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[floralawrence]

          My dad was the quintessential adventurer. He built is own hang-glider in his 20s, was a self taught electrician and mechanic, and was consumed with wanderlust. He instilled a sense of exploration, curiosity and wonder in me at an early age.

          When I was 15 years old, my dad was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Numerous tumors in his brain and lungs caused my strong, stubborn, and intelligent father to lose his mental acuity, memory, physical abilities, and passion for life. This fiercely independent man found himself deeply dependent on his family, friends, doctors, and caretakers to help him through his daily life. His frustration and pain were palpable.

However, we managed to stay positive. This would not have been possible without the incredible support provided by his oncologist, brain surgeon, rehabilitation nurses, hospice caretakers, and therapists. My dad regained much of his coordination abilities and spatial awareness after going through open brain surgery to remove a tumor from his parietal lobe. His rehabilitation nurses spent hours leading him through exercises until he was able to walk on his own again. I was in awe of the powers of modern medicine, and I idolized his caretakers. These individuals’ compassion, persistence, and expertise allowed my dad to live long enough to teach me to drive his 1996 manual Honda Accord, attend my high school graduation, and support me as I moved 1,200 miles away to Colorado to go to college.

          My dad passed away during my first semester of college, but the sense of exploration and thirst for knowledge he planted in me never died. While attending university in Boulder, Colorado I had endless opportunities to explore both the stunning landscapes of the state and cutting-edge academia in labs and classes both on CU’s campus and abroad while on exchange in Australia. The amazement I felt while I dissected my first cadaver in Human Anatomy Lab was unforgettable. Getting a hands-on look at the inner workings of the human body sparked a desire to learn more about this profound, unified, incredibly complex system, and inspired me to declare a major in Integrative Physiology. I applied and furthered the knowledge I gained in my classes through working as a children’s gymnastics coach, interning at a physical therapy clinic, and conducting research in a lab at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine.

          Although I have graduated, I never want this learning to end. At my current job as a medical assistant at a dermatology clinic, I am not only learning about the myriad of clinical conditions that affect skin, but also about how to interact with and support a diverse patient population. At Cherry Creek Dermatology I have seen the erratic behavior of a schizophrenic patient and the contrasting steadiness in her demeanor when controlled by medications, have found ways to communicate effectively in spite of a language barrier, and have heard a 101 year old woman’s first hand account of surviving the holocaust while losing her family. I help educate patients on their conditions, medications and care instructions. At the same time they are teaching me too, about their individual needs, background, life experiences, and outlook. I cherish the reciprocal relationship between provider and patient.

           “Flora the Explora”, the nickname my dad gave me as a child, has continued to hold true in to my adult life, both in my experiences and my aspirations. As a physician assistant, I will be constantly learning about and gaining experience in the specialty I am working in, and will have the opportunity to change specialties and explore other areas of medicine. My two PA mentors, who I interact with daily, both worked in other specialties before dermatology. One’s rural family practice background, and the other’s general surgery background manifest themselves in how they interact with patients, and their strengths in certain areas of the practice. Their ability to bring their unique skills to the table and collaborate with each other and with the supervising physician makes the practice strong, diverse, and multifaceted. As a PA, I will be able to utilize my strong interpersonal skills and compassion for those around me coupled with my thirst for knowledge and knack for problem solving to provide superior care for my patients.

            A physician assistant is a teacher, a scientist, a problem-solver, a counselor, and a friend. A physician assistant is adaptive, caring, inquisitive, patient, and intelligent. PAs have ability to completely alter a person’s medical experience and outlook on their disease, like my dad’s health care providers did. I cannot wait to be a PA.

 

(Thank you!!!)