Why did you choose your specific health professional career?
I chose to enter the Physician Assistant (PA) field, after contemplating applying for medical school. I decided that medical school would be overbearing for my then 3 year old daughter. PA school, although extremely intense, is only a two year program. Other factors I found inviting were that: there is no residency upon graduation, there is flexibility in switching specialties, and you still have the opportunity to practice autonomously.
What experiences did you have to make sure this profession was right for you?
I had approximately two years of medical training in phlebotomy and as a laboratory technician, prior to applying to PA school. This allowed me to interact with a diverse group of patients. I also shadowed a couple of PAs, to learn more about the profession and experience the sense of duty.
Describe any obstacles or barriers to success that you encountered along your health professional career path. How did you overcome them?
Spending quality time with my daughter and extended family was a challenge. I have a large family that is always having gatherings; early in my training I realized that I didn’t have the freedom to attend everything, like I used to. Once I explained to my family the demands of my school, they chose to be supportive. I would manage to spend time with my daughter during the daytime, and then study after she went to bed or early in the morning. Basically, time management was one of the most important factors I had to fully incorporate. My first year of school was also probably one of the hardest years of my life because I encountered the tragic loss of my grandmother and my parents. The first year of PA school is the didactic phase, and is exceptionally draining. These trials made it much more difficult. Only by my faith in Jesus Christ and support from my family, I endured. My decision to commit to this profession was definitely challenged. I had to refocus on a whole different level and carry on. These experiences have made me more compassionate to my patients and their families.
What do you do in your current job?
I do not have a current job. I recently graduated from PA school and trying to decide where I want to practice.
What advice do you have for American Indian/Alaska Native students who are interested in health careers?Be sure to get plenty of experience in the health field(s) of interest to you. From my list of schools, most schools I inquired about applying to weighed heavily on the level of experience. This means that these schools were looking at whether or not I actually understood what a professional in my chosen field did on a day-to-day basis. Network. Meet people in the medical field and develop relationships with these people. They can serve as mentors in making wise decisions about your future career.
What would you like to see for your tribe’s future?
I would like to see more support from the tribe for PA students in this field. I was unable to obtain a clinical rotation site on the Navajo reservation.
Do you practice traditional medicine? If you do, then how does traditional medicine interact with conventional medicine?
No, I am Christian.