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Personal Statement, Feedback will be Greatly appreciated


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Hey everyone ! First time applying and I would greatly appreciate some feedback and input on my personal statement essay, Thank You :)

 

Working at a doctor’s clinic as a medical scribe opened my mind to the wide variety of possibilities in the medical field. At the clinic, I had the opportunity to observe the responsibilities of a doctor, physician assistant, medical assistant, and nurse practitioner. My goals have always involved entering the medical field. My focus has always been to help and heal others by educating people about their health while being part of a team. For a time, I stood at a crossroad. I was torn between the idea of pursuing a career as a physician assistant or becoming a medical doctor. Both of these professions would allow me to both educate and heal others in different ways. Over my college years and through my job experiences I was able to decide, which career would best allow me to use my skills and passion to help others.

 

By working with both medical doctors and physician assistants, I was able to see the pros and cons of each job and decide which path I should pursue. One day, I was scribing for the medical doctor. I followed the doctor in to a patient’s room and began typing up notes on their conversation. The patient, an elderly lady, was coming in for a follow up appointment. The doctor, with a friendly and warm personality, asked the routine questions, about how she was feeling and if she had any new complaints. She replied, “I’m doing just fine, except for a backache I’ve had for the past few days.” The doctor happily helped her and scheduled a follow up appointment. It was a fairly quick visit and the doctor, engaged in small talk with the patient, but it seemed like the doctor spent very little time with each patient he saw.

 

A few weeks later, I was scheduled to work with the physician assistant. It seemed like it would be a slow day, because he only had a small number of patients on his schedule. As the day went on, his schedule got much busier. He saw not only his own patients, but also several individuals that were supposed to see the doctor. The doctor was over scheduled and sought the assistance of the PAs. One of the patients that were added to the physician assistant’s schedule was the elderly lady the doctor saw several weeks earlier. With a smile and warm welcome, the physician assistant greeted the patient and asked how she was doing. The physician assistant looked over the notes and charts from her last visit and also saw her current lab results. They indicated that she was suffering from pre-diabetes. He took his time and explained what the diagnosis meant, and the treatment plan he came up with for her to follow. He also took the time to provide her with handouts with the information he explained so she could carefully read it over in her spare time. He showed compassion and was building a foundation for a good physician-patient relationship. As the day continued, I observed his interaction with each patient and how knowledgeable he was with each diagnosis he made.

 

In college, researching the possibilities the medical field had to offer; I was torn between, medical doctor and physician assistant. On paper, it seemed like I had the quality and the interest of a physician assistant. I consider myself to be a lifelong learner, I enjoy learning new concepts and having new challenges, and I find the possibility of working among various specialties appealing. Working under another professional is an additional benefit since it would enhance the opportunities to work as a part of a team. I consider my ability to be a supportive and contributing team member one of my strongest qualities. Working with the PA, helped me see the qualities of a good PA in action and helped solidify my decision.

 

Spending most of my years focused on my education and work, striving towards a bachelor degree in biology, in my mid college years I began to take care of my grandparents, looking after their health and well-being. I spent most of my free time studying for my science courses, though when my grandfathers’ health was beginning to decline, there were often times when it was difficult to concentrate.  During that time, most of my days were spent studying and looking after him in the hospital, the rehabilitation center, or at home depending where he was at that moment. Knowing I could not lose focus on school, I adapted. I learned to multitask and balanced studying, providing his medication, and making sure he was well kept. At the end of 2013, I faced one of the hardest losses I have experienced. My grandfather suffered a massive stroke just before final exams. I had to balance the need to study while simultaneously working through my own grief and helping the rest of my family cope with his loss. It was not easy but I had to strive and keep my focus on my goal, and I knew he would not want me to get off track.

 

Small little experiences in my life such as, working, volunteering, shadowing and education, have all helped me shape my decision and determination in the Physician Assistant career path. 

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