The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative

Comments

1. Aubreeawna Lucero says

   June 5, 2022 at 11:28 am

   This is what I’ve got for my personal statement so far. Let me know what you think and what I can do to make it better. Thanks!

   The streets lights glow yellow as we drive past. It’s late at night but we’re making a trip to the ER again. My brother is sick, this isn’t a new occurrence, but it is one that I have grown accustomed to in my eight short years of life. Sitting in the waiting room watching patients come and go I watch and wait with my brother and grandmother. My brother was born with one kidney and a diaphragmatic hernia, he also had one small teste and a normal one. His first few years of life were rough, especially after our mother passed when he was only a year old. My grandmother adopted us and took on his care, but it was a struggle for her with her fifth-grade education and English being her second language. I learned to translate for her early on and I became familiar with hospitals and doctors too.
   Though it wasn’t until my sister needed to get stitches that I realized that I had developed an interest in medicine. Watching the ER doctors numb the area and then learning that stitches were not done with a needle and thread really ignited a fire in my mind that I have continued to fuel with my love of learning. In high school I joined a medical class that set you up to be a phlebotomist. Being able to practice on classmates and draw blood at the age of 17 only fueled my passion further. Coming to the end of high school I believed the only way to break into the medical field was to go through nursing so that is what I set out to do.
   There were many setbacks along the way. I got kicked out of the house at 17 after I had graduated high school. I ended up in Florida living with a cousin who was abusive, I ran away and set out on my own. I worked two jobs until I could move back to Arizona, and all this led to me putting college on the back burner. When I finally felt settled again, I started working full time and I applied to Grand Canyon University to try and get my nursing studies back on track. More setbacks occurred and another abusive relationship set me on the path to join the military.
   The military did wonders for my confidence and leadership skills, but it did not get me any closer to breaking into the medical field. I finally decided it was time to try and get my foot in the door again and I did that by studying to become an EMT which was successful. I was still in my military contract though, so I only used my EMT license for volunteer purposes. When I did reach the end of my service I got out and pursued a CNA license which I proceeded to use to gain patient care experience. I moved back to Florida with my family since my husband is now active duty and from there, I have worked to help the elderly in my community.
   My day to day consists of my assisting the residents at my facility with there activities of daily living and with there medication administration. I soothe my residents when they are confused, and I sit and listen to the stories of their life. There’s nothing like being there for people when they feel alone. One such time that I will always stand out in my mind was being able to assist my resident when she thought that she had been abandoned by her family. I sat with her and held her hand, we talked about her good memories, and I was able to alleviate her anxiety until she was calm enough to drift off to sleep.
   I have also since spent my time shadowing a Physician Assistant named Rustin Sorensen who has taken me under his wing and shown me that this is the way that I want to go. He has expressed a great deal of job satisfaction, and this has solidified for me that I can do the best in this position. He works in orthopedics, and everyday I spend with him I see him healing and helping in ways that I can only dream of. My favorite memory I have collected from my time was the case of a young women who came in with a knee swollen with fluid. A fluid that when removed was cloudy and not the normal clear greenish liquid one would expect. She was scared thinking she needed a knee replacement so early on but after tests and scans it was determined that she had gout. The relief she felt when she returned to the office after her first course of treatment was palpable. Not only did she not need a knee replacement, but she made it abundantly clear that she felt heard and understood during her treatment.
   The person that patients turn to when they are in need. That is who you remember. That is who I remember when I had my second miscarriage and needed to get a D and C again. Sitting in the waiting area before I was wheeled back to the OR. The PA held my hand and told me that she remembered me from a few months earlier when I had had the same procedure, my fist lost baby, a girl. She touched my heart and made me feel safe when I felt torn apart and so alone. That is what I want to do I want to be the difference in healthcare. I want to be the physician assistant that listens and deduces what is going wrong. I want to be someone they can trust and who can comfort those that are in the most distressing times of their life.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     June 13, 2022 at 10:47 am

     Aubreeawna,
     I can sense your resilience throughout your essay, and while your path has taken you on many turns, I trust that you will be an empathetic and effective provider one day.
     I think you will need to condense somewhat throughout your essay so that there is room to add in some more elements.
     I would add in a paragraph that describes what appeals to you about the PA profession. Is it the ability to switch specialties, expand access to care, develop relationships with patients over time?
     You may also want to add in some details about your time in the military and some of the leadership skills you gained there. Also, thank you for your service.
     I would also add a pseudonym for your elderly patient in your story.
     Also, elaborate on any clinical skills/medical knowledge you have gained through any of these roles.
     Your paragraph where you describe shadowing is effective.
     I wish you good luck in the process, Aubreeawna.

     Reply

2. Chris says

   June 4, 2022 at 3:00 pm

   Sparkling white, green and red colors filled the room. Christmas festivities were in full swing and I was helping my mother hang up decorations for the upcoming celebration. Things were happy until, BANG! My mother had fallen from the ladder and had hit her head. It happened so fast. I remember the sight of her limp body, myself helplessly screaming her name, and the limp, deformed arm I held in my hands.
   The warm green, red, and white lights transitioned to a harsh red and blue. I accompanied my mother on the ambulance ride to the ER and grew concerned seeing her not acting like herself after regaining consciousness. As we arrived, I anxiously waited for help, this was where I first encountered a PA and saw firsthand the compassion he had for his patient. He spent a large majority of his shift with my mother performing numerous neurological tests and assessed my mother’s arm reassuring both of us of the current treatment plan. CT scan and X-rays revealed a trace brain bleed and a left forearm fracture in 2 places. The PA took the time to personally help splint my mother’s arm and the physician instructed me on what to in the following weeks. I helped my mother with her multiple physician follow-ups for the next 2 years of her recovery. Though brief, this encounter left a strong impression on me and inspired a large range of medical experiences on my journey to PA school. In this experience, I was able to understand that it was not just the skills that helped my mother but the teamwork between physician and PA that made the difference and provided the best care for my mother.
   Over the past 5 years, I have continued to mature in knowledge and experience in my current position as a lead scribe in the ER and cardiology clinic. One of the main duties in my position is to take detailed documentation of a patient’s condition and its onset. I fondly recall all the children evaluated at CHOC cardiology, with each report filled with months and even years of echocardiograms, emergency surgeries for heart defects, and all their progress updates since. It reminds me of a mother who had already lost her eldest to cardiac disease and now her young boy may meet the same fate as his brother. A cardiac catheterization was scheduled, a procedure more common in adults and would be a terrifying experience for a 7-year-old boy. Seeing that he became concerned and withdrawn at the mention of surgery. I innately knew that I needed to calms his fears. While the PA and Cardiologist helped explain the risk and benefits of the surgery to the mother, I took the time to ask him what his favorite superhero was. His eyes lit up when I brought stickers of his favorite hero and seeing that it wiped away all of his concerns made me think to myself, “Maybe this is what making a difference in the world is like”. It is moments like these that I hope to paint my future as a PA with.
   A team-based care system is very important to me. I learned the value of a solid support network while continuously battling the setbacks of having to take care of my mother through recovery. The outcome of these hardships led to substandard grades throughout my undergraduate years and made it difficult to continue on my career path confidently especially after my first PA application cycle. My mother motivated me to keep my head up and to keep on pushing through just like she did with her recovery. I succeeded in retaking prior science classes, vastly improving my academics, and creating an upward trend in my GPA. I have also accumulated close to a total of 10000 hours of quality patient care experience taking care the young and old both in the (chaotic/fast-paced) ER at St. Joseph’s and the intimate and comprehensive follow-ups at CHOC’s Cardiology Clinic. As a result of this success, I am proud of the progress I have made since my mother’s accident and feel empowered. I’ve learned that despite my personal challenges, I cannot imagine myself in any other field because the quality patient interaction, teamwork between physician and PA, and my passion for medicine keeps drawing me back.
   With a career as a PA, I know that my answer to “how was your day” will always be that “I made a difference”, not for myself but for all the patients will care for. Reflecting on my medical experiences, I have worked alongside many health professionals along the way, but the physician assistants stood out to me. They were versatile and compassionate, spending the majority of their time with the patients. I aspire to become a PA who is just as warmhearted and trustworthy to my patients. Helping others as a PA is my calling, and I hope to answer that call as a PA who can make a difference in at least one person’s life every day, whether it’s a mother with a broken arm with a family to support or an innocent young boy with a bright future. Admittance to a program is not the beginning or the end it is the next step of my journey to make a difference in the world.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     June 13, 2022 at 9:41 am

     Chris,
     Your introduction shows your ability to remain calm in a crisis and does a great job of showing how you found the PA path.
     I would suggest adding a paragraph that details more of what about the PA profession appeals to you. (flexibility to change specialties, ability to expand access to care, more time/contact with patients)
     Also, if you have any shadowing experience, describe that. What about this experience solidified your decision? Was there an interaction between physician/PA or patient/PA that stood out to you?
     I’m not saying you need this, but should you want more help with your essay, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
     Good luck to you.

     Reply

3. Emily P says

   May 31, 2022 at 7:40 pm

   When I was a little girl I had always dreamed of being a princess one day. The lifestyle of a princess seemed magical and everything an eight year old little girl thought her life would one day look like. However, while I was dreaming of being a princess my older sister was fighting for her life. Dreaming of being able to see her loved ones the following day. My sister was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma when she was ten years old, and even though her and I were a few years apart in age, we were still very close. After seven years of battling cancer my sister passed away at the age of seventeen. I was no longer dreaming about being a princess when I grew up, but instead I was dreaming of being like the people who had not only helped treat my sister but make her comfortable.
   In life we have moments that change the trajectory of our lives, and this was one of those moments for me. After seeing all the different healthcare professionals who had helped my sister I became fascinated by the healthcare field, and I realized that I wanted to be like them someday. I was no longer dreaming of how to become a princess, but instead putting together the building blocks of how to become a healthcare professional.
   Fortunately I have been given the opportunity to shadow several different Physician Assistant’s in different fields. My first experience was shadowing an Orthopedic PA which is when I realized that is what I wanted to do. I enjoyed how she had the time to treat the patient, but also spend time with them. She took the time to listen to her patients and told she cared. When I saw her do this I could automatically see how comfortable the patients would become with her because they knew they were cared for. When I went on to shadow other Physician Assistant’s I realized that this was the same story across the board.
   After spending some time with these professionals I was able to intern in a podiatrist office in which I was given the opportunity to apply what I had learned. In this office I learned how to draw up and give in injections, take clear X-ray images, numerous therapy techniques, and I was able to observe in the operating room. Towards the end of my time in the office I was independently performing tasks on my own and setting up several in office procedures for the doctor. Even though I learned several tangible skills in the office I also learned valuable patient skills. I learned how to be an attentive listener while also working as a problem solver. I learned how to prioritize the patient above all else because at the end of the day this was someone’s loved one.
   I want to be Physician Assistant not only because I am personally fascinated by the field, but because everyone has loved ones they wish to see the next day. There are children all over who have dreams like I once did when I was their age, and it would be a privilege to be a physician assistant on their team. There are not many things in life you can do alone. I have seen this through my journey to this point in life and even back to the team of professionals who took care of my sister. Given the opportunity I would be a great team mate in the healthcare field as I have witnessed how to prioritize the patient while working alongside other individuals to find a diagnoses and treatment plan. I believe my sister would be proud of who I am today despite the hardships I have had to endure. I also believe that the little girl who used to dream about being a princess one day would be proud of the young woman she grew up to be. What she didn’t know then was that helping and caring for the people around you is a lot more magical.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     June 5, 2022 at 8:15 pm

     Emily,
     First, I am sorry to hear about the loss of your sister. I trust that you will honor her legacy through your care.
     I would suggest adding more details about what exactly draws you to the PA profession. Is it the ability to expand access to care? The opportunity to switch specialties?
     I would also include a patient care story that shows you in action caring for a patient while connecting on a personal level. You want to show some of those qualities that will make you an effective PA.
     I’m not saying you need this, but should you want more help, remember we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
     Good luck to you.

     Reply

4. Layla says

   May 31, 2022 at 6:35 pm

   Hi, this is my first draft and I truly appreciate any feedback you can provide. Thank you very much for your time and efforts!
   ———————————————–
   Fear. I felt it, I heard it, I overcame it. A husband and wife were waiting for us to arrive when the husband lost consciousness. The wife was hysterical as she ran to the ambulance, the fear in her voice clear. This was the scene of my first ride-along as a junior volunteer for the Fremont EMS Rescue Squad and I was afraid. When I saw her husband lying inside, not moving or breathing, I felt my fear rising. My captain began CPR while his partner prepared to intubate. I took a deep, calming breath, remembering why I was there and what was needed of me as I went to the wife to collect a medical history. She told me they had visited the hospital earlier that day because of her husband’s chest pain but were sent home shortly after. As a family of color, she explained how often their needs were ignored and how it hurt. I would never understand how this felt, but I listened fully and did what I could.

   Remorse. I remember the look on the mother’s face as her small daughter told the PA-C I was shadowing, Jenn Perkins, during her physical that no, she had not been brushing her teeth because she did not have a toothbrush. Jenn did not appear shocked, as we were in the rural area I had grown up in with a high poverty rate, inaccessible healthcare, and poor health outcomes. This family could not afford a toothbrush; how could they access healthcare services? There were no toothbrushes in the supply room, but there was floss and toothpaste, and Jenn gave them what she could.

   Grief. I could hear the sobs of the young granddaughters in the nearby room as I performed CPR on their grandmother. It was an unexpected loss, a horrific accident that they would never forget. This was my first code as an EMT, and our patient did not come back. We arrived 20 minutes too late, as this was a rural area, and our services were stretched deadly thin. Along with limited resources, there was a strong distrust of health providers which resulted in delayed care. I recall standing beside my partner as we delivered the news and how those little girls ran to me, holding my legs while they cried. I comforted them, and I did what I could.

   Gratitude. When the physician informed her that her daughter had gained the 8 pounds she desperately needed, the mother cried in relief and thanked me. I remember the overwhelming joy I felt when I heard the news, as I had been teaching the other home-health CNAs that I worked with more effective feeding methods for the past several months. We worked as a team, taking care of a child born with severe cerebral palsy. Our patience and dedication made a difference, and I did what I could.

   But what I could do is more. I chose the public health major to develop a deeper understanding of methods in which I could improve the lives of individuals and communities as a physician assistant. I have acquired a strong scientific background, and through my coursework I have learned about health inequities, identifying the root causes of poor health behaviors, the value of patient education and understanding, and the insight and knowledge needed to promote better health outcomes. I started learning Spanish and American Sign Language to connect with diverse populations and lessen the patient-provider barrier and ensure that patients feel more comfortable in a setting where their needs are fully acknowledged.

   As an EMT and CNA, I have worked alongside various healthcare team members, actively serving others. As a PA, I will be able to provide advanced care with a high degree of autonomy in which I can sit one-on-one with patients and make a measurable difference in their quality of life. I will have the capacity to utilize my skills in various settings, treating a wide range of ailments and building meaningful connections with diverse individuals. To successfully learn during PA school, I will apply my strong work ethic and utilize the time management skills I have developed while working 2-3 jobs at a time during my undergraduate career. I will develop a deeper understanding of medicine and provide individualized care as a member of a team of like-minded individuals who truly value the quality of life of another human being.

   I will continue to want to do more for others, strive to learn and improve my skills to provide high-quality care while demonstrating empathy and compassion, and establish a sense of trust between each patient I encounter. Being a physician assistant is more than a job, it is a mindset that embodies the desire to serve others, to place their health and welfare as a primary responsibility. Whether there is fear, remorse, grief, or gratitude—throughout the highs and lows in life, a PA is there to experience these moments with their patients and families. A PA utilizes tools and resources their patients can access to provide holistic care and treat the individual as a whole with realistic remedies. As a physician assistant, I will continue to do what I can, when I can, wherever I can, and for all that I can.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     June 5, 2022 at 8:01 pm

     Layla,
     I can sense your desire to make a difference for patients.
     I would highlight some of the clinical skills and medical knowledge you have gained in these roles.
     Also, if you have any shadowing experience, describe that. If not, describe an interaction you witnessed between PA/patient or PA/supervising physician that confirmed your decision.
     Good luck to you, Layla.

     Reply

5. Shreena Amin says

   May 31, 2022 at 4:55 pm

   I have always been enthralled by the environment of health care but my introduction to it was not a voluntary one. It was a temperate November night in India, with fireworks erupting around the neighborhood in celebration of Diwali. My cousin gleefully joined in on the festivities and sparked a firework. As I was sitting next to my 18-month old brother and enjoying the fireworks, I noticed a small spark shooting towards me and my brother. Similar to any 4 year old, I was terrified of fireworks; and as I saw a spark hurtling towards me I ran in the opposite direction while my dad tried to calm me and say it was just a spark. When I got close to my dad and my brother, I let out a blood curdling scream as I saw my brother’s shirt burnt and a pink scar from the burn. My dad rushed my brother into the house. As we walk in, we realize his whole chest was burnt and there was just pink tissue left behind. As my mom looks at my brother, she screams very loudly. We gather our senses and rush him to the local hospital.
   After multiple IVs and nights of rest, my brother was finally permitted to come back home. As the doctor handled my brother’s injury with bandages and gauze, I was then fascinated with helping my parents look after him and healing the burns. My father was working 12-hour days, looking after our family business, so I got to be the designated wound dresser with my mother. It was at that moment I realized that I was hooked on healthcare and I needed to contribute somehow.
   This one night, and the experience, is what brought me a step closer to becoming involved with healthcare. As I got older, I focused on this goal of joining the world of healthcare. As a high school student, I never missed an opportunity to volunteer at hospitals, I spent almost 200 hours volunteering in various departments at a local hospital. By working at a hospital, I not only learned about the real-life struggles and challenges of healthcare workers, but also gained one of the most important skills in healthcare, teamwork. Teamwork is not only an essential element in healthcare but is also a key aspect of every individual’s life.
   During college, I was constantly on a look out for opportunities that would sharpen my medical experiences. As I came across a clinical internship, I did not hesitate to apply for it and take advantage of such an opportunity. This position taught me how to keep up in a fast-paced environment. From screening patients for various cardiac studies, to shadowing one of the doctors, I was astonished by the multitude of adventures one can have in the healthcare field. One of the first procedures I observed was a cardiac paravalvular leak closure through the groin. I was captivated by this procedure and I could not wait to see more. Being an intern also taught me how to be efficient in a fast-paced environment and remain calm in stressful situations.
   I have come a long way from the determined little girl who was helping her mom change her little brother’s gauze. Observing providers with their patients and learning the foundation of medicine solidified my decision and interest in healthcare. I have experienced a lot throughout my life that has encouraged me to grow both as a person and in my desire to pursue medicine. The positions I have held over the past few years all provided a different view of healthcare. I have learned the importance in healthcare of working as a team, writing detailed notes, learning medical terminology, showing compassion to my patients, and collaborating with physicians and PAs. I strive to become a PA who provides exemplary care and is allowed the privilege of treating someone else’s loved ones. Although the fireworks left a permanent effect on my brother, they were also the catalyst to my love for medicine and I will never forget that cool night in November.

   Reply

6. Shreena Amin says

   May 31, 2022 at 4:34 pm

   I have always been enthralled by the environment of health care but my introduction to it was not a voluntary one. It was a temperate November night in India, with fireworks erupting around the neighborhood in celebration of Diwali. My cousin gleefully joined in on the festivities and sparked a firework. As I was sitting next to my 18-month old brother and enjoying the fireworks, I noticed a small spark shooting towards me and my brother. Similar to any 4 year old, I was terrified of fireworks; and as I saw a spark hurtling towards me I ran in the opposite direction while my dad tried to calm me and say it was just a spark. When I got close to my dad and my brother, I let out a blood curdling scream as I saw my brother’s shirt burnt and a pink scar from the burn. My dad rushed my brother into the house. As we walk in, we realize his whole chest was burnt and there was just pink tissue left behind. As my mom looks at my brother, she screams very loudly. We gather our senses and rush him to the local hospital.
   After multiple IVs and nights of rest, my brother was finally permitted to come back home. As the doctor handled my brother’s injury with bandages and gauze, I was then fascinated with helping my parents look after him and healing the burns. My father was working 12-hour days, looking after our family business, so I got to be the designated wound dresser with my mother. It was at that moment I realized that I was hooked on healthcare and I needed to contribute somehow.
   This one night, and the experience, is what brought me a step closer to becoming involved with healthcare. As I got older, I focused on this goal of joining the world of healthcare. As a high school student, I never missed an opportunity to volunteer at hospitals, I spent almost 200 hoursall my free time volunteering in various departments at a local hospital. By working at a hospital, I not only learned about the real-life struggles and challenges of healthcare workers, but also gained one of the most important skills in healthcare, teamwork. Teamwork is not only an essential element in healthcare but is also a key aspect of every individual’s life.
   During college, I was constantly on a look out for opportunities that would sharpen my medical experiences. As I came across a clinical internship, I did not hesitate to apply for it and take advantage of such an opportunity. This position taught me how to keep up in a fast-paced environment. From screening patients for various cardiac studies, to shadowing one of the doctors, I was astonished by the multitude of adventures one can have in the healthcare field. One of the first procedures I observed was a cardiac paravalvular leak closure through the groin. I was captivated by this procedure and I could not wait to see more. Being an intern also taught me how to be efficient in a fast-paced environment and remain calm in stressful situations.
   I have come a long way from the determined little girl who was helping her mom change her little brother’s gauze. Observing providers with their patients and learning the foundation of medicine solidified my decision and interest in healthcare. I have experienced a lot throughout my life that has encouraged me to grow both as a person and in my desire to pursue medicine. The positions I have held over the past few years all provided a different view of healthcare. I have learned the importance in healthcare of working as a team, writing detailed notes, learning medical terminology, showing compassion to my patients, and collaborating with physicians and PAs. I strive to become a PA who provides exemplary care and is allowed the privilege of treating someone else’s loved ones. Although the fireworks left a permanent effect on my brother, they were also the catalyst to my love for medicine and I will never forget that coolchilly night in November.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     June 5, 2022 at 7:51 pm

     Shreena,
     Your story does a good job of showing how your love for healthcare began. (Also, I’m so glad that your brother was okay.)
     I would suggest condensing where you can throughout your essay so you can make room for some more elements.
     I would include more details about why you are drawn to the PA specialty specifically. Is it the ability to switch specialties? The opportunity to expand access to care to underserved patients?
     I would also describe any shadowing experience you have gained. What about these interactions confirmed your decision to pursue this path?
     Include more details about any work experience and clinical skills gained.
     If you need more help, remember that we are taking essay submissions for our revision service.
     I wish you good luck, Shreena!

     Reply

7. Vanessa Arenas says

   May 31, 2022 at 10:50 am

   Resiliency
   My mother was rushed to the hospital after she collapsed in the middle of my graduation party. During triage she was able to talk to a PA in her broken English and felt heard despite having a language barrier. My mother sensed the PA’s attention to detail, reflective listening, and reasoning for her treatment plan. She not only understood the plan but was able to repeat the rationale behind diagnostics and medications she needed to take. She does not trust providers easily from her own life experiences. This is when I knew it was time for a career change and was inspired to be a PA. I recognized that I wanted to provide essential services especially to minorities. I made it my goal that I wanted to provide services in which patients felt the way my mother felt; understood, compassion, and as a collaborator. My life experiences have led me down a path of self-advocacy, perseverance, commitment and initiative which are assets in becoming a PA.
   I have struggled with mental health issues since adolescence, and navigating the healthcare system as a young daughter of immigrants has shown me the incredible importance of having culturally competent resources available for patients and their families. At the height of my depression, I remember serving as an interpreter between my parents and the medical team that took care of me. Recognizing a need to help patients like me, I founded a mental health advocacy support group at my high school to advocate for mental health interpreters in the community. This experience taught me early on to advocate for myself and for my future patients.
   I grew up in a low-income community where the high school dropout rate was nearly 45%. I am proud to say that with hard work and perseverance, I graduated top 5% out of 1000 students and was accepted to Boston University for college. As a minority at an affluent private school, I thought my biggest hurdle would be adjusting to a new environment and establishing community. Then during my freshman year, I was diagnosed with a tumor in my parotid gland. I went to medical appointments by myself, trying to navigate my scary diagnosis and maintain a full-time course load. Before long my anxiety and depression returned, and my grades suffered terribly.
   After a challenging year of medical appointments, my tumor biopsy result was inconclusive. My oncologist speculated there was a 50% chance of malignancy and recommended chemotherapy in preparation for a parotidectomy. At the time, the risks of chemotherapy outweighed the benefits, so I sought a second opinion from an oncologist I worked for in high school. During the consultation, he reassured me the tumor was 85% benign and we scheduled a parotidectomy that summer. After surgery, I spent time recovering and going to therapy to help restore my mental wellness. Although irreversible damage had been done to my undergraduate GPA, now with my physical and mental health intact, I was ready to recommit to my studies in graduate school.
   Due to my commitment to mental health awareness, I decided to become a therapist. Little did I know that being a therapist would profoundly change me as an individual but also how I provided services to others. I focused on understanding the path the patient’s walked before their encounter with me. Throughout the last 12 years of my career, the most painful learning moment was losing a patient to suicide. I was changing jobs and needed to end the therapeutic relationship. I was concerned about the termination because I knew this patient was triggered by change, and could easily become unstable and impulsive. Three months later, she completed suicide via overdose.
   I felt guilt, anxiety, fear, and deep sadness. You do not learn in school how to cope with losing a patient as a provider. Is it ethical to grieve? Is it a conflict of interest to become “attached”? Did I fail my patient? Was this my fault? I realized processing grief as a medical provider is imperative in order to handle the emotional toll of practicing medicine. I developed an abundance of self-awareness to recognize when I need to take a step back, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.
   While working at a community health center, I joined quality improvement teams as the project manager; piloting psychiatric consults via primary care teams.The goal was to increase mental health awareness and implement the depression scale during annual wellness checks. I wrote the policies and procedures for completing the screening through the electronic healthcare record, warm-hand off consultations and attrition rate. We were able to generate 45 new consults in the first two months and expanded the program to four primary care teams at the center. Our initiative was a success!
   I would be an amazing PA because I am a champion for self-advocacy, committed to seeing things through, and have persevered through adversity with leadership initiatives. I am especially interested in treating patients in the underserved Latino community by providing services in Spanish and building their resiliency as I have learned through my experiences. I truly relish challenges and am ready to embark on a new journey in furthering my education as a PA.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     June 1, 2022 at 6:29 pm

     Vanessa,
     I can sense your tenacity and grit through each sentence of your essay, and I know you will be an advocate for patients.
     I would suggest condensing where you can throughout your essay so that you can add some more elements.
     You will want to include a paragraph that details exactly what about the PA profession appeals to you. (ability to expand care, collaborative approach to care, working with a supervising physician, ability to switch specialties)
     Also, include a paragraph that details any shadowing experience that you have. Was there an interaction that you witnessed between PA/provider or PA/patient that solidified your decision?
     You will also want to reiterate your desire to care for patients directly and have responsibility for their clinical care.
     If you need more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
     I wish you good luck, Vanessa.

     Reply

8. Zachary Bremer says

   May 30, 2022 at 3:07 pm

   Here is my rough draft, hoping to stick out from other applicants but keep a general theme of why and what being a PA means to me.

   “Okay when you hang your feet out the door, remember to roll backwards, keep your chin up and your legs back and bent. Ready, GO!” My feet slid out the open jump door at 15,00 feet air rushing past so loud communication was hard. I did not even have time to look down, when my feet came out, my instructor gave a gentile push and the free fall began. Sky, ground, sky, ground, I was so disoriented it did not even feel like I had jumped out of a plane and was falling to the ground at 140mph. “okay focus” I said to myself. “Chin up, legs bent, elbows out, control your spin and breathe. There it was, I had gained controlled my fall, now facing belly down towards to the ground in a perfectly controlled descent to the earth. I could not spot my landing zone, I was overcome with the task of how hard it was to breathe, I felt like I was choking and a chilling sense of panic crept up my spine as I began to think the worst. “O God what if I pass out I can’t breathe.” My training kicked in, closing my mouth so as not to be overwhelmed by the immense incoming pressure of the air, I took a breath through my nose and exhaled out my mouth. A calming feeling came over me, I was now in complete control. Checking my altimeter it was time to pull the cord, a giant whoosh and a belly compressing jerk, the parachute had opened successfully and what felt like moments later I was safely on the ground, high fiving my instructor who had watched the whole thing. Thanks to him and my training I was on the ground safely.
   Like sky diving there are times when patient care becomes overwhelming and shares the same unfortunate consequence if one does not get it right. Seeing the best possible and worst possible outcomes of this in my ten year medical journey has reaffirmed one very important saying I hold highly when it comes to learning how to treat patients. “Under pressure we do not rise to the occasion, we sink back to the level of our training.” – Anonymous Navy Seal. Spending the last three years as a flight nurse on a medevac helicopter, I have had the opportunity to live out this saying every 48hour shift I have worked. This position has given me the opportunity to experience autonomy in the harshest of conditions. Nurses normally work in a team setting and in a supportive role when it comes to patient care. In the middle of the desert with no cell service, no ability to reach medical control, and having limited resources your training, and communication with your partner are the two biggest attributes you have when it comes to making sure the patient has the chance for the best possible outcome.
   Looking at my resume, I am often asked “Why are you bothering with PA school, shouldn’t you become and NP, that’s what everyone else does.” The answer to this is twofold, first it is not a “bother” it is humbling opportunity for which I am grateful, and second the in depth medical model of training that PA’s get, along with the much greater supervised clinical hour requirement in order to become licensed and practice is what appeals to me most. I like that as a PA I can practice in any field that will hire me, having lateral mobility and the opportunity to be trained and practice under physicians is an understated freedom that I believe is taken to lightly. The training one goes through to become a PA, the need to retake your board exams every 10 years, and working under physicians who are subject matter experts all culminate in the chance to provide the best patient care possible. I have no doubt that when tasked with a complex patient that falling back to my level of training as a PA will help me rise to the occasion and give that person the best possible chance at life and the best outcome possible. This is why I want to be a PA.

   Reply

9. Emily Dwyer says

   May 30, 2022 at 8:38 am

   It’s so often in this world that we feel helpless, unable to impact the world in any meaningful way. What continues to give me peace and make me understand my role in this life is my job as a PCT at the hospital. Every single shift, I am affecting real change in the world by doing the simple things for patients. Holding their hands while they cry, taking them to the bathroom, changing their sheets and giving them a bath. While these aren’t the most medically challenging things I do, they are the ones with the most impact on the patient, and thus the most impact on me. One morning, I was called in to the hospital to sit with a patient who had become very agitated and confused overnight. When I met Annette, she greeted me with a smile and though exhibiting significant symptoms of dementia, she was calm. Around noon however, she became agitated and insisted on leaving for home, so with permission from her nurse, Annette and I walked the halls of the hospital floor in an attempt to soothe her. She was not so easily calmed and became increasingly fearful and angry believing we had kidnapped her and were holding her hostage in a fake hospital. All we could do to calm her was sit with her at the end of a hall and listen to her ramble about this sham we were supposedly pulling. Sitting on a worn couch with my patient so full of genuine fear, I had a moment of clarity. Though she was heartbreaking to listen to and to watch, I felt certain that providing care for someone in real pain like Annette was something to which I wanted to dedicate my life.
   For as long as I can remember I have been drawn to helping careers. I remember being fascinated by medicine but knowing that a career as a doctor or a nurse wasn’t quite the right fit. I wanted more medical responsibility than a nurse, but not the lifestyle of a doctor. So when I first heard about the physician associate profession I was hooked. A family friend who is the Senior Chief PA at John’s Hopkins, Stephanie Figueroa, recalled stories of treating patients on her own, diagnosing them, and prescribing treatment, all while being able to raise 4 kids and be an active part of their lives.
   Since then I’ve interacted with numerous PAs in my personal medical experience, each making me more and more sure of this path. The most impactful experience I had with a PA was shadowing Kelsey Wolford, a dermatology PA-C. I was able to observe her throughout a variety of patient interactions, from routine skin checks to biopsies, cyst drainings, and other outpatient procedures. Watching her diagnose and prescribe treatment with ease and confidence all while having a healthy work life balance showed me the possibilities of my future. Kelsey saw patients on her own, but was able to collaborate with the other providers in the practice when needed to ensure the best care was given to her patients. She exemplified an effective balance of teamwork and independence in all aspects of her care, which allowed her to bring her best to each and every patient, showing them compassion and exceptional medical knowledge. Kelsey gave me a shining example of what being a PA could be like, and I am excited to emulate her when I see patients of my own.
   Because of my solidified interest in being a PA from high school, I tailored my college experience to expose myself to opportunities integral to this career. Each experience impacted the way I work with patients now and in the future. In January of 2020 I went with Global Medical Brigades to Panama where we helped run a free medical clinic for people living in the rural communities. Our group of students ran the triage center, and helped patients during treatment. There I learned the importance of adaptability as we were working to treat patients who seemed to be about as different as possible from us, in a culture distant from that of Blacksburg VA. Watching the face of a teenage mom who got life-saving antibacterials for her young child because of our help will be a memory and feeling I never lose.
   Being a PCT taught me the confidence needed to advocate for my patients. As the ones who spend the most hands-on time with patients, we are able to monitor changes in their behavior. One of my patients who I had seen for a few days, started having difficulty swallowing effectively. Knowing I was the only one who had seen this change, I contacted the nurse and advocated for a bedside swallow study to ensure Shirley was capable of eating safely.
   This initiative to care for people was not a new skill, as I employed it during the summer of 2020. I worked for a nonprofit organization, MEANS Database, that worked to end food insecurity, and once the pandemic hit we started meal programs in cities across the country. We paid local restaurants to make meals that were then donated to emergency food providers in the area. After finding out how much need there was in El Paso, I proposed starting a program there and I was the project manager there for 4 weeks. We were able to provide 4,000 meals for a marginalized community experiencing significant food insecurity at the height of the pandemic.
   I have been able to couple my innate passion for this field with opportunities that allowed me to develop my medical skills. My adaptability, confidence, and initiative to change the lives of other people has perfectly aligned me with this career because to me, being a PA is the combination of treating patients for their illness and their personhood. It has been through interactions with patients like Annette and Shirley, and watching the life changing effects of giving hungry El Pasoans food and rural Panamanians desperately needed healthcare, that I have realized this is my place in the world. It’s on the front lines of medicine as a PA, helping people get through their toughest moments and changing their lives.

   Reply

10. P Patel says

    May 25, 2022 at 6:48 pm

    Meliorism is trusting that the world can become a better place; the faith that humans can better the world. An idea that I shared with my first ever friend, my Ba (grandmother). She had known me my whole life, so I will never forget feeling gutted the first time she failed to recognize me. It was months of confusion and heartache before our family found some respite after just one visit with Philippe André, PA-C.

    In 2015, Ba was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and we were in unknown territory. PA André was essential in guiding us through her condition and helping us best care for her. Four years later, my grandmother passed away. That is still the scariest night of my life. I was with her as she took her last breaths, I called 911 and performed chest compressions, and I translated for my parents when they took us to a private room and delivered the news. Soon after, I was thinking about how I never wanted to feel such fear again when I saw an old photograph of my grandmother laughing and I recalled she last laughed because of PA André – that was the first time I felt a spark of passion for the PA profession.

    Medicine captivates me. I have previously joined health groups and volunteered for years at a hospital, even earning a scholarship for my dedication. However, the impact PA André had on me brought forth my initiative to pursue hands-on patient care opportunities. Said opportunity came in the form of a patient care technician at Fresenius Medical Care.

    Seeing a patient three times a week helps develop a significant bond with them, but being trilingual in Gujarati and Hindi, I overcame certain hurdles when it came to communicating with some of my patients and their loved ones. I also used my limited Spanish skills to understand and communicate with our native Spanish-speaking patients, who always smiled at my attempts. I covet the ability to make someone feel at ease regardless of language barriers, to make their appointments memorable instead of unnerving. I hope to do so in other languages as well. I was humbled every time a patient asked if I was working that day or told me that they now looked forward to dialysis because of me!

    I thrived with a great team that strived daily to improve our patients’ quality of life. Nonetheless, I wanted more. During weekly rounds, I observed the personalized care the PAs and NPs provided the patients with. They built relationships during the preliminary diagnosis before the patient even set foot in our clinic. They can follow up with a patient who received a kidney transplant or otherwise discontinued treatment. I crave to be a part of the diagnosis, plan of care, and follow-ups for all my patients. This sentiment is strengthened by my continued limited patient interaction as a medical assistant.

    PAs and NPs are both integral parts of a healthcare team, but over time my encounters reaffirmed my decision to become a PA. As a MA at a pulmonary clinic, I primarily worked with an NP, who I witnessed maneuver between autonomy and collaboration with an attending physician. Although, I also spent time with the PA at the other location during my training and I felt that while the PA also had the attending physician to rely on, they were able to be more autonomous due to their more hands-on clinical training with rotations. In my current MA role, I have had the chance to briefly assist a couple of visiting PAs and inquire about their journeys. I decided that I want to learn from a PA educational model as it provides a better scope of medical knowledge and has the benefit of lateral mobility to explore a myriad of specialties without needing additional licensing along with the ability to work with a team.

    The road so far has not been flawless. As an immigrant daughter, I struggled to balance my education and my family. My judgment errors led to my academic failure. In retrospect, that was the shock I needed to undergo before I could achieve my full potential. I learned to manage my time, prioritize my duties, and avoided overextending myself. From here, my grades established a strong, upward trajectory. The self-discipline I acquired allowed me to handle working full-time while taking five classes. Last year, I had to step away from healthcare and was only able to submit a few applications due to financial concerns. Since then, I have returned to healthcare as a MA, taken additional classes, shadowed, and volunteered. Over the years, I have made many improvements and I am not inclined to move backward.

    I now realize my passions are greater than my fears. None of us is infallible. Alone I faced struggles, but with a support system, I prospered. I will carry my academic and healthcare experiences with me to succeed as a PA student. As a team, we can provide our patients with better and more comprehensive medical care. I desire to become better and improve the world through healthcare. After all, healthcare, like humanity, is linked.

    Reply

11. Corey Olauson says

    May 25, 2022 at 11:05 am

    I’ve been working on my PS since January. To say I’m struggling is an understatement. Below is what I currently have, but it’s not entirely where it needs to be to make them want to know more. HELP!
    ————–
    In 2016, my family faced a significant crisis when my husband, Rich, an airline pilot, became sick and was placed on medical leave. We did not know if he would ever fly again. This challenging time led me to consider what I could do to support our family if my husband could no longer work, as I have been a stay-at-home mom to our now five children since 2003. After much thought and introspection, a new dream began to take root. And that dream is to become a physician assistant (PA).

    An integral part of this dream is to work where I live, serve in my community, and focus on areas where I can do the most good. I currently live and work in a small, medically underserved, rural town in Kansas, and I grew up in an even smaller one. I want to be among the ranks of PAs in my new community with whom I have personally interacted.

    I have always admired PAs. At the clinic where I take my family, the PAs always support my family and work with me to keep us healthy. I love how the PAs always take the time to listen to me and understand my concerns. I admire how the PAs are not rushing to finish their visit with me and move on to their next patient. I want to be this type of PA, A PA who truly cares about and supports their patients.

    In 2016, after deciding on my goal of becoming a PA, I researched what steps would be needed to achieve my new dream. It had been a while since I’d received my initial degree, and my grades were poor due to learning issues, which were unknown to me during my first time in college. Due to my low GPA and additional extenuating circumstances, I realized that the time was not right to apply to PA school, and I had to put my dream on hold. Instead, I shifted directions and earned a hybrid Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) degree.

    I have been working as a CST since 2020 and love my career. However, late in 2021, as one of my patients was wheeled out of the operating room, I suddenly felt a great disappointment. My part in the patient’s healthcare journey was complete, and it had been minimal. That gut-wrenching feeling solidified for me that it was finally the right time to pursue the dream of becoming a PA.

    As an applicant to a Master of Physician Assistant Studies program, I see my life experience, large family, and winding pathway as a benefit to achieving this dream. I have faced challenging situations, done hard things, learned how my brain works, and learned how to prioritize, succeed, and balance my family with responsibilities outside my home. Most importantly, my life experiences have helped me recognize silver linings, even in the midst of a crisis.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      May 30, 2022 at 8:48 am

      Corey,
      Your story shows your tenacity, grit, and a desire to make a difference.
      I would suggest elaborating on the patient that impacted you so greatly in 2021. Show yourself in action providing care of some kind while connecting on a personal level. You want to show some of those characteristics that will make you an exceptional PA.
      I would also elaborate on your work experience and clinical skills gained.
      Also, if you have any shadowing experience, describe that. (If not, describe what you have witnessed through your experience with PAs in your town.) What about an interaction between patient/PA has solidified your decision?
      I wish you good luck, Corey!

      Reply

12. Alex Estrada says

    May 25, 2022 at 9:37 am

    My personal statement is below. I believe the placement of my paragraphs could be better.  I also need to remove roughly 300 characters, so please let me know what you think should be removed! Thank you ahead of time!

    On a regular day at the shelter I was volunteering at, my church youth group and I were doing our best to provide food and other necessities to those of the underserved community who had come in need of help. There was one individual, though, with whom I had an interaction that actually enlightened me. It was a young woman who seemed to be in pain and discomfort due to a shoulder injury. I remember seeing her in this condition of unease and feeling helpless in being able to alleviate the agony she was experiencing at the time. When I saw her again at the shelter a week later, I asked “Hello Ms., do you happen to be feeling better from your shoulder discomfort?” She admitted to me, “I’ve only made little progress and unfortunately I won’t be able to see a doctor for several weeks.” At that moment, while I was able to supply her with food and other essentials, which helped ease some of her agony, I thought it was insufficient to address her shoulder injury-related issues. Thus, this young woman has inspired me to pursue the PA career path and gain the skills necessary to provide adequate medical treatment to those suffering from medical concerns such as injuries, as I do not want to reexperience not being able to provide adequate support to those suffering at a medical disadvantage.
    The calling to become a physician assistant stemmed from the time I saw a PA in an emergency room calm down a family who had a child with a high-grade fever, and the PA was attentive enough to detect the predicament and offer adequate care immediately. As a result, I became determined in preparing to befit a PA student by gaining medical knowledge via firsthand experience as a hospital volunteer, improving time management skills, and adapting to new situations over time. With urgent care center visits, it was often the PA who came in first and ensured I was comfortable and at ease while taking my vitals before the doctor came in. The environment bestowed by the PAs in those instances opened my eyes and within me emerged an inclination to deliver that same proper care to patients I hope to encounter in the future. Seeing how I’d be able to focus more on patient care (less concern about bureaucracy) led me to pick PA over MD, and having more horizontal flexibility in specialties influenced me to select PA over NP. I’ve been able to resonate with the solicitude and concern that the PAs I’ve encountered provided me with and the addressing of concerns regarding my health as their patient. This gave me great insight into how a PA can be as effective as a physician, thus reinforcing my desire to be a PA.
    While I am now committed to providing high-quality patient care, I was unable to demonstrate this throughout my first two years of college. I battled with time management and finding study methods that worked for me, and as a result, my grades were rather poor. Nonetheless, I persisted in developing productive habits and devoting myself to my studies. The most recent grades within my academic career improved vastly and better reflect the sort of student I am, as well as my devotion to the PA profession.
    Throughout high school and into college, I served at shelters in Nassau County, N.Y., with other volunteers from my youth group who shared my passion and ambition to provide food and basic essentials to persons in need. Being able to explore a community service position by providing for individuals who were underserved and practicing patience via trustworthy interactions with other volunteers and those being helped, allowed me to develop a prominent devotion to helping others. Furthermore, to foster an understanding of how critical it is for disadvantaged individuals who encounter barriers, to be granted greater access to health care services overall. Through shadowing a dental hygienist and volunteering at the Radiology Oncology department of Queens Hospital Center (QHC), I developed clinical skills such as taking/examining x-rays and learning how to consult with patients. Volunteering in shelters taught me empathy and compassion for the underprivileged. In support of my ambition of becoming a provider in the medical sector (PA), I will undoubtedly look forward to honing these qualities in order to follow my vocation of assisting those with medical adversities.
    When I consider how much I’ve learned throughout my preparation and desire to become a PA, it’s remarkable to see how I’ve been able to acquire critical strengths/skills. Volunteering in the patient care sector in hospitals and shelters has helped me envision the importance of offering care and positive support for those in need within society. Just how I encountered and assisted that wounded young woman in need the best I can at one of the shelters where I volunteered. Also, how patients should always be treated with sympathy and care since they place their trust in you, which accounts for a significant portion of what you do as a PA. I am certain that I possess the concern for patients, drive to obtain critical knowledge, and ability to work as part of a team to flourish as a PA whilst steadily contributing to others in the community no matter the challenges that cross my path.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      May 30, 2022 at 8:39 am

      Alex,
      I can sense your desire to impact and elevate patients.
      I would suggest adding more details about your interaction with Ms. M. You may want to include more that shows you in action and spotlight some of those qualities that will make you an exceptional PA.
      If you have shadowed any PAs, describe that experience and how it solidified your decision.
      I would also elaborate more on why PA rather than explaining why not another type of provider. Since characters are limited, focus on exactly why this profession appeals to you.
      Also, I would move the explanation about your grades to the paragraph before your conclusion as this is where it usually fits best.
      I wish you good luck, Alex. I’m not saying you need this, but should you want more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.

      Reply

      • Alex Estrada says

        June 8, 2022 at 9:35 am

        Hello Whitney, I greatly appreciate the feedback. Besides additions to the personal statement that you mentioned, is there anything that you would recommend I take off so that I can focus on the points you made while also staying under the 5000 character limit (removing roughly 300 characters)?

        Thank you.

        Reply

13. Jasmine Penny says

    May 24, 2022 at 1:45 pm

    Hi everyone! Any feedback is greatly appreciated:

    As a child, my grandfather was my role model. My grandfather was strong, funny, charismatic, and at the top of his game. As I got older, the rose-colored glasses began to fade and the true condition of my grandfather’s health slowly came to light. Watching my hero deteriorate inspired me to my chosen career path. I want to make a difference.

    For the majority of his life, my grandfather was healthy. But as dementia set in, his memory loss increasingly worsened as well as his health. It was tough on our family. He had to close his business, couldn’t drive anymore and eventually was in an assisted living residence in the dementia/alzeimher’s wing. I wanted to help and heal him. I wanted to help my mother who as a parent/caregiver was seeking answers and not getting them. I saw a gap in his health care. I saw a gap in the education provided to my mother. This situation was intriguing to me and the reason I chose the medical field.

    That young granddaughter is now an University of Michigan graduate who still has that interest. I have experience as a clinical informatics specialist and medical scribe at Oak Street Health. Oak Street Health’s primary goal is to serve underserved Medicare communities, typically those of the geriatric and mental health population. During my time with OSH, I discovered my intuition was correct, there is a disconnect in the medical field with patient communication and the education provided to the caregivers. Patients came in discussing how previous providers dismissed the pain and other issues. Patients also voiced a constant misunderstanding about the procedures they received and the true nature of their health conditions. Throughout my time working in clinical settings and shadowing PAs and physicians, I have witnessed how the lack of consideration of cultural and historical aversions to certain aspects of medicine, such as vaccinations, is due to the cultural experience of people of color. I want to become a physician assistant to aid underserved communities and increase the knowledge provided to patients to bridge the gap between medicine and underserved. As a minority myself, I want to further diversify the medical field and serve the underserved communities. As a physician’s assistant, I will not allow my patients to leave my care feeling unheard or not understood.

    I’ve invested a lot of time learning about the PA profession and the medical field. I began investigating the PA profession when I was in high school learning more about the position. I loved the flexibility and diversity of the profession. Once I was in college, I shadowed a PA and was able to get an in-person insight. I loved the unique perspective the physician’s assistant was able to provide the patients. The physician’s assistant was able to provide an approach that was more relatable and understanding to the patient, whereas oftentimes an M.D. would give a more clinical outlook.

    Currently I am working primarily with nurse practitioners in a heavily dominated nurse practitioner company. While this does not give me much direct experience with a physician’s assistants, working with a nurse practitioner provides understanding into the dynamic between provider and physician and allows me to learn the value of a variety of clinical roles. It is with this knowledge that I strive to one day be a PA who provides top notch service to my patients making sure they are very knowledgeable of the care they’re receiving. I am extremely eager to begin this next step in my journey and I believe that my drive, experience and willingness to serve the community will enable me to become an outstanding provider. I hope one day I can make a difference to someone’s grandfather, mother, or granddaughter about the care they receive. I am committed to see beyond the illness and see the person as a whole.

    Reply

14. Stefanie says

    May 23, 2022 at 9:58 am

    There I was, 10 years old, in a place I was unfamiliar with. I could sense desperation in my mother’s voice as she spoke to a man in a white coat, and I felt tears slowly forming in my eyes. My grandma was the reason we were here, shortly after her and my grandpa had been struck by oncoming traffic. My mother and I were regular visitors for the many months to come, and here I would ignite my interest in medicine. I would often observe the procedures medical staff would perform on her, and was in awe at the empathy they exhibited. By the end of my grandma’s stay, I was determined to follow in their footsteps.
    As my grandma began her recovery at my family’s home, I had several encounters with in-home nurses. I started to notice the neglect many of the nurses exhibited and felt like I had to intervene. After all my observation in the hospital, and the many questions I would ask anyone within earshot, I felt confident enough to assist my grandma. I was excited to help, and through my efforts I could tell she was making great strides towards a normal lifestyle. Being able to see the difference I was making in someone else’s health through my actions propelled me further along on my path to medicine.
    About eight years later, I experienced a health concern of my own. After moving to Chicago on a college softball scholarship, I tore my anterior cruciate ligament during practice one day. With my spirits at rock bottom, I had my first encounter with a physician assistant (PA) that sparked my passion for the career. Travis, the attending PA at the orthopedics office, consistently provided quality and personal care. His calm demeanor and optimism, both pre- and post-surgery, kept the light at the end of the tunnel for me. He was always willing to listen and his reassuring voice continuously reminded me I would be able to play the sport I loved again.
    As I moved to San Jose to continue living out my dream of collegiate softball, my eyes were opened to medical inequality. I grew up in an area where I was fortunate enough to have ample medical care access. And, in all honesty, I had never really strayed far away from my hometown until college. Once I landed in San Jose, the lack of access to healthcare and health resources enveloped me. People were suffering because of it. So, my mind was ignited as I began to ponder one question: what can I do to make a difference?
    And then came my answer. Best said by Dr. Marcelle Dougan, my biostatistics professor, who would later become my mentor and faculty researcher, “If you want to see changes in healthcare, you must be willing to be the driving force of that change.” These words of wisdom had colored my world. The idea overwhelmed me with a sense of uncomfortability, however I felt I had always thrived under those conditions.
    Soon, I shifted my studies towards public health. I realized public health was a wonderful connector for my two biggest career-based interests: medicine and community health. As I worked my way to the top of my class, I soon landed a position on Dr. Kathleen Roe’s Society of Public Health Education journal team. This position allowed me to delve into health education, which became an extremely important tool in my toolbox. Through my work, I was able to explore how to best incorporate health education into my career as a healthcare provider.
    As I accepted my first healthcare job as an assistant athletic trainer at San Jose City College, I began integrating my developing knowledge on health education into my work. As I developed injury rehabilitation programs for my athletes, primarily men’s football, I informed them on techniques to prevent these injuries from reoccurring. I also designed several injury prevention programs, putting an emphasis on pre- and post-exercise habits. The coach noted these plans significantly decreased the number of injuries our athletes experienced throughout the season in comparison to previous seasons.
    Unfortunately, Coronavirus cut my work with college athletics short. But, I was fortunate enough to land a position with Sutter Health as a patient care assistant. Here, I was able to further solidify my desire to become a PA, as I worked closely with several in the emergency room. These providers enhanced my knowledge on the profession, and most notably gave me better direction on integrating my knowledge of health education into medicine. Vanessa, PA-C, sparked my interest in general family medicine because of the ability to see patients of a wide age range with a variety of ailments. This would give me the ability to educate the largest number of patients, which fueled my passions even further.
    As I look back on my life experience, I realize I want to do something meaningful within the field of medicine. I want to be the driver of change, and no matter how uncomfortable it be at times, I am fully committed to achieving my goal. I have dreamed of becoming a physician assistant, and am looking forward to embarking on this journey.

    Reply

15. Patel says

    May 22, 2022 at 8:26 pm

    Meliorism is trusting that the world can become a better place; the faith that humans can better the world. An idea that I shared with my first ever friend, my Ba (grandmother). She had known me my whole life, so I will never forget feeling gutted the first time she failed to recognize me. It was months of confusion and heartache before our family found some respite after just one visit with Philippe André, PA-C.

    In 2015, Ba was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and we were in unknown territory. PA André was essential in guiding us through her condition and helping us best care for her. Four years later, my grandmother passed away. That is still the scariest night of my life. I was with her as she took her last breaths, I called 911 and performed chest compressions, and I translated for my parents when they took us to a private room and delivered the news. Soon after, I was thinking about how I never wanted to feel such fear again when I saw an old photograph of my grandmother laughing and I recalled she last laughed because of PA André – that was the first time I felt a spark of passion for the PA profession.

    Medicine captivates me. I have previously joined health groups and volunteered for years at a hospital, even earning a scholarship for my dedication. However, the impact PA André had on me brought forth my initiative to pursue hands-on patient care opportunities. Said opportunity came in the form of a patient care technician at Fresenius Medical Care.

    Seeing a patient three times a week helps develop a significant bond with them, but being trilingual in Gujarati and Hindi, I overcame certain hurdles when it came to communicating with some of my patients and their loved ones. I also used my limited Spanish skills to understand and communicate with our native Spanish-speaking patients, who always smiled at my attempts. I covet the ability to make someone feel at ease regardless of language barriers, to make their appointments memorable instead of unnerving. I hope to do so in other languages as well. I was humbled every time a patient asked if I was working that day or told me that they now looked forward to dialysis because of me!

    I thrived with a great team that strived daily to improve our patients’ quality of life. Nonetheless, I wanted more. During weekly rounds, I observed the personalized care the PAs and NPs provided the patients with. They built relationships during the preliminary diagnosis before the patient even set foot in our clinic. They can follow up with a patient who received a kidney transplant or otherwise discontinued treatment. I crave to be a part of the diagnosis, plan of care, and follow-ups for all my patients. This sentiment is strengthened by my continued limited patient interaction as a medical assistant.

    PAs and NPs are both integral parts of a healthcare team, but over time my encounters reaffirmed my decision to become a PA. As a MA at a pulmonary clinic, I primarily worked with an NP, who I witnessed maneuver between autonomy and collaboration with an attending physician. Although, I also spent time with the PA at the other location during my training and I felt that while the PA also had the attending physician to rely on, they were able to be more autonomous due to their more hands-on clinical training with rotations. In my current MA role, I have had the chance to briefly assist a couple of visiting PAs and inquire about their journeys. I decided that I want to learn from a PA educational model as it provides a better scope of medical knowledge and has the benefit of lateral mobility to explore a myriad of specialties without needing additional licensing along with the ability to work with a team.

    The road so far has not been flawless. As an immigrant daughter, I struggled to balance my education and my family. My judgment errors led to my academic dismissal. In retrospect, that was the shock I needed to undergo before I could achieve my full potential. I learned to manage my time, prioritize my duties, and avoided overextending myself. From here, my grades established a strong, upward trajectory. The self-discipline I acquired allowed me to handle working full-time while taking five classes. Last year, I had to step away from healthcare and was only able to submit a few applications due to financial concerns. Since then, I have returned to healthcare as a MA, taken additional classes, shadowed, and volunteered. Over the years, I have made many improvements and I am not inclined to move backward.

    I now realize my passions are greater than my fears. None of us is infallible. Alone I faced struggles, but with a support system, I prospered. I will carry my academic and healthcare experiences with me to succeed as a PA student. As a team, we can provide our patients with better and more comprehensive medical care. I desire to become better and improve the world through healthcare. After all, healthcare, like humanity, is linked.

    Reply

    • Patel says

      May 22, 2022 at 8:35 pm

      Thank you in advance for any feedback! Feel fear to tear it apart, I need all the help I can get!

      Reply

16. Emily says

    May 22, 2022 at 7:19 pm

    Hello!
    Below is my personal statement. Thank you very much for taking the time to read it and provide feedback!

    I have always had a drive to help others, specifically the economically disadvantaged due to the fact that my family was in that situation. I volunteered at LSS because of the impact LSS had on the homeless community. I have volunteered at soup kitchens and food drives. I went with CLU to skid row and helped hand out hygiene kits as well as helped the Union Rescue Mission with organizing their clothing room. Before the pandemic I had the opportunity to prepare food kits with Crossroads Church to be distributed to the less fortunate.

    At 14 years old, I was certain that close run-in with death was just in movies nothing more than an obstacle for the characters to overcome. As I looked at my mom talking to the doctor I caught the words “heart attack.” That word echoed in my head without any meaning long after the doctor walked away. My mom explained to me in simple terms that a part of grandpa’s heart was not getting blood and that part of the heart was suffering. I realized that my grandpa was not as invincible as he portrayed. My grandpa’s heart attack has left him bed ridden at the hospital. Without the healthcare providers springing into action when he entered the emergency room he would have not been where he is today. He has recovered but still has symptoms to show what has happened to him. Today my grandpa’s health has deteriorated. He had a triple bypass surgery and then his kidneys failed him leading him to be on dialysis. His deteriorating health made me wonder what field would put me in a position to best serve others and the answer was right in front of me. It was not just the poverty that my family experienced and the struggles of being first generation, but the health of my grandpa and the effect it had on our family. Which was spending hours in the hospital waiting and worrying, my parents stressing about how to pay medical bills, learning how to better care for him at home, and balance life and caring for a loved one. My love and respect for the medical profession has continued to grow as I got more exposure in the healthcare field.

    As a student, I devoted the majority of my time at CLU to the biological and chemical processes of the world we live in. While working at an Urgent Care with Erinn, an emergency medicine physician assistant, I realized that she was a detective. She uncovered clues while talking to the patient about their history and even more clues with each test she ordered to get one step closer to the diagnosis. Such as a time when a patient came in with abdominal pain. She palpated the quadrants and found that McBurney’s Point was positive. She sent the patient to the hospital to get a CT scan done. She believed that the patient had appendicitis and needed further evaluation. In medicine, healthcare providers use all of the tools at his or her disposal to uncover clues that will help them diagnose and help the patient.

    But medicine is not just about looking at the clues, it’s about people. When I observed Christopher, a radiology physician assistant, I learned that being a physician assistant means so much more than knowing the physiology of a certain disease. Being a healthcare provider means having a patient trust you to insert a needle into their side between two ribs for a lung biopsy. It also means that you have to deal with non-compliant patients and the amount of paperwork that occurs after each patient visit. But more than that, I learned that being a physician assistant means having the privilege to build a relationship with the patient and the responsibility to leave that individual in better health than when they first entered. As I progress through my journey to become a physician assistant I look forward to building these patient physician assistant relationships. As well as expanding access to care for those who need it.

    In choosing to become a physician assistant, I have found a profession that seamlessly combines my love for science and medicine with my passion to help others. Although I understand that the journey to become a physician assistant is fast paced and demanding, my experiences have assured me of my choice; I cannot imagine for myself a profession as personally gratifying and intellectually fulfilling as medicine.

    Reply

17. Cristina N Steyaert says

    May 19, 2022 at 9:19 am

    This is my first draft of my PA statement, I really appericate your time and feedback!

    A quiet house in the suburbs, settling in for the night on a weekday night, became a scene of lights and sirens within a short amount of time. A seventeen year old female was found on the second floor of her home. She was in a postictal state after her mother called 911, witnessing her body seizing, lips cyanotic, and not breathing. EMS did their assessment and transported her to the hospital to do further testing and imaging. She obtained multiple blood tests, an EEG, MRI and CT imaging; all to come back negative for any abnormalities.
    This was just the beginning for me. I began care with a neurologist to help my mother and I through this time of confusion and uncertainty, attempting to piece together what happened and why. The first neurologist that I saw was ready to diagnose me with epilepsy, informing me that I would be taking anticonvulsants for the rest for my life. I contemplated my new diagnosis, filled with despair. My mother reached out to a new neurologist for a second opinion. I spoke with a PA who took the time to explain, with compassion and care, that this was not epilepsy but an idiopathic seizure. This interaction not only brought relief, but it created a trusting relationship that made me hopeful. After this experience, I realized that I wanted to make a difference like this PA had done for me during my time of need.
    In the last three years of working in health care, I have gained many valuable skills through my work as an EMT in the settings of EMS, urgent care, and in a pediatric clinic. Becoming an EMT introduced me to what makes medicine an extensive and incredible field to work in. I have grown my skills on how to gather a detailed description of a patient’s chief complaint and work through an assessment, critically thinking of differential diagnoses. Working in a variety of settings has helped me learn how to do assessments with different ages, cultural backgrounds, and language barriers. In addition, I have learned how to be attentive and present with active listening while interacting with patients. This has allowed me to gain an extensive knowledge of different medical conditions while building rapport with patients and family members under difficult circumstances. While gaining experience and knowledge, it has also showed me what a vital role the PA has within the healthcare setting.
    Working as a team with PAs in urgent care and pediatrics has helped me learn about this career and what this role involves. The PA position not only provides high quality patient care but it also gives an opportunity to work alongside physicians to become a better provider. This aspect appeals to me because the PA has a valuable resource and partnership with a supervising physician to help expand their knowledge while providing guidance to support the PA with managing their own patients independently. I love the flexibility that the PA has to study and practice in multiple specialties. My passion for medicine throughout the years as grown to where I want to explore many aspects of it, not just one specialty. The idea of being able to practice different specialties interests me, not only to gain more experience, but it will help become a versatile provider with a wide variety of expertise to help my patients.
    I have worked alongside PA’s while they performed fracture reductions, applied sutures, and help them with physical assessments to create the best possible treatment plan. One experience that has stood out to me while working alongside a PA was a two year old boy who came in with his mother to urgent care. His mother was worried about what could be causing his lethargic behavior. I helped the PA by obtaining vitals and helping gather family history while the PA consulted with other MD’s in the office to make a diagnosis. When we obtained a blood glucose level of over 500, I observed the PA while he discussed with the mother that her child might have type 1 diabetes and should be seen in the ED. It was an emotional moment for the mother as she was not expecting this to happen to her young son. The PA made an effort to be there for the family, for not only medical support, but with empathetic emotional support. He followed up with the family a few days later to find out the diabetes diagnosis was confirmed. It is moments like this where it can be hard to have a discussion with a patient or family or make a correct diagnosis. However, just like this PA, I want to provide attentive, compassionate care to my patients when it matters most.
    Becoming a PA is a career for me to make a difference in health care and there is no other profession I would want to be in. When I am asked what I do for a living, I will answer “making a difference as a PA.” I am very fortunate to work in healthcare and be involved on a team who is committed to changing lives for the better in the community. I strive to use my strengths as a compassionate, kind, and determined individual to earn the title of PA. I will continue to work towards this goal so that I can help make my impact in healthcare and provide the highest quality care that I know I am capable of.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      May 20, 2022 at 11:32 am

      Cristina,
      I can sense your desire to impact your community.
      When you describe the story with the child diagnosed with diabetes, I think it would be a good idea to add a few lines that show you in action calming this anxious family. You want to show some of those great traits that will make you an effective PA.
      Also, if you have any formal shadowing experience, include this.
      Lastly, in your conclusion, I would tie back to your introduction in some way.
      Good luck to you, Cristina.

      Reply

18. Jacy Chapmon says

    May 19, 2022 at 5:34 am

    Here is my personal statement. I think my transitions could be better. I also need to cut out about 500 characters so let me know what you think needs to go! Thanks in advance!

    “I cannot do all the good that the world needs. But the world needs all the good that I can do” (Jana Standfield). The mindset that the actions of one person cannot make a difference is far too prevalent today. I discovered at the young age of six that I could make a difference in the lives of others through the mission work I was a part of. I was the youngest member on my church group’s mission trip to Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina produced widespread devastation throughout the state. For the first time, I witnessed suffering of innocent people. I also realized the remarkable impact that a single person could make in another’s life. Whether I was cleaning up debris or simply talking and listening to the victims, I could tell that I was making a positive impression on their lives. It was such an incredibly rewarding feeling that I decided this is what I would do in life; help others.
    Growing up, this passion for making a difference stayed with me. I have a fascination for science, and placing those two ideas together led me to pursue a career in the medical field. I explored many different healthcare fields during my undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) before eventually focusing on the physician assistant (PA) profession. I majored in Exercise and Sports Science because of my own passion for health and fitness. This major exposed me to orthopedics and sports-related injuries, and I acquired extensive knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. I volunteered with a physical therapist at UNC in teaching a fall prevention class to older adults, where I was able to use this knowledge in caring for seniors. It was inspiring to watch the participants actively work to improve their physical health. I learned that my positivity and patience were encouraging to others. I know I can apply these qualities to become a successful PA.
    In my quest to explore additional areas of healthcare, I studied public health at the University of Costa Rica. I had the opportunity to visit many local hospitals and clinics in underserved communities, while simultaneously improving my proficiency with the Spanish language. We visited an elementary school and administered vaccines, which was truly an eye-opening experience. Many young students and their parents were unaware of the benefits of this vaccine and were hesitant. This taught me the importance of not only providing medical care to those in need, but also communicating the necessary information to patients in order for them to trust the advice of healthcare professionals. My empathy and listening skills are critical qualities to alleviate any worries patients may have and give them confidence in the patient care they will receive. Listening is an essential quality for a PA in order to facilitate appropriate treatment. I am confident in my ability to listen to patient concerns, discuss them in detail with physicians, and determine the proper course of action/treatment.
    My foremost intent remains to help others, and I want to keep exploring different specialties throughout my future education and career. The lateral mobility of a PA excites me, as I have a constant desire to expand my knowledge. The PA profession will allow me to open doors into different areas of care that I may have not been exposed to otherwise. I am captivated by the opportunity to work with and learn from physicians in a variety of different settings. It is not only the opportunity to explore different areas of medicine that interests me, it is also the somewhat less demanding schedule of a PA versus other healthcare professionals. I am time-efficient and prefer to stay busy, but I aspire to have enough time to give each patient the care they deserve.
    While working as a medical scribe, I definitely stayed busy. I spent the majority of my time working for an orthopedic surgeon and his PA. They work hand-in-hand to provide the most efficient patient care possible. I was able to witness the meaningful relationships that they both create with patients while also giving the highest level of care. I aspire to collaborate with physicians and create a team that patients trust. I think PA is the right profession for me because I am comfortable making important decisions, but I also welcome any advice or critiques that my peers or superiors may offer. I will appreciate the guidance of a physician and be more than willing to implement any changes to my treatment plan based on physician recommendations.
    A lot has changed since that trip to Mississippi sixteen years ago. Not only have I grown a couple inches and learned to tie my own shoes, but I have also gained crucial skills from various healthcare professionals for providing quality patient care in a wide range of environments. I have learned a plethora of information that will contribute to my success in PA school. I look forward to implementing these techniques in PA school. Regardless of how much has changed, I still have that fierce desire to serve my community – and any community in need – that began developing in Gulfport Mississippi all those years ago. Truly, this desire has grown exponentially, and my desire to become a PA has solidified. My experiences in medicine thus far have given me a great appreciation for every role in healthcare, whether that be physician, PA, nurse, chiropractor, physical therapist, medical assistant, or any of the multitude of other roles. After years of exploring these various roles, I have discovered the one best fit for me.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      May 20, 2022 at 11:25 am

      Jacy,
      I can sense your desire to help others woven throughout your essay.
      As far as what to cut, I would condense where you can throughout your essay.
      I would include a patient care story that shows you in action providing care of some kind while connecting with a patient on a personal level. You want to display some of those qualities that will make you an effective PA.
      Also, if you have any shadowing experience, describe that. Describe an interaction between PA/supervising physician or PA/patient that confirmed your decision.
      I am not saying you need this, but should you want more help, remember that we are taking essay submissions for our revision service.
      Good luck to you!

      Reply

19. Eva Batenhorst says

    May 18, 2022 at 10:19 pm

    My personal statement is below, any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

    Science has fascinated me since my first lesson. It was, and still is, a never ending process of finding new answers to me. Each new science book brought a new world of knowledge, excitement, and change; allowing me to expand my mind while nurturing my curious nature. Just as the animals I learned about evolved, my mindset did too. Ask, experiment, results, ask, experiment, results. This became the process by which I took all the answers I had gathered and learned how to use the information. It evolved my constant urge to ask “why?” into “what now?”

    When my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, I realized how to use my determination and love for learning to make a real difference. I witnessed the oncology and surgical teams patiently listen to every question asked and give their best answers along with their medical plan. A group of curious, innovative doctors and physician assistants brought science to life for me and applied my well-loved process of asking, experimenting, and looking at results to a life or death situation that gave us more time with my grandpa.

    Attending Western Oregon University (WOU), I continued my education and solidified my focus on being a physician assistant. Taking a slew of science courses opened my mind and prompted me to think in ways I never had before. Courses such as organic chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology, and microbiology equally supported and challenged my curious mind. After every scholastic failure, I relied on my trusty “what now?” instinct I had nurtured all my years. Instead of giving up, I looked for new approaches and remained resilient. I began camping out by my professor’s doors to ask questions. I started forming and leading study groups, knowing I could learn from other students’ questions and they could learn from mine. My ability and passion to look at a problem and ask myself enough questions to find the answer drove me, and my peers, to scholastic success.

    My desire to grow and learn extended far beyond the classroom and opened many doors into biological research, student leadership, and volunteerism at WOU. Through these experiences I engaged with racially underserved and food insecure communities. In the Spring of 2019, I went on a service trip to California to support immigrant communities. A business we volunteered at focused on providing healthcare to undocumented individuals. Realizing immigrant communities had so many barriers to necessary healthcare pushed volunteerism to a top priority for me as a future PA, whether it is volunteering for local or global medically underserved communities.

    After college, I quickly became a Certified Nursing Assistant to get hands-on experience working with patients. Relying on my adaptability and strong work ethic, I spend time with my patients, understanding their points of view, forming connections with them, and giving them the best quality care I can possibly provide. I also experienced the challenges of being a caregiver, most evident working in our COVID-19 unit in December of 2020. After applying to PA schools last year, I wanted to expand my clinical knowledge, earned my CNA2 certification, and began working on the surgical floor at Peacehealth Riverbend. Working with preoperative and post-operative patients broadened my horizons, introducing me to new procedures, clinical skills, and allowing me to serve patients with vast diagnoses.
    PA shadowing experiences were final reassurances being a PA is what I want to do. Through these I have seen how PA interacts, assesses, and forms plans of action for patients in primary care, memory care, urgent care, and cardiac settings. Comprehensively learning about the position, I gained experience in patient interaction, chart scrubbing, reviewing labs and vitals, medication changes, and charting. I’ve learned the importance of working collaboratively as a team, taking detailed notes, learning medical terminology, showing empathy to my patients, and communicating effectively to the patients and my collaborating healthcare professionals.

    Being a PA interests me in many aspects: level of autonomy, job satisfaction, flexibility in specialties, being challenged,continual learning, and high level of patient interaction. I want to always use every tool in my belt, look for the answer in every last corner to try and meet my patients’ goal. Volunteering as a PA in medically underserved communities will broaden my experience and strengthen my ability to serve patients of all backgrounds. I believe being a PA is my route to continue to be a lifelong learner, maintaining my urge to always ask “what now?” from little girl to healthcare professional.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      May 20, 2022 at 10:51 am

      Eva,
      You are off to a good start.
      You do a good job of showing your love for science and learning and what about the PA profession appeals to you.
      I would suggest including a patient care story that shows you in action providing clinical care of some kind while connecting with a patient on a personal level. You want to show what some of your traits are that will make you an effective PA.
      I wish you good luck on your journey, Eva.

      Reply

20. Graham Sweitzer says

    May 16, 2022 at 6:35 am

    Hello Everyone,

    Below is my personal statement for CASPA. I feel that it hits good points but might not do it in the right way. Any feedback is appreciated.

    The actor Will Smith is quoted as saying “If you’re not making someone else’s life better, you’re wasting your time.” I learned many years ago that life is truly rewarding when it is lived in service to others. This became clear to me over 20 years ago when I enlisted in the Army. I wish I could say my reasons for enlisting were for the altruistic purposes I had previously alluded to, but it wasn’t. I was a troubled teenager and had made many poor decisions leading up to my enlistment. These decisions lead to a non-traditional completion of high school and unfortunately left me facing excommunication from my family. I was left with few choices, none seemed very appealing, but the military at least gave me a small paycheck and gave me a place to live.
    I left for basic training on February 17th, 1999. That day changed my life. I learned the value of service and the value of being a part of something bigger than myself. Through that period I developed skills related to teamwork and grew not only as a person, but as a leader of those around me. I lead men and women through professional and personal obstacles in some of the most austere environments in the world. I had found a way to commit to a life of selflessness and duty to my fellow human. I had also grown and was able to reconnect with family. Unfortunately, after deploying to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division for the last time I returned to significant family turmoil which led to a dissolution of my marriage. I gained custody of my children and now my focus was on being the father they deserved. I knew that in order to accomplish that I had to not simply be present, I had to be striving for positive personal growth. They needed and deserved the best father and role model I could be. To be that I had to make sure I was following the right path. That is when I turned to the next chapter.
    I remember the next moment that changed my life vividly. That was the moment I heard a radio advertisement for the Virginia Beach Rescue Squads (VBRS). VBRS is the largest all volunteer organization in the country and it services all of Virginia Beach, Virginia’s 450,000 citizens with a more than 90% volunteer force by responding to over 52,000 calls to 911 every year. I realized that as a volunteer EMT I could impact people’s lives in a different way. I volunteered as soon as possible. Volunteering had its own challenges. Aside from being a single father, I was still active duty in the Army. I had to determine how to take essentially a college course while maintaining all my prior commitments and obligations. Time management was learned in the military but became even further honed during this process. I was able to coordinate with the help of friends and family to follow a path that would maximize fulfillment while also teaching valuable skills. Learning about basic emergency medical response was exciting but it wasn’t enough. I wanted more. I began looking into advancing my education as soon as possible. I learned about a paramedic program and enrolled. During that period I engrossed myself in learning to be a paramedic. During this time I also met the woman who would become my wife.
    Becoming a paramedic gives me amazing opportunity. I can positively impact the lives of many around me, while using my leadership experience to guide my team and fellow first responders. My most memorable call occurred in February of 2021. We arrived at a call for a woman complaining of abdominal pain. After a brief initial assessment, to ensure there wasn’t an immediate life risk, we packaged the patient and moved her to the ambulance. The patient was about 38 years old and was a poor medical historian. She would groan and guard her abdomen. Eventually it became obvious, when she finally removed her baggy sweatshirt, that she was pregnant. She refused to allow any assessment of her abdomen at first, but finally she stopped refusing. I felt that she was tight in a contraction on palpation. I asked her if she felt the urge to push, and she said she did. I asked if I could visualize what was going on and she allowed me. Upon visualization my heart sank, but my mind clarified. I saw a leg and the posterior of the baby protruding. Normally a breach presentation was something that you didn’t want to deliver in the field due to the risk, but the mother was uninterested in waiting, she began pulling on the baby’s leg saying she wanted the baby out of her. On top of the breach presentation, the umbilical cord was presenting as well. I asked my partner to request back up, pulled the OB kit down and started preparing for a field delivery. Two minutes later back up arrived, and my partner started driving to definitive care while I maintained my position to aid delivery of the baby. My back up started to help me coach the mother, took vitals and prepared the materials for managing things after the birth. The baby was born a few minutes before we arrived at the hospital. She was breathing, but she was very cold. We began warming her while we moved her to the mother baby unit of the hospital. During my follow up I learned the baby tested positive for every drug in the drug panel and the mother left the hospital without checking on her little girl. I believe that if I wasn’t there with my partner that day, that little girl would have died, and it may not have even been reported. I know I made a difference for that little girl, and I know that I can help others.
    I decided that being able to provide care to those in need was a gift I had. I knew that I would always want to grow as a healthcare provider. I thought about the ways to make that happen, and I knew a lot of paramedics that had become nurses, physician’s assistants, and doctors. I weighed the pros and cons of each and realized that being a physician’s assistant was the best course of action for me. As a physician’s assistant I would be able to raise the level of care I am able to provide, while also maintaining a healthy work life balance. Which would allow me to fully engross myself into the two things I love. I could help those in my community with my healthcare and leadership experience, while also staying fully engaged with my family.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      May 17, 2022 at 9:45 am

      Graham,
      First of all, thank you for your service.
      You are a compelling storyteller, and your explanation of the birth/delivery showed your ability to remain calm and provide help when needed.
      I would suggest condensing throughout your essay. I would also tighten up your introduction so there is room to add more elements.
      In addition, I would add a paragraph that answers the question of what exactly draws you to the PA profession. We often advise staying away from the work/life balance aspect because that can appear to focus more on what you will get out of it rather than how you can benefit patients. So, focus on other aspects that appeal to you, such as lateral mobility, ability to expand care, and more time/connection with patients.
      I would also include a paragraph that describes any shadowing experience that you have. If you have not shadowed PAs, describe what you have witnessed in working near them.
      This is only my opinion, but I wonder if you want to quote Will Smith in light of his recent troubles. I certainly appreciate his work and know that we all fail at times, but since he has recently been in the news, you may consider choosing someone else to quote. That said, it is your decision.
      Lastly, for your conclusion, I would reiterate your desire to care for patients and find a way to tie back to your introduction.
      Remember that we are taking essay submissions should you need more help. I wish you good luck!

      Reply