Episode 10: A Celebration of STEM in Industry with a Physician Assistant

Transcript

Welcome to BLaST the Airwaves with BLaST Intermediate Unit 17. Here at BLaST Intermediate Unit 17, we strive to transform lives and communities through educational services. For this season, we have a special guest co-host who is working to create and sustain pathways to employment in our region by uniting her community around common goals in STEM learning. This season’s guests come from 9 counties total, representing different local industries all across Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. I’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Konsur-Grushinski, STEM Services Coordinator for NEIU 19 and current lead of NEPA STEM Ecosystem. Alexandra, welcome! Thank you for having me. I’m so excited to be able to work with you for our Celebration of STEM in Industry this year. Our STEM Ecosystem is holding a weeklong series of free events and opportunities highlighting industry partners and the benefits they have in our 5 county region. Our hope is that by listening to the wide variety of employment opportunities available in our region from folks in our community who live it every day, we can shed a light on what’s possible for our young people. On this podcast, we will provide you with educational solutions and resources for all, no matter the learning environment. So teachers, administrators, students, caregivers, industry partners, what are you waiting for? What would happen if we started questioning? What if our students and educators got the opportunities to sit down with members of the community? What if we bridged that gap? What connections would we discover? It’s time to blast the airwaves.
Rebecca: Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Teresa Micknick, Physician Assistant and Alexandra Konsur-Grushinski, STEM Services Coordinator of NEIU 19 and current lead of NEPA STEM Ecosystem. Teresa, Alexandra, thanks so much for joining us today to discuss STEM skills used in your industry. Specifically Theresa, what we will be discussing how knowledge of different STEM skills are important in your current job position as a physician assistant. So are you guys ready to blast the airwaves?
Theresa: Yes!
Alexandra: Absolutely!
Rebecca: So Theresa, why don’t we start. If you could tell us a little bit more about your role in your industry, and what it’s like being a position assistant.
Theresa: So I have been a PA for 30 years, and I’m only 35. (laughs)
Rebecca and Alexandra: (laugh)
Theresa: But I’m a graduate of King’s College and I have been in the same job for the last 30 years, so I’ve been in the same private practice, Family Practice office, in the last 30 years.
Rebecca: That is awesome. that’s not, that’s not usual anymore nowadays. A lot of people change positions or change offices.
Therersa: And I feel very fortunate because you get to meet a lot of people and continue the relationships with a lot of people and to know the different generations. So, I’ve been taking care of some families, three generations of the families. And it really makes a difference, and you know in being a PA because you know that family history firsthand, you know. You know what Grandma had and grandpa had, and what illnesses and how they responded. So it really does make a big difference. It’s a really good advantage to have a lot of times.
Rebecca: Definitely, definitely.
Alexandra: Teresa, it, it’s amazing to be able to interview you first of all, but to also have someone with so much experience being able to speak to our listeners. So, would you be able to describe for us what your typical day looks like at your job?
Theresa: Yep, so it starts off in the morning with a lot of computer work looking at the labs and messages and following up from things that happened the day before. Any kind of test results, or following up on with someone who is very ill, how are they doing? Or if they had to go to the hospital. Checking in with the nursing homes to make sure they have what they need for the day and any new orders or changes. And then typically, patients will start to come in for nurse visits for injections. Especially now Covid injections and flu shots; it’s that time of year. And then, we’ll start seeing our patients. Typically, we start, because of Covid that has changed a little bit, we’ll see our well visits first, and then we’ll save room at the end of the morning and the end of the afternoon for sick visits. We just don’t, so we can separate those patients. And then, we spend the day fielding phone calls, issues, problems, that may arise because a lot of it is acute. We have some chronic things scheduled, but we never know what’s going to happen that day. It’s always something new.
Alexandra: Is it, safe to say, Teresa, that Covid was the the most disruptive feature that has changed the way your day goes in your position, or or are there other things maybe that were different, more different?
Theresa: Well in the last 30 years I would have to say yes. That has changed the dynamic completely of how we usually do things. It’s changed the schedule. It has changed. In the very beginning of Covid, we weren’t able to order a Covid test; we had no Covid treatments. We just had to hand it off to someone else, and say call this number, and see if you can get a Covid test. And then, the patients got the results, we didn’t get the results. So, for the first two months of Covid, it was very different because the patients had to communicate to us what happened. We usually get those results. Fortunately, that all changed quickly, and now we can order Covid tests. We have vaccines, so we’re kind of back in the role of driving how things go and ordering and following up. Before, we had to put that back in the patient’s hands which we never did before. We used to order the tests and then tell them the results. Then, the patient was responsible. So, I do feel better, but it has changed everything. In the beginning, you had to call to come into the office. You couldn’t just walk in like you used to. We went to telemedicine, so a lot of things did change. Now, it’s back to normal, basically. We kind of went back to the same model, but it is still definitely different, and I think some of it; some of the changes may stay, like telemedicine for example.
Alexandra: Interesting Teresa. I know before the recording started, we were talking a little bit about telemedicine, and kind of your predictions for what you think might be the future of telemedicine. Would you at all mind talking to listeners a little bit about how, what you think might be happening in telemedicine into the future?
Theresa: Yeah so being a PA for 30 years, I reluctantly went to telemedicine. Because I was used to seeing the patients, so we couldn’t imagine doing it any other way. And in some Industries telemedicine is great like Psychiatry. Because talking over the phone, or online is fine. But, I have to see the patients for a lot of things. You can’t suture over the phone. You can’t listen to the heart and lungs over the phone. But I feel that telemedicine in the last, in the first six months of Covid, it really allowed us to see our patients. Without telemedicine, we wouldn’t be able to do that. So we were so fortunate to have that as a resource. Now, we can continue to use it in some professions, in some specialties, in a limited fashion other specialties. Others could use it a lot more. And I think as with anything because we were forced to do it, we like it now. If we weren’t forced to do it, I don’t know if I would have tried it thinking: Oh no. This will never work. So, it does teach us a lesson that we should try new things because sometimes there is some good that comes out of it. So I think it definitely has a benefit. Like we had a hospital discharge, and the patient didn’t know how to use the insulin pen. So, I was able to hop on and show him how to use that pen. And I could see him using it, so I knew that he was able to use it. So it definitely has its benefits. I think we’re going to see telemedicine definitely stay. Probably different in each of the specialties, but it’s something we could use as a resource. And I find that now even if we have to refer someone to tertiary care like if they have a cancer or something that we’re going to refer them to a specialty, that specialist could talk to them first, and then they can meet later for a treatment plan. So it does expedite a lot of patients can see practitioners faster sometimes, which is great too; that really is an added benefit.
Rebecca: Theresa, I think that’s super fascinating and it’s so important to go out of the comfort zone cuz you can learn so much, yet it’s the hardest thing to do. But I’m glad that you can see a silver lining in that. And, and we’re doing this even in education right now. What do we change to make the better, for the future after everything that we’re learning? And there are definitely things that that we can grow from, so thank you for that that share. We’re wondering, you know, as you are preparing to be a physician assistant, what career or college path or even classes did you take to prepare yourself for this line of work?
Theresa: Most of it were all based in the sciences: chemistry, biology, physics, so it’s a Bachelors of Science course. It’s different now. When I did it, there was not a master’s program. Now when PAs are graduating, and they’re graduating with Masters. Along with the sciences, there’s a lot of, there’s some, business courses as well, they take management courses. Which I think is very important and useful. The science courses, of course, you need to go to to do your everyday job, but there is a lot besides science. Management, time management, I think having those other courses definitely added to the profession to help manage. Because you have to manage an office and run a office, so it’s not only the science part of it, but it’s managing all the behind the scenes stuff as well. Especially with insurance companies like all that. You have a lot of metrics to report to insurance companies, and I don’t think people realize that. We see the patient, but there’s a lot of other things we do to make sure that patient is well. Or as a general population, that we are doing well. Our diabetes metrics and reporting those metrics to the right people, so we could see how the medications are working, or what we could do better to prevent the side effects, and the long term effects of diabetes for example: so you know we make sure that you see the eye doctor, the foot doctor, and all that. We report it to the insurance, so they can see us as a whole that the population that we’re seeing is being taken care of to avoid any long term effects of the disease; not only treating the disease, but treating how it could affect us. So, there is a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff that we collaborate with the insurance companies and to make sure everybody is well. So, I think having that Masters (degree) really makes a difference to help them realize it’s not only medicine. We have a lot of other parts as well.
Rebecca: Right, so as students maybe are preparing to become Physician Assistants, important to take that pathway of Sciences and even like a pathway of eventually getting your Masters.
Theresa: So the Masters is now right in with the program, so. And I was different when I went, but now it’s right in that program. So when they graduate, they have both, which is wonderful.
Rebecca: Yeah absolutely.
Alexandra: So, Theresa, it’s clear that you have a very busy schedule, and you do a variety of things throughout your day. And you have a ton of experience, so I’m thinking that this next question is going to be super easy to answer, but we’ll see. So, how do you use STEM skills in your position?
Theresa: Well, of course like science, we use that single minute. Everything you learned to treat the patient, and everything you know about the medication… So science, of course, plays the biggest role in my job. But in Covid, technology took over. We had to be able to use technology, so we can continue to see our patients. And so, technology came to the forefront at this time to make sure that we can continue to see our patients and do what we need to do, report our metrics that we need to report. And of course, math is very important in that to dive to calculate medicines, the right doses. So they all play a very important role, and we use them every minute of every day.
Alexandra: Wow. You are steeped in STEM as a physician’s assistant. And STEM with a capital S.
Theresa: Yes. Yes, definitely.
Alexandra: And so, as a follow-up question then, one of the perennial arguments that our students make in school is when they’re in school, in class, learning about something, their question is always: When are we ever going to use this? When is this ever going to be pertinent for my life? And so, that’s the kind of question that we here students say a lot, and so I’m hoping maybe Theresa, that you can help us put that question to rest and talk about perhaps some skills that you use everyday that our students will be learning in school? And those could be academic skills, or they could be other types of skills?
Theresa: Yes! And it’s funny because I think we all have said that: I’m never going to use this again. And I’ll get back to the high school skills, or the school skills, but like for college, there’s an exam that we do, a neurological exam. And it’s very very technical, and it’s very specific, and you’re probably not going to use it much. But when you need to know it, and you need to use it for that one patient, it’s so important the diagnosis. I remember my teacher saying: Don’t be rolling your eyes at this. Someday you’re going to use it. And we do, and it’s a critical part of an exam. So, you use your skills. We think we don’t need to; we don’t need these skills, or we’re never going to use them. But every single day, even the basic skills are so important. Math, of course, to calculate dosages, but even reading to learn. I had to read and understand. I read every single day. That’s how we keep up. I read articles, journal articles and studies. If you’re not a good reader, and you’re not a fast reader, and you can’t retain it, I need to do that. That skill is vital. We think: Why are we reading these books? Why do we have to have comprehension? Because I have to read a lot every single day to keep up. So reading is very important. Technology: we already covered that. That’s very important. And even the simple skills like listening: we learn to listen in school. We learn time management. We learn organization. All that is vital and getting through our day, and making sure everybody is okay. So those skills, even though we don’t think we ever use them, we use them every single day in different ways. Maybe not exactly how we learn them, but they teach us how to do certain other things. Like time management: to help us get through our day.
Rebecca: So all those lifelong skills that you’re listing. That again, they’re hidden. We never know it, but how useful they are. And I feel like all your life you’re working on these.Your whole life you’re working on listening. You’re working on all those things.
Theresa: Absolutely.
Rebecca: So, Theresa, we were wondering, you talked about skills that students can learn in school and what your path was. Did you ever have an epiphany moment, like wow, this is what I want to do the rest of my life?
Theresa: Yes! When we go to school and we learn, and we decide what we do know what do, And we pick a course and by college, and I always want to be a teacher. And I said right from 2nd or 3rd grade, I’m going to be a teacher. And then, someone went into the hospital that I knew, and I was thinking, oh I kind of like this. And then, I decided to take the science courses, and I liked it. And I remember, and it’s not anything very specific, but I remember shadowing someone, and they said oh, I want to show you the eye rounds, the back of the eye, the optic nerve. And, when I saw that, this is the most fascinating thing! This is what I want to do! And it seems like something simple, looking in the back of an eye. But it clicked for me; I knew it was something I was interested in that I really was going to love, and I wanted to learn more about. And it’s something that simple. That’s where it all starts. I didn’t end up in Ophthalmology, but it was just the fact when you look behind that, and you see the optic nerve,and you are like: this is so fascinating. I I want to know everything about this! And then use those skills everyday, so it was something that simple.
Rebecca: I couldn’t agree more. I feel like it’s always in the simple moments. Oftentimes, when working with students, they think: I need it to have this huge epiphany, or I need it to happen now. But sometimes, just letting it come to you. Looking in the small moments: that’s where it’s at.
Theresa: And you don’t even know it. You don’t even realize it. It’s amazing. It is. It is. That it is something that simple. And I still love it as much then, as I do now.
Rebecca: Right. So, it is now time for my favorite part. Usually, we do the blast 5, and I blast our speakers with 5 random questions. But for this season, we are asking our industry partners what are the top five skills needed in your industry right now?
Theresa: So of course, I said science with a capital S. It is very important.
Rebecca: Absolutely!
Theresa: Yes, math. And we touched a lot of technology, organization and time management. Absolutely, and you learn that every day in school by going to lunch, going to the locker on time. That is something that you use. Most importantly, without a doubt, listening. Listening skills even from the very beginning, your Pre-K teacher says put your listening ears on. Without listening skills, I couldn’t do what I do today. You need to listen to the patient. You need to really listen to what they have to say, and I can’t stress that enough. I had a professor tell me that you could know everything about the body systems, you could know about every medicine, but if you’re not a good listener, it will never work. And to this day, listening is the most important thing. That’s what will make you very successful.
Rebecca: Awesome! Thank you very much, Theresa. And so, if our listeners that are listening. I just used listening a lot there.
Theresa: Great! Good! (laughs)
Rebecca: There you go! (laughs) If they are listening to this episode, and thinking, man, I really feel like I want to become a physician’s assistant. Where is there, are there any resources that you have, or places they could go to learn more about becoming a physician assistant?
Theresa: The National Academy of Physician Assistants is online. They can look them up, or the local colleges who have PA programs: Marywood, Kings, Misericordia. You can go onto their website, and they tell you all about being a physician’s assistant, and what kind of requirements that they have for their particular institutions.
Rebecca: Wonderful. Thank you! Well,Theresa, Alexandra, this has been a blast. I believe Alexandra, this is our last episode for Season 3. And so, we’re wrapping up with the one and only Theresa, physician assistant. So Theresa, we celebrate you, and what you do everyday in STEM. Again, thank you for taking time to connect with us and our listeners. It’s been a pleasure.
Theresa: Thank you!
Rebecca: Yes, thank you. Hopefully, we can connect soon.
Theresa: Thank you!
Alexandra: Thank you Theresa!
We would like to thank you for blasting the airwaves with us today. If you like the show, please subscribe or leave a review. If you want to know more, check out www.iu17.org for further resources and show notes. If you’d like to learn more about NEPA STEM Ecosystem and the work we are doing in STEM and job pathways, please visit them at www.nepastem.org. As always, we want to thank you for what you do every single day. Remember, keep shining. We’ll be back next episode to provide you another educational solutions for all, as we continue to transform lives and communities through educational services.