It happened when we were away at a CME conference together. I remember waking up on the floor of a bathroom. The room was spinning. What happened? Where am I? A flash of a memory – me crying and locking the bathroom door while someone on the other side pleads with me to come out. Where. …
From an early age, I knew my calling was a career in medicine that would have a dual focus on high-quality patient care and a meaningful impact on people’s lives. By the time I was 30, I achieved this—and more. I had worked in New York City at Jacobi Medical Center treating patients in neurosurgery …
In observance of World Down Syndrome Day: I want to share a very moving experience I had recently at work. I connected in the most beautiful and profound way with a patient named Macey. She and her parents gave me permission to share our story. It was a Monday afternoon when a 20 year old …
A story for Adoption Awareness Month… My husband and I had trouble conceiving. I worked in family medicine and saw a lot of foster kids. We decided to pursue adoption through DHR. We did a 30 hour class, CPR, water safety, and then we attempted a home study. We were unable to get approved due …
My name is Nikole Hedges and I’ve been an ER PA for 14 years. I also have dysautonomia. Mostly, it’s a nuisance, extra steps in my forever long, busy PA mom to do list. Let me tell you a little about living with dysautonomia. My symptoms began when I was a child actually, the first …
In January, I heard the words no mother-to-be ever imagines they will hear: “I am sorry–there’s no heartbeat”. I was five months into my pregnancy with my first child–the child I dreamed of having, but thought wasn’t possible. It was the middle of my first year of PA school, I was 30 years old, and …
It’s National Safety Month, let’s lead by example at home! As COVID-19 emerged and families remained homebound, cleaning and disinfecting became a more frequent and rigorous task. Today, as restrictions ease and more families are on the go, cleaning habits and best practices are still prevalent. While cleaning and hygiene practices are critical for our …
Hi, we are Kris and Kendall, and it is our favorite month! Our story is our favorite story to tell. We currently both work as PAs for the same Urgent Care company, but in different clinics. (Although Kendall is jumping to Rheumatology full-time in a few weeks). In November 2019, my clinic’s patient volume …
I awoke in my cubicle to the sound of hushed whispers just outside the curtain. It took me a few moments to orient myself to where I was and why I was there. I looked at the IV in my hand, the patient ID bracelet and the hospital gown and remembered, oh – colonoscopy. But …
Life After a Cancer Diagnosis: Spreading awareness by sharing my story Read More »
“You speak English so good!” I stood there, dumbfounded. I had just walked into the patient room and introduced myself. “Hi, my name is Kat, and I’ll be your PA today. What brings you to the ER?” That is the response that I got. No answer regarding the patient’s medical condition, their aches, their pains, …