you’ve gained that will make you a strong PA, and then describe a bit about how you connect with patients, showing empathy and educating them.
Good luck to you.
Gabrielle Gray says
Does my writing convey why I want to be a PA?
Gabrielle Gray says
Also! Thank you for taking the time to read my essay!
Madi says
Thank you for taking the time to read over my essay!
We’ve all been there, as a sick patient sitting in an inevitable cold room, anxious but patiently waiting on the healthcare provider to deliver our prognosis. I have experienced this on several occasions but one clinic visit in particular changed the trajectory of my life.
“Take these antibiotics and pain medication, your urinary tract infection should start to clear up in a day or two.” I was relieved to hear this information. I had been in severe pain for 3 days and the simple instructions to rid myself of my discomfort caused me to release an audible sigh of relief. I promptly filled the prescription for the antibiotic and followed all instructions. To my dismay, the pain lingered. On day five of continuous and drastically increasing pain in my back, a trip to the ER was in order.
To back this story up a bit, this experience took place during my senior year of college. I was living alone and it was after midnight when I decided to go to the hospital. I was concerned and quite frankly scared to know why I was still in so much pain. Upon arrival at the hospital, my vitals were taken, labs were drawn and I was placed on an IV drip. I was alone and was nervously waiting for the doctor to return. The doctor entered in the room, walked straight to my bed and said, “You have a very severe kidney infection. The medications you received at the minute clinic were not strong enough and you will need new medications to clear up the infection”. It was in that moment that I knew I wanted to work in the healthcare field. Noticing the disconnect in information from the Minute Clinic to the Hospital opened my eyes to how much disengagement there can be between healthcare options. This experience lead me to want to help others and to help change the way the medical system operates at the accessible healthcare status.
As a minority, understanding accessible healthcare and systematic discrimination within the healthcare system was of importance and interest to me. I was raised in a medically underserved area and I would be remised to think that my situation hasn’t happened to many others. As a part of a medically underserved population, I realize that there are many people who are not as fortunate and do not receive proper medical treatment. Many people are unable to receive appropriate medical attention due to their economic, cultural or linguistic barriers surrounding the medical profession. I have vowed that I will end those barriers for as many people as possible through my pursuit of becoming a Physician’s Assistant.
When I was a third year undergraduate student, I heard about a medical professional called a Physician Assistant (PA) through volunteering in an emergency medical service organization. I was intrigued and shocked. A medical profession that is able to support, diagnose, and treat patients that I had never heard of? My mind was blown. This type of professional is a direct correlation to my undergraduate educations and lifelong passion. Volunteering for an organization out of my sheer love for serving the community and learning about patient/healthcare led me to finding my dream career.
Being given the opportunity to broaden my healthcare knowledge and further my education in the healthcare environment during a pandemic is a blessing. Currently, I am a patient care technician (PCT) and I have the opportunity to not only work alongside nurses, PAs and doctors, but to also submerge myself further into patient care at the surgical level. I not only witness extreme, life changing cases but I also witness how important skills, such as communication, teamwork, compassion and professionalism is in saving lives and in providing the best experience and care for patients. Working on the surgical oncology floor has led my interest for pursuing the PA career to flourish. Watching the PAs show their vast knowledge of multiple specialties has been the biggest ability of the PA career that I am impressed with. Also watching the PAs diagnose, provide treatment plans and educate the patients ensured my pursued my goal of being a PA.
Jill, A patient I spent a lot of time assisting as a PCT, had many surgeries and required a lot of help with after care. She quickly became a patient I would never forget. Metastatic appendicle cancer, appendectomy, gastrectomy, cholecystectomy, bowel resection, and a gastrojejunostomy were among the many surgeries Ms. Jill endured. Jill not only pushed through various procedures, she also went through hard times mentally and physically due to being on many different medications, which lead to her being very confused, delirious, decrease in cognition and a physical harm to herself and others. She finally got to a point where she was able go home after 42 days in the hospital! During those 42 days of her hospital stay, Jill was so grateful for my help and always reassured me that I was doing a great job caring for her and that she was proud of my intentions to become a PA. I will never forget Jill and it is patients like her that continue to fuel my passion in the medical field.
Patients like Jill is the sole source of why I am and have the continuous desire to work in healthcare. Assisting patients through a scary and difficult time in their life to assure they are comfortable, healing and overall feeling. Supporting and improving communities, like my own, with easily accessible, highly trained medical professionals would greatly improve and save many lives in underserved communities. I would be greatly honored if you would support my passion and dream of becoming a PA. Not only would you support my dream, you would also first handedly help this country gain a medical professional who has the drive and desire to serve their community by improving and saving the lives of many.
Whitney Prosperi says
Madi,
I can sense your desire to help patients woven throughout your essay.
In your opening story, you may want to soften your tone so that it doesn’t appear you are being critical of another provider.
Your story about Jill shows your desire to do more to help patients as a future PA.
I would suggest condensing where you can throughout so you will have room to have a few more elements.
First, add in what aspects of the PA profession speak to you? (more time/contact/relationship with patients? the balance of autonomous responsibility and working with a team?)
Also, I would add in some details about any shadowing experience you have. What did you witness between PA/patient or PA/supervising physician that affirmed your desire to become a PA?
I wish you good luck in the process.
Margo Elli says
We’ve all been there, as a sick patient sitting in an inevitable cold room, anxious but patiently waiting on the healthcare provider to deliver our prognosis. I have experienced this on several occasions but one clinic visit in particular changed the trajectory of my life.
“Take these antibiotics and pain medication, your urinary tract infection should start to clear up in a day or two.” I was relieved to hear this information. I had been in severe pain for 3 days and the simple instructions to rid myself of my discomfort caused me to release an audible sigh of relief. I promptly filled the prescription for the antibiotic and followed all instructions. To my dismay, the pain lingered. On day five of continuous and drastically increasing pain in my back, a trip to the ER was in order.
To back this story up a bit, this experience took place during my senior year of college. I was living alone and it was after midnight when I decided to go to the hospital. I was concerned and quite frankly scared to know why I was still in so much pain. Upon arrival at the hospital, my vitals were taken, labs were drawn and I was placed on an IV drip. I was alone and was nervously waiting for the doctor to return. The doctor entered in the room, walked straight to my bed and said, “You have a very severe kidney infection. The medications you received at the minute clinic were not strong enough and you will need new medications to clear up the infection”. It was in that moment that I knew I wanted to work in the healthcare field. Noticing the disconnect in information from the information given at the Minute Clinic compared to the Hospital opened my eyes to how much disengagement there can be between healthcare options. This experience lead me to want to help others and to help change the way the medical system operates at the accessible healthcare status.
As a minority, understanding accessible healthcare and systematic discrimination within the healthcare system was of importance and interest to me. I was raised in a medically underserved area and I would be remised to think that my situation hasn’t happened to many others. As a part of a medically underserved population, I realize that there are many people who are not as fortunate and do not receive proper medical treatment, such as being able to go to both a minute clinic and a hospital, or even a hospital at all. Some people can only afford clinic options. Many people are unable to receive appropriate medical attention due to their economic, cultural or linguistic barriers surrounding the medical profession. I have vowed that I will end those barriers for as many people as possible through my pursuit of becoming a Physician’s Assistant. Becoming a PA will allow me to bridge the gap between healthcare at clinics and healthcare at hospitals. I will be able to provide a reliable resource for those who don’t always have access to a hospital but still be able to get the upmost healthcare service they deserve.
When I was a third year undergraduate student, I heard about a medical professional called a Physician Assistant (PA) through volunteering in an emergency medical service organization. I was intrigued and shocked. A medical profession that is able to support, diagnose, and treat patients that I had never heard of? My mind was blown. This type of professional is a direct correlation to my undergraduate educations and lifelong passion. Volunteering for an organization out of my sheer love for serving the community and learning about patient/healthcare led me to finding my dream career.
Being given the opportunity to broaden my healthcare knowledge and further my education in the healthcare environment during a pandemic is a blessing. Currently, I am a patient care technician (PCT) and I have the opportunity to not only work alongside nurses, PAs and doctors, but to also submerge myself further into patient care at the surgical level. I not only witness extreme, life changing cases but I also witness how important skills, such as communication, teamwork, compassion and professionalism is in saving lives and in providing the best experience and care for patients. Working on the surgical oncology floor has led my interest for pursuing the PA career to flourish. Watching the PAs show their vast knowledge of multiple specialties has been the biggest ability of the PA career that I am impressed with. Also watching the PAs diagnose, provide treatment plans and educate the patients ensured my pursued my goal of being a PA.
Jill, A patient I spent a lot of time assisting as a PCT, had many surgeries and required a lot of help with after care. She quickly became a patient I would never forget. Metastatic appendicle cancer, appendectomy, gastrectomy, cholecystectomy, bowel resection, and a gastrojejunostomy were among the many surgeries Ms. Jill endured. Jill not only pushed through various procedures, she also went through hard times mentally and physically due to being on many different medications, which lead to her being very confused, delirious, decrease in cognition and a physical harm to herself and others. She finally got to a point where she was able go home after 42 days in the hospital! During those 42 days of her hospital stay, Jill was so grateful for my help and always reassured me that I was doing a great job caring for her and that she was proud of my intentions to become a PA. I will never forget Jill and it is patients like her that continue to fuel my passion in the medical field.
Patients like Jill is the sole source of why I am and have the continuous desire to work in healthcare. Assisting patients through a scary and difficult time in their life to assure they are comfortable, healing and overall feeling. Supporting and improving communities, like my own, with easily accessible, highly trained medical professionals would greatly improve and save many lives in underserved communities. I would be greatly honored if you would support my passion and dream of becoming a PA. Not only would you support my dream, you would also first handedly help this country gain a medical professional who has the drive and desire to serve their community by improving and saving the lives of many.