What is your educational background, where are you from, and how did you end up at UK?

I was born and raised in Lexington, KY. I've always enjoyed living here and never really saw myself going anywhere else for school. For my undergraduate degree, I went to UK and majored in Human Health Sciences. Following graduation, and two attempts, I was accepted to the UKPA program and graduated this July.

Why did you choose to participate in UK’s PA Residency Program?

While I thought UKPA did a great job preparing me to be a PA, I wanted to continue furthering my education and get more experience taking care of really sick patients. 

What has been the most rewarding experience thus far?

Doing my best to provide patients with the quality of care they deserve on a daily basis. 

What has been your biggest challenge?

I had minimal experience in the hospital setting and almost no experience in the ICU. It was difficult to learn the workflow.

What would you say to other PAs or PAS students who are considering applying for the residency program?

The Acute Care Surgery residency is a demanding program. However, the program provides you with opportunities to grow as a healthcare provider every single day.   For those interested in the residency program, I would recommend you complete a clinical rotation with blue surgery.