Alumni and Credentialing

When discussing how to find a balance in her career, Jackie outlined the importance of giving yourself grace and having decompression points to unwind. She personally works on a shift schedule so has time to exercise and see friends and family but emphasized how important it is to figure out what you need as an individual to recharge. When asked about her greatest accomplishment as a PA, Jackie noted that on paper an easy one to speak about is her completion of an acute care fellowship, one of only three in the country! In her experience though, she noted that every time she is able to give a family member back to their loved ones is a proud moment. People often think that inpatient care does not deal with families, but Jackie described her role as very family-centric where she is able to see the impact she has as a healthcare provider which makes her job that much more rewarding.

In speaking about school, Jackie enjoyed her time at Arcadia. She felt well prepared for her field of work after graduating. She noted that it is a challenging transition to inpatient care because it is hard to teach about how hospitals work in school. Therefore, she did most of her preparing during her clinical year and emphasized the importance of being willing to ask questions to learn how the “real world” works. Her favorite memory from her time at Arcadia was when her cohort won PA Olympics! She also had a lot of fun with her classmates as they would all high five before exams and be silly together to help ease the stresses of school. Additionally, she really enjoyed Professor Huber’s lecture on relationships and sexual risk behaviors because it was unlike any other talk they had in didactic year, and it helped her better understand and appreciate how to speak to different populations.

At the end of the interview, Jackie was asked to give some advice to current and future Arcadia PA students. In finding a job, it is important to know what you are looking for. Jackie suggested making a list of things that are important to you to help you make sure the right fit is found. In regards to school, it gets better. There is light at the end of the tunnel and students are in this program for a reason. She said to have confidence in yourself and your abilities and take that with you as you transition in life.

Kathleen recalls feeling incredibly grateful for each of the esteemed physicians and fellow advanced practice providers who dedicated their time to train and teach her throughout the course of the fellowship. She reminisces on the countless hours spent in lectures during this year to polish her ID knowledge and attributes the level of expertise and care she brings to her patients currently to this. Additionally, Kathleen states it is impossible to forget the impact Arcadia’s PA Program had in shaping her into the PA she is today. When asked how the program best prepared her for this career, Kathleen replied with the cultivated curriculum, variety of rotations, and constant support from the professors who elevated her PA school experience.

While on the topic of PA school, Kathleen vividly remembers the Holiday Party and PA Olympics as two of her favorite memories. Kathleen served as the Constituent Chapter Student Representative and led Arcadia to first place in fundraising amongst all of the schools that participated in PA Olympics. Her class raised over $25,000, which was donated to construct accessible playgrounds for children with disabilities. 

This success has certainly followed Kathleen into her life post-graduation. Regarding her career thus far, Kathleen notes feeling proud of herself for becoming a competent physician assistant, finding a position perfectly suited for her, and providing the best possible care to her patients each day. She takes great pride in knowing the exact antibiotic to prescribe to make her patients feel better and states her position is incredibly rewarding due to this. Kathleen also enjoys the collaborative nature of working in inpatient infectious disease, as she finds that patients experience the best possible outcomes with her team working together on their case. As for current students, Kathleen advises them to approach PA school with an open mind and truly understand the pathophysiology behind disease because this knowledge will ease their transition into their career as a PA.

As for her future, Kathleen plans to get involved in PA education and is set to deliver infectious disease lectures to physician assistant programs in the upcoming months. She also plans to continue in her current role as an Infectious Disease PA, while one day hoping to use her experience to take on an additional role in health policy or research.