Graduate / Motivation for selecting a career in healthcare & interest in becoming an anesthesiologist assistant [4]

AA Personal Statement

Please explain your motivation for selecting a career in healthcare and specifically why you are interested in becoming an anesthesiologist assistant. Describe how your personal and professional background will help you achieve your career goals and eminently suit you for this profession.

From age twelve, I participated in a STEMPREP program and developed skills to perform research at top institutes such as the Hospital for Sickkids, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and Temple University. It took a great deal of maturity and tenacity, at a young age, to live on a college campus and pursue research thousands of miles away from my small island community. When entering college, I continued the pursuit of science, but in my sophomore year, realized that I needed to find a definitive career path. A passion for science, caring nature, and a culmination of professional clinical experiences are why I chose the path of an Anesthesiologist Assistant.

When entering college in Florida, I joined the Clinical Explorers Program after realizing that I needed exposure to all facets of science, not just the research side. My university had clinics that provided subsidized services to the surrounding communities. This aspect of the program continued to appeal to me for many years, as I now serve as a volunteer nurse in a free clinic. The proficiency and professionalism demonstrated by the staff facilitated a great learning environment for me to continue shadowing in the dental, optometry, and family medicine clinics for the next three years.

Later, a career in healthcare became even more appealing after shadowing in Toronto at the Hospital for Sickkids. The first rotation took place in the pediatric gastrointestinal wing. To my surprise, we did not immediately start seeing patients. Instead we entered a small cramped room that sat a variety of allied health professionals ranging from dieticians, to physician assistants and social workers. There were twelve people cramped into a room for hours, going over six infant patients' care. This team was dedicated to holistically providing care for these patients and the impact of that moment solidified my interest in healthcare and working in a hospital setting.

After finishing college, I reflected on my past experiences and they were purely academic. The experiences inspired, but did not give insight on exactly what healthcare professional to become. In order to develop my professional profile, I relocated to the Virgin Islands and worked as a Pediatric Dental Assistant. As a clinical team, we sometimes faced grueling twelve-hour shifts, but strived to offer the best patient care and utmost professionalism. On these extended days, an anesthesiologist was brought in at six am for more extensive procedures. When the anesthesia was being administered , I secured the children then assisted the dentist with the procedure. I knew that being a technician was not enough of a challenge for me at this point, but I was not interested in the positions that other team members held.

Later that year, two hurricanes devastated my island and I relocated to Florida. I thought the most frustrating part of the storms were listening to the calls for medical assistance, but in the following months I would be proven wrong because a larger problem manifested. There was inadequate healthcare and a significant reduction in healthcare providers. Since then I have trained to become a medical assistant and work at a Biomat Plasma Donation Center. The company develops products for IV therapies. When learning about the company, I discovered different positions and in turn different types of graduate programs that suited my interests. My background now includes over ten years of diverse experiences in the science field and I choose to pursue Anesthesiology Assistant studies, due to the team aspect and the rising need in this country for personnel to deliver anesthesia. Ultimately, the team dynamic reinforces my newly found professional philosophy, "The day you think that you know every aspect of healthcare is the same day you fail in providing the best healthcare."