Physician Assistant Personal Statement

"Make a difference today for someone who is fighting for their tomorrow"-Jim Kelly. Growing up residing in a small, under populated rural area I noticed how my community lacked access to health facilities and providers. Noting that this was a necessity to have, yet so scarce, I decided that being a health care provider was the career for me. I grew up always surrounded by the health care setting; my mother was a Lab Technician who worked with several Physician Assistants. I was often in her office during after school hours of my elementary/middle school years. I mainly would take note from the Physician Assistant: how knowledgeable she was when it came to medicine, how she cared for patients, and more importantly how she put a smile on their faces. I so dearly yearned to have to same effect, or an even greater one, on individuals. During my undergraduate year, I gained a tremendous amount of experience in the health care setting in various areas from volunteering at health fairs, assisting with health seminars, working as an Athletic Trainer and an Emergency Department Medical Scribe. Although, nothing prepared and reassured me more that being a Physician Assistant was for me than when I took on an internship position with a Physician Assistant at a clinic in a rural town.
As I walked into Whatley Health Services to begin another day of my internship, greeting everyone in the waiting room with a smile, I sauntered to the back office to unpack my bag, retrieving my iPad and stethoscope.
A few minutes later, the nurse knocked on the door to announce that the first patient of the day was ready to be seen. Normally, the physician would allow me to evaluate the patient first unaccompanied by her, to see what I would make my diagnosis out to be but today was different; we went in to see the patient
together.
“Good morning, so nice to see you again” the patient stated wearily as I walked into the exam room, greeting her and her husband with a smile and embrace. This was my third time having her as a patient since my two months of interning at the clinic. “What can we do for you today?” I asked. She began to state how she had been feeling weak and fatigue all over. Normally, she would have a smile on her face while wearing her make-up, and flashing her vibrant jewelry on both hands. Today, there was no make-up, no jewelry, and even more alarming, no smile. As the PA began to ask a few more questions we began to feel uneasy by her eye raising symptoms. Therefore, we informed the patient that this sounded serious and began with the testing procedures right away. Due to the clinic being short a few staff members that day, I had the task of performing the EKG on her while the lab technician drew blood. The results were back; they were abnormal and her blood pressure was uncontrollably elevated. We provided the immediate care that we could and waited until EMS arrived. By that time, the patient was feeling weaker than she had earlier. I sat in the room with her and her husband, reassuring them that we were doing everything in our power that we could and that she would be fine. EMS finally arrived. We prepared her medical history, EKG, and lab work sealing it in an envelope. Her husband expressed his gratitude to us for all that we had done as he walked out. I hugged her once more, stating that I would see her later once she had gotten well. Little did I know I would never see her again.
As the next day arrived, I walked into Whatley once more. I noticed how overwrought the waiting area was-which was not the norm, it was usually quite at ease. I entered the Physician Assistant’s office to notice the grief on her face. She had informed me that the patient we referred out by EMS the previous day had passed away from cancer. I was devastated. Her husband’s voice kept playing repeatedly in my head; it gave me a sense of ease. I felt at peace knowing that we had done all we could and that he thanked us for it.

In conclusion, once being accepted into Physician Assistant school, which I am certain is destined to be, I plan to reside in a rural area during my practice. Rural areas need health care providers such as I. One who is caring, willing to save lives, and will give until I no longer can. While working as a health care provider, my goal is to find ways to amend the lack of health care provision and assist with health care disparities in that rural area. My task will not only be providing but prevention as well. I want to assist with the disparities by determining if individuals in rural areas are having health issues due to lack of transportation, lack of finances, or the lack of patient education. I would like to figure out how I, as a health care provider, can branch the gap as a mid-level.