1. What led to your interest in physician assistant profession?
The medical
field intrigued me since childhood. I was unaware of the physician
assistant career and knew I wanted to care for patients, so growing up I
told people I wanted to become a doctor. However,
the older I grew the more daunting years of school, paying back debt
and residency became to me and began to weigh on me. The summer before
first year at UVa I was seen by a dermatology PA. I was amazed by her
knowledge, but even more so by her communication
and her thoroughness in my plan of care. I inquired more about her
career while at the office, went home to do more research and have not
looked back since.
2. Who or what inspired you to pursue the PA profession?
The PA profession is the perfect mix of everything I was looking for in
a career: patient care, flexibility, job security. As a PA program
graduate, you can choose to practice in any
area of medicine and can switch your field throughout your career
without returning to school or residency. The program length also drew
me to the PA field because I have always wanted to have a career and a
family simultaneously. I believe that being a PA
will be the best way to juggle all I want to do in life. I am very
passionate about the career and am excited to make a difference in my
patients' lives.
3. What did you major in and what inspired you to choose this/these area(s) of study?
I
majored in Kinesiology and I really cannot say enough good things about
the major. I actually did not know about the major until one day during
second year, my boyfriend had picked
up a flyer for me about the program. He had heard impressive things
about Kinesiology from older students and thought it would be a great
fit for achieving my career plans. I am very happy I applied to the
program as I felt more passionate about the field
of study and the coursework was more applicable to my career goals. The
practicum was also a major draw for me. The opportunity to gain patient
time and enhance your communication skills through a school program is
phenomenal. My practicum was in cardiac rehabilitation
at Martha Jefferson Hospital- which was not only an invaluable
experience as a student, person and future health care provider, but
also allowed me to obtain patient care hours for PA program
applications. Through my experience at Martha Jefferson, I worked
with patients who recently had a serious cardiac event, such as a heart
attack. I learned to read EKGs and cardiac monitoring and to perform
nutrition counseling and exercise planning. The chance to obtain
hands-on patient care and improve my communication
skills as a provider was an incredible experience. The material covered
in the Kinesiology curriculum has immensely benefited me in PA school
thus far. We are currently covering the cardiovascular system and I feel
so much more prepared with those experiences
under my belt. I am very grateful for all my experiences at UVa and in
my life that have prepared me for my current course of study.
4. What activities did you participate in at U.Va?
Future
Physician Assistant Society, Kinesiology Club, Agape, Alternative
Spring Break, Pancake’s for Parkinson’s, Madison House, Biology Club,
Project SERVE and I am currently a
mentor for the Virginia Alumni Mentoring Program.
5. How did you prepare for the PA application process?
I
researched the various programs to find what pre-requisites I needed.
Each year, I would re-assess my interest in those programs and if their
requirements had changed, as well
as new programs. I made a spreadsheet containing significant
information from my top programs: pre-requisites, start date, program
length, GPA, patient care hour requirements, location, class size and
estimated cost. I spoke with students who had previously
applied to PA school to get a better idea of the application process. I
attended open houses and the PAEA Virtual Fair that allowed me to speak
with representatives from different programs. I shadowed PAs in
numerous fields to gain a better understanding of
the job. While shadowing at UVa, I had the amazing opportunity to watch
an open heart bypass surgery. Making connections in the community is a
wonderful way to learn more about the career and how it impacts each
person individually. I also focused my school
activities, major and job decisions around strengthening my medical
knowledge and resume. Serving as president for the Future Physician
Assistant Society (FPAS) was advantageous for the application process. I
was able to connect with programs through bringing
them to UVa to speak with the society. Throughout my time at UVa, I
made sure to document my experiences so I was prepared when it came time
to apply.
6. How did you balance the demands of applying to PA school with additional obligations and challenges?
I have been very blessed to have such supportive
family and friends. They were there for me throughout the application
process, interviews and are now through PA school. It is important to
make time for family and friends while in school,
but also very helpful to be surrounded by people who are understanding
when free time is sparse. While at UVa and currently, I always make time
to exercise a few times a week. I try to call my mom at least weekly
and stay in touch with my friends. I focused
my extracurriculars on strengthening myself as an applicant but also
made time for fun- like IM floor hockey. Time management is imperative
for success at UVa and in PA school.
7. Have you been accepted to a PA school thus far // Where do you attend PA school?
I am currently attending Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine’s PA program in East Tennessee.
8. What advice do you have for new applicants considering a career as a PA?
Shadow
PAs in several different specialties to ensure that this is the right
career choice for you. In terms of applying- research, research,
research. Narrow down your programs-
what you are looking for in a program, pre-requisite courses, patient
care hours, etc. Each PA program has different pre-requisite
requirements so attempting to complete them all would be impossible.
Look into each program’s mission statement as some programs
emphasize primary care while others focus on subspecialties. Know
whether the program offers rotations around that area or will have you
move around, and make sure you are okay with that. Think long term about
your career- taking a gap year to complete outstanding
pre-reqs or obtain patient care hours will not be a huge deal in the
long run. Make a document or spreadsheet of each program’s location,
length, pre-reqs, patient contact hours, estimated cost, class size,
etc. Manage your time wisely, be prepared and use
your resources!
9. In what ways did Pre-Health Advising support you in your journey? What was most helpful?
Pre-Health Advising
reviewed my resumes and offered advice while job searching for my bridge
year. Receiving guidance from experienced professionals about my
qualifications and program options was very helpful.
I wish I had utilized Pre-Health Advising more during my time at UVa. I
was very independent in my research about PA schools and this was an
arduous undertaking. Having access to resources such as Pre-Health
Advising is an important facet in the success of
a student, especially a student on such a demanding trajectory.
10. Is there anything else you would like to share?
Applying
and attending PA school is strenuous but it is so worth it. Two to three
years of stress is worth doing what you love for the rest of your life.
Stay positive and don’t get discouraged!
I would be happy to answer any questions you may have- my email is mms4bw@virginia.edu.
Good luck and Go Hoos!
The job search for international
students takes preparation and care. Join the Career Center, Commerce
Career Services and partners across Grounds in this five week series
designed to guide international students looking for positions in the
United States. 
