Personal Statement
I see hockey and being a physician assistant (PA) as more similar than different. From the age of three hockey has been a part of my life and integral to the person I am today. Since I was a child, I have continued to play year-round, discuss plays with my dad, watch games on the television, and spend my summers practicing so I can be ready for the season. As I have matured, I appreciate more the systems or plays that are created based on different scenarios that could present themselves during a game. It is through relying on these systems combined with communication and teamwork that I have found the best success. Through shadowing PAs, I recognized similar systems in medicine. Specifically, I have seen PAs have a system in place for patient visits or procedures, while also adapting to the patient’s needs. These plays apply to both hockey and being a PA in medicine, with the key being communication, teamwork, and adaptability. The PA profession provides the opportunity to be a lifelong learner and leader, be flexible within the medical field, and continue to be a part of a collaborative team.
Learning not only in the classroom but through hands-on experiences and cultivating leadership skills is something I have always embraced. Although my undergraduate education was busy, while balancing courses and collegiate sports, I found I thrive academically and personally when I am challenged. In many aspects of my life, I see a reoccurring theme of curiosity, in conjunction with leadership. Being interested in leadership opportunities, I was voted to be a member of the leadership group for my collegiate sport and a coach for camps for young female hockey players. As a leader one of the many challenges is learning how to meet the goals of the team successfully. I have found being able to encourage, support, and advocate for girls in a predominantly male sport is a side to leadership that I value and implement. I watch the goals of these young players be met as they learn a skill or make their first goal and feel a sense of accomplishment as a mentor to them. To me, one of the best parts of leadership is the ability to be a mentor and to watch your mentees reach their goals. I am grateful to have a PA mentor, Colin, whom I have witnessed as a leader, mentor, and lifelong learner. These qualities I have observed are skills I embody and want to continue to cultivate as a future PA.
“Although challenging, I realized I thrive in this environment, as I value variety, solving new challenges, and efficient adaptability. “
Piper Desorcie – 2023
Through my patient care experiences, I have developed an appreciation for flexibility within the medical system. I spent most of my patient care hours working on a step-down medical surgical floor. I had several different types of patients ranging from pre-and post-surgery to treating end-of-life patients, each of which required their own individualized care. Although challenging, I realized I thrive in this environment, as I value variety, solving new challenges, and efficient adaptability. Through my patient experiences and shadowing, I have seen how the flexibility of a PA, benefits the quality of care provided and allows for efficiency within the healthcare system.
“As a future PA understanding how to adapt my communication to best serve my patients, is an essential skill I know will be valuable and one I have continued to cultivate. Communication is a vital aspect of the systems or plays in hockey and I have found this to be true in the systems of healthcare.”
Piper Desorcie – 2023
The ability to remain a part of a collaborative team, a constant theme of my life since I was child, is another solidifying aspect of the PA profession. Through being a member and leader of the UNE Women’s NCAA Division III Ice Hockey team, I see the importance of teamwork. Being part of this team has allowed me to see the diversity of viewpoints and communication styles that a team can have. This has led to success on and off the ice and I have gained experience expressing empathy, respecting other’s thoughts, and actively listening. The level of collaborative communication has created the foundation for achieving success. I have continued to use these communication skills learned through hockey, in my volunteer work, specifically volunteering at various marathons. My role is to direct the runners, which requires calm, and clear verbal and nonverbal communication, skills I have developed through hockey. As a future PA understanding how to adapt my communication to best serve my patients, is an essential skill I know will be valuable and one I have continued to cultivate. Communication is a vital aspect of the systems or plays in hockey and I have found this to be true in the systems of healthcare.
Through witnessing the similarities of hockey and being a PA, my drive to enter this career has become ever more fueled. The skills I have gained through understanding the systems of hockey I believe will be skills I can bring with me as a future PA, in navigating the healthcare environment. My patient care, academic, and personal experiences, have developed me as a learner, leader, and communicator, skills I know to be crucial as a future PA. Similar to the practice I needed to understand the plays of hockey, I know through gaining knowledge and skills during PA school, I will be able to respond to patient cases while still providing individualized care.
