Drawing From What I Learn

               At a young age, I knew I wanted to work in the healthcare field. Working in the healthcare field can allow me to make a significant difference in people's lives and address the medical disparities I've witnessed being a minority. For example, my mother needed to find a doctor for me regarding my health, as it was critical. However, her concerns were being brushed off by the providers in the closest town. Living in a rural town meant missing work and the frustrating feeling of being ignored despite knowing something was wrong. Determined to get answers, she extended her search and found a provider who shared her heritage and actively listened to her call for help. The provider listened to her about her concerns regarding my health, creating a trusting patient relationship. With this trust created between patient and physician, the physician was able to diagnose me with a severe case of pulmonary edema, which ended up saving my life.

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               Listening to this story opened my eyes to healthcare disparities, the lack of diversity, and accessibility issues in rural towns—challenges my family experienced firsthand. This realization ignited my commitment to making a difference in the healthcare field. Having been directly affected by these issues, I aspire to become a provider who can help bridge the gap of diversity and accessibility for families in similar situations, just as the provider was to my family.

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               As a biology major on a pre-PA track, having experience with patients and a basic understanding of the human body is crucial. With this basic knowledge, I can assess the patient's condition and discuss treatment methods or procedures clearly so that they understand and help improve their quality of life, leading me to take Advanced Human Anatomy (BIOL 461). BIOL461 looked into the basic structure of the human body and how each part functions with one another as a whole.  Notes I took seen in my artifact (Click Here to See) looks into the cardiovascular system, specifically the blood vessels and its process with blood circulation. Enrolling in this class improved my understanding of the human body, which was important when working as a Medical Assistant (MA) in a pediatric clinic and made me feel like I am progressing toward my goal of becoming a PA.

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               When shadowing various specialties and working at the clinic, I slowly became interested in specializing in pediatrics. The connections I made with the children and their parents were heartwarming. It was rewarding to see the children grow through different stages of their lives as they came into the clinic.​ I became an Medical Assistant (MA) at a pediatric clinic starting in Summer 2023. My responsibilities were taking basic vital signs, conducting tests, documenting medications, determining the purpose of each visit, and training to draw blood. Learning how to draw blood for the first time allowed me to have a strong, hands-on approach to patient care. At first, I was nervous about being able to draw blood; however, connecting what I learned in BIOL461 about the human arteries and veins allowed me to learn quickly, with precision, and confidence. From what I learned, it provided me with invaluable skills to communicate with parents clearly about what I will be doing and calm the children down when I draw their blood, as seen in my artifact (Click Here to See). In addition to taking this class, I was also able to communicate with physicians professionally, showing that I had a strong understanding of why certain medications and procedures were being done. A common diagnosis in the clinics was onychocryptosis, which is severe ingrown toenails. Local anesthesia blocks nerve signals, and the provider fixes the ingrown nail. From my class, I could draw in everything I learned to be a better MA and the skillset to become a better PA.

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               Reflecting on BIOL 461 and using what I learned as an MA made me feel well-informed and skilled. I further my understanding of human anatomy through my time working at the clinic, from taking basic vitals to observing procedures. BIOL 461 and working at the clinic have helped me better shape my skills, allowing me to become a well-rounded provider and deliver optimal care to future patients.