“Does anyone speak Polish?” The director of rehabilitation was concerned about a recently admitted Parkinson’s disease patient who was failing to take her medication and who was anxious and confused following her recent diagnosis and admission to the acute rehabilitation facility where I was a volunteer worker. Being a Polish speaker, I was able to communicate with the patient and to persuade her of the need to take her medication and undertake her rehabilitation exercises. She was one of many patients at the nursing home suffering, or recovering from, a variety of conditions such as dementia, stroke, arthralgia, pulmonary disease, knee replacement or a recent fall. I assisted physical and occupational therapists with exercise training modalities and undertook escort duties. I learned a great deal from this experience, especially the magically reassuring effects of a smile and holding a hand.
I have a significant academic, working and volunteer background in health sciences, primarily in Nutrition, Exercise Science, and Psychology. I hold a BS in Nutrition and Exercise Sciences and an MS in Exercise Physiology. I have substantial experience of working with, or observing the work of, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurse practitioners, and dieticians as well as physicians.
My interest in extending my work into healthcare was fired during an internship at the Cayuga Center for Healthy Living and the experience of shadowing physicians. The CCHL takes a comprehensive approach by targeting modifiable risk factors such as diet, physical activity, stress, and smoking, in the care of chronic disease. I was exposed to patients suffering from many diseases that affect a large and growing proportion of the population such as bariatric, cardiac, pulmonary, and diabetic patients. It was heartening to see that the program also worked with those at risk to prevent the onset of these diseases, an example of effective preventative medicine which I hope to emulate in my future work. I have become very aware that the US population is rapidly aging and that this will involve healthcare professionals in new and difficult challenges. I have worked with elderly patients who exhibit the kinds of conditions that will become increasingly prevalent. I believe that my knowledge of exercise physiology will be of great relevance in treating the elderly and extending their independent lives.
I am drawn to the role of PA because it is primarily about providing access to healthcare in circumstances where they might not do so otherwise and because the role offers a substantial degree of autonomy. While wanting to make a living, my primary aim is to make a positive difference in people’s lives. I can think of no better way of doing so than by becoming a PA. My work and voluntary activity has always involved working directly with people who have needed help, and I find great satisfaction in providing it. I now wish to extend my skills and knowledge to fulfill my potential for providing care.
It may be relevant to state that I was employed throughout my studies, often working two jobs, speaking to diligence, intelligence, and academic potential. I always applied myself fully to the program and to did everything necessary to excel.
I am aware that healthcare requires a high degree of cultural awareness and sensitivity. I have happily studied and worked with people of many cultural and social backgrounds; I have enjoyed doing so and look forward to extending this experience in the program. I speak Spanish and Polish and visit Poland frequently, as well as most of the USA. I also hope to have ample opportunity to put my Spanish at the service of America's underserved, so many of whom speak this langugae.
I know that there will be many professionally qualified applicants for the program. However, I am an excellent candidate. I have proved my diligence and intelligence by obtaining sound qualifications under adverse conditions; I have practical experience in health-related work that is relevant to the program and will enable me to provide useful insights to my class; I have the personal characteristics that will enable me to be an excellent PA. My main recommendation is a passionate desire to acquire the skills and knowledge to enable me to become a highly skilled and effective PA to help people to the extent of my potential and especially the underserved, elderly, and vulnerable.
Mastering Physician Assistant Studies Personal Purpose Review
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