Essay AAcurrent
Essay AAcurrent
Essay AAcurrent
an anesthesiologist
assistant. Describe how your personal and professional background will help you achieve your career goals and eminently suit you for this
profession.
Unfortunately as a child, I was exposed to hospitals, clinics, doctors, operating rooms, and everything
else that comes with healthcare. However, those experiences sparked a tremendous interest in the
healthcare field. After being the patient and seeing the diligent work provided by each of the healthcare
workers, it inspired me to one day be able to provide the brilliant care just as I had received.
My professional background started in a senior community where I helped prepare and serve the elderly
residents their meals. This was a great learning experience because it taught me how to handle myself in
a healthcare setting as well as give me my first exposure to the healthcare field. After 18 months I had an
opportunity to move up within that same organization. I obtained a position as Unit Support on the
Medical/Oncology units within the St. Cloud Hospital. My job duties were to stock patient rooms with
nursing supplies and linens, as well as complete various tasks for nurses to support the overall workflow
of the units. It was during this time that I learned of the hard work and perseverance required in a fast
During my experience at the hospital, I was also conducting research in an Aquatic Toxicology laboratory
as coursework. After a semester of being on the laboratory team they offered me a paid position. The
purpose of our experiments were to study how house-hold chemicals that show up in the natural
environment affect the native fish species. We investigated these effects by running toxicology
experiments, administering behavior trials, and dissecting the fish. Our final end point was creating and
reviewing the histological slides of the fish’s gonad and liver tissue. I presented our scientific findings
during laboratory meetings as well as during campus wide research colloquiums. The audiences in the
presentations varied drastically which forced me to explain our findings in such a way that each
individual would understand, regardless of their background. During my time as a researcher I completed
various tasks and developed valuable skills such as dedication, thoroughness, and attention to detail.
These are distinctive skills that I would not have developed if I had never been exposed to research.
After two years of research I was promoted to a management position in the Histology Laboratory. The
most significant experience I had was when I taught 15 students in a histology course. I trained them on
each step of the histological process. I had one on one meetings with each individual where we analyzed
their progress, set goals to achieve their deadline, and worked through any issues that had arose. I was
able to form a professional relationship with each student and adjust myself so that each student could
get the full benefit of the course. I was successful in leading a course with a common goal, as well as
forming a vital teacher-student relationship with each individual student. Because of this position, I was
My current job has been a great opportunity of growth as well. The Mayo Clinic Culture is a patient
centered institution and embodies the vision that the best interest of the patient is the only interest to
be considered. I am with a clinical research team that aims to detect breast cancer early through a
simple blood test. I screen, recruit, and enroll patients as well as draw their blood for the study. I have
found the most enjoyable aspect of this position to be the direct patient contact. From this realization, I
decided a healthcare career that solely revolves around direct patient contact was for me.
It may stem from my occurrence as a child, but throughout my experiences the primary source of
motivation within a job has been assisting patients. I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a researcher and
gained many valuable experiences from it, however the lack of patient and human interaction has left
background, and personal satisfaction. My research involvement has given me skills such as great
attention to detail, persistence, and leadership, which would fit well in an anesthesiologist assistant