Hi​ ​Gabrielle!

Received​ ​an​ ​email​ ​stating​ ​you​ ​may​ ​not​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​open​ ​the​ ​attachment,​ ​so​ ​I​ ​copied​ ​and​ ​pasted
answers​ ​below.

1.​​ ​ ​ ​ ​What​ ​was​ ​your​ ​education​ ​and​ ​training​ ​before​ ​becoming​ ​a​ ​physician​ ​assistant​ ​and​ ​how​ ​did
you​ ​decide​ ​to​ ​follow​ ​this​ ​path?

I​ ​studied​ ​biological​ ​sciences​ ​and​ ​genetics​ ​at​ ​North​ ​Carolina​ ​State​ ​University.​ ​I​ ​from​ ​just​ ​a​ ​little
girl​ ​desired​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​public​ ​service​ ​role​ ​particularly​ ​in​ ​medicine.​ ​Fortunately,​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the
biological​ ​sciences​ ​curriculum,​ ​students​ ​were​ ​required​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​a​ ​preceptorship​ ​within​ ​an
area​ ​of​ ​our​ ​career​ ​interest.​ ​I​ ​was​ ​able​ ​to​ ​find​ ​a​ ​clinical​ ​role​ ​within​ ​a​ ​local​ ​Orthopedic​ ​office​ ​where
I​ ​was​ ​first​ ​exposed​ ​to​ ​two​ ​very​ ​talented​ ​physician​ ​assistants,​ ​one​ ​an​ ​older​ ​male​ ​who​ ​completed
his​ ​training​ ​in​ ​the​ ​military​ ​and​ ​one​ ​a​ ​younger​ ​female,​ ​who​ ​was​ ​also​ ​a​ ​wife​ ​and​ ​a​ ​mother.​ ​I​ ​saw
the​ ​capacity​ ​at​ ​which​ ​they​ ​worked,​ ​practicing​ ​with​ ​autonomy,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​in​ ​collaboration​ ​with​ ​the
doctors.​ ​Having​ ​this​ ​exposure​ ​and​ ​seeing​ ​a​ ​young​ ​female​ ​who​ ​was​ ​able​ ​to​ ​balance​ ​a​ ​wonderful
career​ ​and​ ​carry​ ​on​ ​her​ ​role​ ​as​ ​a​ ​wife​ ​and​ ​mother​ ​sparked​ ​my​ ​interest​ ​in​ ​this​ ​profession​ ​at​ ​a
time​ ​when​ ​I​ ​was​ ​conflicted​ ​within​ ​the​ ​various​ ​roles​ ​of​ ​healthcare​ ​professions.​ ​This​ ​was​ ​certainly
the​ ​right​ ​choice.

2.​​ ​ ​ ​ ​How​ ​did​ ​your​ ​college​ ​prepare​ ​you​ ​for​ ​your​ ​job?

A​ ​degree​ ​in​ ​biological​ ​sciences​ ​fulfilled​ ​all​ ​the​ ​pre-requisite​ ​courses​ ​required​ ​for​ ​application​ ​to
PA​ ​school​ ​and​ ​by​ ​completing​ ​the​ ​courses,​ ​I​ ​gained​ ​great​ ​exposure​ ​into​ ​the​ ​pre-medical​ ​world.
The​ ​courses​ ​confirmed​ ​and​ ​consolidated​ ​my​ ​interest​ ​in​ ​medicine​ ​and​ ​exposed​ ​me​ ​to​ ​real
laboratory​ ​and​ ​clinical​ ​environments.

3.​​ ​ ​ ​ ​Because​ ​there​ ​are​ ​so​ ​many​ ​specialties,​ ​how​ ​did​ ​you​ ​choose​ ​yours?

Well,​ ​the​ ​specialty​ ​sort-of​ ​choose​ ​me!​ ​The​ ​first​ ​position​ ​I​ ​accepted​ ​was​ ​with​ ​an​ ​outpatient
vascular​ ​surgery​ ​clinic​ ​in​ ​a​ ​small​ ​town​ ​right​ ​outside​ ​of​ ​Fort​ ​Hood,​ ​Texas.​ ​ ​At​ ​that​ ​time,​ ​PA
openings​ ​in​ ​that​ ​area​ ​were​ ​few.​ ​Honestly,​ ​throughout​ ​my​ ​training,​ ​cardiovascular​ ​medicine​ ​was
not​ ​an​ ​interest​ ​of​ ​mine​ ​probably​ ​because​ ​the​ ​field​ ​has​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​of​ ​intimidation​ ​factor​ ​as​ ​the​ ​content
can​ ​be​ ​difficult​ ​to​ ​grasp.​ ​After​ ​exposure​ ​to​ ​this​ ​first​ ​position​ ​however,​ ​it​ ​sparked​ ​an​ ​interest​ ​and
the​ ​positions​ ​I​ ​pursued​ ​thereafter​ ​were​ ​within​ ​the​ ​cardiac​ ​specialty​ ​which​ ​I​ ​very​ ​much​ ​enjoy.

4.​​ ​ ​ ​ ​What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​difficulties​ ​you​ ​face​ ​with​ ​your​ ​job?

I​ ​think​ ​at​ ​this​ ​point​ ​in​ ​my​ ​career,​ ​I​ ​have​ ​already​ ​faced​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​insecurities​ ​that​ ​are​ ​exposed
earlier​ ​on​ ​as​ ​a​ ​new​ ​advanced​ ​care​ ​practitioner​ ​as​ ​there​ ​are​ ​many​ ​unknowns,​ ​and​ ​one​ ​must
build​ ​confidence​ ​through​ ​continued​ ​learning​ ​and​ ​established​ ​relationships​ ​with​ ​ones​ ​patients,
colleagues​ ​and​ ​preceptors.​ ​Where​ ​medicine​ ​has​ ​always​ ​been​ ​focused​ ​on​ ​patients,​ ​the​ ​medical
world​ ​has​ ​further​ ​evolved​ ​into​ ​a​ ​consumer-​ ​focused​ ​market​ ​where​ ​customer​ ​service​ ​is​ ​of​ ​highest
importance.​ ​Customer​ ​service​ ​can​ ​be​ ​difficult​ ​no​ ​matter​ ​what​ ​career​ ​you​ ​choose,​ ​however​ ​most
difficult​ ​when​ ​dealing​ ​with​ ​ones​ ​health​ ​or​ ​the​ ​health​ ​of​ ​a​ ​loved​ ​one.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​important​ ​to​ ​establish
trust​ ​with​ ​patients​ ​and​ ​ensure​ ​their​ ​satisfaction!

Most​ ​females​ ​as​ ​they​ ​gain​ ​wife​ ​and​ ​mother​ ​roles​ ​encounter​ ​difficulties​ ​in​ ​maintaining​ ​a​ ​healthy
balance​ ​in​ ​their​ ​careers​ ​and​ ​responsibilities/desires​ ​at​ ​home.​ ​This​ ​career​ ​is​ ​no​ ​different,
however​ ​I​ ​have​ ​been​ ​blessed​ ​as​ ​I​ ​have​ ​transitioned​ ​to​ ​a​ ​new​ ​role​ ​that​ ​offers​ ​great​ ​balance.
There​ ​are​ ​so​ ​many​ ​possibilities!

5.​​ ​ ​ ​ ​What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​skills​ ​that​ ​one​ ​would​ ​need​ ​for​ ​your​ ​job?

Specific​ ​skills​ ​depend​ ​on​ ​the​ ​specialty​ ​one​ ​shows​ ​interest​ ​in,​ ​however​ ​all​ ​PA’s​ ​are​ ​trained​ ​during
a​ ​didactic​ ​period​ ​where​ ​you​ ​learn​ ​the​ ​fundamentals​ ​across​ ​a​ ​broad​ ​range​ ​of​ ​specialties​ ​and
then​ ​transition​ ​into​ ​a​ ​clinical​ ​role​ ​where​ ​those​ ​fundamentals​ ​are​ ​applied.​ ​Again,​ ​healthcare​ ​is​ ​a
large​ ​customer​ ​service​ ​industry​ ​and​ ​therefore​ ​patient​ ​interaction​ ​and​ ​developing​ ​social​ ​skills
should​ ​be​ ​a​ ​large​ ​focus.​ ​Most​ ​hands​ ​on​ ​experience​ ​including​ ​therapeutic​ ​injections,​ ​examination
and​ ​surgical​ ​techniques,​ ​suturing​ ​are​ ​learned​ ​throughout​ ​skill​ ​labs​ ​and​ ​during​ ​clinicals.

6.​​ ​ ​ ​ ​On​ ​a​ ​typical​ ​day,​ ​where​ ​is​ ​most​ ​of​ ​your​ ​time​ ​spent?

My​ ​days​ ​are​ ​spent​ ​in​ ​a​ ​clinical​ ​setting.

7.​​ ​ ​ ​ ​Is​ ​there​ ​anything​ ​you​ ​wish​ ​you​ ​would​ ​have​ ​known​ ​before​ ​you​ ​became​ ​a​ ​physician​ ​assistant?

Career​ ​wise,​ ​not​ ​at​ ​all.​ ​Becoming​ ​a​ ​physician​ ​assistant​ ​is​ ​the​ ​perfect​ ​hybrid​ ​position​ ​offering
autonomy​ ​in​ ​practicing​ ​diagnostic​ ​medicine​ ​while​ ​allowing​ ​more​ ​time​ ​with​ ​the​ ​patient​ ​and​ ​not
assuming​ ​the​ ​extended​ ​schooling​ ​and​ ​years​ ​of​ ​training​ ​required​ ​by​ ​a​ ​physician.

8.​​ ​ ​ ​ ​Is​ ​the​ ​job​ ​what​ ​you​ ​expected​ ​it​ ​to​ ​be?​ ​If​ ​not,​ ​why?

Honestly,​ ​it​ ​is.

9.​​ ​ ​ ​ ​Because​ ​a​ ​physician​ ​assistant​ ​is​ ​relatively​ ​a​ ​new​ ​job,​ ​where​ ​do​ ​you​ ​see​ ​physician​ ​assistants
in​ ​the​ ​future?

The​ ​profession​ ​originated​ ​in​ ​1965,​ ​and​ ​has​ ​evolved​ ​rapidly​ ​since.​ ​There​ ​has​ ​been​ ​a
tremendously​ ​rapid​ ​growth​ ​and​ ​desire​ ​for​ ​advanced​ ​care​ ​practitioners​ ​as​ ​the​ ​healthcare​ ​laws
change​ ​desiring​ ​more​ ​affordable​ ​care,​ ​patient​ ​needs​ ​evolve​ ​and​ ​growing​ ​respect​ ​in​ ​the
profession​ ​takes​ ​place.​ ​PA’s​ ​are​ ​welcomed​ ​and​ ​now​ ​in​ ​the​ ​view​ ​of​ ​most​ ​a​ ​vital​ ​part​ ​to​ ​the
integrity​ ​of​ ​healthcare.
10.​​ ​ ​What​ ​is​ ​it​ ​like​ ​to​ ​work​ ​with​ ​a​ ​physician?​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​see​ ​them​ ​every​ ​day​ ​or​ ​once​ ​in​ ​awhile?

At​ ​my​ ​current​ ​practice,​ ​I​ ​always​ ​have​ ​exposure​ ​and​ ​some​ ​form​ ​of​ ​accessibility​ ​to​ ​physicians,
which​ ​I​ ​very​ ​much​ ​appreciate.​ ​I​ ​do​ ​have​ ​an​ ​independent​ ​schedule​ ​from​ ​them,​ ​however​ ​if​ ​a
question​ ​arises,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​nice​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​provider​ ​on​ ​site​ ​to​ ​discuss​ ​with.

11.​​ ​ ​What​ ​is​ ​your​ ​work​ ​schedule​ ​like?​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​work​ ​a​ ​few​ ​days​ ​a​ ​week,​ ​rotations​ ​or​ ​is​ ​it​ ​9​ ​-​ ​5?

I​ ​have​ ​a​ ​full-time​ ​schedule​ ​in​ ​an​ ​outpatient​ ​clinic,​ ​working​ ​4​ ​days​ ​a​ ​week​ ​from​ ​7:30-5:00.

12.​​ ​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​have​ ​any​ ​advice​ ​or​ ​tips​ ​for​ ​someone​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​becoming​ ​a​ ​physician​ ​assistant?

Simply,​ ​I​ ​have​ ​had​ ​no​ ​regrets​ ​in​ ​the​ ​career​ ​I​ ​have​ ​chosen.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​seen​ ​the​ ​number​ ​of​ ​PA
programs​ ​within​ ​NC​ ​double​ ​since​ ​my​ ​graduation​ ​in​ ​2009​ ​which​ ​speaks​ ​volumes​ ​on​ ​how​ ​this
profession​ ​has​ ​impacted​ ​the​ ​healthcare​ ​community​ ​and​ ​the​ ​continued​ ​direction​ ​at​ ​which​ ​it​ ​is
heading.
The​ ​PA​ ​graduate​ ​program​ ​is​ ​quite​ ​involved​ ​and​ ​requires​ ​your​ ​complete​ ​dedicated​ ​attention​ ​and
focus​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is​ ​in​ ​a​ ​sense​ ​a​ ​full-time​ ​position​ ​requiring​ ​presence​ ​in​ ​the​ ​classroom​ ​30-40
hours/week​ ​plus​ ​a​ ​structured,​ ​multi-specialty​ ​study​ ​approach​ ​outside​ ​of​ ​the​ ​classroom.​ ​Your
social​ ​life​ ​outside​ ​of​ ​the​ ​PA​ ​Program​ ​may​ ​change​ ​during​ ​the​ ​period​ ​of​ ​schooling,​ ​however
reassuring​ ​to​ ​have​ ​those​ ​within​ ​the​ ​program​ ​with​ ​the​ ​same​ ​focus.​ ​Your​ ​classmates​ ​will​ ​be​ ​your
motivation​ ​and​ ​the​ ​end-result​ ​will​ ​be​ ​tremendously​ ​rewarding!

13.​​ ​ ​If​ ​suddenly​ ​your​ ​job​ ​didn’t​ ​exist,​ ​what​ ​other​ ​jobs​ ​would​ ​you​ ​consider?

Oh​ ​my!​ ​What​ ​a​ ​tuff​ ​question.​ ​The​ ​short​ ​is,​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​see​ ​our​ ​profession​ ​going​ ​anywhere​ ​but​ ​up.
With​ ​a​ ​biological​ ​science​ ​degree,​ ​I​ ​imagine​ ​I​ ​could​ ​find​ ​a​ ​position​ ​within​ ​a​ ​lab,​ ​pharmaceutical
company​ ​or​ ​sales,​ ​however​ ​on​ ​a​ ​side​ ​note,​ ​would​ ​love​ ​to​ ​have​ ​some​ ​culinary​ ​training!

14.​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​feel​ ​physician​ ​assistants​ ​have​ ​any​ ​limitations?

I​ ​don’t​ ​see​ ​many​ ​limitations​ ​as​ ​PA’s​ ​generally​ ​work​ ​within​ ​the​ ​scope​ ​of​ ​their​ ​practice.​ ​As​ ​long​ ​as
the​ ​involved​ ​clinical​ ​practice​ ​and​ ​collaborating​ ​physicians​ ​are​ ​in​ ​agreement​ ​with​ ​their​ ​roles
within​ ​that​ ​group,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​generally​ ​no​ ​surprises​ ​in​ ​practice​ ​and​ ​PA’s​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​practice
autonomously​ ​in​ ​most​ ​aspects.​ ​Limitations​ ​may​ ​be​ ​set​ ​by​ ​the​ ​individual​ ​in​ ​regards​ ​to​ ​their
personal​ ​preferences​ ​within​ ​practice,​ ​generally​ ​specialty​ ​dependent.