In high school, a concussion took Kerryn MacBride off the soccer field.
“When I was told that I was unable to do what I loved for several weeks, I was deeply disappointed,” she said.
“The provider who gave me this news was a PA. She took the extra time to make me feel better and assured me that I would be okay and back on the field in no time.”
After this interaction, MacBride continued to reflect on the impact the physician assistant had on her.
“She was able to form such a great connection with me over one single interaction,” she said. “I held onto the motivational words that she told me throughout my entire recovery. This individual was the first PA that I had ever met, and how I was introduced to the profession.”
MacBride grew up in Philadelphia and knew she wanted to stay in the area for medical school. An interaction with current students and faculty during her interview at PCOM solidified her choice to attend.
“PCOM introduced me to so many friends who I will know and get to spend time with for the rest of my life,” she shared. “I am happy to say that I will soon be a PCOM alumni and a PA-C.”
MacBride credits her family and friends for providing the support needed to get to this point.
“My family and friends stood with me at my worst moments, when I was scared that I was never going to make it, but also always celebrated my accomplishments along the way,” she shared. “I would not have been able to make it this far without my mom and dad, who have helped me in a countless number of ways.”
After graduation, MacBride hopes to remain in the area and work in either emergency medicine, critical care, or internal medicine. She wants to make a profound impact on patients, like doctors did for her as a baby.
“Medical providers and the art of medicine saved me as a newborn when I had to have life-saving surgery,” she said. “I am motivated knowing that, in the future, I have the possibility of doing for other patients and families what those individuals did for me and my family.”
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