Physician Assistant Case Study

My hometown of Williamston, is 28 miles from the closest (not-so) major city, of Greenville, North Carolina. Growing up in a rural, medically under-served community, I witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of health care inequalities. Physician Assistants (PA) are the key to providing adequate access in these areas, like the one I am from. They are integral members of rural communities and are on the front lines combating disparities caused by shortages of primary care providers. It is my passion and life's work to use my medical training and knowledge to provide critical care for those individuals who need it the most.

I saw first hand the work of a PA in a rural community. While shadowing Delphine, a primary care PA, I think back to one particular case where she saw a patient who in addition to her medical conditions, was grieving the loss of her husband. After Delphine treated the patient’s physical ailments she made sure the patient felt emotionally supported before finishing the appointment. It struck me that Delphine provides a tremendous service to the patients she serves. Especially in medically under-served areas, PAs provide holistic care, which includes mental wellness. Patient care goes beyond physical health but inevitably extends to emotional well-being. Providing quality care is my mission and seeing the care Delphine provided to her patients exemplified
As a medical laboratory technologist, my role is not limited to performing lab tests. I correlate the results obtained with patient's symptoms, clinical presentation, and other lab results. This introductory correlation of results peaked my curiosity to learn more about patient care. Through my shadowing, it became apparent that PAs rely heavily on laboratory result interpretation to be able to treat and diagnose patients. My intimate knowledge in this area will be a crucial asset to me as a