JacquelineGYorkPANCCPA Certified; MHS, BSN

Summary

• My medical career started as a RN and it wasn’t long until I realized how much I loved medicine and helping people. My career as a physician assistant began after working as a nurse for Dr Charles Roth, an extraordinary orthopedic surgeon, who encouraged me to pursue a career as a PA and I was honored to be accepted into the first graduating PA class at the University of South Alabama. Working in a multi specialty practice, which also included rheumatology, pain management, and physical medicine, enabled me to obtain diverse skills and be able to deliver a multi-modal treatment plan. Through my career, helping people who are discouraged, in pain, or debilitated; has been most rewarding. Listening to the patient, coming up with a diagnosis through careful history, work-up and PE; or even excluding a presumptive diagnosis helps the patient so much.... just showing compassion to their plight and interest in their complaints and symptoms goes a long way in comforting them. Twelve years working in rheumatology was very beneficial in learning to listen and encourage. But very special to me as a healthcare provider is the honor and privilege to be involved in providing health care to the underserved population through local free medical clinics, disaster relief, national and international medical mission trips. The gift of being able to participate in these services has been inexplicably humbling and rewarding as PA. I love my profession!