From good to GREAT and tangible examples in your answers

So Sam, thank you very much for taking the time to be here. We're excited to learn more about you and how you are as a PA school applicant. >> Yeah, I really appreciate the opportunity for you to meet with me and kind of tell my story of how I got here. This is awesome. I'm very excited. >> Yeah, absolutely. So, first question would be why did you choose PA and not some other field in the medical profession such as MD, nursing, physical therapy? Why PA? >> Yeah, I think that's a that's a really great question. Um, and my my path to PA was kind of an interesting one. Um, I found out who what a PA was through um, my time being a patient in a hospital. And my first contact and the person I interacted with the most outside of my, you know, the nurses and the techs obviously, but the person who directed my care the most was my PA, Hannah. And she was a huge inspiration for me. Um, and in the time that I worked with her, I saw her ability to um, really connect with me on a personal level and how she was still able to diagnose me with things, prescribe me medication, see me individually, kind of tell me the direction of where my care was going. And I really, really liked that she was able to do that. Um, nursing was not something that I had a particular interest in going to. Um, I knew I had a passion for biology and chemistry. That was something that I found in high school that I really, really liked. So, I knew I wanted to study that um, in undergrad. So, knowing that I wanted to practice medicine um, but with my health experience, I knew I didn't want to spend 10 to 12 to 13 years getting my education. So the PA role came up as this this perfect combination of um the barrier to entry is a lot uh more is a lot easier for me to get into than medical school and residency and fellowship. They still have the ability to see patients practice, but they still have again like any member of a healthcare team, this desire to be, you know, a team player and they work with physicians, nurses, other specialists, PCTs, whoever it may be, but they still have, you know, practicing rights. So, I I really like that it's this middle ground of everything that I've kind of been looking for. It's this perfect combination of all of those. >> Okay. And after each response, I might take just a few seconds to type the notes. So, >> yeah, no worries. I kind of rambled there. I'm sorry, but >> that's okay. So, has anybody ever tested or challenged your motivation to become a PA? >> Not once. I've never once questioned my desire to become a PA. Once I made the decision, I I felt this incredible actually relief and this like weight came off my shoulders where I knew I wanted to practice medicine, but I wasn't sure. And I think that's natural for anybody. I I don't know if anybody is, you know, comes out of the womb and they're like, I'm going to be a PAC 100%. Right? But once I made that decision, I never looked back. And it made it was I almost got tunnel vision. I knew exactly what I wanted to do and I knew exactly the things I had to do to get there and then I just started doing them and I've really enjoyed the process the whole way. It's been really enjoyable. >> Okay. And so how do you plan to use your medical education? I I think that any industry, not necessarily just medicine, is or should be about the people. And I think it's great that um physician assistant schools, most of them, if not all, have a very patient oriented, patient centered approach to their education. Um the patient is the most important member of the care team. Right? Without the patient, there's no need for any of us. So to be able to use this medical education, whatever I learn, whether it's nefrology, cardiology, it's all applicable to my practice. Even if I go into say oncology, right, it's still incredibly helpful to have a firm understanding of cardiology and nefrology and how these drugs can affect other parts of your body. having this vast education that you get in PA school that covers every body system is applicable to every field. So, I think um being able to apply my medical education no matter what specialty I'm in to all my patients is is a really great opportunity. So, if you had to direct a movie about a healthcare issue, what would it be about and why? That's a fantastic question. Um, I would say that there is a miscommunication between the corporate side of health care and the practicing side of healthcare. And I think that there that that disconnect comes into play when there are when there's understaffing or people feel underpaid or whatever it may be. I think highlighting the disconnect between, as I said, the corporate side of healthcare and the practicing side of healthcare because they can't exist without one another, right? It's a it's a symbiotic relationship. They need each other to exist, but it's not a perfect system. So, I think directing a movie on how corporate policies can change patient outcomes, I I think that would be a really interesting movie to watch. What would you call it? >> Oh gosh. [laughter] Can I have a second to think about that? >> Of course. See, I would call it blazers because that's what um my hospital when myself and my fellow nurses and techs when there's someone from management or a corporate person that comes to our unit to talk to our unit director or something like that, they're always wearing a blazer. So, we always say like, oh, like blazers are here, like be on your best behavior kind of stuff. So, I would I would call it blazers. I think that's a good even though I'm wearing one right now, I would call it blazers. >> That's fair. Okay. And so for you personally, what does success mean to you and what does failure mean to you? >> That's a fantastic question. Um to answer your first part about success, I I think that success is balance. Um, I think it's so so important to prioritize your education. You know, your job as a PA student, as you said in one of your videos, your job is to pass exams, right? But you also have to remember that you are a human being and you need to have balance and you need to remember to, you know, eat healthy and exercise and maintain these other pillars of your life. So what I consider success is being good at balancing all those things at balancing family, school, work, friends. Um, and doing that well, I consider that being successful. Um, and on the other side of that coin, to loop back to your question, what I consider to be failure is not being able to balance well. Um, I think that people who only prioritize one thing and completely forget about their friends, family, and their health, I think that's that's a failure of balance. So, for me, it's about being a whole person and not just measuring your self-worth on one aspect of your life. Okay. Uh let's see. Moving on to your patient care experiences. Just quickly glancing through your uh your application here. Looks like the most significant experience you had about 1,800 hours as let's see. Is that a patient care tech? >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. >> Just real quick, I just want to very quickly equate myself with your description here. Yeah. 1,8002 hours. You've been doing this for about two years. uh patient care tech at an organ transplant service. >> Yes, sir. >> Very good. Uh let's see here. Okay, so pretty high level. You're taking glucose, you're doing 12 leads, doing dressings. Uh so, you know, patient care tech type stuff, 1,800 hours, about two years part-time. >> Uh so my question to you about your experience there is some of our applicants are paramedics, nurses, army medics, you know, uh combat trained army medics. Great. >> Compared to those folks, do you feel like your patient care tech experience could be a little bit limited in the hands-on portion? >> I think they're very different. They're different jobs for a different reason, right? One is most of those that you listed are emergency medicine, crisis medicine, combat medicine. Very, very different than bedside. Um, and I think they attract two different kinds of people. Um, there are people who love the adrenaline and there are people who don't. You know what I mean? And I think when it comes to bedside medicine and these are, you know, I've had patients on my floor for 200 days and you get to know them very very very well and you get to form a very deep connection with them. Um, so when when you ask about, you know, that sort of medicine compared to emergency medicine, they're very different. They're almost not comparable in the way that I and that I think about it. Um, it's kind of like an apples to asparagus sort of comparison in my mind. Um, I think they're both great great invaluable for different reasons. So, in terms of, you know, the hard skills that you talk about, they're different hard skills and they're applicable to different situations. So, I wouldn't say one is better than the other. I think they're both extremely useful. It just depends on the context that you're using them in. >> Okay, fair enough. And then kind of staying on your patient care experiences, can you tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult patient? >> Oh man, I could go down the list. Uh what a fantastic question. Um this actually happened quite recently. Um about two two weeks ago there was I was on the uh physical rehab unit. So helping kids walk and learn motor function, all the different therapies that you can see. That's where I was that particular day. And we had a a patient come in with a TBI, completely disoriented. Um did not know where they were and I think got very scared by, you know, the number of staff that were in the room. You know, it was an admission. Plenty of people are in there talking to the family trying to figure out what's going on. And the patient got a hold of a pair of scissors from one of the nurs's like pockets and made a made a dash at one of our nurses. And it was an incredibly tense situation where you know it was a it was a larger patient and a quite petite nurse. So it was very scary in the moment and thankfully I happened to be on the other side of the patient and grab them by the arm and the shoulder and put them back in their posie bed before uh they were able to actually do anything. But um having to go through that process of it was the first time in my time in my practice as a PCT where I saw a patient actively put a nurse in danger and I just I I couldn't tell you why I acted so instinctively. I think my fight orflight response kicked in and I just saw him dash for the nurse and I was able to grab the arm and put him back. But um having to go through that process of talking to the security team and the and a witness thing, it was it was really intense. But thankfully when we were able to get him back into the bed, take the scissors away, give him some some medication to calm down, he became much easier to work with. Um but the other part of why that was a difficult situation was remembering it's not their fault, right? like the patient came in with a TBI, they were disoriented, plenty of people in the room. You can't put the blame on on any one person, right? Like having the scissors available was something that should have been thought of. So, no matter what, you know, the responsibility falls in the team and I'm glad we're able to, you know, help him get back into bed and calm down a little bit, but it was a very tense situation for sure. All right. And can you tell me, this could be from work, from patient care experience, from school, anywhere really. >> Can you tell me about a time when you were criticized unfairly? >> Oh, fantastic question. Um, do you mind if I take a moment to to think about my answer? >> Yeah, of course. So my my answer to your question of a time where I was criticized unfairly is related to work and on my particular unit there's 24 beds and the max number of patients that we are supposed to have as a tech is 12. One particular night I happen to have 13. That's not very uncommon. If you know you're getting a discharge, they might give you one more because that patient's about out the door, right? They just need some water or something simple to get. And I was just absolutely slammed being pulled in every single which direction, every single room, every nurse needed something, which is why I'm there, right? That's the job of a PCT is to help out in all these rooms and and to help out the nurses with things that they might not have time to do. But um I I think I got spread a little too thin with the assignment, which you know, I probably should have said something to someone about, but hindsight is 2020. I didn't say anything in the moment because I wanted to be as useful as I could. But, you know, I learned from that and now I'm able to say something going forward if I feel like the assignment is too much. But, um, I think getting spread too thin resulted in me forgetting about bringing X to patient Y or something to a different patient or I told this nurse I would get them this, you know, sample and I didn't, right, cuz I I just was too thin. And that happened a little too many times throughout the shift. And it ended up a couple of the nurses informed the unit director like Sam did not do a great job last night like he was not helpful. And then I got pulled to the side in the morning and basically got a little bit chewed out and asked what happened and blah blah blah blah blah and I had to tell them what I'm telling you now. I didn't think that was fair in the moment because I was the only PCT on the unit. I didn't have any help the and I but it falls on me to speak up about that. You know what I mean? So I that that's what comes to mind when talking about something unfair. But at the end of the day, you have to speak up for yourself. And um it probably would have helped more patients if I got an easier assignment. But still, I think that's my answer. Okay, bear with me for just a moment here. >> Yeah, no worries. Again, I I ramble, so I apologize. >> It's quite all right. Let's see here. Okay, how about this one? Yeah, we'll do this one. Okay, so this is kind of a scenario- based question. >> Sure. >> Uh, take some time to think about it if you need to, but how would you feel about treating a patient who tested positive for HIV? I I don't think there's any difference in the quality of care for that patient versus another. um that just so hap that's that's coincidentally something the patient has that might not even be the reason they're in the hospital that day. So while it is an important, you know, note about their health history to take into account, it's as I said, not necessarily the reason they're there, right? So, there are precautions in place of um what you're supposed to do when you have a patient with that sort of um illness. But I think what it loops back to is why they're at the hospital and the fact that this is another health thing that they happen to have coincidentally is not something that would impact my quality of care for them at all. Okay, moving on to your academics. Does your academic record reflect any major challenges? And if so, what were they and why did they occur? >> So, that's that's actually a really interesting question um that I am kind of actually looking forward to addressing. Um for me, I was a a co freshman, right? a co freshman in college and uh throughout my health history in high school I had to do some online school. The most difficult part for me of college was actually returning to in-person learning. [clears throat] Um I feel like a lot of people have the exact opposite where online learning was extremely difficult for them. But as I said, you know, I was used to online learning. For me, returning to the classroom and having to learn how to be in the presence of people in the classroom again and how to learn from a teacher in person and not email them questions, right? Actually raise your hand and ask was it actually had a a learning curve to it. um it required a completely different set of study skills and time and everything I had to dedicate to it was completely different than what I had to do in online school. Um so I would say having to relearn how to learn at a collegiate level in person was a very difficult experience for me but I was I was able to do it. And why do you think you would be a good fit for this program? >> I think that's a really really great question. Um, Alb Medical College. Can we can I answer it specifically about Alb Medical College? >> Yeah, please. Please do. >> Yeah. I I would say that there were there were a couple reasons why um Albany stood out and not only have they been training PAs for over 50 years, they're one of the oldest medical programs in the country. They're part of a larger medical school, so they have great resources there. Um a pants pass rate of 100% over the course of I think five years of graduation. But I knew they were a historic historically great program, which is great. But when I was doing my research, it's what do they do for their students that was different than other than other schools that drew me to them and why I felt like it would be a good fit for me to go there. And there were a couple things. They have these medical interest groups and pretty much any medical specialty you could think of. Um, which seem like a really really fantastic way to get connections to that particular specialty in the New York area. And then they have great clubs for their for their medical students and other medical professional students like the lobbying and advocacy club. It's so common for me like in my co-workers to say like, "Oh, I wish this was different about the hospital. I wish this was different about healthcare. But instead of wishing something was different, the lobbying and advocacy club seems like this really cool way to actually do something to make it different. You know what I mean? So the reason why I think I would be a great fit is because I I have a equivalent passion for people that it seems like Alb Med does. They care about their people and I feel very strongly about patient centered care. it's literally in their mission statement. But um for me, it's all about the people and it seems like Albany Med is is especially student and people focused and that was something that was a real attraction to me and why I felt like it would be a great fit for each other. >> Okay, I think we may have time for possibly one more. >> Sure. >> Let's do this. Let's actually let's do two more. Um, this is me as the interviewer from Albany, not me as myself. Sure. >> Do you have any questions for us? >> Yeah, I uh I do. I was wondering if there was any projects you personally were working on that make you really excited to to come to work every day and why you're really excited to be a staff member at Alb Med. Anything else? >> I would say or I would ask um what your biggest piece of advice you think I should carry in my in my 28 months in the program would be. Oops. All right. And I think we should do at least one scenario question. >> Sure. >> You know, even though Albany is going to be more of a one-on-one thing, I still think, you know, practicing that four-step process that you probably learned, right? >> I think it's a great idea, >> you know. So, why don't we do this? >> Okay. So, I'm actually going to put this in the chat, but I'll read it aloud as well. >> So, your question is, and take as much time as you need to think about it. >> Okay. >> Your question is, you are a PA taking care of a male patient. After a complete physical exam and workup, you discover he has HIV. He tells you that he does not want his girlfriend to know about this diagnosis in fear that she will leave him. Enter the room and have a discussion with the patient. Act it out. >> Can I Can I knock? Can I do a little knock? I'll knock. >> What you got to do? >> Am I Oh, I am the PA. Okay, I see. Mhm. >> I'm just taking a moment to read the prompt one more time. >> Yeah, of course. >> Are you in are you pretending to be the patient or am I just talking? >> Uh, it says enter the room and have a discussion with the patient. So, yeah, I guess I'll be the patient. [laughter] You don't have to if you don't want to, but okay. I'm ready. So, I'll >> come in. >> Hello, Boris. Uh, my name is Sam. I'm the PA that's going to be working with you today. Um, so we got your Well, first let me ask, how are you feeling? How are you today? >> I'm good. >> Great. Yeah, that's that's awesome. So, I'm sure you know we got uh some blood from you. ran some tests and um are you aware of any blood disorders that you may have or any underlying illnesses that you may have? >> I feel great. >> So, well, I'm glad to hear that you're feeling great. Um, but when we were looking at your results, some something flagged for us, which was that uh you tested positive for HIV. >> Oh, no way. >> Yes, sir. And I know that that can seem like a very very scary thing. Um, have you been having any unprotected sex lately or anything like that? just with my monogous partner for the last 10 years. >> Okay. Yeah. Unfortunately, um you you did test positive for HIV. We ran the test multiple times to make sure. Um I there are things that we can do about that going forward. There there are steps that can be taken. Um but I want to ask how how you're feeling about that. I mean, the only way that I could have got it is if she's cheating, and I don't think she's cheating. >> Well, unfortunately, you know, the results do stand for themselves. We, as I said, we ran multiple tests, but I I know it can be very tough to grapple with a diagnosis like this, but as I said, there there are things that can be done. Um, would you want to have a discussion about your girlfriend? Is she here with you? Do you want do you want her to come into the room? >> No, she definitely doesn't need to know about this because there's a chance that I got it in Vegas without her. So, yeah, she can't know about this. >> Okay. Um, again, this is your information. I, you know, protected by HIPPA. I can't say anything to her. Um, but I I want you to know that by continuing to have unprotected sex with her, you are you are putting her in danger as well. And I highly highly encourage you to come up with a way to talk to her about that. Um, it's a very, very serious illness and it is something that you should have a discussion with her about. I mean, if she's the one that gave it to me, she probably already has it. >> You know, I I don't think we know where it came from. It doesn't seem like we know uh the underlying source, but the important thing is now to protect yourself and to protect her. So, I think going forward, the priority should be taking care of your health and taking care of her health. So my prof professional recommendation would be for you to tell her because otherwise you are putting her in danger as well. >> All right, I'll think about it. >> Okay, that's the that's the best we can do is get you to think about it. But again, I highly encourage you say something. >> All right, official portion's over. >> Okay, [laughter] >> breathe. How'd you feel? Honestly, I'm I'm I'm just really excited for this whole process. I I've kind of haven't stopped smiling this whole time. >> Sorry. [snorts] >> I uh we're redoing our basement, so there's dust everywhere. But um >> yeah, it's crazy. But >> I think my answers in terms of how I felt about my answers, they could definitely be refined. It was the first time that I'm doing it blind with someone like where I don't know the answers or not the answers the questions beforehand. >> Yeah. >> Um >> I can definitely cut them down, refine them, [snorts] excuse me. Um polish. Polish I would say is a good word for it. But overall overall I felt I felt good. >> Yeah. I don't think you really need a whole lot of polishing. You didn't ramble nearly as much as you thought you did. Maybe a little bit, but it wasn't like >> you rambled as in you kind of added a few more details here and there. You didn't ramble as in you repeated yourself, >> right? >> So, I wouldn't call it rambling. Now, what I definitely wouldn't do is I kind of rambled. I'm sorry. Um I probably >> that was more that was more to you than to a [laughter] >> personalism up like 5% when you go there. >> Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. >> Fair enough. Just I don't know. Train like you fight, fight like you train. So like just >> probably don't do that. >> But overall, I was gonna say very good. Vibes were up. [laughter] >> You know, you uh I don't know why you just like present like a politician and that's when you started uh talking about the lobbying. I was like, "Holy crap, he's going to go into advocacy one of these days." You know, I just I can already see it. [laughter] You know, I don't know if anyone's ever told you that. But the vibe is very much like >> I I think it's the tie. I really do. I think it's the tie in the blazer. >> I'm going to be honest. I wasn't even looking at you. I was looking at my list of questions. It's just [laughter] what I heard >> and how things are presented and it's it's very politiciany, which is pretty cool. >> Oh, I hope that's good. I didn't mean to come across like that, but >> No, no, it's it's fine. Uh so very positive you know like if somebody was dealing with something difficult it's good to have someone who's you know positive upbeat >> uh relatable >> spoke in like a good cadence as in like you weren't rushing you didn't seem nervous >> right >> so yeah delivery was very good uh answers were pretty well thought out could have dealt with a little bit more uh more examples a little more detail a little bit more of a personal, less generic feel >> a lot of the time. Some of the time it was great, >> but that's the global feedback >> and then we'll go through the questions at least most of them one by one. >> Uh do you have any questions, concerns, comments before we do that? >> Yeah. So, I'm as as you read through my application, I'm sure you could seen the the common theme was my underlying health history from ages like 16 to 20, right? >> Yeah. In the email I got from Alb Med when I when I reached out to ask them the structure of their interviews, is it blind or whatever it may be, she was in all caps thoroughly read through your application. >> So what I tried to do and kind of what I wanted your opinion on was not to restate the things that are in my application because they know what's in there. They know what I emphasized and with the questions that you gave me, I tried to either expand on ideas that they have a understanding of from my essays and not just repeat like for all for the Albany med question, right? I was like, "My dad went there." >> Okay. They know that. They know that, but why do I want to go there? It's great that he did, but why did I want to go there? You know what I mean? >> Yeah. I mean, that's not something I'd necessarily bring up anyway. >> Maybe as an afterthought. and they see that your dad went there. >> Um, maybe as an afterthought, you know, your dad had a good experience there, but that's really not relevant because that was 30 years ago, 20 years ago. >> Yeah. This is a little 3se second little joke for you. My uh when my dad was telling me about Albany Med, he was like, Sam, it was such a great place to get your medical education because there's nothing else to do there other than study. And I was like, great. You're really selling the city on me, Dad. >> You could say that. [laughter] >> No, it's just a He's kidding. It's It's the state capital, so obviously there's plenty to to do and there's plenty of people, but still >> it's Yeah. Yeah. It's I mean, I'm from Syracuse, so I've been to Albany a bunch of times. >> Yeah, >> there's there's not all that much to do. Uh >> right. Yeah, he's right. >> City. >> Yeah, >> you're close to New York City, so you can go there. You're close to Boston. It's good that it's close to things, but >> yeah, >> in itself, not not really. >> Well, classic classic uh Boris statement. You're in PA school to pass tests. You're in PA school to become a PA. So, >> yeah, >> I I totally get that. Um I'm actually a little surprised you didn't ask me why I didn't get a master's degree, >> but >> um >> I I I feel like that kind of stands out on my application. Like >> my undergrad GPA and science GPA were fine. They weren't out outstanding, but I still decided to get a master's degree anyway, >> and I feel like that kind of stands out. So, I was prepping for that as well. But, >> I mean, I was curious about it, but I was more curious about just academic performance and skills anyway, >> right? >> But, I mean, with a 3.5 science, no real D's, Fs, >> and withdraws I was thinking about asking about, >> you know, but there, >> you know, can't ask about every single thing in 30 minutes. >> Yeah, 100%. >> So, I mean, I just kind of go on what I'm most concerned with. Calculus one, I'm not concerned with all that much, >> right? Um, mind and medicine is not exactly a science course. So, there was a few little tiny hiccups which you should be prepared to talk about individually. >> Yeah, that mind and medicine course had almost an exact same question. The HIV one that you just presented >> like an ethical course >> kind. Yeah, it was like a hybrid of what what is medical ethics and then what are some examples for you to talk through as a class. >> Yeah. So, I mean, if somebody really wants to get pedantic, they can certainly ask you about that kind of thing, >> right? >> But overall performance is good. Like, you never had a semester that was just totally terrible, >> right? >> You didn't really have any D's or Fs. You had a couple C's, >> you know? So, there's really nothing that concerning. >> Yeah. >> Based on this and like I'm seeing, look, uh, med term, viology, uh, endocrinology, globalization, and some other course, you know, pretty loaded up semesters with good GPA, >> right? So academics is not like a huge huge concern of mine looking at this. >> Yeah. I mean the the little like one sent one to two sentence summary is I did like five or six clubs throughout college. >> And if this is me talking to you, not talking to an admissions counselor, but hindsight is 2020. If I took like 5% of my effort in the clubs and just reallocated that to my academics, I don't think I would have needed the master's program. But I still wanted to show all of these schools like I can do very well in graduate level medical education. Um, hence doing the biomedical masters program and it's through the school of medicine. like my anatomy professor was the president of anatomy for Pit Med. >> Oh, that's awesome. >> And yeah, she's Oh, I love her so much. But either way, um it was just to show without a hesitation of a doubt that I can succeed at the graduate level and I think that was that was why I did that. But either way, >> so that's have you seen uh let me share this with you very very quick. So I'm going to share this document with you on Google Docs. CMT should be able to see this. So, this is all the questions that I asked you, the transcriptions of the responses, but the main thing I want you to focus on is right here that I'm highlighting. >> Oh, did you send it to my email? >> Send it to your email. I can also just share my screen if you just want to see it here. >> Oh, I got it. Okay. Sorry. >> Oh, you're okay. >> Let's see. >> Oh, there you are. >> Oh, did I disappear from the stream for a second? >> No, no, no. I just see that you're in the uh the Google. >> Oh, okay. There we go. All right. I have it pulled up. >> So, the main thing I want you to focus on since you do have a few days, your interview, you said on on the 25th >> on September 9th. >> I've got I've got plenty of time. >> No, somebody else must be the 25th. So, these are just after years of doing this, I've kind of refined every individual question to some version of one of these, >> right? So, if you can spend just a little bit of time, like half an hour total, just thinking of a really good, well-prepared response to every one of these, >> yeah, >> something unique about yourself, YPA, which you explained very well. >> This is the one we're talking about now. So, academic struggles. >> Yeah. >> And you wouldn't necessarily say like this class was hard. >> You would say, you know, I spread myself too thin. I was involved in all these clubs, and if I would have put in more effort, I would have probably done better in college. Um so because of that I wanted to see what I could do when I strictly focused on academics. So I got this masters to solidify my knowledge and also prove to myself that I could handle graduate level work. >> Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. >> And then I did and then maybe some tangible like this is how I studied in grad school and >> this is what I'm going to do school. >> So that would be a great response for this. >> You know this same thing any kind of interpersonal conflict why this program? So like specific things about the program and then that's essentially it. So if you can think of a really good response with maybe an example, a feeling, something personal in every one of these, uh I think you're going to be ready for basically any question. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Yeah. One one thing that that really helped me um and I'm not sure if you're going to post our recording, but one thing that that really helped me was while I was watching all of your full interviews that you posted, >> I wrote down the questions in a Google doc like next to it >> and then after the I watched the videos, I answered them myself. So that's that's why I that that that was so helpful for me because every interview, you know, they're 90% similar, but what's what's that 10% that you really have to think on your feet for, you know what I mean? So that was something that was really really helpful. >> Yeah. And I actually I honestly did notice that I'm using a lot of the same questions. So I've really beefed up my question list this year. >> I've got like a lot more different ones. But the main thing I'm trying to do is ask some version of each of those six, >> right? Right? And then talk about school, talk about interpersonal conflict, you know, how mature you are. >> Uh talk about how interested you are in the program, something unique about you, and that's it. Like you're done. That's >> Yeah. >> All that can be expected of you. >> So that's really Yeah. I just I really wanted to get across just like how p like I I'm I'm not sure how in-depth you read my application and and all that stuff, but I really tried to make it evident that my I personally consider my entire reason for existing to be going into medicine and for working with patients which is great. Like obviously NPs, RNs, MDs, DOS, they can do that too. So, I understand why the PA thing, but for me, it's it's always like you asked if anything ever had made me hesitate going into medicine. Never once. >> Absolutely not. >> Never once. >> Yep. Which is awesome. Uh, actually returning to that because that's what we started talking about before I went on my little tangent. Um, so how in-depth they're going to read your application, who knows, >> right? >> I don't know how their stuff is set up. if they have like an hour to review it beforehand or it's two seconds. >> We don't know. Uh so when you when you answer your questions, I would assume that maybe they didn't read it or didn't read it super thoroughly. So you don't have to like explain everything all the way from there, >> but give a little bit of necessary context, >> right? >> You know, just that little bit of necessary context and then maybe a little more detail than you went into in the application. But don't be don't be afraid like saying like, "Oh, I'm just repeating something I already said." They may not have even seen it. They may have forgotten. Yeah. >> You might be your 30th interview of the day. Who know? >> Yeah. I was about to say, >> you know, that no one's going to fault you for being a little repetitive because that those are your reasons. That is your application. That's fine. >> Yeah. >> It doesn't have to be brand new. Uh so, a little bit of context and then just talk about it. It's totally fine. Don't withhold that context because you assume they already read it. >> Sweet. >> Fair. >> Awesome. >> Yeah. Because we we honestly have no idea. Like when my applications were coming up, it was a total S show. Like >> where you went to Le Moine, right? Did you go to Le Mo? Where is that? >> It's in Syracuse. >> Oh, it is. Okay, cool. >> Yeah, like two hours away from Albany. >> Oh, sweet. >> I think two, three hours. Yeah, because we went to shows in Albany all the time because it's like the nearest big city. >> Okay. Like concerts and stuff like that. >> Yeah. Yeah. They have a big arena there. We saw like John Mayer and stuff. >> I love John Mayer. >> He's awesome. If you never seen him live, you have to. >> I did. Yeah. He played the double neck guitar and like he also played the guitar and the piano at the same time. It was crazy. >> He's a talent. Uh but anyway, so yeah, uh like it's all organized and it's all planned out, but then you'll have one interviewer who like goes way over and then somebody else is quicker and then like people are stressed and then she's like trying to get to another one and she's supposed to have time to read application but she doesn't. >> It's like you just you have no idea. So always just give the context. Yeah, that is that is one thing naturally I'm so so lucky is I don't get nervous and I am a particularly extroverted person so talking is not something that's difficult for me to do. Um I like for me the most annoying part was the application. I just wanted to get to the interview so that I could actually talk to them and they could meet me. You know what I mean? That's like that's the best part. Talking to the patients is the best part for me. And talking to the interviewer, same idea. It's like once they actually get to know you, >> they it's it's easier. You know what I mean? [snorts] >> A lot of people it's not like that. So >> I'm so lucky that >> Yeah. >> It's a real real gift that you're, you know, gifted in that way. So that's good. Uh so yeah. No, I mean relatability, like I said, vibes are up. Everything's good. Uh, just a few little tweaks. So, let's go over some of the questions. And I just emailed my nine o'clock saying I'm running behind like 10 minutes, which is okay. Uh, I have like four in a row today. I don't know why I did this to myself. >> Dang, dude. >> I need to like I can >> too. >> Yeah. >> Oh, >> I mean this is fun. This is easy. But yeah. Anyway, but like I need a set on my website to where like they can't be booked back to back to back. Maybe a 30-minut grace period would probably be good, but it is what it is. at this point. >> Uh, okay. So, let's go through at least some of these questions, the the more important ones. >> Yeah, >> you are Sam. >> Okay, so this one. So, this is basically YPA, right? >> Focus more on YPA, less on like, oh, this is what's wrong with nursing or MD. Like, I just want PA for this reason. Uh, so this is good. I like that you said great question. Half the time it was like, oh, fantastic question. uh which was kind of funny. Uh found out about this while I was a patient in a hospital person I interacted most. A little more context would have been good here. Like somebody who's in medicine, I'm naturally kind of curious about like what was wrong. Did you break your leg? >> Did you have lymphoma? Like what the heck was it? >> Right. Right. >> Right. >> Uh she was an inspiration. And then this I honestly felt like was a little generic. >> You know, she was able to connect. She was still able to diagnose prescribe meds. Like it's true, but like dressing this up with more tangible examples like what actually happened just kind of like put me in the room with you would have been better, right? So like just between us like what what were you in the hospital for? >> Oh, like right now? >> Yeah. Yeah. Like what were you actually there for? >> Yeah. I was when I was 16 I was diagnosed with bell acute lymphablastic leukemia. >> Oh man. And my whole treatment from start to finish was with Hannah and obviously like a physician as well, but Hannah was the provider that I interacted with the most. Um, and that that was my connection, right? Like I may have, you know, 1,800 hours or 2,000 hours now. I think 2100 as a tech, right? I probably have the same amount if not more as a patient. >> Um, it was actually just about 1,200 days of treatment, like 1,500 doses of chemo, 28 spinal taps, you know, the whole deal that can go into all treatment, 11 kidney stones, all the numbers that come with it, right? Um, but that was that was my big introduction to medicine was having to be very very very involved, right? Like seeing every specialist and as you know all the things that come with that. But she was the one who would tell me which chemotherapies did what, why we have to give, you know, a heart med with this chemo, why we have to give a liver med with this chemo. what does that liver med do to protect the liver? You know what I mean? Like she she was the one who explained those things to me and she was the one who sparked this interest in medicine and interest in being a PA. So if in this response you also added at 16 years old I was dealing with all >> right >> before my 17th birthday I had 28 spinal taps, this many kidney stones, this many rounds of chemo. Um you know all of this made me feel X Y and Z, helpless, scared, uh uncertain, you know, whatever it may be. and Hannah made me feel X, Y, and Z because like you just said, she explained everything. And this made me want to be a PA like her because, >> right, >> I see I see the vision. >> Do you see how that's less generic than with me on a personal level and she diagnosed, >> right? >> Right. >> Yeah. So, and like it's obvious that like the knowledge is what you're really interested in. Like explaining why things are happening actually made you feel more comfortable. Whereas for a lot of people, they're like, I don't really care how this biochemistry works. I just want to know that I'll be okay or what my is or like when I can, you know what I mean? >> Yeah. 100%. >> So, yeah, just make it a more personal response like this is something they'll remember, >> right? >> This is something they've heard. >> Yeah. Exactly. Okay. [laughter] Got it. Yeah. >> Yeah. And that's going to be the feedback for a lot of questions. More personal. >> If you can I just told this to the last person. I don't want you to like focus on a million different things with the feedback because overall it's good. I just want you to redo your answers and make sure every single answer either has an example with like some tangibles like this like actual like physical things that like put the person in the room with you. Color of the blinds, the smell, the sounds, the beeping, the wires, whatever it may be, right? The glasses. Um either that examples or a feeling. This made me feel X. when she did this, it made me feel X. I want to make people feel X, >> right? A feeling or an example in every single response that has to be there. >> Cool. >> 100%. >> And that's this was good. You know, PA roll is the the perfect middle ground. I don't want to spend this much time in training, but I do want to do what Hannah did. Totally understandable, >> right? >> I kind of rambled. I'm sorry. We know that's not going to be in there. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Okay. So, yeah. So, that's what I would do. And that's going to be my feedback for a lot of these. >> Yeah. >> Um, anything ever tested? You said not once. This is pretty confident. Uh, I felt an instant relief. Weight off my shoulders knowing I want to practice medicine. Uh, uh, not looking back. Knew what I wanted to do. That's fair. Um, >> it's also true. I just I don't really have another answer to that question. I just once I made that decision, I was really happy. >> Yeah. Well, and putting this after this one is kind of unfair because they're both essentially why do you want to be a PA, >> right? >> I doubt you're going to get both, >> right? >> But essentially, you would just kind of go into this, >> right? >> If you hadn't already done so, you just go into that because it's essentially the same two versions of the same question, which is why do you want to be a PA, >> right? >> So, yeah, this is fine. >> Uh, how do you plan to use your medical education? Uh, the same question as like where do you see yourself in five years? That kind of thing. There's essentially no wrong answer except doing anything but being a PA, right? >> Uh, and I've gotten that before, believe it or not. Like I've had, oh, if I don't get into PA school this year, I think I'm going to go be a chef. Like, why would you possibly say that? [laughter] >> But people said it to me and I said, don't you ever say that to an interviewer. But >> yeah, that hopefully that saves their career. >> Honestly, if they needed you to tell them that, that's kind of a >> Not everyone's very socially calibrated. That's a fair point. Yeah, I shouldn't make any assumptions. >> And also, not everybody's watched like all of the prepa content out there. >> That's true. >> Like that advice comes from this guy was a prea coach or something. This was years ago, but he said like he was part of an interview panel and they asked like uh where are you going to be in five years? And she said probably in med school because this is a stepping stone and they rejected her out, right? So it's like some really hard people just make them, >> right? But anyway, even if it's true. Uh, so anyway, um, how do you plan your your medical education? Patient centered approach. >> Good, good, good. Again, I would say this is a little generic. Would you agree? >> Yeah. Like, of course, you're going to learn every part of the body and use it. You know what I mean? >> Let's say I'm working in oncology. I still have a firm understanding of nephrology and cardio drugs. So, I I know why you said this because of the example of what Hannah did while you were a nephrology patient, >> right? But we don't know that. >> So, do you think the the context of that top question helps answer this bottom one? >> Very much so. And even if you already went through this whole spiel, >> just calling back to it would have been great, >> you know. So, you could say like again, my main goal with being a provider is I want to make people feel X, Y, and Z >> just like Hannah did me >> uh by doing this, this, and that. Um, I think PA school teaching a broad medical education of all the body systems, not just focusing exclusively on one is super important because even if I'm working in a specialized field like oncology, which I actually would love to because I was an oncology patient, >> um, I still want to be able to talk just like Hannah did about the effects of every medication on my and why we're doing this. >> Yeah, I'm I'm starting to see what you mean where a little bit more context helps. Like even talking about the clubs at Albany when I talk about the pediatrics one, right? Like there's a clear there's a clear connection to pediatrics medicine if I just gave more context about that. So I'm starting I'm starting to see where the >> an actual physical example can tie into many of your answers for sure. >> Yeah, you're leaving things on the table, right? So that's why I said it was going to be the same kind of feedback for almost everything honestly. Wait, is that the Tower of Learning in your email? >> Say that again. >> Is that the Tower of Learning? That is the Tower of Learning. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's the Cathedral of Learning. Yeah, >> my bad. >> No, no, dude. It's fine. We call her Kathy. Kathy, >> that's so nerdy. >> Cathandra, >> but yeah. So, that's how I would have made this answer better. Do you agree? >> Like a like a hard example or talking about like a feeling as well? >> Yeah, a feeling and or an example. So, how will you use your medical education? uh you know I want to treat people want to have a patient centered approach uh because you know restate maybe a brief version of YPA and then kind of get more into the nitty-gritty you you mentioned oncology for a reason you didn't pick out durology you said oncology >> you know the whole thing that got me into confirming my interest in medicine and the PA profession particularly was being an oncology patient at 16 >> right >> uh so I you know I'm open to all specialties but I'd love to be working in that one uh I you know I might change my mind on my rotations. I might fall in love with ortho. Uh but right now I'm kind of thinking I would love to be working in oncology and I'm sure there's a steep learning curve. Uh so you know it might take me five years to even know what I'm doing in that field. >> Right. >> So in the next five years I see myself being a PA in the hospital working in oncology using that you know broad medical knowledge to really explain thoroughly to patients what's going on with them. Not just from an oncology standpoint, but from a nephrology, hepatology, gastronenterology, why they're feeling the way they're feeling, how I can help. That would be pretty good. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. >> Fair. >> 100%. >> Cool. And I'm glad we're recording this so you don't have to like scribble down notes furiously because we got this. >> No, you're good. >> Um, direct a movie. This is a good one. This is not something I uh have heard before. Um, this I feel like would have made it a better answer if this was already in there, right? Oh, to just have that ready. >> Yeah, because this is hilarious. Like this is [laughter] >> It's true. We really do call them blazers. I'm not I'm not like when the hospital has like an event in the atrium, we won't go if there are blazers there. But if it's something that's put on by like a nonprofit or a patient's family, we'll go. But if it's a if it's a hospital thing for a photo shoot to make it seem like they treat their workers well, then we're not gonna go. >> You know what I'm saying? >> Oh, yeah. [laughter] >> Feel free to steal that, too. It's a great It's a great term. >> If I still worked for a hospital system, I absolutely would. [laughter] >> Um, flavors because that's funny. Yeah. I mean, don't like force this into something that's unfitting, but if you know, they talk about something kind of like this >> or to talk about Blazers. >> Yeah, it could could be a book, could be a show, could be a movie. >> There you go. Something uh before the Blazers are coming like in a scenario question. Who knows? >> Uh that'll be fine. But that's not a super common question. I was just curious. >> Yeah. No, you're good. >> Uh success and failure. This I like. Uh the reason for this because this is a very PA response. You know, if you were a physician, they'd probably be if you're trying to be a physician, they'd be like, "Are you sure? because you're about to not have balance for two decades, right? So, they'd be like, "This is not a good response. For a PA, this is a great response, >> right?" >> So, yeah, >> it's also true like I I didn't like that's not necessarily related to the PA career for me. That's just how I approach being alive. >> Y and honestly, it's a really good one. Uh I think that's good. I would have probably put in something a little bit more emotional into it. Again, a feeling or an example. This is all This all reads like a intro paragraph. >> Yeah. Like I could totally say I didn't think I was going to live to see my 17th birthday. >> I spent my 17th and 18th birthdays in the hospital. For me, >> every day I have now is bonus. So the balance blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. >> Yeah, I got you. >> Didn't think I'd live to see my 18th birthday. spent 17th and 18th birthdays in the hospital. So now my perspective is to enjoy life while also pursuing a purpose I feel called to and then you know >> wow it's almost like you do this for a living Boris that's really great >> honestly I do and I get paid for this more than I do as a PA at this point so I may as well just get good at it [laughter] but >> I feel like that's what people appreciate the most is like when I put words in their mouth that they should have already said that actually sounds like You know that that helps the most with essays. >> Yeah. >> But it's not like this is a generic response that like anyone can say. This is all you. >> Right. >> Right. So like this is exactly what I want you to say because it sounds exactly like you. But only you can fill this part in. >> Right. >> So there it is. That's going to be a solid answer for you. And again the question may not be perfectly like this but tell me about yourself. Well I didn't think I'd live to see my 18th birthday. Immediately everyone's ears are going to be like what? like just perked up. [laughter] So, this could even be your YPA or tell me about yourself. >> Yeah, it's there's some it's it's a difficult balance for me to not relate my um pursuant pursuing of a PA degree. >> Mhm. relating pretty much every aspect back to it is something that I experienced or the fact that I experienced having leukemia. >> Yeah. >> So the way I think about it was I had leukemia for 3 years and seven months. I'm 23 years old. More of my life has been not having leukemia than had it. I'm a more than just that, right? So, it's trying to find that balance between relating everything back to my healthcare experience and or to my leukemia experience and not being a one-trick pony to >> That's true. >> having having depth. >> Well, try to do both. Yeah. >> Don't limit yourself and don't feel like that until you've already like answered something with that in it, >> right? >> Also, don't even make that like in your mind. You'll know if you're about to start being a onetrick pony if you've answered the same qu like a different question the same way three times. >> Okay, >> which won't happen because they're going to be very different questions. They're not going to ask you eight, nine questions. They're going to ask you like two or three, >> right? >> You're not going to have time. And also, you have different interviewers. >> So, second interviewer appears is not what the first one already knew. So, >> yeah. >> Tony again, right? >> Yeah. >> So, it's it's not as big a deal as you're making it at all. Like you can basically >> start with those most powerful things and then you're not going to have a whole lot of content left. >> Sweet. >> So yeah, I would not worry about that at all. >> I just do need to wrap this up because this poor girl is already waiting. >> Yeah. No, that's that's as I said, it would be my fault, not yours. So >> No, no, you're good. And I will uh probably not tonight, but tomorrow I'll take some time to write a few more comments and feedback >> to the questions we didn't get to. >> Uh but yeah, let me end this recording so that it processes before I let you go. But do you think this was helpful? >> Oh, 100%. Yeah. I I'm just so excited. I'm really excited for this whole process. It's It's I I look forward to it >> to the interview. >> Yeah. It's It's just It's like I finally get to present who I am more than just a piece of paper. You know what I mean? It's like a really great >> people person and a people profession. >> Yeah. 100%. >> Yep. Totally belong there. That's going to be good. you're going to do really good for a lot of your patients, you know, because a lot of people that go into the provider side, they're like, you know, they're they're nerds. They're scientists. They like, >> right, >> they like the science, but this is a people profession. >> Yeah. >> So, yeah, you're definitely you belong here. That's definitely going to be good for you. >> I really appreciate those words. It actually means a lot. >> Yeah. No, 100%. I mean, I I could tell. And I I also know that like on a personal level because I'm not necessarily always there. Like, I'm usually more of a nerd. I'm more interested in the medicine than the person, >> right? Um, so like having to be on my best behavior and being friendly, like that's I can only do that a certain number of hours. Yeah. That's why I can't do it full-time anymore, >> right? >> But like when I'm on I'm on and people are like, "Oh, can I have videos on primary?" And I have to say, "Nh, I can only do this a few hours a week, man." [laughter] >> But it is what it is, you know? Like everyone's different, but I could tell you're someone that like thrives in that environment. >> Yeah. You know, that'll be awesome.