"Why do you want to become a PA?"
I have been giving this question some serious thought over the past couple of years since returning to school in effort to become a Physician Assistant. Tomorrow is my final interview for graduate school at Arizona School of Health Sciences. I'm stoked about the opportunity however have come to a point of acceptance that this is an extremely competitive process and I must be prepared to accept any outcome.
The reasons I have for wanting to become a Physician Assistant have three layers. At the core, I desire to help disadvantaged populations. I have traveled across the US and with teams to 6 different countries to provide aid to diverse populations. As a result I have seen first hand the disparities that exist in wealth, familial support, and the access to affordable quality healthcare. I desire my life to be a conduit that gives from what it receives. I believe this is the way of nature and what allows us to truly find peace and fulfillment in our humanity.
At the next layer I have a passion for health - physical, mental, and spiritual. These three facets of our health are so interconnected that it is often undetectable where one ends and the other begins. I specifically desire a career in healthcare because of its universal applicability across all cultures and times. As a healthcare provider there will always be a need that I can aid in filling no matter where I find myself. Additionally I am passionate about science and find understanding the physiological inner-workings of our bodies miraculous.
The final layer explains why I have chosen a healthcare career specifically as a Physician Assistant. The PA profession is riddled with lateral mobility. I can specialize in emergency care, family practice, surgery, psychology, and a host of other directions changing specialties throughout my career. PA's are given a level of autonomy that is challenging and exciting to me yet they work under the supervision of a Physician. I appreciate how the PA profession establishes a link in healthcare that promotes a team culture and coordination between providers. Multiple minds working together generally yield better results than any man on his own. Additionally the friends I have who are PA's love their profession and state that their career allows a good work/life balance with an income that is conducive to supporting a family. As someone who desires to adopt and foster multiple children, this is essential.
Unfortunately I am much less gifted at expressing myself through verbal communication so I appreciate your prayers as I attempt to communicate my thoughts in the interview tomorrow. Ultimately there are a host of paths to achieving my passions and as much as I'd love the doors for PA to open this year, I'll carry forward the mantra of resilience - Adapt, Improvise, Overcome!
