The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative

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1. alex says

   July 3, 2022 at 12:40 pm

   I was a “bitch” my first day at Abbott House for redirecting Tessa, a 12-year-old girl, who had taken food off another girl’s plate. She had called me a bitch so many times over the next month I was convinced she did not actually know my name. Physically abused by her father, the person supposed to care for her most in this world, she took her anger out on me. I still remember the day she asked me if I would braid her hair before she went to bed; that night I heard my name for the first time, “thank you, Alex.” After that, I wouldn’t say Tessa liked me, but we shared a sense of trust and compassion. She was one of 45 girls at Abbott House. Each one had a similar, yet unique, story. I have a love of science and learning, a fascination with the human body, and a desire to help people live better; yet my journey to medicine, like the girls at Abbott House, was not clear-cut.

   My choice of Dakota Wesleyan University allowed me to explore my love for science while continuing my collegiate soccer career. I knew my time on the field was coming to an end but wanted to find a career that incorporated the life skills of teamwork and adaptability that I had learned from it. By the time I got to South Dakota, I knew I wanted to work in a field helping people, but I didn’t know where that would lead. Over the next two years, my passion for medicine would grow as a result of my time spent understanding who I am and the impact I want to make. This was accomplished through the shadowing of physicians and physician assistants and participating in numerous research projects.

   After graduation, I applied to Abbott House, a live-in facility for girls who experienced sexual, emotional, or physical trauma in their lives. Almost all the girls came from South Dakota, with most of them being from an American Indian reservation. Although their trauma varied girl to girl, they had shared reasonings for placement. I worked with girls who ran away, suffered from drug and alcohol abuse, self-harmed and fought suicidal thoughts. These traumatic experiences were new to me, but I soon understood that these were all signs of the girls wanting help and needing to be seen in their own way.

   Navigating my experience at Abbott House had been one of the most challenging, and significant, parts of my life thus far. I honed my interpersonal skills as well as my ability to read nonverbal cues. I was at Abbott House to teach the girls coping mechanisms that would allow them to live with their trauma in a way that did not define them. What I didn’t realize until after my time there was how much those girls were going to teach me. They taught me that often what a person really wants, and needs, is someone to listen. To hear and recognize their pain so that they feel a little less alone. Working at Abbott House formed the emotional foundation I would need for a life in medicine; It hardened my resolve and softened my heart.

   I moved back to California during the first year of the pandemic. As my time in South Dakota ended, I was excited about the opportunities that waited for me back home. The question that lingered in everyone’s mind was, “How long will this last?”, but I knew that the next steppingstone in my journey would be finding some way to help. It was during this time that I was preparing for the MCAT, as at this point, I was planning to apply to medical school. As the pandemic continued, my need to aid in immediate relief intensified. I came to the realization that my visions of providing quality healthcare to the underserved had evolved. The pandemic revealed to me that the future is uncertain and being a physician is much too finite. The ability to alter one’s specialty in order to adapt to the needs of the public was vital in my mission of providing quality health care to all.

   I spent the last year and a half trying to assist those in need. I became a certified EMT and started working for a local COVID-19 testing company whose mission is to limit the spread of COVID-19 in high-risk areas through providing free testing to both insured and uninsured patients. I then was allowed the opportunity to go overseas and participate in a medical mission where I aided doctors and nurses in providing care to the indigenous people of Guatemala. Being a less experienced and licensed volunteer, I was unable to treat patients; but I did help the physicians in their care of the patients and was able to observer how our health care team worked collaboratively to diagnose and treat individuals.

   Looking back, my life has been preparing me for a career as a PA all along, it just took me a little longer to realize it. From learning teamwork in soccer, to being an advocate for the girls at Abbott House, to being able to help in a pandemic no one saw coming; I have developed the skills needed to achieve my goals in medicine as a physician assistant. I am no longer questioning what I want, but rather eager to continue to grow and adapt to what is needed from me to do the thing that has always been my dream, helping people.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     July 9, 2022 at 8:14 am

     Alex,
     Your essay shows your strong desire to impact and elevate others.
     I suggest condensing where you can so that you can include some more details to define your journey toward the PA path.
     With that said, include a paragraph that describes what exactly appeals to you about the profession? Is it the ability to switch specialties? More time/contact with patients? Expanding access to underserved patients?
     Also, I would include some of the clinical skills and medical knowledge you have gained along the way. You want to show how your roles have prepared you to take this next step toward PA school.
     I’m not saying you need this, but should you want more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
     I wish you good luck!

     Reply

2. kate says

   July 2, 2022 at 9:51 am

   I have always had a close relationship with my grandmother. Our favorite pastime is to be out in nature. Over the last few years, her activity decreased due to hip pain. It wasn’t until she saw an orthopedic physician assistant (PA) that she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis. My grandmother had a total hip replacement, and throughout the entire process she was extremely grateful to have the PA there guiding her. This sparked my interest in the PA profession. I wanted to be able to build a relationship and provide comfort to my own patients as my grandmother’s PA did for her.

   I have had the opportunity to shadow PAs in dermatology, rheumatology, and orthopedics. Throughout these experiences I saw how the PAs actively listened to their patients and used their questions and concerns when deciding on a treatment plan. There was one patient in particular that stuck with me while I was in dermatology. A patient, “Kylie”, came in for severe atopic dermatitis. She had seen Kristen, the PA, before but none of her previous medication was working. Kristen suggested a biologic medication, and Kylie expressed concern about the pricing. The next few weeks, I observed as Kristen spent hours calling the insurance company advocating for her patient, until the medication was approved. Kristens resilience to go above and beyond for her patient resonated with me. Her ability to impact a patient’s life, both on a professional and personal level, affirmed my decision to continue down the path of becoming a PA.

   While shadowing I recognized attributes that I believe are needed in the PA profession. Compassion is a vital trait to have in healthcare; you must have compassion for your patients to give them the best care. Collaboration and communication, decisiveness, and calmness are key characteristics that make a successful PA. I have exemplified these characteristics throughout my patient care experience and volunteering.

   Collaboration and communication. As a PA you need to be able to collaborate with different members of your team such as physicians, nurses, and specialists. You need to be able to communicate not only between your colleagues but your patients as well. In my role as a dermatology medical assistant, I have efficiently communicated and collaborated with my provider and patients. I was performing a wound check on a patient when I noticed their site was red and tender. I stepped out of the room to collaborate with the doctor. The doctor looked at the photos and told me she wanted to prescribe an antibiotic and to relay wound care instructions to the patient. I explained thoroughly how to take the antibiotics and how to care for the site, making sure the patient understood before they left. Collaboration and communication will make me a successful PA and PA student.

   Decisiveness. PAs analyze a lot of information at once and must come up with a course of treatment in a short amount of time. I was assisting in an excision surgery, and had bandaged the patient. I noticed he was pale and had started sweating. I asked how he felt, and he said “lightheaded and hot”. I tilted the chair so his body was flat and his feet were above heart level. I dimmed the lights, told him to relax, and to breathe until he felt better. I made a fast but intuitive decision to take the actions necessary to prevent him from fainting. Decisiveness is a key characteristic in the PA profession. As a PA I would be able to make decisions in a timely manner without second guessing myself.

   Calmness. As a PA you will encounter patients that are nervous, stressed, or scared. Being able to remain calm and provide explanations to patients is paramount to providing quality patient care. I displayed this attribute when volunteering at an addiction recovery program at The David Lawrence Center. During my time volunteering I got to lead a few group therapy sessions. During one session I was explaining how to recognize triggers and risk factors when it comes to relapse. One participant got visibly upset and explained he was scared that he would relapse after graduating from the program. In that moment I remained calm and reminded him that he was not alone in that fear. I explained that there are ways to prevent relapse as I went over tools for stress management. This trait of calmness is one I would be able to use as a PA, so my patients feel comfortable and I can articulate that I understand their concerns.

   Through my shadowing experiences I have seen how PAs work both autonomously and with a team. I have witnessed how they put their patients’ needs above all else. I want to provide the same level of care to my patients. Through my position as a medical assistant, I have learned how to read a patient when they need clarification. Through volunteering I have been able to ease the tension in difficult situations while remaining level headed. I am ready to take on the difficulties of PA school. I am ready to become a PA and to have a meaningful impact on my patients lives while giving them the best care possible.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     July 4, 2022 at 9:25 am

     Kate,
     You do a good job of showing what appeals to you about the PA profession and how you are a good fit.
     I would include any clinical skills/medical knowledge you have gained. Describe any relevant work experience that has prepared you for PA school.
     Lastly, I would separate your description of shadowing from your conclusion and expand on what you witnessed. Was there an interaction between patient/PA or supervising physician/PA that solidified your decision?
     For your conclusion, you may want to add a sentence that ties back to the story about your grandmother.
     I wish you good luck, Kate.

     Reply

3. Sophie says

   July 1, 2022 at 6:27 pm

   After listening to the last heartbeat, the provider looked up and said, “Time of death…” Standing next to him as the Korean interpreter, I looked at the family, and they could tell by the look on my face what I was about to say. It was the first death I had witnessed working in the ER, and I was at a loss of words.

   The only reason why I chose biology as my major was because of the social pressures from my parents as well as my friends. We were all “aspiring” to become healthcare providers. The classes were so difficult, almost as if the school was pressuring us to change our career path. Eventually, I began to burn out due to constantly adhering to the social pressures of pursuing this path rather than doing what I truly had a passion for; so I switched to Early Childhood Education. Everyone around me was already telling me that I would be a “perfect teacher,” so why not? The curriculum was fun, but teaching just wasn’t my thing. So with one more semester to go before attaining my education degree, I decided to take a gap year. I still did not know what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. My peers around me seemed to have such a clear path, but why wasn’t it as clear for me? This question hit me harder when I went to my friend’s graduation. During the speech, I remember the dean mentioning a quote by Mark Twain that said, “The two most important days in your life are the days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” What was my why? In order to answer this question, I took the advice of a family friend, who told me to consider interpreting while I was taking my time off. I can speak both Korean and English fluently, so I did my research and found a program at my school. After 6 long weeks, I got my certification as a Korean/English Medical Interpreter. Shortly thereafter, I got a job at Gwinnett Medical Center and began working as an interpreter. Working as an interpreter really opened up my eyes to a number of different departments in the hospital that I never heard of. I had the opportunity to interpret for an MRI, mammogram, the ER waiting room, and fatefully, delivering the news of a family death.

   On that day I interpreted for the death of the middle-aged father, I was peculiarly reminded of Mark Twain’s quote on graduation day. Sitting in the room with the family members and the doctor, the eldest daughter was grateful for how hard the hospital tried in saving her father. This came as a surprise because we only had bad news to deliver. I only got to speak with the daughter for about 10 minutes, but she helped me to realize why I wanted to become a provider. It turned out her father was not in the best condition for a long time, but because of the language barrier, they had a hard time explaining exactly what was going on to the providers. Many years had passed with improper treatment causing him to come back to our hospital with a cardiac arrest. Knowing that I was there the whole time after their father came into the ER, they were relieved to have someone that was able to communicate exactly what was going on. Even though he had passed away, they were glad that the hospital was improving to help all people regardless of the language barrier. The family was able to learn a lot about their father’s condition that they did not know before. After talking with this daughter, I wanted to become a physician assistant that could not only diagnose and treat people, but give reassurance to those that have barriers in their way from getting proper treatment. My why became so certain and clear, and I hope that every patient I meet, I can be the person that they can trust. Not only do I want to gain their trust, but I also want to have the opportunity to teach the patients about their concerns while helping them find the treatment they need.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     July 4, 2022 at 9:15 am

     Sophie,
     Your desire to help people shines throughout your essay.
     Also, your introduction does a good job of capturing the reader’s attention.
     I suggest condensing where you can throughout your essay so you can include some more elements of your journey.
     Describe what specifically appeals to you about the PA profession. (the ability to switch specialties, expanding access to care, collaborating with a healthcare team?)
     Also, describe any clinical skills and medical knowledge you have gained along the way.
     If you have any shadowing of PAs, include a paragraph describing what you witnessed that confirmed your decision to pursue this path. If you haven’t shadowed PAs, what did you witness from working with PAs?
     I’m not saying you need this, but should you want more help, we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
     I wish you good luck in your journey, Sophie.

     Reply

4. Alex Rivera says

   June 30, 2022 at 4:03 pm

   My personal statement is below. I believe the placement of my paragraphs could be better. Any feedback is greatly appreciated and revisions that can help me stay within the character limit. 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. However, there was one individual with whom I had an interaction that enlightened me. It was a young woman who appeared 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 agonies, I believed it was insufficient to address her shoulder injury-related issues. 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, as I don’t want to re-experience being unable to provide adequate support and care 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 situation 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. Given this, I became determined in preparing to befit a PA student through 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 to ensure 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. Possessing horizontal flexibility in specialties greatly influenced me to select the PA route. I’ve been able to resonate with the solicitude, concern, and addressing of concerns regarding my health that the PAs I’ve encountered provided me with as their patient. This gave me great insight into how a PA can be as effective as a physician, thus reinforcing my ambition to become a PA.
   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 desire to provide food and essentials to persons in need. Being able to explore a community service position by providing for underserved individuals 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 encountering barriers, to be granted greater access to health care services overall. Through shadowing a dental hygienist and volunteering at the Queens Hospital Center, I developed clinical skills such as 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 aspiration of becoming a provider in the medical sector (PA), I will undoubtedly look forward to honing these qualities to follow my vocation of assisting those with medical adversities.
   While I am dedicated to providing excellent patient care, I was unable to exhibit this throughout my first two years of college. My grades suffered as a result of struggles with time management and finding study techniques that worked for me. Nonetheless, I persisted in cultivating productive habits and devoting myself more 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.
   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 and skills for this career. Volunteering in the patient care sector of hospitals and shelters has helped me envision the importance of offering care and positive support for those in need within society. Just how as a volunteer I was of optimistic service to that wounded young woman in need at the shelter. 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 confident 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

5. Alex Estrada says

   June 30, 2022 at 3:25 pm

   My personal statement is below. I believe the placement of my paragraphs could be better. Also, considering the characters for the personal statement are rather limited, are there any other things that are recommended regarding edits or revisions. 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. However, there was one individual with whom I had an interaction that enlightened me. It was a young woman who appeared 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 agonies, I believed it was insufficient to address her shoulder injury-related issues. 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, as I don’t want to re-experience being unable to provide adequate support and care 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 situation 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. Given this, I became determined in preparing to befit a PA student through 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 to ensure 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. Possessing horizontal flexibility in specialties greatly influenced me to select the PA route. I’ve been able to resonate with the solicitude, concern, and addressing of concerns regarding my health that the PAs I’ve encountered provided me with as their patient. This gave me great insight into how a PA can be as effective as a physician, thus reinforcing my ambition to become a PA.
   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 desire to provide food and essentials to persons in need. Being able to explore a community service position by providing for underserved individuals 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 encountering barriers, to be granted greater access to health care services overall. Through shadowing a dental hygienist and volunteering at the Queens Hospital Center, I developed clinical skills such as 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 aspiration of becoming a provider in the medical sector (PA), I will undoubtedly look forward to honing these qualities to follow my vocation of assisting those with medical adversities.
   While I am dedicated to providing excellent patient care, I was unable to exhibit this throughout my first two years of college. My grades suffered as a result of struggles with time management and finding study techniques that worked for me. Nonetheless, I persisted in cultivating productive habits and devoting myself more 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.
   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 and skills for this career. Volunteering in the patient care sector of hospitals and shelters has helped me envision the importance of offering care and positive support for those in need within society. Just how as a volunteer I was of optimistic service to that wounded young woman in need at the shelter. 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 confident 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

     July 4, 2022 at 9:04 am

     Alex,
     I can sense your desire to help patients woven throughout your essay.
     I would include some more details about your work history and clinical skills you have gained along the way.
     If you have shadowed PAs, include a paragraph describing how this confirmed your decision.
     Also, you may want to add some more details about some other aspects of the profession that appeal to you.
     I wish you good luck, Alex.

     Reply

6. Alba Lopez says

   June 27, 2022 at 3:06 pm

   Useless is a feeling most of us are very familiar with. This feeling changed my life when I was about 14 years old. My mom became ill unexpectedly during the holidays. All I remember is her shouting my name from the bathroom and as soon as I ran in, she fainted. I yelled for my dad and brother, barely catching her. They grabbed her and placed her on the floor. We were trying everything to get her to wake up, but she was not responding. The whole time, I was sitting next to my mom crying, frozen. They finally managed to get her to wake up and we rushed her to the hospital. This moment made me start thinking of pursuing a medical career.

   My concrete path into healthcare began in 2018 when I decided to get my medical assistant certification. I had been struggling with science courses at my previous school, so I figured that I could take this time to determine if I was cut out for the medical field or to leave it to the 4.0 students. Once I received my certification, u began working at a clinical research clinic. I was in awe of how much more I could learn hands-on and directly from the doctors. This job made me fall in love with helping others and confirmed my desire to continue this path. I enjoyed connecting with each patient on a personal level, allowing them to be comfortable around me. Soon, I had patients asking for me by name.

   A specific skill that will help the PA connect with their patient is speaking more than one language. We live in a country where English is not the only most spoke language. As a PA, speaking the patient’s language will bring relief to the patient, knowing they are being understood by their provider. I always had my Spanish-speaking patients tell me how happy they were having someone speak their language. Connecting with patients is equally as important as getting along with your coworkers, a quality that is overlooked. A clinic can only function if everyone is working together. I learned the value of my coworkers working as a MA. We made each other more efficient by always helping one another and always lending a helping hand. Providers are only as good as the rest of their team.

   I take ownership of every low grade I have received. At the beginning of my college years, I was trying to get into the groove of college and being in a new city with no family nearby. Once I got used to being in college, it got too expensive and I had to transfer back home. I then attended a community college then transferred to a four-year university. At this time, I was also getting my MA certificate. Then two years later, my husband got a job in Northern California, so I had to transfer schools again. With all the transferring that I have done, my grades show some struggles as well as improvements. My college path, most importantly, reflects my perseverance to not give up no matter the lemons life gave me.

   All these years, I have kicked myself for not knowing what to do when my mom got sick. I made it my goal to enter the medical field as a PA to help others and never experience the feeling of uselessness in a life or death situation. Gaining the knowledge that this career will provide will not only help me, but above all, allow me to help those who need it most. I never imagined that the motivation I needed would come from feeling useless.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     June 30, 2022 at 10:17 pm

     Alba,
     You do a good job of grabbing the reader’s attention in the introduction.
     I would suggest adding in more details about your work, clinical skills and medical knowledge gained. Include a patient care story that shows you in action caring for patient on a personal level. Here, you may even want to include a Spanish phrase to highlight those language skills.
     You also want to include some details about what specifically draws you to the PA profession. (more time with patients in some contexts? ability to switch specialties? expanding access to underserved patients? working with a healthcare team and also autonomously?)
     Include a description of any shadowing experience as well. What about the interactions you witnessed confirmed your decision?
     I wish you good luck, Alba.

     Reply

7. Amanda says

   June 27, 2022 at 8:12 am

   Hi, this is my draft- all comments and edits are welcome! Thanks so much

   I was a sophomore in high school when I first heard about the physician assistant career. At this point, I knew that science and medicine intrigued me, so I kept this route in mind through the rest of high school and into college, as I began to shadow PAs and became a medical scribe in an attempt to ensure that it was a good route for me. At this point, after very positive experiences exploring the medical field, I was convinced that this was the career for me. I thought that I had my “why PA moment”, but looking back, this was very premature. Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed these experiences and learned a lot about medicine and the PA career, but I had yet to have my own experience that proved to me that I would not only enjoy working with patients, but be willing to put them before myself. I did not have this until I began working at Resilire Neuro.

   I began working at Resilire in April 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic. The patients at the facility had all suffered traumatic brain injuries, and were therefore very high risk for COVID-19. A few months into my job, the COVID restrictions in Michigan began to loosen up, and my friends started making elaborate plans, as we had not seen each other in months. When I heard of these plans, my first thought was not excitement, which surprised me, given that I had been craving those types of social interaction for what felt like ages. Instead, I immediately thought of my patients, whom I had grown such strong connections with and whose health and well-being I cared about so deeply. After I turned down the invitation to a friend reunion, I received a call from one of my friends, of which I answered expecting her to attempt to guilt me into coming. Instead, she told me that the way I have been handling these situations proved to her why I would make a great PA. She stated that it takes a special person to make these types of sacrifices for their work and patients, and it showed how great of a fit this career path was for me.

   The word “sacrifices” stood out to me. Personally, turning down these plans did not at all feel like a sacrifice, but simply a given. I did not do this because I felt obligated, as it was not an order from my boss, nor to avoid getting in trouble, because frankly I knew I would not have been caught. Instead, I saw it as purely my responsibility to care for my patients to the best of my ability, and in this unique case that meant making changes to my life outside of work to ensure this remained true. This is what being a PA means to me; caring so much for your patients that “sacrifices” do not feel like a loss, but a reward because you know you are contributing to their well-being that much more. This experience proved to myself that this is what I am actually meant to do. It showed me that I have the necessary compassion and empathy ingrained in me and am willing to do whatever it takes for the health of my patients, something that I could not have learned through shadowing and scribing.

   As a PA, the ability to switch between specialties stands out to me the most. Unfortunately, I have noticed those who remain stagnant in their career often inevitably get burnt out, as they do not have new and exciting experiences that continue to fuel their passion over time. As a PA, the possibility of movement and flexibility allows one to be a lifetime-learner and is essential to ensure this passion does not wane over time.

   Additionally, I believe that I am better suited to be a physician assistant than a physician due to the higher emphasis on patient care. Through my experiences working at Resilire Neuro, I realized that this is one of my main strengths, as I was able to form strong connections with each resident while still remaining professional and keeping them healthy. While directly interacting with patients, there are countless opportunities to improve their days, which makes a big difference in their overall experience under your care and is something I look forward to as a PA. Working with TBI patients taught me how to drastically adjust my patient interactions based on the individual, as each of them had very unique behavioral plans that were essential to follow for successful care. This is an extremely important patient care skill that I will take with me in the future, as adjusting patient interactions based on each person’s preferences and needs is something that will be extremely relevant as a PA, where I will work with a very diverse group of patients.

   With all of this in mind, I feel that I have finally defeated the daunting task of choosing a career that will truly keep me passionate for life, something that I never thought was attainable for me. Although I still have a lot to learn, I feel that my experiences thus far have provided me with a strong skill set to begin my PA journey. With my hard work and dedication, I am confident that I will be a great asset to your program, as I push myself to become the best PA I can possibly be.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     June 30, 2022 at 10:07 pm

     Amanda,
     I can sense your passion to serve patients woven throughout your essay.
     I would suggest condensing where you can to make room for some additional information about your journey to this point.
     I think your story about sacrificing your friend reunion for your patients is compelling. With that said, you will likely need to trim some of the details, and you may even want to move that to earlier in your essay. You could also shorten that first paragraph.
     I would include some of your clinical experience and medical knowledge in your essay. Describe your clinical duties with your TBI patients, and also include a patient care story that shows you in action providing personalized care. You want to show some of your traits that will make you a strong PA.
     If you have any shadowing of PAs, I would also include that. What about this experience confirmed your decision to pursue this path? Was there an interaction between PA/supervising physician or PA/patient that especially stood out?
     I would also add more details about what appeals to you about the PA role.
     Lastly, I would not waste characters discussing why you are not pursuing other other roles, and instead just focus on why you are choosing the PA route.
     I wish you good luck, Amanda.
     Remember, should you want more help, we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.

     Reply

8. Angela Quach says

   June 26, 2022 at 12:09 pm

   Growing up, I always pictured doctors and nurses whenever I thought of a career in medicine. Coming home from school, I would rush to my computer and watch medical shows. Watching the medical professionals interact with each other and with patients, made me anticipate what would happen next. I grew fascinated during times where the medical professional had to explain diseases in layman terms to their patients. This allowed me to further understand what was going on in the tv shows and what the patients had gone through. Unfortunately, there were numerous portrayals of doctors and nurses in tv shows but never a physician assistant. Due to this, I was unaware of what the PA profession had to offer. I was in no doubt interested in the medical field, but remained oblivious to the numerous different healthcare occupations that made up healthcare. But this changed when I had an experience that inspired me to become a PA.
   In the summer of 2018, I worked as an intern for a healthcare internship program. After a month of working with a healthcare administrator, I met a PA named Natalie, who specializes in Dermatology, and later allowed me to shadow her. One day, there was a patient in distress and was rambling, because there was a black unknown growth on her leg. Natalie calmly listened to the patient’s concerns, and provided the patient with different options used to pinpoint the type of disease. The patient calmed down after listening to Natalie, and agreed to proceed with a biopsy for further testing. Skillfully, Natalie numbed the surrounding tissue using a needle and quickly removed the unknown growth with a blade. It was fascinating watching her perform the punch biopsy while the patient was awake. Witnessing that event had changed my life and career choice. By shadowing a PA, I was given an insight on the profession. I was shown how a PA interacts with both patients and other medical providers, while performing effective communication and great bedside manners.
   My interest in the PA profession has grown immensely, along with my desire to become a PA. PAs have to work under a physician’s supervision, which is ideal for me, because I enjoy working both independently and dependently. I like how PAs are provided support by the physician and there are numerous diverse medical specialties to work in. Moreover, I believe that being able to perform effective communication is beneficial to both the provider and the patient. It is easy for patients to become confused about what is going on since they might not understand medical jargon. I also consider some of the characteristics that I have, such as having empathy and being a good listener, would make me a good fit as a PA. Being a good active listener would help me understand what the patient is going through instead of dismissing their concerns and providing an incorrect diagnosis. By doing this, I am able to think on how to move forward with the patient. I feel that having empathy would allow me to provide a much more effective treatment when I am able to understand what the patient is feeling.
   Another reason for what motivates me to become a PA is, because I want to further develop my clinical skills and increase my ability to practice medicine. As of now, I am a Medical Assistant working in Occupational Health. I enjoy being an MA because I am able to perform injections, vital signs, wound care, and much more. I like being the bridge between the provider and the patient. At my job, I am able to interact with a diverse patient population, which is different from what I am used to. Each patient comes from a different background and profession such as construction workers to nurses. There is no exact method on how to communicate, because while one patient can understand what is happening, another might have trouble. However, I do not want to be limited to just the responsibilities of an MA. I do not want to just room patients. Instead, I desire to be able to address patients’ concerns and accurately diagnose them. I want to be able to look at X-rays, perform sutures and conduct physical exams as well. By being a PA, I am able to learn more on providing quality patient care and being able to implement my newfound skill set.
   In the beginning, I was uncertain about the PA profession. However, after meeting Natalie, I realized that was not the case. PAs make up much of healthcare and without them, it would be a lot harder to provide effective patient care. I am ashamed to have assumed that only doctors and nurses made up healthcare. I have definitely learned a lot about the PA profession along with the numerous roles that made up healthcare. I am not the same clueless child as I was years ago, who only watched medical shows behind the screen. Instead, I have decided to take matters into my own hands and further develop my skills. I believe that being a PA would be life changing and I believe this profession is for me.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     June 30, 2022 at 9:53 pm

     Angela,
     Your story about discovering the PA profession through Natalie is compelling.
     I would suggest focusing more on why you are drawn to the PA profession rather than using characters to talk about other roles, such as nurse and doctor. You want to reveal more details of why the profession is the right fit for you. (ability to expand care to underserved patients, more time with patients in some contexts, the possibility of switching specialties)
     I would also include a story that shows you in action caring for a patient. You want to show yourself connecting on a personal level while providing care of some kind.
     Also, you’ll want to explain more of your path in healthcare. (your major, relevant work history, clinical experience, volunteering with patients) You want to show your medical knowledge and clinical experience.
     You will likely need to condense throughout your essay to make room for these additions.
     Should you need more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
     I wish you good luck, Angela.

     Reply

9. Gigi says

   June 19, 2022 at 1:58 pm

   I was a sick kid. Pharyngitis was a grim quarterly ritual of my childhood, costing nearly 50 rounds of progressively stronger antibiotics by my freshman year. I caught mono, bronchitis, impetigo – you name it. When fever hit, my mom drove me 80 miles north to a clinic in Albuquerque due to inadequate healthcare in rural Socorro, NM. She made the same drive biweekly to the nearest oncologist when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, a privilege unavailable to most. Illness interfered with my highly active lifestyle, so I needed to understand why I got sick and how to get well faster. I admired how my medical team always had a plan, and I wanted to know answers like these for myself and for loved ones forced to put life on pause while sick.

   My family moved to New Zealand when I was 15. I thrived in the NZ education system, emphasizing balance between academics, sport, and art. As a country with publicly funded healthcare, the attitude around medicine is much different from the US: everyone has affordable access to preventative routine care. The physician assistant (PA) role is not well established despite general practitioner shortages.

   I remained in NZ alone to earn a BSc in medicinal chemistry because I wanted to develop new solutions for others like me with recurrent infections from behind the scenes. I revel challenges, diving into the difficult curriculum and new self-reliance gleefully. The detail of how biologic systems work fascinated me, and my interest nutrition and fitness blossomed as I applied concepts from science classes to my personal health habits. In 2015, I learned the hard way that top grades required consistent effort instead of cramming, so I improved my study habits and honed my discipline to prioritize school. As I began caring for myself with proper rest, fuel, and exercise, my chronic illnesses subsided. By 3rd year I knew my outgoing personality wasn’t suited to a reclusive academic life as a synthetic chemist, but I had no idea what else I could apply my skills towards.

   It occurred to me I could serve the front lines of healthcare four years into my first career in sales. Managing a vast portfolio of industrial chemicals at Silver Fern then healthcare data at IQVIA taught me the value of persistence, teamwork, and communicating with integrity to gain trust. Even though I served my clients well, I suspected the problems I solved were just making more money for millionaires. My disquiet amplified when COVID hit because I heard about heroic healthcare staff sacrificing everything to keep strangers alive while I was helplessly sheltering in place. It was the ultimate forced pause. Clearly the real issue was not a dearth of novel therapies, but a shortage of providers to give evidence-based, easy-to-understand care. Sales built my confidence and my hard-earned progress in the gym built my self-efficacy, so I was ready to emerge from the sidelines to help. I desperately wanted to share my passion for health using my unorthodox sales expertise and academic acumen.

   To ensure I had the emotional capacity to see patients, I began volunteering at Cottage Hospital. I fell in love with my simple transport role. Encouraged, I poured myself into learning more about different health specialties. A prescriber report I ran for an IQVIA client last May solidified my focus on a PA career, as I could clearly see how crucial they were to routine care by the disproportionately large share of scripts for everyday bugs. The autonomy to diagnose and treat, emphasis on collaboration, and flexibility to choose specialties appeals to my grit, curiosity, and adaptability. I knew I was making the right choice when I left my secure life behind to go all-in on becoming a PA.

   As a dermatology medical assistant (MA) and Mohs technician, I enjoy educating patients on the importance of consistent simple rituals like sunscreen to prevent skin cancer. My commitment to personal fitness gives me the energy required to be calm and focused under pressure, whether I’m cranking out perfect frozen sections or assisting with a 3-hour interpolation flap repair. I’m proud to be on a team that supports learning, but I know I can give more than my current scope allows. My eyes opened wider when I scored PA shadowing opportunities in urgent care and orthopedics after months of cold calling; the way the PAs took the time to thoroughly assess, communicate kindly, provide resources, collaborate with the doctor, and refer if needed resonated with the type of provider I envision myself as.

   I’m certain in my career choice to become a PA. Although I have worn diverse hats in my life, I believe each one prepared me in a unique way for the difficult path ahead. Overcoming my own illnesses gave me the maturity, tenacity, and confidence in myself to care for others. Tackling a rigorous PA program will be a thrilling challenge, and I’ll do whatever it takes to succeed for the privilege of guiding people to the healthy life they deserve.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     June 22, 2022 at 9:05 am

     Gigi,
     You do a good job of showing the journey that has brought you to this point.
     You could separate your paragraph discussing your current role as an MA from your shadowing paragraph and then elaborate in both paragraphs. (adding in more clinical skills you gained and some more insight into shadowing.)
     You may need to condense throughout your essay to make room for this.
     I wish you good luck, Gigi.

     Reply

10. Hapuruchi Avugara says

    June 18, 2022 at 4:55 pm

    Possible title ?: Can’t think of any right now? Please suggest for me if you can.

    In two situations, the pain of being homeless would have caused me to fail in my career: a panic call from my father while I was at school. Hapuruchi, please come back home, Amaka left the faucet running, and I am drowning in the basement. Another possibility was a family of six sleeping when my mother smelled gas coming from the kitchen, with a slim chance of wiping out the entire family in a single night. “Wake up ooooo” She cried out as she saw my sister open all the gas furnaces with the fire, warming herself up from being cold when the heat was on. My family and I were oblivious to the warning signs of impending disaster that something was wrong with my sister for a long time, but when she was diagnosed with moderate learning disability and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

    Despite having a minor learning handicap and obsessive-compulsive condition, everyone liked Amaka. Her difficulties stemmed from a head injury sustained from a fall from the stairwells when she was younger. It was a challenge for everyone in the family at the time, but the care she received over the next few years during her recuperation taught me the value of professional physicians and physician assistants.She had grown particularly fond of me because I was her carer, and she would call me every day at 6:00 a.m. to remind me to come to a clinic for routine work. In my capacity, I was in charge of providing her with her bathing, eating, medication, and going to scheduled hospital appointments for her diagnosis. Amaka would smile at me as I walked her through her clinic routine. She would sit next to me on the couch and grasp my hands while I sat beside her, saying in a calm voice, “thank you, sister.”

    I became interested in biological sciences in a clinical and non-clinical environment to assist me in analytical and diagnostic skill set after feeling helpless with the desire to be there for her. Volunteering and shadowing took up a portion of my life, and my medical experience confirmed that there was no other job I desired more. Observing a team of doctors, physician assistants, nurses, and technicians collaborate to host homeless men and women at St. Francis House, a day shelter in Boston’s downtown area. Their collaboration and the medical assistant’s capacity to operate autonomously intrigued me. Through all of my study and experience, it appeared to me that my passion for medicine is so broad that it would be impossible for me to focus solely on one part of medicine. Having the potential to work in practically any specialization excites me, and having the ability to diagnose and cure instead of simply observing would be a dream come true.

    I helped pack and sort everyday clothes and shoes at St. Francis House, a day shelter in the center of Boston, and it made a life-or-death difference. I started talking to the people who were the most forgotten. They felt acknowledged with a simple good morning, and how are you today, as I would say. I had no clue that this would show a deep interest in science and the difficulties of caregiving that I had not known I possessed. In my second community service work at the Greater Boston Food Bank. I sorted and packed food for those in need. My passion for physician assistant’s acme helped me to make a good influence. I got the opportunity to work with an instructional team to minimize hunger in Eastern Massachusetts while in this position. I also participated in varieties of extracurricular activities, such as marketing a $1,000 fundraising, purchasing gifts, and providing counseling to patients and their families.

    My desire to work as a physician assistant allows me to make a difference in the life of people. It began while I was a student at Pine Manor College and caring for my disabled sister. During my undergraduate career as a pre-med/biology major, I became interested in advanced science courses to supplement my formal classroom studies, pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and engaged in activities such as unsupervised laboratory performance, entrepreneurship, and participation in extracurricular activities. I had shadowed an ob-gyn, Dr. Cari, at Mount Auburn Hospital for about two and a half months. After a month of shadowed, I learned from Dr. Cari that building strong doctor-patient connections is crucial to gaining patient trust. Emergency room doctors, general practitioners, pregnant patients, and individuals with mild to severe menstruation irregularities were among the people I shadowed. I would go through fetal ultrasounds, fill out pregnancy papers, and listen to Dr. Cari give detailed advice and a booklet on how to deal with stress, eat healthily, and exercise regularly. I would see fetal ultrasounds, fill out pregnancy paperwork, and listen to Dr. Cari give thorough advice and a leaflet on how to handle stress, eat well, and exercise consistently. Women with more severe menstrual abnormalities due to polycystic ovarian syndrome and other conditions towards birth control help them menstruate.

    I understand that academic achievement is required to become a medical assistant, so I’d like to take the time to clarify the disparities in my transcript. As a result of my constant battles with Amaka’s difficulties. My best efforts to achieve academic greatness graded me with substandard marks in my freshman, and sophomore years. Even for college students, there are numerous delights in life when their loved ones become ill on occasion. None, however, compares to the comfort I get in another’s healing touch. My summers away from college were impactful in making strides to pursue a career in the future. My grades in the second and third years of my college experience reflect my active participation in the classroom. I had no clue that this encounter would lay the groundwork for my decision to pursue a career as a physician assistant.

    After graduation, I obtained full-time administrative employment as a radiology authorization specialist at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, where I worked via email with oncologists and their mid-level providers to handle insurance concerns regarding cancer patients’ imaging denials. My job became remote when the outbreak struck, and I didn’t have much time to do anything else. As a result, on Wednesday evenings, I devote my time to virtual shadowing with Heal Clinical Network. Dr. Robert Behringer of Heal Clinical Network organized a virtual shadowing session with presentations concentrating on real-life patient problems. I’ve learned to operate alone and as part of a team player in my patient care experiences. The patient with the most affection was one who had gonorrhea proctitis, a condition that produced excessive rectal bleeding and stomach agony. After ruling out various other options, we discovered that the patient had gonorrhea proctitis.

    These experiences showed me the importance of a team-based care system. Being an excellent care provider requires being a physician assistant with honor and embracing teamwork in the face of obstacles. Many others will benefit from the emotional and physical help I provide if I can transform my sister’s life and other experiences I’ve had as a caregiver. I realized that while I might not be carrying out my childhood goals of changing the world as a physician assistant, it would only be the beginning of my education in aiding the medically underserved over the course of my adult life to transform the lives of each of my patients. Each patient I’ve had the honor of caring for has taught me what it is to be fulfilled and have a reason to keep doing what I’m doing now that I’m on the verge of starting a career as a physician assistant.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      June 21, 2022 at 9:58 pm

      Hapuruchi,
      I know that your sister is lucky to have you as her advocate, and I can sense throughout your essay that you will be a compassionate and effective provider.
      I would suggest condensing where you can throughout your essay.
      Also, if you have gained any clinical skills in your roles, describe those.
      I’m not saying you need this, but should you want more help, we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
      I wish you good luck, Hapuruchi!

      Reply

11. Maddie says

    June 17, 2022 at 9:38 am

    Thank you for your help!
    “How bad is it if a client’s dog has eaten a [insert double chocolate donut, teabag, jar of coconut oil, or pair of underwear here]?” All of these are questions that I have had to ask a veterinarian on staff in my work as a veterinary receptionist. Not one day went by in that position where I had all of the answers; instead, I was constantly turning to my superiors and my fellow co-workers with questions. As soon as I understood one thing, someone else called with a completely different problem. I learned to work in, and came to love, a collaborative medical environment where there were always new dilemmas to puzzle through, making the physician assistant (PA) career an ideal fit.
    My time spent virtually shadowing various PAs affirmed that the career is highly collaborative and comes with plenty of learning opportunities. Physician Assistant Michele Neskey, who works in oncology, spoke of a patient who had an allergic reaction to the solvent of her immunotherapy treatment, a phenomenon she had never seen in her fifteen years of practice. Savannah Perry, a dermatology PA, shared that she would often bring her physician in on a case not necessarily because she needs the help, but because she knows that all of the practitioners in her office like learning opportunities. Last but not least, Physician Assistant Gabriella De Vita, who works in family medicine, talked about a case where she referred her patient to the ER due to her fear of cholangitis. She conferred with another PA in the office to come to this conclusion, and together they likely saved that patient’s life. All three of these PAs highlighted the highly collaborative nature of their positions, and emphasized that there is always room for learning and growth. I welcome a career where I can continue to learn and where I can continue to turn to my fellow healthcare providers for support and guidance.
    In addition to the potential for constant learning experiences, I have been drawn to the medical field for years now because I would like a job where I can see the impact of my efforts daily. As a Certified Nursing Assistant in a rehabilitation and long-term care facility, my favorite part of my job was giving my residents their showers. Before I started there, I never would have guessed that I would enjoy a seemingly mundane task so much. But a meticulous, considerate shower allowed even the most confused or irritable resident to brighten and see that I cared for their well-being. It seemed to me that the shower, more so than many of the other facets of caregiving, gave them a sense of dignity, which is a very important thing to maintain in such a setting. There were certainly challenging days, but I learned to enjoy small moments such as these where I was satisfied because my patient felt taken care of and secure. I know that, likewise, there will be difficult days as a PA, days where it may be hard to believe that I have made any difference in the lives of my patients. I have learned, however, to hold onto and value those small instances where I know that I have. I can provide care to my patients with a wider scope of practice as a PA than as a CNA, and I look forward to seeing the instances when I have positively impacted the lives of my patients in bigger ways while still valuing the little ways as well.
    In light of my undergraduate experience and my professional experiences, I believe that I will be a capable PA student. Despite taking 18 credits nearly every semester of my undergraduate career, I have maintained both a strong overall GPA and a strong science GPA. As such, I believe that I can take on the rigorous academic load required of PA students. I have learned how to achieve balance despite my busy academic schedule, with leadership roles in multiple clubs and the campus’ women’s group. I have had multiple summers where I have balanced two part time jobs, learning the importance of professionalism and responsibility when working with my supervisors at each location. As a CNA, I learned the importance of care plans catered to the individual’s medical background and needs, and as a receptionist learned the importance of communication and teamwork.
    With my past experiences and efforts, I am confident that I will be a successful PA student. I believe I have the capacity to be academically successful despite the demanding course load, and I have learned so much in my professional life that I will carry with me through PA school and beyond as a practicing PA. I am sure there will still never be a day in school and in my career that I do not ask questions, but I am ready and willing to learn.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      June 21, 2022 at 9:45 pm

      Maddie,
      Your introduction grabs the reader’s attention while showing your commitment to learning and collaboration.
      I would mention some of the clinical skills and medical knowledge you have gained in your current or past roles.
      Through your description of caring for your patients’ shower needs I can sense that you will be a compassionate and effective provider. I wish you good luck on your journey, Maddie.

      Reply

12. Maddie says

    June 17, 2022 at 9:34 am

    Thank you so much for your help everyone!
    “How bad is it if a client’s dog has eaten a [insert double chocolate donut, teabag, jar of coconut oil, or pair of underwear here]?” All of these are questions that I have had to ask a veterinarian on staff in my work as a veterinary receptionist. Not one day went by in that position where I had all of the answers; instead, I was constantly turning to my superiors and my fellow co-workers with questions. As soon as I understood one thing, someone else called with a completely different problem. I learned to work in, and came to love, a collaborative medical environment where there were always new dilemmas to puzzle through, making the physician assistant (PA) career an ideal fit.
    My time spent virtually shadowing various PAs affirmed that the career is highly collaborative and comes with plenty of learning opportunities. Physician Assistant Michele Neskey, who works in oncology, spoke of a patient who had an allergic reaction to the solvent of her immunotherapy treatment, a phenomenon she had never seen in her fifteen years of practice. Savannah Perry, a dermatology PA, shared that she would often bring her physician in on a case not necessarily because she needs the help, but because she knows that all of the practitioners in her office like learning opportunities. Last but not least, Physician Assistant Gabriella De Vita, who works in family medicine, talked about a case where she referred her patient to the ER due to her fear of cholangitis. She conferred with another PA in the office to come to this conclusion, and together they likely saved that patient’s life. All three of these PAs highlighted the highly collaborative nature of their positions, and emphasized that there is always room for learning and growth. I welcome a career where I can continue to learn and where I can continue to turn to my fellow healthcare providers for support and guidance.
    In addition to the potential for constant learning experiences, I have been drawn to the medical field for years now because I would like a job where I can see the impact of my efforts daily. As a Certified Nursing Assistant in a rehabilitation and long-term care facility, my favorite part of my job was giving my residents their showers. Before I started there, I never would have guessed that I would enjoy a seemingly mundane task so much. But a meticulous, considerate shower allowed even the most confused or irritable resident to brighten and see that I cared for their well-being. It seemed to me that the shower, more so than many of the other facets of caregiving, gave them a sense of dignity, which is a very important thing to maintain in such a setting. There were certainly challenging days, but I learned to enjoy small moments such as these where I was satisfied because my patient felt taken care of and secure. I know that, likewise, there will be difficult days as a PA, days where it may be hard to believe that I have made any difference in the lives of my patients. I have learned, however, to hold onto and value those small instances where I know that I have. I can provide care to my patients with a wider scope of practice as a PA than as a CNA, and I look forward to seeing the instances when I have positively impacted the lives of my patients in bigger ways while still valuing the little ways as well.
    In light of my undergraduate experience and my professional experiences, I believe that I will be a capable PA student. Despite taking 18 credits nearly every semester of my undergraduate career, I have maintained both a strong overall GPA and a strong science GPA. As such, I believe that I can take on the rigorous academic load required of PA students. I have learned how to achieve balance despite my busy academic schedule, with leadership roles in multiple clubs and the campus’ women’s group. I have had multiple summers where I have balanced two part time jobs, learning the importance of professionalism and responsibility when working with my supervisors at each location. As a CNA, I learned the importance of care plans catered to the individual’s medical background and needs, and as a receptionist learned the importance of communication and teamwork.

    With my past experiences and efforts, I am confident that I will be a successful PA student. I believe I have the capacity to be academically successful despite the demanding course load, and I have learned so much in my professional life that I will carry with me through PA school and beyond as a practicing PA. I am sure there will still never be a day in school and in my career that I do not ask questions, but I am ready and willing to learn.

    Reply

13. Madison says

    June 16, 2022 at 10:24 am

    My timid footsteps came to a halt at the sentence, “Your mom should have died”. It was then that Friday, November 27th, 2015 became the scariest day of my life. It was the day after Thanksgiving, and my brother and I were waiting at home for my mom to get off of work, except she never came home. It was not until my grandfather showed up at the front door that we knew something was wrong. He rushed me and my brother to the hospital without saying a word. After many hours in the waiting room, a doctor emerged from the double doors asking for the family for Wunder. My stomach dropped in disbelief that I was the family for Wunder and we were finally going to find out what happened to my mom. She had a Triple-A, abdominal aortic aneurysm, the worst the hospital had seen anyone survive. As a fourteen-year-old, I had no idea what any of the big words meant that were being spoken to us. I remember the fear being written all over my face until one of the physician assistants (PAs) sat down with me and drew a sketch of what happened to my mom and how they repaired her aorta in surgery. It was only until I understood the situation that I could finally catch my breath and be grateful that my mom survived.

    I moved in with my grandfather for the two weeks that my mom was in the hospital. I visited every day and every day a member of her healthcare team reassured me that she was going to be okay. This was my first experience observing what it was like to work in a hospital. I watched the patient care technicians and nurses hustle to each room. I watched the physicians make their rounds. I watched the PAs do the same except they stayed in the rooms for a longer period of time. I felt safe when the PA came into the room because I knew they would stay with me for a few minutes and I wouldn’t feel so alone. In my eyes, that physician assistant was a leader and I realized I wanted to help others in the way they helped me.

    After this moment I became obsessed with everything related to healthcare. I bought books about holistic nutrition and studied medical terminology. Then in the summer of 2018, I volunteered at the University of Kentucky Medical Campus where I was able to observe a variety of healthcare providers caring for patients. My time volunteering confirmed that the PA profession was truly the right one for me. Before I started college, I knew I wanted to be on the Pre-PA track, so I tailored my education and extracurricular activities to match that goal. The summer between my senior year of high school and my first year of college, I earned my Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and State Registered Nurse Aid (SRNA) license. At the time, I did not feel like I was doing enough to help my community, so I went down to the University of Kentucky campus and I enrolled in the Army ROTC program. Three years ago I realized the best way I can serve my community is by becoming a PA for the United States Army and I feel even more strongly about that today.

    Volunteer efforts in a public hospital, shadowing experience in a private orthopedic clinic, and my healthcare career as a state registered nurse aid have allowed me to witness the role of PAs in public and private sectors of healthcare. In both settings PAs have the fortunate role of working closely will all members of the healthcare team. As a future PA, I plan to use this to my advantage to strengthen the bridge between healthcare and public health to prevent chronic diseases before it reaches the stage that my mother’s disease did. I believe it takes a leader to connect this bridge and that is exactly what a PA’s role is in the healthcare system.

    As a cadet in an Army ROTC program, I have learned what being a leader entails. Throughout my ROTC career, I have been tested on a foundational list of leader competencies which include leadership, development, and achievement. These characteristics not only developed my interpersonal skills but also showed me what it takes to influence others. In ROTC I have been selected to be platoon sergeant, company commander, and officer in charge (OIC) of multiple events. It is through these positions that I have gained experience as a leader within my battalion. I wish to use this knowledge of leadership to make medicine more personable as a PA. I desire that one day every member of our community has the information they need to live a healthful life. A PA was there to comfort me on the worst day of my life, and I truly hope I am awarded the opportunity to serve my community in the same way.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      June 21, 2022 at 9:29 pm

      Madison,
      First of all, thank you for your service. Also, I am so glad that your mother was okay.
      I think you do a great job of grabbing the reader’s attention while also showing how you first learned about the PA profession.
      I would elaborate on any clinical skills and medical knowledge that you have gained in your roles.
      Also, if you have a patient care story that you can share that reveals you in action providing clinical care of some kind while connecting on a personal level, include that.
      You could also add more details about your shadowing experience.
      I wish you good luck on your journey, Madison.

      Reply

14. abby says

    June 14, 2022 at 8:52 am

    Here’s my draft. Thank you!

    I was the pharmacy student rounding with the ICU team that Wednesday. A nurse came over to us, anxious, stating that our patient in room 101 had a drastic drop in blood pressure to 40/20 during dialysis. The physician, PA, and resident frantically began a beside ultrasound and ordered vasopressors, while the pharmacist and I ensured the appropriate vasopressors and doses were ordered. As we watched the process, I couldn’t deny the desire I had to be in that room, performing and reading the ultrasound and providing hands-on care. And it was a feeling I couldn’t shake throughout all 4 years of school.

    I went to pharmacy school to be a highly accessible healthcare professional that could provide reliable information to anyone who walked through the pharmacy doors, regardless of insurance status, socioeconomic class, or any other barriers. Through experiences volunteering in disadvantaged communities, I had seen a gap in knowledge between receiving a diagnosis from a provider and understanding how to treat and manage the condition with their medications. It has been rewarding to use my pharmacotherapy knowledge to ease the fears of a patient with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes by teaching them about insulin, or educating a provider that semaglutide is the most effective GLP-1 agonist for weight loss and then further helping the patient attain it affordably. But going through the program, I realized providing quality care to fill in gaps in our healthcare system is what drew me to medicine as a whole and not just pharmacy, and that I desired to do it in a capacity that touched on more aspects of patient care than just medication. As I worked with a team of physicians, NPs, and PAs during my rotations, it became clear that the PA profession embodied the type of care I had always desired to provide—hands-on, autonomous but collaborative, and with a broad scope of practice to expand care.

    Shadowing orthopedic surgery PA, John Lignore, and surgical staff PA, Miranda Warunek, exposed me to a new and exciting side of medicine. I was fascinated by John’s ability to assist in a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty and provide pre and post-operative care outside of the OR, all while having a per diem job in the Emergency Department. I saw Miranda respond to a trauma alert in the ED where she efficiently assessed the patient and skillfully performed an eFAST exam before handing the case off to the ED attending. Learning from John and Miranda about the versatility of the PA training model and seeing that I would have the ability to care for patients in this way as a PA solidified my desire even more.

    As a fourth year pharmacy student whose goal was now to become a PA, I focused on selecting clinical rotations that would make me a stronger prescriber. I set up an out of network rotation with the Indian Health Service in New Mexico, where pharmacists function as providers through collaborative practice agreements for disease states within their scope of practice. Two days into the rotation I was assigned to the pain clinic, where I saw a patient who was on 90 morphine milliequivalents daily for her chronic back pain—the highest dose in the entire facility. When we suggested tapering her off opioids given the greater risk than benefit, she began crying, stating that her pain was under control at this dose and she could finally take care of her kids, and that at least if she got the opioids safely from us she might not seek them elsewhere and overdose like her relatives had. The challenge of improving her health in the context of the issues the native community faces again confirmed I wanted to be a provider who had the ability to make these difficult and meaningful decisions, but someone who also had the ability to provide more holistic care, including non-pharmacologic treatment options and diagnostic and physical assessments. I knew I needed to learn areas of medicine that were out of the pharmacist’s scope of practice.

    In my current role I see myself as a corner piece of a patient’s puzzle, touching strongly on a few aspects of their medical care. I want to change my shape to a middle piece as a PA, influencing more aspects, carrying the values that inspired me to pursue pharmacy into the profession, and combining my existing knowledge with additional medical training to extend the delivery of quality healthcare.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      June 21, 2022 at 2:52 pm

      Abby,
      You are off to a strong start. You do a good job of showing how your desire for advanced responsibility for patients’ care has expanded.
      In your story about the woman tapering off opioids, you may want to add short dialog that reveals you educating and encouraging her.
      Also, if you have gained any clinical skills in your rotations, spotlight those.
      I wish you good luck on your journey, Abby!

      Reply

15. Blade Crutchfield says

    June 13, 2022 at 8:27 pm

    One of the miracles in life I have gotten to be a part of is my mom’s fertility journey. I was the first of six children. My mother and father started having fertility issues after I was born, which lead them to attempt IVF. Four years after me, my twin brothers Stone and Drake were born. Low and behold, three years later, my brother Sai was born. The last to be born were my two sisters, Ireland, and Kia. I was about 13 years old when my mother explained to me how Stone, Drake, and Sai were created. I wish she had recorded my reaction when she said something like, “We had eggs combined in a dish and then implanted inside me.” I never really thought about IVF again until one day it was mentioned in my high school biology class. I was utterly amazed by the fact that a human being or beings could be created by simply combining eggs from a male and female in a dish. I realized then that because of advancements made in medicine, I get to be a big brother to five awesome siblings. This is what first piqued my interest in science and medicine.

    I decided to go to college and major in biology, knowing I wanted to eventually pursue medicine and provide health care. I obtained a four-year degree in biology and then a master’s degree. I struggled in my first few years of college but later strived to better my GPA. I knew if I wanted to get serious about ever working in medicine, I would have to make better grades. I achieved this by changing my study habits and putting in the work I knew I was capable of.

    While I have shadowed and studied a variety of different types of health care providers, PA is one profession that has always really stood out to me. A PA can work in essentially any medical setting as well as specialty. They can diagnose and treat patients. What makes the career of PA special to me is the way that they approach patient care. Being a PA would allow me to serve others and provide them with needed care and knowledge. A PA must know how to work in a team and collaborate with others, something I feel I have gained by having a large family and in my current role.

    I currently work as a monitor technician. In this role, I have learned to read heart rhythms, apply Holter monitors, and a variety of other tasks. I have watched hearts start and unfortunately stop. I have performed EKGs on newborn babies. This job has allowed me to experience one on one patient care with a vast range of ages. While my role as a monitor technician is a respectable job, I feel like I have more of myself to offer to patients. I want to be on the frontlines diagnosing and treating patients. I want to be helping others at their most vulnerable times. I want to be in a career that can give me abilities like bringing life into the world and bringing people the joy of having siblings. I want to impact lives, and that is why I believe the PA profession is for me.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      June 21, 2022 at 2:41 pm

      Blade,
      What an incredible miracle story about your family!
      I suggest moving your discussion about your grades to the paragraph before your conclusion. You are wise to address this, but that is usually the best spot for this information as it allows you to lead with your strengths before addressing grades.
      I would also suggest including a paragraph that describes you in action with your current role. You want to show yourself providing care while connecting on a personal level. In your story, spotlight some of your character traits that will make you an effective and compassionate PA.
      Also, I would include a paragraph that details an experience shadowing a PA. What about an interaction between PA/patient or PA/supervising physician solidified your decision?
      I wish you good luck, Blade.

      Reply

16. Blade Crutchfield says

    June 13, 2022 at 8:20 pm

    Any help would be appreciated in editing my personal statement. Thanks a ton!

    One of the miracles in life I have gotten to be a part of is my mom’s fertility journey. I was the first of six children. My mother and father started having fertility issues after I was born, which lead them to attempt IVF. Four years after me, my twin brothers Stone and Drake were born. Low and behold, three years later, my brother Sai was born. The last to be born were my two sisters, Ireland, and Kia. I was about 13 years old when my mother explained to me how Stone, Drake, and Sai were created. I wish she had recorded my reaction when she said something like, “We had eggs combined in a dish and then implanted inside me.” I never really thought about IVF again until one day it was mentioned in my high school biology class. I was utterly amazed by the fact that a human being or beings could be created by simply combining eggs from a male and female in a dish. I realized then that because of advancements made in medicine, I get to be a big brother to five awesome siblings. This is what first piqued my interest in science and medicine.

    I decided to go to college and major in biology, knowing I wanted to eventually pursue medicine and provide health care. I obtained a four-year degree in biology and then a master’s degree. I struggled in my first few years of college but later strived to better my GPA. I knew if I wanted to get serious about ever working in medicine, I would have to make better grades. I achieved this by changing my study habits and putting in the work I knew I was capable of.

    While I have shadowed and studied a variety of different types of health care providers, PA is one profession that has always really stood out to me. A PA can work in essentially any medical setting as well as specialty. They can diagnose and treat patients. What makes the career of PA special to me is the way that they approach patient care. Being a PA would allow me to serve others and provide them with needed care and knowledge. A PA must know how to work in a team and collaborate with others, something I feel I have gained by having a large family and in my current role.

    I currently work as a monitor technician. In this role, I have learned to read heart rhythms, apply Holter monitors, and a variety of other tasks. I have watched hearts start and unfortunately stop. I have performed EKGs on newborn babies. This job has allowed me to experience one on one patient care with a vast range of ages. While my role as a monitor technician is a respectable job, I feel like I have more of myself to offer to patients. I want to be on the frontlines diagnosing and treating patients. I want to be helping others at their most vulnerable times. I want to be in a career that can give me abilities like bringing life into the world and bringing people the joy of having siblings. I want to impact lives, and that is why I believe the PA profession is for me.

    Reply

17. Sam Nelson says

    June 13, 2022 at 1:55 pm

    Thank you for your help!

    For as long as we have had the farm, we always bought our hay from Dave. Every month or two, we throw ropes in the pickup and head to the border between Berks and Lancaster County, out where the horse buggies are as common as the cars. I toss the bales down from the barn loft and Dave wedges them into the flatbed.
    But this time as I climb down, I see Dave bent over, his hands resting heavily on his knees. He is breathing too hard for someone used to hard work. We exchange a look, but he waves me off. I let it go but leave uneasy. A month later, I drive back to the barn, hoping to see him back to normal. His son is there instead.
    “Where’s Dave?” I ask.
    “Well…” his son replies, “He’s been in hospital since last week. The doctors found a lump in his lungs.”
    My heart sinks. I saw Dave’s illness a month ago and did nothing. Then again, if I pushed him, would it have changed anything? Dave was not the type to go into the city for a slew of medical tests. He was a “rub some dirt on it” kind of a guy, which describes our corner of Berks County. Like everyone short on time and finances, he pressed through the discomfort. I spend the day mulling over how I could have made things better for Dave.
    * * *
    I remember the first time I put a Band-Aid on my kid sister. “All better?” I asked, watching her pain melt away. I was hooked. Nothing has ever given me more satisfaction than caring for others. I began doing all I could to explore the medical field.
    My first medical experience was with a local ambulance service as an emergency medical technician. A month in, my partner and I were transporting Jared, a 14-year-old boy, from our local hospital to a facility with more specialized care. As always, we introduced ourselves, and without responding, he got up, walked to the stretcher, and climbed in, covering his face with a blanket. We gently buckled him in and wheeled him into the vehicle. I got in the back.
    I had become well acquainted with silent rides. I gave Jared space, and half an hour into the ride, he pulled down the blanket and looked around.
    “Have you been in an ambulance before?” I asked, trying to sound casual. He shook his head.
    “Well, anything you want to know about?”
    There was a long pause, and then he pointed to the oxygen tank. “What’s the green tube?”
    We eagerly conversed about the ambulance and when that topic ran dry, we discussed our other interests. An hour into the trip, Jared admitted how nervous he was about the new hospital and his treatment. Despite feeling underqualified to address his fears specifically, I knew I could listen. In the following hour, I saw that just letting him feel heard was as powerful as any medicine I could have given him. I was providing more than just treatment. I was giving care. As we pulled up to the ambulance bay, Jared smiled at me and said, “Thanks. Talking helped.”
    * * *
    A year later, I took a position as a nurse’s aide at the hospital near my school. Once again, this let me see how important it is to build trust and rapport. But as fulfilling as it was to listen to people, I knew that emotional care was not enough to fully impact my patients’ health. I needed to find a balance between medical and emotional care.
    One day, I was helping Betty, an 80-year-old patient of mine, sit up in bed when a physician assistant (PA) came to discuss the plan of care. I finished helping Betty and left to complete other tasks. An hour passed, and I came back to check-in only to find her and the PA still talking. As I entered, I heard the PA say, “you don’t need to worry about me. I can answer as many questions as you like. My co-workers will cover for me.”
    This was the balance I was looking for. A PA has enough knowledge to develop a care plan, manage problems flexibly, and summarize all the data that accumulate over 24 hours in a hospital. Moreover, with the help of their colleagues, they can take the time to address patients’ emotional needs as well.
    The more I research the PA role, the more confident I become that it is the best fit for me in the spectrum of providing care. I am drawn to the ability to change specialties, which will allow me to find the best fit for my abilities over time. It is meaningful to me that I can decide if a field is right after working in it for months or even years, rather than a brief rotation.
    * * *
    Six months later, as I listen to Dave’s son talk about his father’s treatment, I consider how I could help. As a PA, I want to use my abilities to help those in rural communities gain easier access to healthcare. I want to be someone who has earned their trust by listening to their needs. If Dave had easy access to his provider, he might have been seen and diagnosed sooner. My goal is to be part of a team that brings care directly to rural communities. Whether it is by telemedicine, a mobile clinic, or even house calls. I feel a duty to reduce the disparity in delivering healthcare to rural populations. Dave deserves that. We all do.

    Reply

18. Sam Nelson says

    June 13, 2022 at 7:38 am

    Here is my personal statement. Thank you so much for your help!

    For as long as we have had the farm, we always bought our hay from Dave. Every month or two, we throw ropes in the pickup and head to the border between Berks and Lancaster County, out where the horse buggies are as common as the cars. I toss the bales down from the barn loft and Dave wedges them into the flatbed.
    But this time as I climb down, I see Dave bent over, his hands resting heavily on his knees. He is breathing too hard for someone used to hard work. We exchange a look, but he waves me off. I let it go but leave uneasy. A month later, I drive back to the barn, hoping to see him back to normal. His son is there instead.
    “Where’s Dave?” I ask.
    “Well…” his son replies, “He’s been in hospital since last week. The doctors found a lump in his lungs.”
    My heart sinks. I saw Dave’s illness a month ago and did nothing. Then again, if I pushed him, would it have changed anything? Dave was not the type to go into the city for a slew of medical tests. He was a “rub some dirt on it” kind of a guy, which describes our corner of Berks County. Like everyone short on time and finances, he pressed through the discomfort. I spend the day mulling over how I could have made things better for Dave.
    * * *
    I remember the first time I put a Band-Aid on my kid sister. “All better?” I asked, watching her pain melt away. I was hooked. Nothing has ever given me more satisfaction than caring for others. I began doing all I could to explore the medical field.
    My first medical experience was with a local ambulance service as an emergency medical technician. A month in, my partner and I were transporting Jared, a 14-year-old boy, from our local hospital to a facility with more specialized care. As always, we introduced ourselves, and without responding, he got up, walked to the stretcher, and climbed in, covering his face with a blanket. We gently buckled him in and wheeled him into the vehicle. I got in the back.
    I had become well acquainted with silent rides. I gave Jared space, and half an hour into the ride, he pulled down the blanket and looked around.
    “Have you been in an ambulance before?” I asked, trying to sound casual. He shook his head.
    “Well, anything you want to know about?”
    There was a long pause, and then he pointed to the oxygen tank. “What’s the green tube?”
    We eagerly conversed about the ambulance and when that topic ran dry, we discussed our other interests. An hour into the trip, Jared admitted how nervous he was about the new hospital and his treatment. Despite feeling underqualified to address his fears specifically, I knew I could listen. In the following hour, I saw that just letting him feel heard was as powerful as any medicine I could have given him. I was providing more than just treatment. I was giving care. As we pulled up to the ambulance bay, Jared smiled at me and said, “Thanks. Talking helped.”
    * * *
    A year later, I took a position as a nurse’s aide at the hospital near my school. Once again, this let me see how important it is to build trust and rapport. But as fulfilling as it was to listen to people, I knew that emotional care was not enough to fully impact my patients’ health. I needed to find a balance between medical and emotional care.
    One day, I was helping Betty, an 80-year-old patient of mine, sit up in bed when a physician assistant (PA) came to discuss the plan of care. I finished helping Betty and left to complete other tasks. An hour passed, and I came back to check-in only to find her and the PA still talking. As I entered, I heard the PA say, “you don’t need to worry about me. I can answer as many questions as you like. My co-workers will cover for me.”
    This was the balance I was looking for. A PA has enough knowledge to develop a care plan, manage problems flexibly, and summarize all the data that accumulate over 24 hours in a hospital. Moreover, with the help of their colleagues, they can take the time to address patients’ emotional needs as well.
    The more I research the PA role, the more confident I become that it is the best fit for me in the spectrum of providing care. I am drawn to the ability to change specialties, which will allow me to find the best fit for my abilities over time. It is meaningful to me that I can decide if a field is right after working in it for months or even years, rather than a brief rotation.
    * * *
    Six months later, as I listen to Dave’s son talk about his father’s treatment, I consider how I could help. As a PA, I want to use my abilities to help those in rural communities gain easier access to healthcare. I want to be someone who has earned their trust by listening to their needs. If Dave had easy access to his provider, he might have been seen and diagnosed sooner. My goal is to be part of a team that brings care directly to rural communities. Whether it is by telemedicine, a mobile clinic, or even house calls. I feel a duty to reduce the disparity in delivering healthcare to rural populations. Dave deserves that. We all do.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      June 21, 2022 at 2:31 pm

      Sam,
      You are off to a strong start. You show your early interest in helping others and making a difference. You also do a good job of showing the reasons why the PA profession appeals to you.
      I would include more details about any clinical experience and medical knowledge gained through your various roles.
      Also, if you have any shadowing experience, you could include some details about how that further solidified your decision to become a PA.
      I wish you good luck on your journey, Sam.

      Reply

19. Dee says

    June 9, 2022 at 9:25 pm

    A million concerns ran through my mind as I stood by my mom’s bedside with silent tears. After two years of battling stage IV breast cancer, my mom was reaching her end when she was diagnosed with leptomeningeal disease and encephalopathy. I was going to lose my mom and there was nothing that would relieve the pain circulating my body; that was until I saw my mom’s soft smile and followed her line of sight to the hand on top of hers. Through this simple touch, our physician assistant (PA), Patricia, eased the heaviness and pain in our hearts. Without a word, she consoled us with the compassion that she carried for us. Despite my mom’s difficulty with forming coherent sentences, she managed to tell us how grateful she was for Patricia. A few days later, my mom passed, but I will always cherish the comfort that Patricia brought to my mom in her last days.

    Throughout my mom’s battle, she always complimented the care and attentiveness she received from Patricia. Each hospital visit was increasingly exhausting, but Patricia ensured that my mom was comfortable and properly cared for. With any trouble that arose, she immediately coordinated with other health care professionals on how to effectively care for my mom. Rather than waiting for the oncologist, our concerns were quickly and thoroughly addressed by Patricia. Seeing Patricia’s positive impact on my mom and my family inspires me to do the same for others. My desire to positively influence my community led me to healthcare, but I never knew which role I would fit into until I met Patricia.

    My initial interest in healthcare began through my desire to improve access to public health education. Through Team KiPow and Student Health Outreach, I educated students about various health topics, such as managing healthy eating and sexual health. I saw an absence of health education in the younger generations as many students admitted to being uninformed about what we taught. I connected with this as I also grew up in a community where the importance of one’s health was not emphasized. Without a strong foundation, these students were lost on how to navigate their own health, thus demonstrating the necessity of proper health education. I am motivated to be a PA as I will be in a position where I can advocate for proper health care management and disease prevention to ensure that patients develop a solid foundation for managing their personal health.

    My interest in counseling further developed through my time with GREEN-MPNA, in which I worked with medical students and doctors to learn about the medical approach to counseling patients. Practicing with patient cases, I saw the thought process behind the diagnosis and treatment of patients. It was interesting to see these students apply their scientific knowledge to connect symptoms with potential diseases. This experience affirmed my decision to become a PA because I enjoyed the medical model of treating patients.

    As a clinical cardiology assistant, I read EKG’s in order to analyze data on Holter monitors and oversee treadmill stress tests. Through this, I have a better understanding of how to interpret results and connect symptoms to underlying heart conditions. While I am trusted to interpret EKG’s independently, I enjoy working with and seeking advice from the doctors when I need guidance. In addition to these skills, I have learned about the patience and understanding that is necessary in this field. Working primarily with geriatric patients is difficult as many of them have trouble recalling their medical history and get upset or flustered as a result. I learned to calmly and kindly guide patients to gather the most accurate information possible. Overall, I gained the necessary skills to cooperate with a medical team in order to create a supporting environment where patients feel comfortable entrusting their health to me and the team.

    Volunteering at a non-profit clinic located in a Health Professional Shortage Area showed me the struggles that patients face in seeing primary care providers and specialists. In addition to language barriers and transportation and financial issues, patients have delayed access to treatment because of the lack of providers. With the extensive training in various fields that PA’s receive, I would have the flexibility to move between different specialties and fill in gaps where providers are needed. Being a PA provides me the opportunity to reach a broader scope of patients, thus alleviating the issue I see many patients at the clinic face.

    Having experienced the indescribable pain of losing a loved one, I am determined to save lives and advocate for preventative healthcare. My mom was the strongest person I knew, but the fear in her eyes as she treaded through the unknown paths of her sickness and health is permanently with me. As a PA, my goal is for patients to never feel alone. I want to be a guiding light and help patients navigate through their health. With everything I have learned and gained from these experiences, there is no doubt that I want to pursue a career as a PA and make a positive impact on the health of my community.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      June 17, 2022 at 12:44 am

      Dee,
      First of all, I am so sorry for your loss.
      Patricia sounds like an amazing provider, and I trust that you will help patients in much the same way as her.
      If you have a patient care story (maybe about a patient receiving an EKG) I would include details about that, showing you in action while connecting on a human level.
      Also, if you have any shadowing experience, describe that. How did this confirm your decision to pursue the PA path?
      I wish you good luck, Dee.

      Reply

      • Dee says

        July 6, 2022 at 12:27 am

        Hi Whitney,

        Thank you for the help. I haven’t had the opportunity to shadow in person, only virtually. Here is my updated personal statement if you would have time to review once more. Thank you again for the feedback!

        A million concerns raced in my mind as I stood by my mom’s bedside with silent tears. After two years of battling stage IV breast cancer, my mom was reaching her end when she was diagnosed with leptomeningeal disease and hepatic encephalopathy. I was going to lose my mom and there was nothing that would relieve my pain; that was until I saw my mom’s soft smile and followed her eyes to the hand on top of hers. Through this simple touch, our physician assistant (PA), Patricia, eased the heaviness in our hearts. Despite my mom’s difficulty with speaking, she told us how grateful she was for Patricia. A few days later, my mom passed, but I will always cherish the comfort that Patricia brought my mom in her last days.

        Throughout my mom’s battle, she always complimented Patricia’s attentiveness and style of care. Each hospital visit was increasingly exhausting, but she ensured that my mom was comfortable and well-treated. With any arising trouble, she coordinated with the health care team on how to effectively care for my mom. Rather than waiting for the oncologist, our concerns were quickly and thoroughly addressed by Patricia. Her positive impact on my mom and family inspires me to do the same for others. My desire to improve my community led me to healthcare, but I never knew which role I would fit into until I met Patricia.

        My interest in healthcare began through outreach volunteering, where I saw an absence of health education in the younger generations as many students were uninformed about the various health topics we taught. I connected with this as I grew up in a community where the importance of one’s health was not emphasized. Without a strong foundation, these students were lost in navigating their health, thus demonstrating the need for proper health education. As a future PA, I will advocate for proper health care management and disease prevention to ensure that patients develop a solid foundation for managing their personal health.

        From shadowing PA’s, I saw the thought process behind the diagnosis and treatment of the patient cases that we worked on. Each case was a mystery and their knowledge was the key to determining the cause in order to help the patient. Their thorough explanation satisfied my curiosity to understand what could be happening. As described by one of the PA’s, medicine is about what we do not know and I am excited to face the unknown and continuously expand my knowledge to help others.

        As a clinical cardiology assistant, I read EKG’s in order to analyze data on Holter monitors and oversee treadmill stress tests. I now have a better understanding of how to interpret results and connect symptoms to underlying heart conditions. While I am trusted to interpret EKG’s independently, I enjoy working with the doctors when I need guidance. Along with these skills, I developed the patience and understanding that is necessary in this field. Working primarily with geriatric patients is difficult as they are unfamiliar with testing machinery. For instance, I had one patient who was uncomfortable with walking on a treadmill. Paired with his severe anxiety, his uneasiness was reflected in his rapid heart rate. I calmly explained each step of the test and demonstrated how to properly walk. While giving the patient time to practice walking, I comforted him with the knowledge that I would not leave his side and would monitor and hold him throughout the test. Eventually, the patient’s heart rate normalized and we successfully completed his test. His gratitude was more than enough for me to know that working in healthcare is my passion. Guiding patients through their troubles for the betterment of their health motivates me to be a PA. Overall, I gained the necessary skills to cooperate with a medical team in order to create a supporting environment where patients feel comfortable entrusting their health to me.

        Volunteering at a non-profit clinic showed me the struggles that patients face in seeing providers. Along with language barriers and transportation and financial issues, patients have delayed access to treatment because of the lack of providers. With the extensive training in various fields that PA’s receive, I would have the flexibility to move between different fields and fill in gaps where needed. Being a PA allows me to reach a broader scope of patients, thus alleviating the issue many patients face.

        Having experienced the indescribable pain of losing a loved one, I am determined to save lives and advocate for preventative healthcare. My mom was the strongest person I knew, but the fear in her eyes as she treaded through the unknown paths of her sickness and health is permanently with me. As a PA, my goal is for patients to never feel alone. I want to be a guiding light and help patients navigate the ups and downs of their health. With everything I have learned, there is no doubt that I want to pursue a career as a PA and make a positive impact on the on the health of my community.

        Reply

20. Abyal Padhi says

    June 6, 2022 at 7:07 pm

    I have been editing and working on this a lot. Any feedback is appreciated.
    —–
    Meliorism is trusting that the world can become a better place; 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 took months of uncertainty 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 Ba 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 then I translated for my parents when they took us to a private room and delivered the news. Days later, I remember thinking about how I never wanted to feel such panic ever again when I happened to see an old photograph of my Ba laughing. In that moment, I reminisced how she had last laughed because of PA André – that was the first time I felt a spark of passion for the PA profession.

    Captivated by the PA profession, I joined healthcare groups and volunteered 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, and 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. In the future, I aim to develop these skills further, specifically in medical terminology, so that I may make healthcare more transparent. I covet the ability to make someone feel at ease regardless of language barriers, to make their appointments memorable instead of unnerving. PA school will provide me with the education and experience to utilize my skills in direct patient care.

    I thrived in 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 that the advanced practice providers, specifically PAs, provided the patients. They built relationships during the preliminary diagnosis before the patient even set foot in our clinic. Then, they continued to follow up with a patient who received a kidney transplant or can discontinue treatment. I crave to be a part of the diagnosis, plan of care, and follow-ups for all my patients. This sentiment is strengthened every time my patients ask for me.

    PAs are an integral part of a healthcare team, and over time my encounters reaffirmed my decision to become a PA. As a medical assistant at a pulmonary clinic, I had the opportunity to work with a PA during my training. I witnessed them maneuver between autonomy and collaboration with an attending physician. I felt that while the PA had the attending physician to rely on, they could be more autonomous because of their hands-on training and clinical rotations during PA school. In my current MA role, I have had the chance to 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 as I have always seen myself as a lifelong learner.

    The road to becoming a PA has not been without challenges. As an immigrant daughter, I struggled with my academic aspirations and my responsibility to my family. As a result, I made judgment errors that led to my academic failure. In retrospect, that was the shock I needed to undergo to learn to manage my time, prioritize my duties, and avoid overextending myself. With some trial and error, I came to realize my full potential. From here, I established a strong, upward trajectory in my grades. The self-discipline I acquired allowed me to handle working full-time while taking five classes. As a reapplicant, I have gained additional quality healthcare experience as a MA, taken additional classes, shadowed, and volunteered which has prepared me to succeed in a rigorous PA program.

    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

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      June 17, 2022 at 12:33 am

      Abyal,
      I can sense your desire to help patients throughout every section of your essay.
      I trust that you will become a PA who honors your grandmother’s life through every patient you interact with.
      I think you do a good job of explaining why the PA path is for you.
      If you have a patient care story that shows you in action connecting with a patient on a personal level, I would include that. You want to show some of the qualities that will make you a compassionate and effective PA.
      Also, spotlight any medical knowledge and clinical skills you have gained along the way.
      I wish you good luck, Abyal.

      Reply