Former PPASO Co-President to Incoming PA Student - Madelene Wang

Hi everyone! My name is Madelene Wang. I graduated from UCSD class of 2024 with a major in Human Biology and minor in Global Health. I wanted to share about my memorable experience with PPASO and provide some insight about my PCE. I initially heard about the PA profession through a high school counselor and joined PPASO my first year of college to learn more about the profession. During my third year, I started serving as co-treasurer to be more directly involved in building a supportive pre-PA community. During my fourth year, I transitioned to the role as co-president which allowed me to take on more responsibility in delegating tasks while growing connections with PAs and other students. This experience allowed me to gain meaningful knowledge about the profession/application process, build networking skills, and reinforce my commitment to the PA career.

As for PCE, I started off working as a part-time optometry assistant throughout undergrad. Luckily, my shifts were flexible based on my class schedule. My role involved rooming patients, performing visual testing, and collecting a basic medical history. It was a great way to be exposed to the foundational skills of patient care. After graduating college, I completed a 10-week MA training program at Dalrada Career Institute which helped me learn basic MA skills including vaccines, blood draws, and vitals. I then started working as a MA at a private family medicine practice in Encinitas alongside 5 doctors and 6 PAs. By working directly with PAs and doctors in a collaborative environment, I was truly able to understand the role of a PA in how

they diagnose and treat patients in both acute and chronic care management. Working in primary care has allowed me to learn the foundations of medicine, build long-term patient relationships, and practice advocating for patient needs. This job made up the majority of my PCE when I applied for PA school and I have been working here for about 2 years. Although it has its stressful moments, I am grateful for the clinical experiences and long-lasting friendships I have made. :)

Now that I have gone through the PA application process and will be starting PA school soon, here is some advice I would give pre-PA students!

• Keep a journal/document of patient experiences - Having a collection of specific patient stories and what you learned from the experiences will help you draft your personal statement and find a theme to answer the question of “why PA.” Ultimately, your experiences are what make you unique.

  
  

• Make the most of your PCE - Build friendships with your co-workers, find opportunities to learn from health professionals, and create memorable patient relationships. Finding your passion and inspiration in healthcare will reflect in the way you talk about your PCE in your personal statement or interviews.

• Step out of your comfort zone - Don’t be afraid to take on leadership roles or experiences that will allow you to grow as a stronger applicant.●

• Find joy through the process - Form study groups, lean on your friends/family for support, and find hobbies you enjoy. I personally loved exploring new cafes during my application process.

No matter what happens during your pre-PA journey, don’t give up and always remember your motivation on why you want to be a PA! For questions, feel free to reach me at madelene.wang.r@gmail.com!