I enlisted in the United States Army on November 30th, 2007 as a soldier and a respiratory therapist. While working alongside physician assistants, I gained a new appreciation for their ability to work in stressful situations, holding their composure, and their ability to look and understand at the bigger picture when dealing with a patient. A career as a physician assistant has confirmed my desire as it is an innate extension of my ability to help people through difficult times in their lives. Becoming a physician assistant offers me the unique opportunity to integrate my respiratory therapy and clinical skills that will have a significant impact on the health of an individual. Taking Microbiology, Anatomy, and Physiology has solidified my interest in understanding how the human body works and has further motivated me to learn the process to heal it. Physician assistants are the link to addressing a patient's needs and the amount of time it takes for them to recover. I am eager to combine my skills I have acquired as a respiratory therapist and polysomnographer with those that I will learn in order to become an exceptional physician assistant.
My current role as a senior respiratory care practitioner with Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Health Systems has allowed me to work directly with medically underserved patients. There have been many times where I find obstacles and challenges due to language barriers. Technology has made it possible to bridge this gap through immediate communication and translation via telephone networks, phone applications, and websites that offer translation services. Also, through the county patients are almost never turned away due to income level. If patients do not qualify for Medi-Cal, or Healthy Way LA, then Outpatient Reduced-Cost Simplified Application (ORSA) is available to medically underserved individuals. Obstacles and challenges are recognized and there are always solutions.
The Stanford University Primary Care Associate Program will provide me the opportunity to work with the socioeconomic underprivileged community. My goal is to develop a solid foundation through the PCAP's training program in diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services. Furthermore, working as part of a healthcare team I wish to augment my skills through taking medical histories, examine and treat patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and x rays, and make diagnoses. I feel with the training provided I will be able to provide the finest care to all of my patients.
The PCAP complements my previous academic and clinical experiences. It allows me to utilize a combination of my business, computer, military, and respiratory skills to give me a different perspective and approach to the physician assistant program. Being a physician assistant will present me the opportunity to experience a multi-faceted role, from rotating through emergency medicine, inpatient care, surgical settings, and long term care facilities. It would be an honor and privilege to initiate my physician assistant training and education at Stanford University.
While working alongside physician assistants, I gained a new appreciation for their ability to work in stressful situations, ---no comma here--- while holding their composure, and their ability to look and understand at the bigger picture when dealing with a patient.
A career as a physician assistant has confirmed my desire ---This doesn't sound quite right. You could say, ...'is my desire...'
Becoming a physician assistant offers me the unique opportunity to integrate my respiratory therapy and clinical skills, which will have a significant impact on the health of an individual.
I am eager to combine the skills I have acquired as a respiratory therapist ...
There have been many times where I've found obstacles and challenges due to language barriers.
Furthermore, working as part of a healthcare team I wish to augment my skills through taking medical histories, examining and treating patients, ordering and interpreting laboratory tests and x rays, and making diagnoses.
Great essay, they'll be lucky to have you as a student!
:)
