First time applicant- any critiques will be appreciated :)

[transtep]

As the first few patients checked in, I experienced a wave of different emotions: it was the start to my second week. My heart palpitated as I called for the first patient “Jane Doe?”  While asking her how her morning was faring, I took her vitals and verified her current medications before performing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA). Ms. Doe was in the early stages of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's Diseases, evident from her placid affect, memory lapses, and resting tremors.  With all the results noted, Dr. Kumar entered the room and I took my place at the computer in the patient room to begin transcribing patient history and complete a SOAP note in an EMR system I was still unfamiliar with. At the end of the visit, I explain to Ms. Doe’s caregiver the changes in Ms. Doe’s medication to clarify any questions before booking the next appointment. As Ms. Doe left while slowly waving goodbye, I smiled to myself as I gathered the next patient’s chart. The day was just getting started.

 

“As she calls out ‘Jane Doe’, I notice her vibrant smile and personality as she introduces herself albeit nervously. She is waiting patiently for me as I slowly make my way into the exam room. I never saw her three weeks ago at my last visit so she seems new here. In either case, Stephanie is patient, never expressing frustration even when I am taking time to or am unsure how to answer a question. What I notice about Stephanie is she takes the time to ensure my caregiver understands recent changes in my prescriptions, but still checking in with me to see that I am doing alright.”

 

Coming from a family of primarily engineers, I was not exposed to medicine.  But it was during my undergraduate years, switching majors from finance to biology where I began my interest in the applicability of life sciences.  My anatomy and physiology courses, though daunting, allowed me to appreciate the complexity of the human body and compelled me to immerse myself in different applications of academia.  In volunteering at the local hospital, working as a physical therapy aide, and crafting surgical guides, I realized I wanted a more active role with autonomy in working with patients.  Working as a medical assistant felt the most sound choice then, to garner experience and develop a comprehensive understanding of what quotidian clinical work entailed.

 

As the months progressed, my fears were placated as I developed confidence with the quotidian duties of a medical assistant. Our team of two neurologists and three medical assistants in four rooms saw at least 150 patients per week so efficiency was key to providing high quality patient care.  The time to hone these abilities was short but working in such a fast-paced environment taught me alacrity in stressful situations. My work primed me for the standards to become a respectable health care professional. The career of a physician assistant appeals to me for that reason: consulting with physicians in crafting sound treatment plans for patients, a collaborative effort focused on a common goal of furthering patient health.

 

“In eight months, Ms. Doe’s condition has deteriorated. Her memory has worsened and she is now wheelchair bound. Her expressions have become lifeless and she is less responsive. At our most recent visit, Stephanie greets Ms. Doe and me with a jubilant hello as we walk through the door. In the last eight months, I have noticed her confidence greatly improved and she appears a natural. The rapport she has built with Ms. Doe and me flourished into more than just patient interaction, which I imagine is the same with other patients as well judging from Ms. Doe’s occasionally expressive positive response.”

 

After one year, I chose to transition from neurology to pain management and rehabilitation. Transitioning to an entirely new specialty was difficult initially: learning a new set of vernacular and patient needs, getting to master a new practice’s dynamic, and understanding my purpose and role on a new medical team. However, I knew the transition would prepare me for a career as a physician assistant. Flexibility and having the opportunity to change specialties affords me not only mastery of different fields of medicine, but also to use my skill set to further the reach and efficacy of a practice.

 

When I started as a medical assistant, I did not know it would be such a formative experience in inspiring my interest in practicing medicine as a physician assistant along with acquiring and honing a special set of skills I will utilize throughout my career. The ability to be a small part of a patient’s visit has turned into an enlightening experience not just with Jane Doe but with the many others I have had the privilege of meeting and working with along the way. Emotionally, physically, and mentally, I have learned what it takes to be a dedicated practitioner and I look forward to the journey ahead to become the best physician assistant I know I will be.