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Hello! My name is Katherine and I am a second year student at the �ǿմ�ý PA Program. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time so far at �ǿմ�ý, and it’s strange to think I am now closer to graduation than my first day of PA school. My experiences here have offered me a chance to connect with so many individuals within the school of medicine, the community, and beyond. From learning how to take a complete history and physical exam alongside my classmates, to facilitating community health discussions at local shelters, to teaching an anatomy camp to high school students, and now caring for patients at institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, I can only describe PA school with the phrase, “No two days are alike.” And that’s simply the best part about it. With each opportunity I have to grow as a future PA, I am reminded of the foundation that I began building before I arrived here at Case. When I graduated from high school in my hometown of Lake Orion, MI,

I knew I wanted a career that blended two of my passions – science and interpersonal connection – so naturally, healthcare became a top contender for my career path. As I began college at the University of Michigan, I joined the Pre-PA Club to gather more information about health professions careers. I met several PAs and PA students in the club, each of whom showed me how diverse and rewarding a career as a PA could be. I started envisioning myself as a PA and felt confident that this role fit exactly what I was looking for. I ended up becoming secretary, and later president of the Pre-PA club, and I still maintain involvement today. During my college summers, I began accruing patient care hours as a CNA and patient care tech, which only deepened my excitement for the PA profession. After graduation, I transitioned to working as a medical assistant in a cardiology office, which sparked my interest in pursuing a career in cardiology. Upon college graduation, I was offered a handful of virtual interviews from my top schools. It was a difficult decision to make, as I had originally intended to go to a local school in my home city of Detroit. However, after I interviewed at Case, it became clear this program offered access to more opportunities for growth in a supportive, diverse academic environment. Everyone I met on interview day was so kind, genuine, and interested in getting to know me as a human being, not just a PA applicant. Soon after my interview, I decided that Case Western was the place for me, and I haven’t regretted it since!

Fast forward two years later, and I find myself immersed in clinical rotations, connecting with patients and sharpening my medical knowledge each day. My clinical rotations so far have been nothing short of fascinating. In geriatrics, you’d find me sitting beside patients, explaining the step-by-step instruction of an iPad game to evaluate memory health. In pediatrics, you’d find me offering my stethoscope to a sick child so he would understand exactly what it is that I’m using to listen to his belly. In emergency medicine, you’d find me suturing a laceration repair on the knee of a patient who just wants to get home for his 4:00 dinner party. In internal medicine, you’d find me in interventional cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic, observing a transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or rounding on patients with the vascular medicine team.

In my clinical year, I’ve learned the difference it makes to show up and be an active listener and learner. It makes a difference for your patients, who benefit from extra time with students to discuss their questions or concerns.. It makes a difference for your preceptors, who are motivated to mirror the investment in student’s learning when their students demonstrate interest in each rotation. While every student has their own clinical interests, I believe there is something valuable in each rotation that will help me to better care for patients. The more questions you ask, opportunities you take, and challenges you navigate, the more robust your training will be. For me, the excitement of clinical rotations lies not just in learning medicine, but the interpersonal connections you get to develop with patients and colleagues. Those are what make the clinical year the most impactful for me.

Looking to the future, I remain open to exploring different clinical areas to practice, however I do have some ideas about where I see myself working some day. Ever since working as a medical assistant in cardiology, I have found myself “geeking out” while reading books about EKGs and examining the heart in anatomy lab. And the geeking out hasn’t stopped in the didactic year. Having just completed my internal medicine rotation in interventional cardiology and vascular medicine, I could easily see myself practicing in a cardiology or vascular medicine setting some day.

I hope to have a strong emphasis on patient education and foster lasting relationships with patients in whatever setting I practice. It is so important to me that patients understand what is happening in their bodies, have the opportunity to ask questions and be heard, and feel like they are part of a team with their provider to manage their health. For now, I plan to continue taking each opportunity to learn about different medical specialties and let my interests guide me as I start my career. Case Western has prepared me well for the clinical year, and I have no doubt that by the end of my PA education, I will evaluate and treat patients with the same passion I’ve developed over my years as a pre-PA and now PA student.