Why I Want To Become a Physician Assistant? - Personal Statement

Introduction

I can still vividly remember this day when I suddenly developed an interest to become a Physician Assistant (PA) in the future. When I was 10, I used to accompany my father to his workplace - a nearby hospital where he worked as a pharmacy technician. One day, I saw a badly wounded patient - probably from an accident- being wheeled into the hospital. I heard my father say that the young lady was so badly injured that if she did not receive immediate proper treatment, she would succumb to her injuries. However, as fate would have it, it happened that the accident victim by the name "Mary" came from an economically disadvantaged family and hence she did not have the money to finance the expensive treatment that she needed to remain alive. It was the hospital's policy that physicians and PAs would only attend to patients after a confirmation that the patient or their family had paid the requisite hospital bills. Unable to foot the hospital bill, Mary finally died because the only physician that the hospital had at the time declined to attend to her wounds. I immediately knew that had Mary received proper care from a Physician or their PA, she would have survived. It was such a life-changing experience for me.

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It was thus Mary's harrowing story that greatly influenced my decision to one day pursue the career of a Physician Assistant so as to contribute towards the provision of a compassionate care to all patients irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds. Initially, I was a pharmacist in my country before I got a scholarship to work and study in the US. Currently, I am a pharmacy technician in the US where I work with different health professionals. I am convinced that this professional experience is relevant to the work of a PA. Furthermore, I believe that my exposure to patients from different backgrounds and with different healthcare needs puts me at a better position to realize my dream of becoming a PA so as to continue assisting those in need of care.

Moreover, I am interested in being a PA not only because I possess all the requirements of being a PA such as strong grades but also because I believe that I have the right qualities that will enable me to thrive. Throughout my sophomore and freshman years, I worked hard despite many challenges to obtaining the best grades and GPA. I am also a determined and hardworking individual with a drive to succeed in anything I pursue in life. Additionally, I am a friendly and compassionate person who takes a lot of pride and interest in helping other people who are in need. Hence, being a PA will enable me to contribute positively towards alleviating human suffering and providing the best possible primary care. According to Halter et al. (2013), PAs play an important role in primary care in that they provide clinician support to medical doctors and help address the acute shortage of physicians. Besides, I am a team worker and hence being a PA will give me the opportunity to work together with other physicians in providing affordable, accessible, and high-quality care. I also like the flexibility that comes with being a PA.

Conclusion

In summary, my early childhood experience witnessing a patient die due to lack of proper primary care greatly inspired my interest in being a PA to help influence people's health in positive ways. I would also like to become a PA because it suits my academic and professional skills and experience besides it being a flexible and life-changing career.

Reference

Halter, M., Drennan, V., Chattopadhyay, K., Cameiro, W., Yiallouros, J., Lusignan, S., Gage, H., Gabe, J., & Grant, R. (2013). The contribution of Physician Assistants in primary care: a systematic review. BMC Health Research, 13, 223. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-13-223