My name is Ana Zapata, I am from Colombia and moved to Louisville, KY when I was 9 years old. I graduated from Hanover College with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. After graduating, I worked as a pediatric medical assistant (MA) where I learned more about the PA profession. During my time as a MA, I got the opportunity to meet many UKPA students who were completing their pediatric clinical rotations. I obtain great feedback from them, which highly influenced my decision to attend the UKPA program. During my clinical rotations, I realized I truly enjoyed helping patients manage and understand their chronic and acute illnesses and treatment plans. I value taking the time to discuss patients’ concerns, monitoring the continuity of care, and prioritizing preventative screenings. Therefore, I am excited about the Internal Medicine and Pediatric UK residency program with Baptist Health Hardin. I am eager to continue learning from amazing mentors and create a strong foundation of skills that will allow me to challenge myself and provide great patient care.