Why I Want to Pursue a Physician Assistant Career

Born and raised in a small village in India, I personally saw the effects of inadequate healthcare and medical services on those most in need. From that very beginning, obtaining an education in the healthcare field has been my focus. Though the path was difficult and many obstacles had to be faced, I persevered throughout. Being a female in a patriarchal society made it all the more difficult to pursue a career. But with the encouragement and belief of my support system, I knew that one day, I would be able to achieve my dream.

My earliest memories are of leaving home at 5:00am in order to make it to school on time. Trying to achieve my best in school was a struggle due to the lack of local facilities and the distances I had to travel. Nonetheless, I took every advantage I could and joined the school basketball team, even gaining the opportunity to play in the state championship. Our coach was an inspiring lady who encouraged us to strive to reach our potential. One day, she began feeling left arm pain and fainted during a game. There was both fear and uncertainty felt in that moment, but also hope. An off-duty physician was able to provide emergency services and prevent that day from becoming a tragedy. Watching him save a life showed me the type of person I wanted to be.

The first time I understood true helplessness was the day my grandfather died. He suffered from advanced heart disease, which was exacerbated by the absence of quality treatment in our village. The day he died, he suffered a heart attack and due to the lack of local medical facilities, he was unable to receive the treatment he needed. As I watched him pass away from an incident that could have been treated, I felt despair at my inability to help. I understood the pain of doing nothing. That day strengthened my resolve to achieve excellence and compassion in care.

Drawn as I was to the medical field, I began volunteering at a young age with local medical clinics within my community. Beginning with my first medical clinic camp in our village at the age of 17, I subsequently participated in both medical and dental camps on a regular basis. Every experience I had, whether with a patient, healthcare provider, or fellow volunteer, reinforced my decision to study medicine and treat people.

In India, I earned the opportunity to attend either medical or dental school and due to familial financial concerns, I choose dental school. Throughout school and after graduation, I worked with many patients and had the opportunity to perform and assist on extensive dental procedures. In 2015, I was introduced to the role of Physician Assistant. After researching the position and its roles and responsibilities, I knew that this was the career I wanted. I began a job as a Medical Assistant in India to prepare myself and gain more experience from the medical rather than dental perspective. Everyday was a lesson and eventually I began doing minor medical procedures and assisting the doctor with more complicated procedures.

After coming to the USA in 2016, I completed my prerequisites (44 credits) in two semesters maintaining a 4.0 GPA. My hard work and dedication earned a Presidential Award for excellence in academics. PA school requires hard work, commitment, and sacrifice. I have shown that I am more than able to handle the rigorous course load as well as the emotional and mental demands made by such intense programs.

I took the opportunity to shadow a Physician Assistant in the hospital setting. This gave me the opportunity to interact with and observe other PAs in the role. The combination of autonomy and collaboration PAs show in their role is a perfect mix of individual knowledge and collective teamwork to insure the best outcome for the patient. They bridge gaps in coverage and provide patient-centered care fulfilling a very important role on the healthcare team. I wish to provide that same compassionate, knowledgeable care to those in my community.

Working within various healthcare fields, including as a Medical Assistant in North Carolina, I have had the privilege to work with patients from all walks of life. I have seen and treated both dental and medical conditions and injuries. Additionally, I have experience dealing with a wide variety of patient personalities. Through my experience, the number one thing I have learned is that medicine requires a comprehensive approach to treatment requiring understanding of the patient’s life and circumstances in addition to their medical conditions. I strive to provide this comprehensive view when treating any patient.

I have been involved with the healthcare field, in one way or another, for the last 10 years. I continue to pursue excellence in my work and compassion in my practice. PA school is a difficult undertaking but I have continuously proven myself worthy of any task I have chosen to undertake. I believe I have much to offer the world and with my training as a PA, I hope to make my corner of the world a little brighter for those I encounter.