In 1968, American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) formerly known as the American Association of Physician Assistants was established in North Carolina by the first graduate students of Duke University Physician Assistant program. Since then PA profession has grown to tremendous heights. The mission statement of the AAPA is, “To ensure the professional growth, personal excellence, and recognition of the physician assistants, and to support their efforts to enable then to improve the quality, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness of patient-centered health care.” The physician assistant profession has shown remarkable growth since its first PAs started practice in 1967.
Andi Wallick Personal Statement Indiana University School of Medicine Degree Objective: M.S. Pathologists’ Assistant My interest in pathology dates back to high school. I enjoyed most sciences but especially sciences about the body. I knew then that I wanted to work in the field of pathology.
Choosing a career in the medical field can very be overwhelming, there are a multitude of options. The job that is in demand the most is Registered Nurses. This degree, at the minimum, requires an associate’s degree. By the year 2020, all R.N.’s will need to have a BSN (Bachelors of Science in Nursing); Bachelor’s degree programs are 4-year programs. But don’t stop there, after 2-3 years of on the job experience, find what area you would like to specialize in, and go on and earn that Physician Assistant degree.
You’re in the Doctor’s office waiting for your time to come for the yearly visit. An extensive time goes on, your scheduled visit time has passed. Most likely the doctor is still occupied with another patient. This is the time a Physician assistant will come save you from your bothersome delay. Physician assistants work under the supervision of a doctor, surgeon, or medical professional to provide support to a healthcare or medical team.
A small 5-year-old girl walking downstairs through the outside back door of her grandmother’s house in Mexico, sliding down each step of the staircase, set in the exterior connection between the two floors, just to be able to use the restroom on the first floor; a reminiscence that portrays commitment. Uniquely, this one experience defined my character. I’ve replayed this moment in my head many times through difficult times. I’ve had to face fear, anger, disappointment, and uncertainty all alone. Yet, I had never met any other person with whom I could identify with those same trademarks; until I became a medical assistant.
As a child of two nurses, I have always been partial to the medical field. I have chosen to pursue physician assistant studies because of the responsibilities the position holds, such as examining and diagnosing patients and giving treatments. The career stability is also an aspect that draws my attention to the profession. The healthcare field, while stable, is always evolving; new technologies, procedures, treatments, and even discoveries of diseases have those working in the field constantly learning and experiencing something for the first time. I require a challenging professional career, and I believe this field will provide that.
mI have been fortunate in having the opportunity to work as a bank healthcare assistant at Hereford County Hospital. Within my role, I have been able to enhance my knowledge and gain first-hand experience within various of clinical environments, and gain a wider prospective of the roles and responsibilities within the healthcare profession. I feel that I have been able to develop a variation of new qualities that has helped achieve high standards to all aspects of my role. For the last year, I have been successful enough to gain further knowledge in higher education on a foundation degree in health and social care at Worcester University, I have now entered my final year to complete my level 5 in Health and social care. The course will run
Physician Assistant A physician assistant is “a person academically and clinically prepared to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed doctor of medicine ….” (Medical Dictionary, 2003). A physician assistant can perform many of the same task as doctors such as examine, diagnose, and treat patients. They work in all areas of medicine including, but not limited to, dermatology, pediatrics, surgery, and psychiatry.
I want to become a professional in the Public Health field mainly to inform, educate, and help the community help themselves in this new world where diseases and health crisis are on the rise. I always felt as though this field chose me. At the age of fifteen, I was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Ten years ago, there weren't many types of research or information to help inform people living with this chronic illness. No help on how to keep the body functioning at an optimum level or how to help with the inflammation lurking throughout without only medication.
Through my studies of human expression and its reflection of how people deal with world events in different ways, I developed sensitivity to other worldviews that continues to prove useful through my daily interactions with people of different backgrounds. I have learned that just like art, medicine involves pattern recognition and derives insight from experiences. Similarly, what I especially enjoy about being a medical assistant is interacting with patients on a daily basis and getting to be a part of their medical experiences, even if it is just by lending an ear. The experiences on my path to a career in medicine have made me want to make a real, tangible difference in the lives of those around me – a difference that leaves my patients in a better condition than they were in before I met them.
My first experience with the healthcare field was not as a sophomore in high school, I was preparing to add classes to my schedule for the following year and a friend recommended that I take the CNA course at the Jordan Applied Technology Center (JATC). I decided to apply, and the spring semester of my junior year, I was in the program. My professor was very kind and emphasized how working in the healthcare field is different from every other career path because our purpose is to help others. Therefore, as I studied to become a nursing assistant, I was able to realize that I enjoyed devoting my life to serving those around me. That was when I had my first experience with healthcare and when I decided, I wanted to become a healthcare professional.
The profession I have chosen to pursue is that of a Physician Assistant. My reason for this selection is because it gives you the independency of a Physician while having somewhat less responsibilities. A Physician Assistant provides healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Some of these services include but are not limited to examining and treating patients, diagnosing illnesses and counseling patients. In some case physician assistants are also tasked to prescribe medicine to patients.
When the patient left, I saw the weight lift off her shoulders as she thanked the PA for listening. In urology, I was inspired by the variety in day-to-day work as Abby independently performed small procedures some days and worked alongside the physician in the pediatrics clinic on others. Knowing I wanted a career that prioritized lifelong learning, I was excited during my shadow in gynecologic oncology when a nurse practitioner pulled me aside to praise the new perspective the PA brought to their team because she previously worked in internal medicine. Then, while shadowing Lisa in the urgent care, I grasped the extension PAs provide for the medical field, allowing more patients to be seen. I was amazed as there always seemed to be a patient waiting and admirably the team, dedicated to their jobs and patients, stayed until everyone was seen.
Growing up, I could never picture myself doing anything but becoming a doctor or a nurse. My grandmother was a nurse and as a child I would sit and listen to her stories about the touching and inspiring experiences she inquired with her patients, as well as the heartbreaking ones, and from then on I fell in love with the idea of a job in the medical field as my profession. It is one of my goals to use my skills to help people. Attending a physicians assistant program or nursing School will provide me the skills I need to achieve this goal. Several events have emerged in my life that I believe make me well suited for a job in the medical field.
I am on track to graduate from Chemeketa Community College in the Spring of 2017. I will be graduating with an AAOT transfer degree to Oregon State University. In addition, by summer, I will be interning at Kaiser Permanente as an interpreter for the physicians for Spanish-speaking patients. Afterward, I will be attending Oregon State to earn my bachelor's in Chemistry by June of 2019. My four-year goal is to keep my GPA higher than a 3.50 to be considered for admissions at OHSU.
