Zambia + EMT

[luigi]

As I walked into the pediatric ward, I was met with dozens of curious eyes, clouded with pain, yet sparked with intrigue. Such is the reaction when a white man enters a room full of ailing Zambian children. It was my third day of rotations at the local mission hospital in Macha, Zambia. As Dr. Thuma and I made our way around the ward, I met children suffering from ailments and diseases ranging from herbal toxicity to tuberculosis to malaria. All of the children I interacted with that day had incredibly apparent needs, but I met one child who stood out to me.

The stark visual nature of this boy’s wounds left a lasting impression in my memory, with unhealed burns covering the entirety of his legs and the majority of his arms. Scar tissue immobilized his joints, leaving him effectively bed-ridden. The family had been saving money for five months in order to afford the 20 Kwacha ($3) per week hospital charge. According to his mother, the boy had a seizure, causing him to fall into a fire. The child was not removed from the fire because the family feared that the “demons causing the seizure” would enter anyone who touched the boy. Understanding this context lent me a more well-rounded appreciation of this child’s situation. That day I learned the value of cultural sensitivity and contextual awareness, both of which are concepts central to the work of physician assistants (PAs).

I have learned as an EMT that one does not have to travel halfway around the world to find people with real and tangible needs. Each person's "wounds" may not always be as apparent as this little boy's scars and burns, but I found myself reflecting on the truth that every person, whether they live in rural Zambia or metropolitan USA, inevitably endures the trials of life. One can learn a great deal through the pain of others; this concept was reinforced by a patient I met at several months later.

I was dispatched to an inter-facility transport of a 73-year-old hospice patient that I will refer to as Patrick. My partner and I arrived on scene, and we were met with a beaming smile and warm greeting. As my partner prepared the stretcher, I struck up conversation with the jolly fellow with whom I was about to share the back of an ambulance.
“How are you feeling today?” I asked.
“I feel fantastic! Today is a great day!"
This positivity was refreshing, but it became astonishing once I began taking a detailed medical history. Patrick was the most joyful patient I have ever met, yet he was arguably one of the sickest. This man, full of joy, was also full of cancer that had metastasized throughout his body. He was also battling heart and liver failure. His situation was so dire that, just the day before, his doctor told him he had six weeks to live.
“They told me the same thing six weeks ago, but here I am. My attitude keeps me alive.”
Patrick is a man I will never forget. Through this interaction, I learned how vital it is to never make assumptions. Furthermore, Patrick taught me that mental outlook is something that can have a substantial impact on our own lives and the lives of the people who surround us.

When I am not traveling or working as an EMT, I devote much of my time to community involvement. I am involved in several team service projects and am co-founder of an organization that breaks world records for worthy causes and underprivileged populations. Our current project - “Grill to Give” – aims to use our attempt for the world’s longest barbecue (current record 34 hours 35 minutes) to feed and raise awareness for the homeless population of NYC. Opportunities such as this help me better relate to patients of differing backgrounds.

Through my studies in biopsychology, I have developed critical thinking skills, and my drive is evidenced by my high GPA. Through my EMT experience, I have cultivated the ability to work quickly and communicate calmly under pressure. Through my volunteer experience, I have matured in empathy and adaptability through collaboration with a wide variety of people. These characteristics are valuable attributes that are critical to the work PAs do every day. I hope to continue cultivating these qualities in my pursuit of becoming a PA.

These are but a few examples from which I have learned significant lessons from the people I have served. While educating patients is an integral part of any healthcare provider’s job, I find that the people we work with often educate us as well. This is one of the most compelling reasons why I want to become a PA: the prospect of continual learning through medical service and interaction with people of unique cultures. I truly believe that becoming a PA would further equip me to be a life-long learner through service to my community. I am motivated to become a PA because the PA profession would enable me to live a life of medical service-learning in a global community.

[TNPAHopeful]

Your opening was interesting! You may want to mention how you found out about the PA profession and why you made a connection with it, not just why you are qualified.

[Hillmanz]

I too loved the opening and agree with TNPAHopeful's comments but I do want to add one thing I felt that at some points the I word was used too much when talking about the EMT experience maybe use we were dispatched and show to them that you work well in team settings like providing emergency medical care to those in need.