Future PA

A career goal of mine is to become a Physician Assistant . In order to achieve this goal, I recognize that I must successfully graduate from IUPUI with a suitable grade point average for this program. It is for this reason that I plan on make use of my best proactive, organization, and time management skills. I am being proactive by seeking information about the different PA schools within the state of Indiana. Additionally, I am listening to advice from formal PAs and current PA students from the Indiana University Program. Through the remaining of my undergraduate years, I am continuing focusing on academics and gaining skills necessary to be accepted in the program and that will allow be to be prepared and succeed once I am accepted.

I have taken several steps in confirming that this is the right career choice for me. First of all, since high school, I have completed career prep classes in which I was introduced to different health professions and later conducted a brief research about each career I liked. This allowed me to not only compare careers but also identify what I was looking into a profession. Coming into my early college years, I sought information from my advisor and got myself informed with things such as prerequisites for PA school. I then volunteered at a local hospital where I met PAs and I was able to ask questions rewarding the process of applying for PA school, the duration and what PA school entails, and what happens upon graduating from PA school. Although I have asked many questions and kept my self-informed, I still need to learn many things about this profession. But I can confidently say this is my dream job.

Internship site goals

1. To build a professional relationship with my mentor by the end of the semester. This will be achieved by not being hesitant when reaching out for help, displaying innovation, showing responsibility, integrity, and productivity and taking initiative to set up biweekly meetings in which we will discuss progress achieved and improvement strategies.
2. Learn the overall components of laboratory research. This includes becoming familiar with the work environment, develop skills needed in lab procedures, acquiring the appropriate terminology and being able to correctly interpret laboratory results at the end of the first semester of the 19-20 school year.
3. Be able to independently complete laboratory procedures permitted by mentor by the end of this school year. I will complete this by participating in the breeding and genotyping of mice. To take initiative and take part in weaning, tissue collection (tail clip), DNA extraction, PCR and Genotype. By the end of this fall semester I should be able to complete gel electrophoresis, and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) independently on my own.
4. Strengthen networking skills by interacting with my LHSI classmates who work in the same lab and professional individuals. I will be collaborative, positive and friendly towards all individuals in the lab. Keeping continuous communication and conversing about lab work and progress achieved throughout the internship. I will keep a warm environment in which trust can develop, be a participant in lab meets and collaborate in common like tasks.