20 Students Start Historic Journey as 1^st Physician Assistant Class

Teodoro Pineda

How did you become interested in a career as a PA?
During my freshman year of college in an intro to exercise class, the discussion was about potential careers with the degree. I originally thought I wanted to be a PT (physical therapist) but after shadowing both professions I realize what I really wanted.

Why did you select MSM?
The mission statement. I very much identify with it on a very personal and familiar level. 

How does it feel being part of the first-ever Physician Assistant Studies class?
It's an honor. I can't express how grateful I am to the faculty for selecting me to be a part of MSM history.

What do you hope to do once you graduate?
My interests include primary care, neurology and surgery. Those are all my current interests, but I am open to whatever life has in store for me. Other than that, personally, I want to take an initiative with the Latin American Association to bring awareness to the Latino population about the PA profession and serve as a mentor to interested youth. 

Tell us more about you, the person. What shaped you growing up? What challenges did you have to overcome? Were there special people in your life who helped you along the way? Feel free to share any information that you would like people to know about you.
Growing up in a single-parent household I got to see life from a different perspective than most people. Not having two parents to raise you forces you to mature in certain aspects of life. I became independent at a very early age. I am very grateful to my mom for teaching me to never give up no matter how hard life gets and for also showing me that hard work pays off. Also, for always feeding me!

Edmund Smith

How did you become interested in a career as a PA?
I always knew I had a passion for healthcare and that I wanted to make my mark in my community as a provider. My interest to pursue the Physician Assistant program truly sparked after working with a great handful of PAs in an urgent-care system in Atlanta. The PAs I worked with always had an amazing amount of investment in their patients, truly emphasized patient education, were always so willing to teach and impart any sort of knowledge on me, and generally always seemed to go the extra mile.

As I worked with PAs over the past 4 years, I always told myself that "This is the provider I want to be like," and "this is the way medicine should be." This is not to say I never had wonderful experiences with doctors or NPs, but I shared most of my monumental moments in healthcare with PAs. I want to continue to build upon this legacy and inspire others and be a ray of light to everyone I meet.

Why did you select MSM?
When selecting PA programs, MSM stood out among all others not solely for its standard of academic excellence, but for the promise of fostering students who will take what they learn in the classroom and apply it fully and sincerely to the greater community. I'm very passionate about giving back and enhancing my community, and even further, becoming a civil servant through medicine. With the guidance and philosophy of MSM, I know I will become an exceptional healthcare provider and learn from experiences beyond the run-of-the-mill PA program.

How do you feel being part of the first-ever Physician Assistant Studies class?
Being part of the first PA class is a tremendous honor! Gaining acceptance into a PA program is difficult enough, but I can only imagine how daunting it must be to select the first class that essentially has to set the tone for future classes. To be part of the first class, MSM saw the potential, the strengths, the ingenuity, the leadership, the scholarship, and the optimum care in everyone selected. It’s now up to us to show why we will be the most formidable class in history.

What do you hope to do once you graduate?
I truly hope to practice in primary care or emergency medicine upon graduation.

Tell us more about you, the person. What shaped you growing up? What challenges did you have to overcome? Were there special people in your life who helped you along the way? Feel free to share any information that you would like people to know about you.
I would be nothing and no one without the love and support of my parents and siblings. My parents, both immigrants from Panama and Costa Rica respectively, have always encouraged me to be the best that I can be and to let any doubt of my capabilities fade away. Regardless of any sort of financial struggles or any other adversities, we are always strong in spirit. My dad specifically always preached to "Seek God, Seek Education, and to Stay Out of Trouble" since I was child. I lived by this philosophy and it has never failed me, and it never will fail me.

Erica Michelle Courson

How did you become interested in a career as a PA?
I became involved in the medical field eight years ago. This is where I encountered one of the most passionate medical providers who exposed me to the core values of a PA and the compassionate caregiving that I dreamt of giving when I was growing up. Interacting with this PA and his patients on a daily basis was a remarkable experience and helped to nurture the seeds that were planted in my childhood. The knowledge and experience I gained through this time have truly been invaluable to both my education and my career. I was able to see the compassion and high-quality care that is given to those who are less fortunate in our community. Medical care is not about the paycheck, it is about making a difference in the life of others regardless of socioeconomic background. Bias concerning religion, race or sexuality should not play a role in who is able to receive care or the quality. The Hippocratic Oath should surely be spread and practiced across the medical field and not just by physicians. It is our duty as our brother’s and sister’s keepers to care for one another. This experience helped to strengthen my resolve and reaffirm my commitment that the PA route was for me.

Why did you select MSM?
I selected MSM because of the mission at MSM. I look forward to giving back to the community and serve underserved/underprivileged areas. I felt “at home” at the information session. I knew leaving the information session that MSM is where I wanted to be.

How do you feel being part of the first-ever Physician Assistant Studies class?
When I received my acceptance letter, my eye filled with tears not only because the joy of getting accepted into a PA program, but because I was accepted into the historic Morehouse School of Medicine PA program’s inaugural year. I am honored to be a part of a profound institution.  I am blessed to be one of the 20 individuals selected for the first-ever Physician Assistant Studies at MSM. I will be forever grateful for MSM giving me this opportunity of a lifetime. I am proud to be a part of the MSM family!

What do you hope to do once you graduate?
I plan to work alongside a cardiologist with hopes to not only practice in office, but also in a hospital setting. I would like to potentially work in the OR with a cardiothoracic surgeon preforming surgery.

Tell us more about you, the person. What shaped you growing up? What challenges did you have to overcome? Were there special people in your life who helped you along the way? Feel free to share any information that you would like people to know about you.
Being a part of the PA program, the newest professional graduate program offered at the historic Morehouse School of Medicine, will allow me the opportunity to not only use my skills and knowledge from the thousands of clinical/ experience hours over the past seven years, but it will give me the opportunity to explore a variety of different models of care that will be centered to exceed the patient needs for the urban and rural under-served regions in Georgia.

Coming from a low-income family it is my firm belief that everyone deserves high-quality medical care no matter how rich or poor that person might be. Being a female in a male--dominated field will provide for diversity in the scientific work force and within the health profession. My extensive background in education, research and service will also be a great addition to the Morehouse School of Medicine as I spent the majority of my undergraduate and graduate career preparing for this. The amount of research I completed while working on my master’s degree help hone my skills for the Morehouse School of Medicine. In my opinion there is not a greater calling in life than serving others. Some serve in the military or political arena; I choose to serve in the field of medicine. I am honored to be a part of the Morehouse Medical School family, and an absolute thrill to finally be able to give back and serve underprivileged areas in my home state!

As John Wesley stated, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.” I am a firm believer in this motto!

Nicolle Ramsay-De Jesus

How did you become interested in a career as a PA?
A few years ago, I felt slightly limited in my career field and wanted to do more- PA is it!

Why did you select MSM?
Excited to be a part of a brand-new program at an institution that has a such a deep-rooted foundation in the community and an impressive history seemed like an amazing opportunity.

How do you feel being part of the first-ever Physician Assistant Studies class?
Excited! To be given an opportunity at this college as a Hispanic woman is really exciting.

What do you hope to do once you graduate?
I really enjoy working at the VA hospital, so I would love to learn everything I can and take that knowledge back to the VA.  

Tell us more about you, the person. What shaped you growing up? What challenges did you have to overcome? Were there special people in your life who helped you along the way? Feel free to share any information that you would like people to know about you.
The most important part of me are my children. There is nothing I am prouder of than shaping them and watching them develop into these unique and brilliant people. Coming from a small but loving family was at times lonely, but my parents taught me that some friends are like family. My mother’s lessons were not limited to just family and friends; she taught and continues to teach by example with an indiscriminate passion for voicing her beliefs. She has always been my number-one supporter and will knock down any wall that stands in her way.  I made decisions that forced me to face and overcome certain challenges and am stronger now. I love to learn and try to be great at everything I do, and I am so excited to begin!