A Challenging Year to be a PA Student

Joesie Bowdish of MEDEX Seattle Class 52 saw her clinical year begin near the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, there was a disruption in the school year as MEDEX Northwest and all PA programs worked to develop the path forward. Resilience was required throughout 2020, with Joesie and her cohort tested along the way. Now close to graduation, Joesie’s familial ties, native intelligence and Wyoming roots have done much to see her through these challenges.

Providing Joy in Medicine

Emily Storesund believes there’s far too little joy in medicine. Her years working as a nursing assistant in various healthcare settings have led her to this conclusion. Now in her clinical year as a member of MEDEX Seattle Class 52, Emily’s empathy and proven ability to communicate with patients sets her up well for a new career as a physician assistant.

Finding Your Place as Part of a Team

A former researcher in late stage cancer for Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Hiep Nguyen has embarked on his second year in PA education at MEDEX. He’s building on a strong foundation of patient care and social activism to hone his clinical skills as a physician assistant student, while crediting his Vietnamese immigrant family for the perseverance that will see him through to graduation.

No Reason To Hit The Brakes

Coming from a behavioral medicine background, Timara Freeman-Young sees the obstacles in U.S. healthcare, and wants to be a force for change in both the system and patient’s lives. She cut her teeth in family medicine as a MA at Seattle’s venerable Country Doctor Community Clinic. Now an older student in Seattle MEDEX Class 51, she’s accustomed to defying expectations.

I’m Able To Solve The Problem

Caitlin Kokot spent 8 years as an athletic trainer working with athletes and consulting a hospital on worker ergonomics. More often than not she was able to diagnose the problem but refer the patient out for appropriate treatment. Now as a physician assistant student with MEDEX Spokane Class 21, she is close to graduation, possessing the skills to affect medical treatment herself.

I Think I’ve Found My Niche

Jenna Warren sings, writes music and plays instruments. She’s also embarked on a new career direction as a physician assistant. Turns out it’s this combination of right-brain and left-brain skills that make her a great candidate as a care provider. Life experience has allowed her to dabble in many realms such that she can engage patients on multiple levels apart from their illness.

A Preference for Rural Family Medicine

Assigned to a small FQHC health clinic in rural Idaho, David Hanson is making the most of his 4-month family medicine preceptorship in his clinical year with the MEDEX Spokane physician assistant program. He’s diagnosing and treating patients all under the supervision of another experienced MEDEX graduate, Scott Gibbs, PA-C.

Teamwork Throughout the Learning Process

Brooke Granstrom of MEDEX Spokane Class 21 takes her first steps out of the PA didactic classroom into clinical experience. That means hands-on with patients in rural Eastern Washington, including the inmates of the county jail. Alongside Brooke is her family practice preceptor, Jennifer Eickstadt, PA-C, who is herself a graduate of MEDEX Spokane Class 12. Through working with Jennifer, Brooke refines her skills for diagnosing and treating patients.

I’d Like to Change That

Alex Shaffer is a combat medic within the Oregon National Guard and a current clinical student at the MEDEX physician assistant program. He’s also an advocate for transgender healthcare, having walked that path while in the military.

Sarah Larson: One of the Husky 100

The University of Washington has recognized MEDEX Class 51 student Sarah Larson for her impact on campus, in community and the future. Her natural compassion for working in underserved communities has resulted in an activist, someone who is taking steps to change policies that limit access to healthcare.

You Can’t Train Character

Matt Grisso of MEDEX Spokane Class 21 has overcome some significant challenges on his way to PA school, including a physical injury. But this has only fortified him in his personal mission to help others, including a special focus on the veterans population with traumatic brain injury.

Breaking Down Barriers and Establishing Trust

The first in his family to graduate college, Eric Svendsen worked in construction but found his passion for medicine. It was his years as an EMT in Tennessee that exposed him to poverty and poor health outcomes. Working on a mobile medical van in Coeur D’Alene during his clinical year at MEDEX, Eric finds an affinity for addressing the needs of the homeless and underserved.

Professional Carers, Lifelong Sharers

Jessica and Eric Anderies are a rarity—a married couple that has entered the MEDEX physician assistant program at the same time. Now a part of MEDEX Spokane Class 21, the two support one another both in and outside the classroom, studying together, quizzing one another on their path to becoming PAs.

Flourishing in Family Practice

Destined to follow her family into business, Nicole Bazar discovered a capacity for service and science. She started on the educational path to behavioral neuroscience, which eventually gave way to the physician assistant profession. Now on the cusp of graduating from MEDEX Northwest, Nicole envisions a long career as a primary care provider.

On Becoming A Rural PA Provider

His commitment to the rural underserved has been a continuous thread throughout his adult life. Now, one year out of the MEDEX Spokane program, Dustin Hurter, PA-C takes on his biggest role as a physician assistant provider in the rural community of Moses Lake, WA, population 22,000.

Healthcare Through A Social Justice Lens

Diana Trinh came to Seattle MEDEX Class 50 with a Public Health degree, allowing her to view healthcare through a social justice lens. She’s also acutely aware of her family’s immigrant past, and the unique role that she can play as a woman of color in a leadership role in her new profession as a physician assistant.

The Cross Connections Are Never Ending

An arts degree prepared Joshua Koopman with a unique set of skills for PA school. As a painter, print-maker and musician, he was accustomed to applying critical thinking, listening and discipline to his work. Now on the precipice of becoming a medical provider, he’ll bring these qualities to bear as a physician assistant.

It’s Really About Practicing People

Aparna Lakshman has definite ideas about her role as a future physician assistant. Influenced by a childhood healthcare experience in Oman, she sees close patient interaction as central to her mission. All evidence suggests a strong career ahead in family medicine.

From Corpsman to Private Sector PA

Five years as a Navy corpsman at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center afforded Mercedes Somich cutting edge medical training that would be the envy of any residency. But with considerations of balancing future deployments and the needs of a young family, she decided to pursue the private sector PA profession, with MEDEX Northwest as her only choice.

You Have To Do Something Extraordinary

A native of Russia, Olga Pavlova-Rios went through six years of medical education at a prestigious medical academy in St. Petersburg before moving to the US for love. This meant starting over in a new country, with the MEDEX Northwest physician assistant training program as the entry point for an equivalent career.

Primary Care Catches Everything

In order to acquire his requisite patient contact hours for PA school, Joe Kreilkamp, PA-C got a crash course in behavioral medicine at Eastern State Hospital. This exposure to the psychiatrically ill taught him patience and understanding, and gave him the ability to recognize the mental health needs of primary care patients during his clinical year at MEDEX Northwest.

Never Any Doubt I’d Keep Going To School

As the director of the Spokane Community College medical assistant training program, Stacia Reagan trained hundreds of MAs currently working in the field. With the decision to return to school and grow her own skills as a healthcare provider, Stacia now embarks on a new career as a physician assistant.

In the Spirit of ‘Ohana, Your Patients Become Your Family

An Army medic and native Hawaiian, Sung Lee of MEDEX Tacoma Class 3 returned to his Honolulu community for his 4-month family medicine preceptorship. He was under the guidance of Dr. Scott Miscovich, a local mover and shaker making an impact in the key areas of homelessness, addiction and provider shortages.

Moving From Nurse To Provider

After over three years working as a nurse, Dennis Phrasavath is now studying to become a physician assistant with MEDEX Northwest. Now in his clinical year, he’s learning that the transition from nurse to provider requires a different mindset. He’s making health assessments and decisions on behalf of his patients under the watchful eye of his preceptors.

If You Don’t Accept Something, You Have To Speak Out

Jailed in her native Iran for opposition to government policies regarding women, Sepideh Makouei is on her way to becoming a physician assistant in the US. While in the MEDEX program Sepideh is making use of all her life experience to claim her place as a future practitioner with skill, empathy and cultural competence.

An Immigrant’s Path

Along with his family, Frantz Alphonse came to the US at age seven as an immigrant refugee from Haiti. This singular experience has imbued him with a strong sense of empathy for the disadvantaged and underserved. That, along with eight years as a US Navy hospital corpsman, makes Frantz a perfect MEDEX mission fit.

Coming Out The Other End, Surviving and Thriving

Eleven years as an ICU nurse have made Frank Boyd highly aware of the shortcomings of US healthcare systems. He’s an advocate for patient education as a means to interrupt the cycle of patient readmissions. Now in his clinical year as student in the MEDEX Northwest physician assistant training program, Frank is hopeful of applying empathy and active listening to achieve positive patient outcomes.

Something That Truly Sings To Me

With a strong background in women’s health, EMT and the Peace Corps, MEDEX clinical year student Sam Harmon finds that the path to becoming a physician assistant suits her non-linear personality just fine. She has a passion for working with the underserved, making her a MEDEX Northwest mission fit. We visit with Sam during her family medicine preceptorship in rural Smokey Point, WA under Dr. Linda Vorvick.

Unique Challenges in Urgent Care Medicine

Patients who present to urgent care are likely unknown to the medical staff, and often bring cultural beliefs and ethical values that differ from those of the provider. MEDEX alumni Arash Mirzaie details one such an encounter, and how he referenced his own immigrant background to achieve a patient-centered shared decision-making process of care.

Now It’s My Job to Figure Out the Problem

Initially a firefighter for the US Forest Service, Ryan Jones then worked as a Paramedic on the Southern Oregon Coast. But the long hours, low compensation and hand-off to other medical providers were negative factors, motivating Ryan to take steps towards the physician assistant profession and MEDEX Northwest. Now Ryan is engaged with the patient end-to-end, from intake to diagnosis and treatment.

The Mission Statement I Was Looking For

Tracey Hopper’s path to becoming a physician assistant was driven by the need to provide higher-level medical services to her small rural community. Now finishing up her clinical year at a longstanding clinic situated in an Eastern Washington college community, Tracey finds that her earlier experiences in emergency medicine gives her the flexibility required to grow and meet the challenges of her new profession.

A Year Of Confidence Breaking, Then Making

After a year of classroom study, Sarah Kopke discovers how little she actually knows when working with patients. Closing in on her graduation from MEDEX Spokane Class 18, Sarah speaks eloquently about the ego-breaking aspects of physician assistant education during the clinical year. But from this comes new growth and refined skills. Sarah has the makings of an outstanding PA committed to lifelong learning.

Like Painting A Fence, You Can’t Help But Get A Little Bit On You

Tucker Larsen came to MEDEX Spokane Class 18 from a social worker background, specifically in community mental health advocating for the homeless. Frustrated by the limits of what he could provide to this population, Tucker saw his entry into the physician assistant profession as a way to expand his ability to deliver services. Now just weeks away from graduating, he reflects on the education and life path that brought him here.

Healthcare From The Heart

Kira Sandon is spending her MEDEX family practice preceptorship tending to the homeless of Coeur d’Alene, ID. Alongside her preceptor, TJ Byrne, PA-C, she’s working out of a mobile unit, taking care of the basic needs of this often-marginalized population. She’s learning medicine, of course, along with patience and empathy.

A Lifetime Spent In Learning Patience

Out of his own childhood injuries and ongoing medical issues, Ismail Jatta of Gambia cultivated a patience that has served him well as a caregiver and throughout his physician assistant training at MEDEX Northwest. Now close to graduation, Ismail reflects on his unique path—both past and what lies ahead.

Seeking A Broader Scope Of Practice

The path to PA school is not always a straight line. Celeste Richardson considered a master’s in genetic counseling early in her academic life. Then foreign travel, marriage and raising a family took center stage. After 17 years working with geriatric populations as a massage therapist, she’s in physician assistant school, enjoying her family medicine preceptorship at a Portland-based clinic addressing the needs of the underserved.

Finding Oneself While in the Service of Others

Undeterred by the significant challenges of his youth, Anthony Gordon discovered his love of medicine early in life. From sports medicine in high school then 13 years as an EMT for a Kitsap County ambulance service, Anthony is finding fulfillment in patient care during his family medicine preceptorship at a small Mason County clinic.

Getting Really Good
at Many Things

With 24 years in the US Army under his belt—14 as a medic—Gevin Parker is precepting under the MD director of a Residency Program. At Providence St. Peter he takes turns shadowing his preceptor, third year residents, DOs and NPs. All this presents a rigorous learning environment and a challenge to his paramedic and Army medic roots.

From EMS
to Continuity of Care

As she steps back from the adrenaline mode required by an earlier career in Emergency Medicine Services, Nicole Jakeman is enjoying the luxury of continued patient care that comes with her family practice preceptorship in a small South Sound clinic. With a second career as a Licensed Massage Therapist, Nicole discovers that her preceptor and patients alike are open to other natural types of intervention.

The Dream Becomes Real

Simon Mendoza – MEDEX Seattle Class 48

Simon Mendoza became the first DACA student accepted to a UW Medicine graduate program. During his family medicine preceptorship with the MEDEX Northwest physician assistant program, Simon is putting his new skills to use in the migrant farmworkers’ community of Othello, WA.

Modeling Respect for Those in Need

After over 10 years of working with developmentally disabled adults, Joshua Lumsden is embarking on a new career as a physician assistant. During his family medicine preceptorship in a small Eastern Washington agricultural community, Joshua puts his Spanish language skills to use along with his finely tuned advocacy skills for the underserved.

At Home in a Small Community

Cory Rubinfeld’s athleticism led him from ski runs to Wilderness First Responder and EMT. Now, studying to become a physician assistant, he’s fulfilling his family medicine preceptorship in his hometown of Leavenworth, WA under the guidance of an old friend and former colleague of the local area ski patrol.