The Well
Hosted by Mount St. Mary’s University Physician Assistant Program leadership, The Well brings together clinicians, educators, and healthcare professionals to discuss and explore advancements in clinical practice, healthcare education, and the wide-ranging issues impacting the future of healthcare.
The Well
Introducing Sarah Webster, Clinical Coordinator
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In this Faculty Spotlight episode of The Well, we're joined by Sarah Webster, Clinical Coordinator for the Mount St. Mary's University Physician Assistant Program.
Hi, everybody, and welcome back to the Well, our podcast at Mount St. Mary's University's PA program. Our Well podcast is here to be a source of insight, inspiration, and growth for future PAs. I'm privileged to be one of your hosts. My name is Mary Jackson, and I am the program director for the PA program. And as always, I have with me my amazing co-host and associate program director, Leanne Hedges. Hey everyone. And today we are continuing our series on highlighting our amazing faculty and staff group that we have here at the PA program. And today we have with us Dr. Sarah Webster. So we're very excited to welcome you to the podcast, Sarah, and introduce you to our listeners. Thanks for having me. So I would love to start by hearing a little bit about your journey to the PA profession and your journey as a PA.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, my journey was definitely not linear at all. When I was in undergrad, I thought initially I thought I was going to go to medical school, and then I talked myself out of that because I told myself I wasn't smart enough. And then somehow I ended up on a path to become a physical therapist. And I was in my very, very last semester of undergrad doing my practicum and realized that physical therapy was also just not for me. So I actually concurrently enrolled in the local community college EMT program while I was still finishing my bachelor's, became an EMT, realized that still wasn't for me. I needed to do more. So I became, I went into a paramedic program. And I enjoyed the paramedic program, but it still just didn't feel like the right fit. But I was definitely in the right place. I was where I was supposed to be because I met a great PA by the name of Amanda Joy, who is also a paramedic. She was one of my instructors. And uh during lab one day, she, you know, kind of taught me about what it was like to be a PA. And then I had this aha moment, everything clicked, and I was like, that's what I want to do. I'm not supposed to be a PT. I'm not supposed to be a paramedic. I'm supposed to be a PA. So I wasn't even done my paramedic training before I realized what my next step was going to be. And from there, I went back to school again and I had to retake some prerequisites, and that started my journey to PA school.
SPEAKER_02That's an amazing story. And knowing Amanda Joy, she was one of my preceptors when I was a PA student in the emergency department that I got my first job at and still work today. And I remember learning from her. She's definitely one of the best of the best. Um, and so that's that's really special. So then tell us what you did after you graduated PA school.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so um I, you know, I was offered some jobs in some of my clinical rotations, but none of them really seemed like a good fit. Um, but I found a job right out of PA school in the emergency department um in Baltimore. And um, it was a great first job. I had uh a lead PA who was really awesome at taking me under her wing and kind of teaching me the ropes. Um, and so that's that's what I did right out of right out of PA school. Um and I stayed in the emergency department. I I don't work there full-time anymore. I'm pre PRN there now, but um the majority of my career has been in emergency medicine.
SPEAKER_02I certainly feel that my entire career has been in the ER. I see the poll. Um, we have a full circle moment that you discovered, right, Sarah?
SPEAKER_03We do, we do. So Amanda Joy, the the person who taught me about the PA profession, actually ended up being one of my preceptors during my emergency medicine rotation. And it turns out you were also one of my preceptors on one of my uh one of my shifts in the ER. So it was really cool when I kind of put those moments all together and realized that it was a very cool full full circle moment.
SPEAKER_00Okay, Sarah. So give us the dirt. What was Professor Jackson like as a preceptor?
SPEAKER_03Oh, it was so cute. Uh she and and Brinton were working together and um she was great. I mean, I I certainly felt at home and I didn't feel dumb. And um, you know, I I got some great positive reinforcement and some direction, and it was exactly what I needed because obviously I went right into emergency medicine, so it's it was a good fit. That's awesome.
SPEAKER_02When Sarah first made the discovery that we had this experience together, she remembered that it was right after I gave birth to my first child and went back to work. And I'm thinking, ooh, that was probably not the best version of me that any student got. But I'm I'm happy to hear that you flourished despite that. Yes, I did.
SPEAKER_01So tell us what made you want to jump into PA education because I know you have your doctorate in medical education.
SPEAKER_03I do, I do, yeah. So um right around when COVID happened was when I found myself um feeling a little bit done with emergency medicine. And um I needed a a little bit of a transition. And so I tried a stint in urgent care, which was okay, but it didn't work out well. And then I went to vascular surgery, which was pretty cool too. And what I just found was that I really loved precepting students and I loved having that interaction, but a four or five-week rotation just didn't feel long enough. And I wanted to create more of a relationship, a long-term relationship with students. And that's when I kind of had my aha moment that you know what, I should, I should really go teach. Um, the my students that I precepted also thought this was a good idea. They thought I I would be a great instructor, so I thought, okay, yeah, I can do this. Um, I did some guest lecturing, decided I loved it, and then wanted to do even more. So yeah, I went and I got my doctorate with a concentration in medical education, and here I am. Wonderful.
SPEAKER_02That's fantastic. And I'll share, you know, we have wonderful PA colleagues, you know, regionally that I get to meet all the time. And you never really know if someone's ability to teach one-on-one is going to translate to the ability to teach in a classroom. But I had the honor of hearing Sarah give a talk at MAPA, so our state chapter of AAPA's conference recently, and just floored by your ability to engage the audience, your ability to um convey the important information. And I thought our students are just so lucky to have you on this team.
SPEAKER_03Oh, thank you.
SPEAKER_02We feel really grateful to have you.
SPEAKER_03That's very kind. I'm excited to be here.
SPEAKER_02So, what what do you think you're looking forward to the most with this incoming cohort?
SPEAKER_03Um, you know, it's PA school is such a huge moment and a huge um chunk in time of transition, right? And I think that just being able to develop relationships with the students and see them go from their, you know, infancy in PA school to then graduating and becoming clinicians and you know colleagues of mine is just a really, really cool transition. So I want to make those relationships and I want to see these students grow and flourish.
SPEAKER_02That's awesome. And I think that's always what our aim was. I know Leanne, as a part of the admissions committee, is the chair of the admissions committee and having the arduous task of the holistic admissions, you always say this, right? Our um, when we think about the way that we're assessing students and we're looking at attributes, not just metrics, it's really who's going to make the best PAs, the best colleagues, right? Our graduates will be caring for us one day, our families one day. Um, and so that really excites me too. This group that's coming in in January is stellar, and I can't wait to see where they take their PA degree.
SPEAKER_03Yes, definitely.
SPEAKER_02Great. Well, at the end of every episode of the podcast, we always ask what is the seed that you would like to plant with the next generation of healthcare leaders?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, this was the seed that was planted with me. Um, and that, you know, in your two years in PA school, just get through that first year. That was something that my favorite PA instructor told me, and that was a mantra that I kind of held in in my heart when things felt heavy or when things felt impossible and I wasn't sure I could do it, and you know, the tests felt like too much, and the lectures felt like too much, and you're drinking from this fire hose, just get through the first year. Just get through the first year because that clinical year is where you get to make it all come together, everything clicks, and it feels so good to put that new knowledge into play.
SPEAKER_02I think that's an amazing seed. I think about when you look at PA school, right? It's such an accelerated way to learn medicine. And the didactic year and clinical year, they really do feel different, right? It's really just it's it's got a different energy, it's got a different speed. Um, and so I think it's always good to remember that this doesn't last forever. You've chosen an accelerated path to get into your career that you desire. Um, but keeping your eyes on the prize and knowing that it doesn't, oh, it doesn't last forever. Exactly.
SPEAKER_03Just get through that first year.
SPEAKER_01I wish I would have had that seed. That's fantastic.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Well, thank you so much for joining us today. Um, and we can't wait to welcome everyone back to the well next time. Thank you, Sarah. Thank you for taking care.