ADMISSIONS: Why I Chose Pacific?
The Pacific University School of Physician Assistant Studies welcomes students from across the nation and the world to join in our mission. They bring a common passion in providing access to quality health care to rural and underserved communities, experience within the health care field, strength in academics, and more! Learn more about the current students and graduates of our program.
TOP FACTORS WHY CURRENT STUDENTS
CHOSE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY:
- Program Philosophy
- Academic Reputation
- Location
- Contact with Faculty
- Contact with Students
- Contact with Admissions Staff
CURRENT STUDENT PERSPECTIVES:
Class of 2009
FELIPSON RAMOS, Class of 2009 - Oregon
Community Service Scholar and Reapplicant
The factors I considered included the program’s reputation producing successful PAs, the faculty, the investment put onto the program (new facilities, advanced technological equipment), location, and the mission of the program. In addition to the above, the Pacific University PA Support Workshop has been a big deciding factor in my choice to pursue my education with Pacific University. The applicant support program has demonstrated outstanding commitment by both the faculty and to all who were involved in aiding the prospective students with the application process.
WINSLOW LEWIS, Class of 2009 - Colorado
Community Service Scholar
The Pacific PA program appealed to me for several reasons, but the two primary motivations for selecting Pacific was the emphasis on underserved/ rural populations and the amazing opportunities for rotations all over the world. It is a goal of mine to be a part of a rural community’s medical team.
Along with being a clinician, I would like to be involved in the education of EMS providers and aspiring young adults looking to get into medicine. Traveling to give medical care to those who have little to no recourses has interested me since I decided medicine was the career that I wanted to pursue. The accent on underserved medicine in Pacific’s program felt like the perfect fit.
KYLE OHISA, Class of 2009 - Hawaii
Hawaii Outreach Initiative Candidate
“The mission of the Physician Assistant Program is to prepare students to provide quality care for a diverse population in a changing healthcare environment through an education based in primary care medicine with a focus on critical thinking.”
Born and raised in Hawaii, there is a vast amount of diversity, and I do believe that change is an ever present force. I greatly appreciated the fact that Pacific University promotes and nurtures diversity on the basis that we all can learn from each other because of our diversity. In this way, the PA Program holds a global perspective on healthcare, but focuses and emphasizes on the local community.
MY LY, Class of 2009 - Michigan
My educational background is in sociology, related to ethnic groups and healthcare in geriatric populations. I am privileged to have had a valuable work experience at the University of Michigan Medical Center, Trauma-Burn Unit. In both the trauma and burn populations, I have gained experience in emergency code situations, medical terminology and medical procedures, and have had experience with direct patient care, with all ages, pediatrics to geriatrics. In my healthcare experiences, I have found that my services both great and small have never gone unnoticed or unappreciated. My hope is to continue serving patients on a more advanced level, particularly, helping those who are less privileged and underserved.
AUDREA WILLIAMS, Class of 2009 - Texas
Working in the medical field, I've witnessed a consistent lack of personal involvement and education regarding healthcare and treatment among patients. I want to be a contributor in promoting and inspiring wellness and personal medical responsibility. I feel that the Pacific University Physician Assistant Studies program and I share the same vision and goal; I knew I could receive the tools necessary to be an effective and competent PA.
CURTIS COLE, Class of 2009 - Oregon
US Veteran
I had a lot of interaction with PAs during my time spent in the military, because of my Combat Field Medic training I had the opportunity to participate in humanitarian aid missions while stationed in Central America. I was able to assist the medical teams (which always included at least one PA) as they administered both medical and dental care to the native people of those countries. The PAs I encountered throughout my years in the military were “take charge” individuals, which valued and worked well within their respective teams. These interactions played a key role in my decision to become a PA.
I had heard that Pacific was building a new state of the art medical facility, and I knew the school had a great reputation for all of its health care programs. After visiting the campus and talking with the faculty and support staff, Pacific was the obvious choice for me.
CURRENT STUDENT PERSPECTIVES:
Class of 2008
ERIC FOOTE, Class of 2008 - Oregon
National Health Service Scholar
Bachelor's Degree Completion Option Candidate
To me, Pacific embodies both the academic and humanitarian side of Physician Assistant education. I've had the privilege of working with three Pacific graduates at the LaPine Community Clinic. All three stepped right into the clinic with excellent decision-making skills and knowledge about medicine. But there was also something different about them. They genuinely cared about and listened to their patients. To me, that's what a Pacific graduate is all about. I believe that Pacific teaches compassion for patients, cultural diversity and excellence in medicine.
NIKKI JACKSON, Class of 2008 - Pennsylvania
Community Service Scholar
I choose this program for many reasons. I was impressed by the pass rate for the certification exams and retention rate. I prefer to have calm and a non- distracting environment in order for me to digest new information and learn. This area allows for this as well as outdoor activities and a huge city experience just minutes to a few hours away when needing to relax. Also, I chose this program due to the emphasis on community experience, the underserved and its close involvement with the Hispanic population. I aspire to work with the underserved on the west coast or in the South upon starting my career as a PA.
JANELLE PONCE, Class of 2008 - Hawaii
I love that the Pacific PA program “thinks globally, but acts locally”, they embrace cultural diversity in their program because I believe it will take us a long way. As a healthcare provider, I will
encounter people whose medical outlook may be influenced by their culture. If I can understand that, it will only help me to better serve them.
MARTY BRAUN, Class of 2008 - New Mexico
Reapplicant
I decided to reapply to the Pacific PA program because I knew the reputation it sustained and the quality of PA’s that are graduating from the institution. I chose the PA profession because I feel it will be the most rewarding position in the medical field based on my experiences and interactions with other medical personnel. I enjoy helping people and being a part of their care and well-being. I hope to reach out to the outlying communities of my town to bring better medical care and attention.
CHARLIE BURKEY, Class of 2008 - Alaska
I have been a volunteer EMT with the Bethel and Kodiak Fire Departments since 1990. After retiring from the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) I decided to take my EMT skills to a higher level. Becoming a Paramedic was an option, but the time commitment was nearly as long as that to become a PA and, in my opinion, chasing ambulances is for young people. Medical school required too much time and the responsibilities of a physician were more than I was willing to assume. Nursing was an acceptable option if my attempt to enter a PA program was unsuccessful.
ALUM PERSPECTIVES
KEN CRAVER, (PA-C, MS) Class of 2007 - Alaska
I desired a more personal setting as a medical professional, possibly at an inner-city clinic or a rural community setting. Essentially, becoming a PA will provide me with a greater clinical understanding of medicine, an increased personal satisfaction, and a healthier life for my family that my current situation does not afford. Lastly, I wanted to travel abroad and as a PA I’m capable of doing that.
SAJE DAVIS-RISEN (PA-C, MS)
Class of 2006 - Illinois
I’m a Pediatric and Urgent Care PA at the Puyallup Tribal Health Authority in Tacoma, Washington.
Yes, Pacific met my expectations – even those I didn’t know I had! My didactic year was full of information, faculty was supportive and the PBL modules were all that I hoped for and more. The volunteer opportunities and collaboration with other agencies were exemplary, and there was time for some fun too. Clinical rotations were with quality preceptors, who understood the PA role, and used PA students to their fullest extent.
I spent 3 months in family practice in Kalamazoo, Michigan – a rotation I set up on my own to spend time with family. I did Internal medicine, ER, HIV and Orthopedic surgery in the Portland area. I spent a month in rural Washington at the Quilieute tribal reservation and a month at a community clinic in Tillamook, Oregon as an Oregon Search scholar.
ANYA HILL (PA-C, MS), Class of 2005 - Oregon
OHSU, Instructor School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Liver and Pancreas Transplantation
I chose Pacific University because it is a small community-based program in the Pacific Northwest that offers a Masters degree. I was an RN for 25 years where I worked with PAs. It has always been a life-long dream of mine to practice medicine. I wanted to have the ability to change areas of practice, eg, primary care, neuro surgery, OB/GYN, oncology, etc.
JARED PAPA (PA-C, MS), Class of 2003 - Washington
I am employed at a Community Health Center in Quincy, WA a rural town of 5,000 where we serve a large population of people from a Hispanic background.
I saw becoming a PA as a great opportunity to be a part of a profession of service that allows for continued occupational advancement. Pacific is a community based school with student oriented professors who I saw as being genuinely concerned about my education and well being.
DANA RICHARDS (PA-C, MS), Class of 2005 - Alaska
I work in internal medicine at a private clinic with two physicians and another part-time PA. I don’t really specialize in any area. However, working in Juneau, AK we aren’t able to easily refer patients to specialists so I often manage challenging conditions that would be referred elsewhere in other situations.
I chose Pacific University because I liked the curriculum and location. I was impressed by the application materials and the organization of the program. I also liked having the opportunity to study internationally.