When I made the decision that I was not going to reenlist in the United States Army and work to obtain my college education, I knew that I wanted to work in health care. I have always had an interest in medicine and I enjoy interacting with people. I considered other areas of healthcare and initially was going down the path to becoming a physical therapist but once I learned about the role and lifestyle of a physician assistant I was sold. It’s the perfect fit for a person that enjoys medicine and interacting with people but also allows for change and hopefully more weekends off to enjoy some camping and hiking!
I knew that I wanted to attend PCOM for their physician assistant program during my interview experience. John Cavenagh, PhD, PA-C, clinical professor, gave a very inspiring presentation about the program, the student-led tour presented the student body and campus in a positive light, and the interview itself was very down to earth and enjoyable. A fun memory from my interview was laughing with one of the interviewees about how we had both recently dissected our Thanksgiving dinners to teach our family anatomy. I probably would’ve attended PCOM after that experience even if it was in Kansas, no disrespect to Kansas, but being able to stay in a great city like Philly was also a bonus.
I felt comfortable going to any of the professors or staff within the PA department for help but my advisor, Sean Guinane, DHSC, PA-C, assistant program director, and Philadelphia campus site director, was a huge help in getting me through the program. He answered every question thoughtfully and I felt that he was truly rooting for me academically and personally. I always looked forward to our advising meetings during the clinical year. They usually ended up feeling like I was catching up with an old friend.
I'm most proud of this moment right now, graduating from PA school. Looking back ten years ago, I was 18, I had just graduated high school, and was working on enlisting in the army as an infantryman. I planned on making that a career and preferred physical challenges over academics. I did not see a future where I ventured far enough into academia to be receiving a master's degree. I am most proud of this because getting to this point was a formidable challenge that started many years ago, well before even applying for PA school. My classmates and I were all able to overcome this challenge and right now feels like an important moment for us to reflect and see how we've grown as individuals. As I reflect on my life to date, nothing makes me feel more pride than to say that I am a graduate of the PCOM physician assistant program.
I hope to provide quality patient care in a surgical subspecialty. I hope that I not only take care of patients' illnesses and concerns but also provide them with a positive interaction that leaves them feeling better. I am very interested in environmental causes so I am looking forward to having a little more time to spend volunteering for and supporting green organizations after PA school.
My advice to a student starting their PA school journey now would be to not forget that, although during these 26 months school is very important, these are still 2+ years of your life and you need to make sure you have some fun. Pass your tests, study hard, but don't be afraid to go out and have a good time now and then. I found that when I was feeling burnt out from studying or a week full of exams, a weekend camping trip or a night out in Fishtown with my friends usually helped get me back on track. Also, find a good nap spot on campus.
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