My Experience As A Physician Assistant

In my response to why I want to be accepted in the Physician Assistant program, I find it important to share a little history that literally started me on my path into the medical field. Since I was a little girl, it has been my heart’s desire, and now my mission, to be a physician assistant! I want to help prevent, diagnose and treat health conditions. I believe that the following experience that I will share here will shed more light into my character and work ethics.
I came to New York at the age of 10 from the city of La Vega, Dominican Republic. Beginning at the airport, as I stepped foot onto United States soil, my struggle materialized. I was not able to communicate with the airport agent about where to go for my lost luggage, because
my only language was Spanish. Just like my luggage, I too was lost, and felt misplaced.
My struggle and isolation continued as I was introduced to the Board of Education classrooms. The class was taught in English, my classmates only spoke English and the textbooks were only written in English. Despite my efforts to give it my all, to learn the language and adapt to the customs of this unfamiliar place, it seemed to be a challenge I would never overcome. Since my parents and family members spoke mostly Spanish, I could not go to them for help. They only encouraged me to study and read a lot so that I would learn the language faster. I wanted so desperately to fit in, to make friends with kids my age; to understand when they spoke to me.
After some time, things started looking a little brighter to me as I was starting to learn English. I could answer a few questions, and understood some things. This was wonderful. And then the unthinkable happened; my father had a stroke. At the hospital, a cold-white, sterile, smelly place, I felt helpless as I watched my parents in despair as they tried to gather crumbs of information from doctors about what was going on with my Papa. I felt horrible because I could not help; I could not translate for my family. I was 11 years old and the frequent hospital visits exposed me to the medical field. Every time someone came to talk to my family about Papa, I would stop doing my homework and become very quiet. I desperately wanted to understand what they were saying.
It was no longer about making friends, now it was about helping my family. I knew that the only way to overcome the challenge of learning a second language was to put in an extra effort. I attended tutoring, participated in the after school programs, watched television and listened to music in English. This experience made me an individual that believes that learning is a matter of dedication and determination. My experience made me an outgoing person who interacts with people from different cultures.
Because of my strong desire to work within the medical field, coupled with my interest in the health and wellbeing of children, the elderly and adults; I always volunteered to be on the committee at my local church that would schedule visits with individuals who were ill and house-bound.
In June of 2010, I began volunteering at Lutheran Medical Center and served as an interpreter on behalf of medical professionals for Spanish speaking patients.
Serving in this capacity, from the moment of the patient’s initial entry into the facility, I was involved in the intake process, accompanied the patient through their procedures and evaluations, transported them, push them in wheel chairs, transferred blood samples and prepared patients’ charts for scheduled
procedures.
In January of 2013, I started volunteering at Family Healthcare & Cardiac Center.
I cherish the experience at this facility in particular; because it was there that I was first trained on how to perform exams. I felt that I was helping someone on their path to health. My two favorite exams were the PVR and EKG. PVR is an exam to check the rate of blood circulation going from the heart to the extremities. I was fascinated with the fact that it is possible to take someone’s pulse at the tip of their toes. I liked performing EKG test on patients because of the process of making sure you place each cable in the correct part of the body. This volunteering experience inspired me to take classes to get certified in both EKG and phlebotomy.
At the Methodist Hospital in 2015, I learned how to obtain patient’s medical history and entered data into Cerner. I obtained consent from patients prior to procedures such as diagnostic imaging and casting were administered. I observed physical examinations being performed by the physician assistant and it taught me that not only is it necessary to have knowledge to be able to diagnose and treat conditions, but also that interpersonal skills are essential for this career with a touch of
empathy.
The experience I gained at the cardiology clinic and the hours shadowing at the Methodist Hospital emergency room set the standard and solidified my decision to continue in this career.
Currently, I work for the Department of Health for the City of New York, whereby I triage and register patients, assist physicians and nurse practitioner in the examination of patients, translate, and assist with maintenance of inventory supplies and pharmaceuticals.
In closing, my story unfortunately ends with my Papa passing away. He was never the same again, but the experience exposed me to a different world that has lasted me a lifetime. Spending those hours in the waiting rooms, and sitting by my Papas bedside in the hospital, left a permanent footprint and a love for medicine.
Please rest assured that I am a great candidate for this Physician Assistant Program. Not only am I ambitious, but I have the heart and determination to being successful in my chosen field. Your acceptance brings me one step closer to making my dream a reality. Further, I have already vowed to spend the rest of my life, helping others. Your acceptance provides me with the necessary tools needed to be a skilled, productive servant of the community.