Learn how to write scholarly research papers: To accomplish this goal, I plan on reading through the research papers and abstracts of my fellow lab colleagues as well as reading scientific papers that have been published. The more reading I do, the more I will develop an understanding of how to convey my thoughts. I plan on attaining this goal by reading scientific work provided by Dr. Padhu, and reading the post-doc's works as they are being edited and worked on.
Learn how to work in a wet lab and improve my wet lab skills: I plan on observing and asking questions while my lab colleagues show me how to do certain tasks. So far I have learned how to change cell culture media, run a gel, and have learned how to load a Western Blott. I plan on attaining this goal by first observing Avinash, one of the post-docs, complete protocols, and practicing until I can fully do them on my own.
Develop a level of professionalism in scientific research: To accomplish this internship goal, I plan on being actively engaged in discussion with my lab colleagues and supervisor about how we can continue to push towards our purpose of research. I plan on attaining this goal by reading scientific works and learning techniques from other authors on how to convey ideas and data.
As far as professional growth goes, I am using this internship to get a good understanding of how a lab works and how the research process flows. Being able to see the full evolution of how an idea can be turned into an experiment and data will be a great help as I continue my studies before PA school.
My current career/academic goals consist of being accepted into a PA school and then completing PA school to go on to become a Hospitalist PA. I am currently completing my undergraduate studies and completing coursework required as prerequisites before applying to PA schools. I am looking into where I want to study and which schools I want to apply to. I have the goal to become a PA because I am passionate about helping people with their health, and I am good at critically thinking and problem solving. I want to be able to help patients recover from whatever they are sick with and that motivates me to continue on the track to become a PA.
I am positive this is the career option I want to pursue and I am sure of it because of the work I do at the hospital I work at. I work at St. Vincent Ascension Indianapolis hospital as a patient care technician, where I help patients with their daily activities like bathing, feeding, dressing, and doing other nursing-type duties. I enjoy getting to know a little bit about every patient and helping them try to feel better than how they were when admitted to the hospital. Becoming a PA is how I can take this to another level, to be more involved in the process of how we will help our patients. Every once in awhile, I see young physicians walking around the hospital and it makes me think about medical school for a quick second, but then I remind myself that PA school is the route for me due to the ability to switch specializations without completing additional schooling.
This year, I can explore this pathway even more by shadowing a PA and learning about what a typical day looks like for a hospitalist PA. In the last few semesters I have at IUPUI I plan on focusing on my coursework and continuing to become a better student, learning better study techniques, better exam taking strategies, and other skills that will be useful for me in PA school.
February 2022: This semester I need to continue to do well in my prerequisite coursework and at my internship site. I need to make sure that I am following my study regimen for the GRE to try and get the best score possible. I also have been working on my CASPA application and have been gathering a list of people to ask for a letter of recommendation from. I have had the opportunity to shadow a PA at IU Health University Hospital and have enjoyed learning a little bit more about the career.
My time in my lab has made me question a lot of my goals that I had prior to coming to the lab. I was dead set on becoming a PA before the internship, but after talking to Dr. Padhu, he has been trying to talk me into going into medical school to become a doctor and it has swayed me a little bit. I still am going to apply to PA school, but medical school is in the back of my mind a lot. I know what I want to do in life and I feel like medical school does not really line up with that plan. I do not want to go to school for longer than my two to three years post-grad and I think that is the one thing holding me back from medical school. I still have time to change that if I want, but I know my preferences and will continue to work hard so I can achieve the goals I have set for myself.