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It was towards the end of my shift when we received the page to transport a morbidly obese female from her nursing home to the emergency room. She was experiencing severe pain throughout both of her legs, even after her nurse had given her pain killers. As an emergency medical technician (EMT), I have transported and cared for many different types of patients, most of whom are from nursing homes in medically underserved areas. This particular patient concerned me due to her extensive history of medical conditions, in addition to being obese. There was little I could do for her on the way to the hospital other than comfort her and monitor her vital signs. In fact, those two things are all I can do for most of my patients, in addition to treating each individual with the utmost respect and patience. Working firsthand with patients suffering from chronic conditions has instilled in me the desire to pursue a career that can increase the availability of medical professionals.

 

As a child, my desire to care for others began by caring for my sick or injured pets. As a result of this caring nature and my aptitude for science, I decided to become a veterinarian. This goal persisted throughout high school, until I joined a team to go on a short-term mission trip to the Dominican Republic. During this remarkable trip, I played games with children in dirt streets, encouraged women in a jail, and sang with a youth group in a church. These encounters showed me the impact I could have on a person's life and left me wanting to do more to help. Therefore, I decided to modify my career goal from one that cares for animals to one that directly benefits a person's well-being.

 

During my undergraduate studies, I knew little about the array of professions involved in the medical field, particularly the role of physician assistants (PAs). My eagerness to help people and learn human biology led me to follow the pre-medical school path. During my spare time, when I was not studying or commuting to class, I enjoyed tutoring students in math. Each student had a distinctive set of problems; therefore I always assessed my students to determine the most effective approach of explaining a topic. As a result, my students performed significantly better on their tests after their sessions. The more I researched about becoming a doctor, the more I realized that this aspect of coming alongside a person to help them understand their health problems was diminished. Once I recognized that PAs can treat patients in a more general manner, allowing them to spend more time with patients, I was swayed away from attending medical school.

It was only when I began to shadow a PA in an emergency room (ER) that I truly saw myself establishing a career as one. I did my best to keep pace as she tended to people with conditions ranging from lacerations to pregnancy complications to nausea.  “Can I listen to your heart?” she asked a restless toddler crawling under the examination table. She squatted to his level to make him feel comfortable and explained to his mother what she was looking for in terms of signs of any serious illness. I watched reverently as she worked independently, treating and diagnosing each of her patients, yet also collaborating with the doctor to analyze test results or receive a second opinion. I also had the pleasure of shadowing another PA who had worked with doctors in several different specialties throughout his 23 years of practice. However, he enjoyed working in emergency medicine because it allowed him to apply skills learned throughout his career. This ER experience and the knowledge that I will be able to learn different specialties throughout my career only increased my desire to become a PA. Until then, I plan to continue my work as an EMT dedicated to understanding my patients’ conditions and caring for them during transport. I also volunteer at my local hospital and at a hospice care for Alzheimer’s patients in order to further improve my patient communication skills.

 

From encouraging people in the Dominican Republic to tutoring students, I have discovered true enjoyment that can only result from spending time with people, allowing them to better themselves. While I decided to enter the medical field at a young age, only exposure to the vast network of people involved in treating a patient helped me decide which profession to pursue. During my time as an EMT, I have had the pleasure of providing care to people with various conditions. Unfortunately, most of these people have developed chronic illnesses due to minimal access to medical professionals. As a PA, I anticipate establishing a career of not only educating patients about their health, but also learning. In this way, I hope to find continual enjoyment in helping my patients maintain healthy lives, especially those who live without regular access to medical professionals.

 

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