The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative

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1. Katie says

   October 26, 2023 at 2:15 am

   “I know you’re hiding your boyfriend in there,” whispered my favorite patient of the day, a particularly mobile Sundowner, as I tried to convince her that we should not go into “the closet” that was actually another patient’s room. Unbeknownst to her, we were in fact on the orthopedic floor of the hospital and I am in fact a lesbian. Emotionally draining as it was, my job as a patient care assistant taught me the importance of connecting with patients and ensuring they feel heard. I’ll never forget the first hints of a smile on the face of a patient who had been with us for months when I left my phone playing her favorite Elvis songs on her bedside table. Nor will I forget the shaking hands of a Parkinson’s patient holding mine as he told me how grateful he was that I care. In those moments, I saw how essential it is to show compassion when providing care for patients and it is something that I will continue to emphasize during my career as a physician assistant.

   As a PCA I was also able to witness and compare the duties of nurses and PAs, solidifying my desire to assess, diagnose and treat patients while serving as the approachable link between physician and patient as PAs do. I had also previously witnessed the combination of independence and teamwork utilized by PAs at a primary care practice where I completed an internship. There, the PAs seemed to be the most personable of the providers at the practice – effortlessly able to put everyone at ease. They treated their own patients but when faced with something they were unsure of, they compiled the best treatment plan using a combination of each others’ knowledge and that of the physicians. Though I had considered a career as a physician, this aspect of teamwork – the fact that there will always be someone I can put my head together with to brainstorm solutions – is for me one of the most alluring aspects of becoming a PA.

   The internship was the conclusion of my B.S. in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology. Though not required for my major nor most PA schools, I challenged myself with all of the science I could handle and at the start of my last semester of courses, my GPA was .02 short of graduating with highest honors. My advisor told me that it would be difficult – I needed to earn a 4.0 for a semester that would include biomechanics, physics, and an advanced exercise physiology course. I knew that if I put my mind to it, I could do it. I graduated, having written a thesis, Summa Cum Laude. I bring this work ethic in everything I do and will continue to do so throughout PA school and after.

   “I’m not doing enough” is the answer I want to give when asked about my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Rwanda. I remember visiting a mother in her twenties known to be malnourished. My coworker and I found her at home so thin I could see the effort that went into every breath she took, the paper-thin skin of her neck and upper chest sucking in against her bones with every inhale. She was convinced that her neighbors had poisoned her – she hadn’t been able to eat without throwing up since the birth of her 6 month-old who was now suffering from wasting. She told us she didn’t have the money nor the strength to get herself and her daughter to the hospital and stared at me with tears in her eyes as my coworker told her to keep trying to eat and “fight against death”. I remember flies crawling over her face and her not seeming to care as if she was already dead. There seemed to be nothing we could do for her. The helplessness and unfairness of it I felt then has stayed with me as I continue to witness the lack of access to quality healthcare defeat even the most resilient of people.

   My service in Rwanda has tested all of my limits – from the constant attention (kids are especially fascinated by my toe hair) to conquering my fear of public speaking (in another language, no less) to forgiving myself for atrocious cultural blunders (I once mistakenly called a woman a corpse “inghumbi” instead of a young woman “inghumi”) to taking on multiple leadership positions (the Peer Support Network and Service Improvement Committee) to facing the utter lack of decent cheese. It has strengthened my sense that I can accomplish anything while showing me what I want to accomplish – providing compassionate health care to the underserved both nationally and abroad.

   My decision to become a PA stems from an array of jobs and experiences that have combined to form one feeling of purpose. I am inspired by the extremely competent and personable PAs I’ve met, grannies who told me that I made the difference in their hospital experience, and by Rwandans who have experienced so much trauma and have very little, especially when it comes to health care, but continue to be the most helpful, generous, and warm people I’ve met. I am determined that the next time I am face-to-face with someone experiencing suffering like I have witnessed, I will be able to do something to help.

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   • Whitney Prosperi says

     November 15, 2023 at 8:56 am

     Katie,
     Your desire to elevate and assist patients weaves throughout your essay.
     I suggest condensing where you can so you can add more information that reveals different aspects of your journey.
     I would include more details of your clinical experience and medical knowledge gained within your different roles. You want to show how these jobs and volunteer positions have prepared you to take the next step toward a rigorous PA program.
     Also, if you have any shadowing experience, describe that. Was there an interaction that solidified your decision?
     Lastly, in your conclusion, tie back to your introduction in some way.
     I wish you good luck, Katie.

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2. Sydney Scragg says

   September 30, 2023 at 9:45 pm

   “I picked up the large vase next to me on the floor. I was so upset; I wasn’t thinking. I threw it out of anger. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I didn’t mean to kill my dog.” The woman sobbed, hands covering her face in shame as she retold the story of what led to her Baker Act. As a medical scribe, I could only stand there and convey my sympathy through my eyes, my face half hidden under a mask. I wanted to do more, I wanted to talk to her and let her know she was more than just a 7-digit number on the census. Wanted to let her know she was more than her diagnosis, more than just a patient who needed to increase her medication dosage. As a PA, I could have talked to her, let her feel heard, and assured her that I would work alongside her throughout her stay. As a scribe, all I could do was record notes about the encounter.

   I recall a moment during my childhood when my brother fell and a gaping wound appeared on his eyebrow. In those moments, I froze. I didn’t know what the best course of action would be. I can still see the way he clutched his head, shouting “I’m dying! I’m dying!” I could only stand to the side holding back tears as my dad ushered us into the car to the hospital. I remember watching with poorly concealed awe as the PA stitched him up, and I wondered if I could ever do something like that. I didn’t know it at the time, but this would be a defining memory – one that set me on the path to a future in healthcare.

   I knew I wanted to enter the field of medicine, but I was unsure which path was right for me. When I joined my school’s AMWA club (American Medical Woman Association), my mentor explained to me how she wanted to become a PA. When I first heard about it, I couldn’t stop researching the PA profession. I wanted to learn more, and I decided to immerse myself in experiencing patient care. It was then I became a medical scribe.

   Working as a medical scribe at an inpatient psychiatric facility has given me a unique outlook on patient care. Working closely with the physicians there has taught me compassion, empathy, and patience. I have seen how physicians assess symptoms and manage treatment plans. I observed the thought process behind prescribing the appropriate medications, and how providing care for a patient is not just one person’s job but a team effort.

   While employed as a medical assistant at a hormone therapy clinic, I have worked alongside nurse practitioners during consults with patients, pellet insertions, administering injections, EKGs, and preparing IVs. This position has allowed me to take on a higher responsibility for patient care. Even through just taking blood pressure and giving injections, I was able to connect with patients by hearing their progress. One moment that stands out to me is a patient looking at me wide-eyed after receiving his intramuscular injection, saying “I’ve been getting injections for a while, and that was the most painless injection I have received.” Knowing that I was able to make a simple procedure painless for him warmed my heart. I couldn’t help but think what else I could do for patients as a PA.

   After shadowing a cardiovascular surgeon PA, I was able to learn how physicians and PAs work together. Learning how a PA can be independent and autonomous, while also working closely together with a physician was intriguing, and I couldn’t help but imagine myself in that position. Being able to use my knowledge of anatomy and physiology in a real-life setting was thrilling. I examined X-rays, observed heart valve replacements, vein harvesting, and studied quick decision-making when a patient recovering from surgery was experiencing an issue. I knew this was just the tip of the iceberg.

   Throughout my undergraduate studies, I have been challenged and have grown as a result. I learned effective time management skills through being a full-time student, working a part-time job, and being heavily involved in leadership, volunteer, and other club opportunities through AMWA. Being involved in multiple activities caused me to withdraw from a class during my junior year. However, I have learned how to efficiently give a part of myself to each organization, and strived to give my best at each puzzle piece that made up my life.

   Having a family one day is very important to me, so I cherish the idea of having the flexibility of providing patient care and also providing for my family. The ability to switch specialties is also crucial as I value expanding my knowledge in different areas of medicine, and want to have an extended clinical background to better provide service to patients.

   As a PA, I would learn how to think quickly and work in fast-paced situations. I wouldn’t be frozen in shock at the sight of an injury or stand wordlessly off to the side. I would be able to give the care and compassion that I strive to give to patients. I am heavily motivated to do whatever it takes to become a PA, and I know I would be able to make a difference in people’s lives.

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   • Whitney Prosperi says

     October 4, 2023 at 6:32 am

     Sydney,
     You do a great job explaining what appeals to you about the PA profession and describing your journey up until this point. One consideration: I suggest removing the sentence about having a family/work-life balance as this can often come across as self-seeking. I wish you good luck, Sydney.

     Reply

3. Melissa says

   September 21, 2023 at 10:39 am

   A one-way ticket and an 18-hour journey from Tehran to Minneapolis was my first link to the chain towards becoming a PA. Thrust into a foreign environment, I not only was forced to learn a new language but also learn unspoken customs and cultural values within the first few years of living in the States. With the help and patience of peers and teachers, I was able to find friends and learn to communicate with my classmates within months. For many people healthcare is a foreign world entirely with its own language and unspoken rules, giving potential to make it incredibly difficult to navigate for patients. As I envision myself as a PA, I reflect on my upbringing and subsequent resilience as an immigrant child, and my desire to integrate this experience into my career. Although my journey towards pursuing a PA career was seldom linear, working in healthcare as a scribe and EMT has offered me the greatest insight and clarity into my future.

   The intricacies of human physiology first attracted me to working in healthcare. In undergrad, learning about the functionings of specific systems and their relation and malfunction to the development of pathophysiologies interested me the most. Eager to learn more following the downturn of the pandemic, I started working as a medical scribe at urgent care clinics. There, I met a multitude of PAs who first gave me insight into the PA profession. I was quickly in awe of medical scribing as I was thrust into the world of medical terminology, pharmacology, diagnostics, health insurance, and patient care. As a scribe, I not only honed my listening skills to carefully document every patient-provider visit but was also able to closely watch hundreds of patients being diagnosed by providers. I was attracted to the differential process the PAs went through with every patient, from the first glance at the HPI to asking the patient imperative questions that eliminate the worst of diagnoses. I found that my favorite providers were PAs from a variety of different backgrounds, who integrated their experiences from different specialties into navigating a patient’s symptoms. Furthermore, I was inspired by Dana Payne, a PA who started her journey as an EMT. Utilizing my inspiration, I coupled my desire to gain more patient contact experience and started pursuing an EMT certification.

   Through this arduous journey, I keep patience and empathy close in mind with every patient interaction. Using my EMT certification, I started working in the emergency department of a level-one hospital. As I watch every trauma, sepsis, stroke, and GAP (geriatric/ anti-coagulant patient) case, I recognize the collaboration between doctors, PAs, NPs, nurses, RTs (respiratory technicians), pharmacists, and EMTs. Seamless integration, collaboration, communication, and common goals are what unite a great department together in the interest of the patient. At the ED, I see the role of the PA as they collaborate with their peers and fill in the gaps in patient care. Furthermore, I recognize that health literacy, education, and patience can help a patient navigate what is often the worst day of their lives. Often, simply introducing myself, verbalizing what I am doing, and why I am performing tasks help lessen the anxiety and ambiguity of their hospital visit.

   As I hone my skills as an EMT and pursue the PA track, I reflect on my upbringing when introducing patients to the foreign environment of healthcare. I often reflect on tender moments shared with patients and loved ones when pursuing a PA career, wanting to emulate a compassionate and fulfilling role as a provider. In the place of day-to-day life, these moments fuel me to become the best person and provider I can be. Keeping my patient interactions close in mind with different job roles, I desire to integrate health literacy, transparency, and patient-collaboration into my career as a PA.

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   • Whitney Prosperi says

     September 29, 2023 at 5:40 pm

     Melissa,
     You do a beautiful job of describing your journey and what appeals to you about the PA role. You may want to describe an interaction with a patient that shows you in action while connecting on a personal level. I wish you good luck, Melissa.

     Reply

4. Rasheda says

   September 21, 2023 at 5:07 am

   From scaling poles to navigating the intricacies of the human body, my career has been a lesson in mastering unexpected turns and uncovering hidden possibilities. My current profession as a surgical technologist at Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital became the first link in a chain of events that led me to discover the path I want to pursue. How I began that journey defies expectations. For about ten years, I was an AT&T technician, climbing poles, installing services, and troubleshooting issues in people’s homes. A fall from a ladder led to my layoff and plunged me into a period of despair, clouded by personal and professional setbacks. When it seemed like every door had closed, a flyer recruiting students for a surgical technology program appeared as if guided by an unseen hand. I had never heard of this career, but I knew it was in medicine—a field I had once dreamed of entering but had long given up due to early motherhood and life choices. This unexpected opportunity felt like a lifeline, a sign that I could rebuild and, importantly, that I had worth. Consequently, I began working alongside the medical professionals I aspired to become.
   Transitioning from classroom knowledge to the surgical theater was anything but smooth. I remember one grueling experience where I mismatched a 10mm laparoscopic tenaculum with a 5mm sheath during a laparoscopic hysterectomy. The feeling of humiliation was overpowering, but it also ignited a fire within me. I became a student of my errors, focusing on surgical instrument sequences and fine details of various procedures like abdominal myomectomies. Now, when I train newcomers, I make sure they grasp what to expect at each stage of surgery. The joy of effectively contributing to a team that heals is beyond measure.
   While I was building a rapport within my surgical team, another pivotal moment was approaching. Initially, gynecology was my favorite specialty. The prospect of advocating for women and learning more about my own physiology was alluring. However, Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital’s specialty focus also encompasses breast and plastic surgeries, areas I had to engage with, albeit reluctantly. During a particularly busy breast surgery case, I was thrust into the role of first assistant. With a surgeon and only one resident, I took the opportunity to demonstrate my skills. This experience solidified my aspirations.
   What followed was a newfound understanding of the depth and breadth of roles within the surgical team. Witnessing a PA practically leading a surgical segment was transformative. The level of trust and responsibility surgeons gave them was an eye-opener. It wasn’t long before a PA offered to write a recommendation letter for me, and I took it as the ultimate sign. Having recently completed my bachelor’s program, I’m now focused on taking definitive steps toward becoming a PA.
   I’ve come a long way from climbing poles to contemplating sutures, and every step has been a stairway toward a more fulfilling, purposeful life. My tapestry of experiences—from the heights of utility poles to the surgical theater at Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital—makes me uniquely positioned to serve as a PA, both technically and empathetically.

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   • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

     September 21, 2023 at 5:51 am

     Wow! What a beautiful and inspiring story! I think this essay is just about perfect as is. The way you stepped us through your journey makes sense and, at the same time, demonstrates your knowledge of the profession and the reasoning behind your decisions to pursue this path. It demonstrates your humility and ability to adapt in high-stress situations. You have shown that you work well as part of a team. So much great stuff here! Very good. 👍

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