By Billie Nagy

If you think TPA is hard, try med school. As our endeavors continue into the interesting things our graduates are accomplishing, we find ourselves at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus, where prior Tempe Prep alum and assistant coach Amy Rust has been working to become a physician’s assistant.

“A physician’s assistant, as Amy says, “is a healthcare provider who is trained in the medical model, which means in a similar fashion as a doctor, although for not as long. They work with a supervising physician to provide medical care, and are qualified to see patients, conduct exams, prescribe treatment plans and medications, and do minor surgical procedures.” Essentially, they work alongside the doctor to provide the best team-based medicine, which, as Amy puts it, is “a model that I believe is incredibly effective.”

As an athletic trainer at TPA for some time, Amy realizes the importance of collaborative medicine, and that “patients often receive the best and most comprehensive care possible when more than one person is working for and with them to achieve optimal health.”

When asked about what her experience has been like so far being a physician’s assistant student, Amy replied, “There is no question about it, PA school is HARD.” As the school is a master’s program that generally runs about 27 months (with 12-14 of those being classroom work and a year of clinical internships), “trying to fit all of the necessary education into that time frame is quite a challenge, and I can attest that the pace is incredibly fast!” She says she usually is in class from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., gets home, eats a quick dinner, studies until around 10 p.m., and wakes up at 5:30 a.m. to do it all over again.

Although most this intensive training may come as an overwhelming shock, Amy (although she completely forgot what watching TV is like) “wouldn’t trade it for the world, as there is never a dull moment!”

When asked how Tempe Prep has influenced her decision and prepared her for the medical field, Amy recalls how she owes so much of who she is as a student to her years at TPA. In fact, it was a prior 9th grade biology teacher, Mrs. Hawkins, who “inspired and encouraged me to pursue the sciences, and was even instrumental in my choice to major in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine.”

As the field of medicine is constantly adapting and changing with the introduction of new knowledge, Amy notes how important it is to be a “lifelong learner, which was instilled in me from day one at TPA. The ability to constantly question the status quo and search for truth and beauty even in something like the human body and its disease states is integral to being an excellent medical provider.”

For the students out there who may be interested in the medical field, Amy has one important piece of advice: “Get involved! Volunteer at a hospital or local clinic, or find someone who is doing it and shadow them. The best way to decide what direction is right for you is to experience it first-hand!”

Lastly, Amy Rust will be happy to answer any questions concerning the PA profession specifically, at her email, acalahan@gmail.com. We wish Amy all the best with her studies and at her anticipated graduation in August 2016. Good Luck Amy!