Learning Goal #1: Expanding Professional Communication Skills
How does this goal fit into your career journey or prepare you for the future?
· This goal will prepare me for the future because as a physician’s assistant, you will work with many people in a professional setting. It is significantly important to have effective communication skills while staying professional with fellow healthcare workers as well as patients!
What tasks, responsibilities, projects, or activities will you do to meet this goal?
1. Biweekly Team Meetings
2. Networking
3. One-on-one Meetings with Supervisor
Progress with Goal:
I have attended many team meetings, made a lot of new connections with different professionals, and regularly meet with my supervisor for weekly check-ins.
What Will I Do Next:
I was able to achieve professional communication skills as a result of my patient recruitment project. I hope to continue to the use of this skill by asking questions, always reaching out to my colleagues, and attending events or socials where I can meet new individuals.
Learning Goal #2: Confronting & Challenging Failure
How does this goal fit into your career journey or prepare you for the future?
· In the healthcare field, there is always trial-and-error. Things do not always go right the first time. Achieving this learning goal will allow me to push myself until I get the desired outcome, and I will acknowledge that things will not always go the way I want.
What tasks, responsibilities, projects, or activities will you do to meet this goal?
1. Making Mistakes
2. Problem Solving
3. Coming up with a Resolution
Progress with Goal:
I have made great progress with this goal, as I used to be very scared to fail. I am no longer scared of confronting failure and I did that by attempting things on my own, asking for criticism/ feedback on my work, and brainstorming with peers to come up with solutions.
What Will I Do Next:
I was able to achieve this goal by being put into situations I have never been put in before. I hope to continue confronting and challenging failure by never giving up and being okay with making mistakes!
Learning Goal #3: Enhancing My Ability to make Analyses, Syntheses, and Evaluations
How does this goal fit into your career journey or prepare you for the future?
· Physician assistants order and interpret tests, write prescriptions, carry out labs, and do evaluations after each patient’s visit. This skill is crucial to the PA occupation.
What tasks, responsibilities, projects, or activities will you do to meet this goal?
1. The Basics of How Research is Conducted & The Responsible Conduct of Research
2. Independent Reading
3. Reviewing and Journaling Results
Progress with Goal:
Prior to this experience, I did not have much background on research. Since August, I have read many articles and done literature reviews on multiple different topics regarding T1D. My supervisor would give me a topic that he would want more information on and then I would present my findings on said topic.
What Will I Do Next:
As a physician's assistant, research is important and science is always evolving. It is essential to be informed on new protocols, technological developments, and patient care advancements! I hope to stay updated by doing periodical scientific readings and collaborating with colleagues to learn new information.
A year ago, I said that I wanted to pursue a masters in physician's assistant studies. I still aspire to do so. My internship experience confirmed my career journey in ways I did not expect. I feel more confident in making career related decisions because I have seen different career paths around me at my internship. For my remaining time at IUPUI, I will move towards the application process and getting into contact with schools that fit my interests. This summer I plan to take my GRE, continue shadowing some physician assistants, work towards completing my 2000 hr patient care hour requirement, and volunteer at the campus clinic.