Minimum 250 word essay describing how I became interested in the Physician Assistant profession.
Realizing I wanted to become a Physician Assistant did not happen overnight. I have always been interested in medicine and the human body, but it was not until my senior year of high school that I was fully aware of my desire to be a part of the medical field. I aspired to have a profession full of challenges and continuous learning, as well as getting the opportunity to help people. Physician Assistant seems to be the ideal career for me.
As a junior in high school, I made the decision to join Anatomy I out of sheer interest in the subject. When I first started the class, I realized that the material was easy for me to comprehend, which made studying more enjoyable. Because the course material sparked my interest, I feel as though I was able to excel greatly as a student. Immersing myself in the class, I had soon made it a top priority. By the end of my junior year, I began contemplating a career in the medical field. As I advanced in the class, I was given the opportunity to participate in the yearly cat dissection. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to work hands-on with the muscles I've learned about.
One of the most influential events that has led me to choose to be a Physician Assistant is witnessing an open heart surgery at Allegheny General Hospital with my Anatomy II class. Being able to observe something I've only read about in textbooks was fascinating. I realized at that moment, looking through the glass into the operating room, that I wanted to be in there with them. Even as I walked through the hallways with my class, I felt the urge to explore the hospital and all of its departments. The tour guide during the trip spoke highly of the Physician Assistant career, explaining the flexibility of being able to change your specialization, as well as the ability to work closely with a doctor to gain further knowledge.
Just recently, I was presented with the opportunity to job shadow Mattie Verbit, a nurse practitioner at Nason Hospital, who works with nursing and physician assistant students from Saint Francis. I went with her to the Through Health Clinic in East Freedom, PA, where I was able to meet with Dr. Doug Stern, the director of the program, and learn more about what they do for the community. The clinic is free; therefore, the patients treated do not have healthcare insurance and are usually struggling to get by. I was able to hear many stories about patient's lives being shattered due to unemployment and the tough economy and realized that the anxiety created by these situations can have a significant impact on health, both mentally and physically. During each patient's checkup, I noticed that they exuded an enormous sense of gratitude and relief toward the employees and the program. Various cases were presented during the checkups, ranging from toothaches to mental health instability, and each was looked into with great detail and care. This experience furthered my interest in becoming a Physician Assistant because of the ability to work with a patient and help them through these tough times, which would be highly rewarding.
Realizing I wanted to become a Physician Assistant did not happen overnight. I have always been interested in medicine and the human body, but it was not until my senior year of high school that I was fully aware of my desire to be a part of the medical field. I aspired to have a profession full of challenges and continuous learning, as well as getting the opportunity to help people. Physician Assistant seems to be the ideal career for me.
As a junior in high school, I made the decision to join Anatomy I out of sheer interest in the subject. When I first started the class, I realized that the material was easy for me to comprehend, which made studying more enjoyable. Because the course material sparked my interest, I feel as though I was able to excel greatly as a student. Immersing myself in the class, I had soon made it a top priority. By the end of my junior year, I began contemplating a career in the medical field. As I advanced in the class, I was given the opportunity to participate in the yearly cat dissection. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to work hands-on with the muscles I've learned about.
One of the most influential events that has led me to choose to be a Physician Assistant is witnessing an open heart surgery at Allegheny General Hospital with my Anatomy II class. Being able to observe something I've only read about in textbooks was fascinating. I realized at that moment, looking through the glass into the operating room, that I wanted to be in there with them. Even as I walked through the hallways with my class, I felt the urge to explore the hospital and all of its departments. The tour guide during the trip spoke highly of the Physician Assistant career, explaining the flexibility of being able to change your specialization, as well as the ability to work closely with a doctor to gain further knowledge.
Just recently, I was presented with the opportunity to job shadow Mattie Verbit, a nurse practitioner at Nason Hospital, who works with nursing and physician assistant students from Saint Francis. I went with her to the Through Health Clinic in East Freedom, PA, where I was able to meet with Dr. Doug Stern, the director of the program, and learn more about what they do for the community. The clinic is free; therefore, the patients treated do not have healthcare insurance and are usually struggling to get by. I was able to hear many stories about patient's lives being shattered due to unemployment and the tough economy and realized that the anxiety created by these situations can have a significant impact on health, both mentally and physically. During each patient's checkup, I noticed that they exuded an enormous sense of gratitude and relief toward the employees and the program. Various cases were presented during the checkups, ranging from toothaches to mental health instability, and each was looked into with great detail and care. This experience furthered my interest in becoming a Physician Assistant because of the ability to work with a patient and help them through these tough times, which would be highly rewarding.
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