Clinical Experience
During their second year at MEDEX – the clinical year – MEDEX students travel throughout the Northwest, Alaskan and Hawaiian service regions to work with clinicians and experienced preceptors – MDs, DOs, NPs and PAs – in family medicine and six specialty areas, including emergency medicine, general surgery, behavioral medicine, inpatient wards, underserved and an elective. Here are some stories from this essential component of the MEDEX educational journey.
A Challenging Year to be a PA Student
Joesie Bowdish of MEDEX Seattle Class 52 saw her clinical year begin near the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, there was a disruption in the school year as MEDEX Northwest and all PA programs worked to develop the path forward. Resilience was required throughout 2020, with Joesie [...]
Providing Joy in Medicine
Emily Storesund believes there’s far too little joy in medicine. Her years working as a nursing assistant in various healthcare settings have led her to this conclusion. Now in her clinical year as a member of MEDEX Seattle Class 52, Emily’s empathy and proven ability to communicate with patients sets [...]
Finding Your Place as Part of a Team
A former researcher in late stage cancer for Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Hiep Nguyen has embarked on his second year in PA education at MEDEX. He’s building on a strong foundation of patient care and social activism to hone his clinical skills as a physician assistant student, while crediting his [...]
No Reason To Hit The Brakes
Coming from a behavioral medicine background, Timara Freeman-Young sees the obstacles in U.S. healthcare, and wants to be a force for change in both the system and patient’s lives. She cut her teeth in family medicine as a MA at Seattle’s venerable Country Doctor Community Clinic. Now an older student [...]
I’m Able To Solve The Problem
Caitlin Kokot spent 8 years as an athletic trainer working with athletes and consulting a hospital on worker ergonomics. More often than not she was able to diagnose the problem but refer the patient out for appropriate treatment. Now as a physician assistant student with MEDEX Spokane Class 21, she [...]
I Think I’ve Found My Niche
Jenna Warren sings, writes music and plays instruments. She’s also embarked on a new career direction as a physician assistant. Turns out it’s this combination of right-brain and left-brain skills that make her a great candidate as a care provider. Life experience has allowed her to dabble in many realms [...]
A Preference for Rural Family Medicine
Assigned to a small FQHC health clinic in rural Idaho, David Hanson is making the most of his 4-month family medicine preceptorship in his clinical year with the MEDEX Spokane physician assistant program. He’s diagnosing and treating patients all under the supervision of another experienced MEDEX graduate, Scott Gibbs, PA-C.
Teamwork Throughout the Learning Process
Brooke Granstrom of MEDEX Spokane Class 21 takes her first steps out of the PA didactic classroom into clinical experience. That means hands-on with patients in rural Eastern Washington, including the inmates of the county jail. Alongside Brooke is her family practice preceptor, Jennifer Eickstadt, PA-C, who is herself a [...]
I’d Like to Change That
Alex Shaffer is a combat medic within the Oregon National Guard and a current clinical student at the MEDEX physician assistant program. He’s also an advocate for transgender healthcare, having walked that path while in the military.
Sarah Larson: One of the Husky 100
The University of Washington has recognized MEDEX Class 51 student Sarah Larson for her impact on campus, in community and the future. Her natural compassion for working in underserved communities has resulted in an activist, someone who is taking steps to change policies that limit access to healthcare.