Master of Physician Assistant Studies at RVU

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PA STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS

Katie Roche

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
Class of 2025

Where is your hometown?
Centennial, CO

Undergraduate Studies
B.A in Psychology

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in Centennial, CO. I went to Chapman University in California for my undergraduate and studied abroad for 6 months in Salamanca, Spain. After graduating, I worked at Children's Hospital Colorado as a scribe in their Orthopedics and Emergency Departments. I then spent some time as a research assistant on several Huntington's Disease clinical trials. My most recent experience before PA school was working as a Medical Assistant in addiction medicine in Salt Lake.

What initially brought you to RVU? Why did you decide to pursue this degree?
I really liked all of the staff during the interview processes! The idea of competency based learning was also something that really intrigued me (and now being in it, I think it's fantastic!). The program being open to feedback from students was also very appealing. It is also close to where I grew up, so I still have friends and family out here, which has been nice!

In terms of wanting to pursue PA - I always had an interest in healthcare, but wasn't really sure which path to take. I started working in various healthcare roles, and in doing so, was able to work with a wide variety of providers/other healthcare workers. I loved seeing how the team came together. I truly enjoyed each specialty I worked in, and realized that I couldn't see myself in a single specialty for the rest of my life, and decided that PA would be the best fit for me. I am so glad that I made that decision and that I decided to come to RVU because it has been an incredible experience thus far, and am so excited to see what the rest of PA school has in store!

What do you enjoy doing when not at RVU?
I have quite a few hobbies! Some of my favorite things to do outside of school include: wildlife photography (fun fact I did accidentally have a very large portrait of a parrot behind me during my zoom interview), salsa/bachata dancing, exploring Colorado, cooking, skiing, singing/playing piano. I have found it so important to keep up with these during school (even if it's for short durations) in order to de-stress.

What is an interesting or little known fact about you.
An interesting fact is that I have been to 41 countries! I fell in love with traveling when I was younger and that love has never gone away. I love learning about new places and cultures. One of my bucket list items is to be able to visit every country once before I die (though I'll have to hit pause for a bit during school).

What is the best piece of advice you have been given by a professor or a student while at RVU?
Lean on/get to know your classmates! In the PA program in particular, we have a fairly small cohort. The only ones who truly get what you're going through are your classmates. Plus, it's so great to see what everyone brings to the table! Everyone has different personal and clinical experience backgrounds, and it can be so helpful to bounce ideas off of each other!

What are your medical interests?
Currently, I am very interested in going into either addiction medicine or emergency medicine! (although the ability to change specialties as a PA is nice because there are so many good options out there!). For addiction in particular, I saw how many of these patients fell through the cracks of the healthcare system, and would really love to help bridge that gap in care! Everyone deserves to have compassionate, comprehensive care, and I can't wait to be that provider for my patients in the future.

What is a favorite memory you have from being at RVU?
It's still toward the beginning of the semester but so far just spending time with classmates both on and off campus has been a blast! Our cohort is truly amazing, and I feel very lucky to be a part of it!

What advice do you have for prospective students?
Think of your WHY and write it down somewhere. Keep that WHY. The application process is long and stressful and didactic is ... well ... long(ish) and stressful. It can be so easy to lose sight of why you're doing this when you are stressed, but keep going! You're doing this for a reason and it's all worth it in the end!

Grace Ferdowski

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
Class of 2023

Where is your hometown?
Potomac, MD

Undergraduate studies:
General Biology

Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hi! I'm Grace, currently a PA student in the class of 2023. I knew I wanted to study medicine after loving my anatomy class in high school. I studied biology at the University of Maryland, College Park. I then worked as a medical assistant in plastic surgery, where I decided to apply to PA school. I moved out to Colorado in 2021 to start this program. I'm also an avid reader and lover of cats.

What initially brought you to RVU? Why did you decide to pursue this degree?
I initially was interested in RVU due to the competency based model curriculum and because we spend a little more time in rotations compared to other programs. After speaking with faculty during the interview, I felt certain that this was a program where I would feel supported. I decided to pursue this degree after working with many different types of health professionals. I loved the collaborative nature of being a PA in addition to having the autonomy of seeing my own patients and the lateral mobility within the profession

What do you enjoy doing when not at RVU?
I love reading, spending time with my friends, family, and my cats. While I wouldn't classify myself as an avid hiker, I do enjoy an elevated leisurely walk.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given by a professor or a student while at RVU?
No pun intended, but give yourself grace. PA school is extremely challenging and finding ways to study and manage your time takes a minute!

What are your medical interests?
OBGYN, fertility

What is a favorite memory you have from being at RVU?
My favorite memory from RVU is spending time with all of my classmates. Whether it was studying in the library before an exam, hanging out at a brewery, or even our camping trip, this program was an incredible experience because I was lucky enough to go through it with the most supportive, wonderful humans.

What advice do you have for prospective students?
PA school has been the hardest thing I have ever done. It's important to find ways to take care of yourself even when you feel inundated with all the work you have to do. Set time every day to do something that makes you happy!

Haley Kagimoto

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
Class of 2024

Where is your hometown?
Honolulu, HI

Undergraduate Studies:
Health Science

What clubs and activities are you currently involved with?
Tutoring

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in Honolulu, HI and dreamed of becoming a singer as a little girl. As I performed more, I was slowly introduced to healthcare as I sang at different hospitals and fundraisers. I did an internship at a hospital in high school out of curiosity, and there I developed a love and admiration for medicine. I went to Chapman University in Orange, CA for college where I continued to intern at a local hospital. I became EMT certified my senior of college. After I graduated, I worked as an MA in a cardiology practice and scribed in a level one trauma center. I also acted as assistant director of department operations for a hospital volunteer program. Fun fact: I had never been to CO before starting RVU's PA program!

What initially brought you to RVU? Why did you decide to pursue this degree?
I was drawn to RVU's location, small class size, and competency-based curriculum that allows us to learn at our own pace and focus on our individual strengths and weaknesses. Above all, I felt like RVU's faculty was warm and welcoming during my interview, and now that I'm in my second year, I can say every one of my professors genuinely care about our success. Also, I chose to become a PA because I wanted the autonomy to make decisions for my patients as a clinician while maintaining the ability to switch specialties and locales with greater ease than I would as a physician, as this fits better with my life goals.

What do you enjoy doing when not at RVU?
Recently I've been exploring all the beautiful hikes and views Colorado has to offer with my classmates! I also enjoy going to concerts, reading and spending too much money exploring different coffee shops.

What is an interesting or little known fact about you.
I studied abroad during my entire junior year of high school in Zaragoza, Spain!

What is the best piece of advice you have been given by a professor or a student while at RVU?
Find one thing in your life that you will not compromise during PA school. Given the program's intense nature, it's easy to get caught up in your studies and put everything else in your life on hold. Because of this, it's even more so important to keep something in your life that is truly joyful and relaxing during this time to avoid burnout, whether it be spending a certain amount of time with family, walking your dogs every day, or reading a book. This way, your educational journey is sustainable!

What are your medical interests?
Cardiology, emergency medicine, women's health

What is a favorite memory you have from being at RVU?
I have so many! Recently, I've been doing a rotation in Colorado Springs along with 7 other classmates who've also been assigned to rotations around the area. Every week, we've been meeting up at different places in the Springs to simultaneously catch up and explore the area. I love that even though we're all now on our own journeys doing different rotations, we can still chat like no time has passed!

What advice do you have for prospective students?
If you know this is what you want to do, don't give up! The background and experiences of the students at RVU's PA program are diverse and no one's journey to get here was the same, so don't compare yourself to anyone. Keep on doing you and building your own life experiences.

Ryan Carroll

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
Class of 2023

Where is your hometown?
Colorado Springs, CO

Undergraduate Studies:
Sports Medicine

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I have spent the majority of my life in Colorado as I grew up in Colorado Springs before heading up to Fort Collins for college where I received my Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science with a concentration in Sports Medicine while also completing a minor in Biomedical Sciences. Once graduating, I eventually found myself working at a Skilled Nursing Facility under a number of different titles such as Admissions coordinator, Rehab Tech, and Case Manager Assistant. Feeling burnt out and bummed out from being rejected from PA programs during multiple cycles I decided to step back and try something new, so I worked at Oskar Blues Brewery as a brewer for 1 year. While the lifestyle of working at a brewery was a lot of fun, my passion was still in the healthcare community so I chose to apply again and was lucky enough to get accepted into this program.

What initially brought you to RVU? Why did you decide to pursue this degree?
I loved the location of RVU first and foremost and the thought of being able to stay local while pursuing this degree along with their emphasis on clinical education made this a good fit for me. I chose to be a PA because I knew I wanted to make an impact in the healthcare world and being a PA seemed to offer me the perfect opportunity to spend the most amount of time with patients and have the autonomy to diagnose and treat them, while also offering a healthy balance of work-life relationships.

What do you enjoy doing when not at RVU?
When not in school I like to be outdoors as much as possible. Some of my favorite activities include hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, climbing, and snowboarding. I built a frame in the bed of my truck for camping and I enjoy going on trips and living out of my truck in remote areas. I also recently became a Costco member so I enjoy putzing around Costco.

What is an interesting or little known fact about you.
I am 1/312 Native American and have an actual Cherokee Card to prove it.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given by a professor or a student while at RVU?
Anybody can learn medicine, but not everybody can learn to be a good provider.

What are your medical interests?
Orthopedics, rural medicine, and emergency medicine.

What is a favorite memory you have from being at RVU?
Anytime we were able to hang out with our class outside of school related activities were some of my favorite memories as it was a great way for us to all decompress and take a step back from the hectic schedule of school. I was lucky enough to take a few people on their first ever trip to a Chili's and that was very special.

What advice do you have for prospective students?
The advice I have for prospective students for PA school, is that there is no such thing as what a "perfect" prospective student looks like on paper. Don't get discouraged if you don't get in to your dream school or in your first application cycle, just use it as a way to continue to build and learn new skills that will make you that much more of a competitive applicant on the next cycle or with the next program. Everyone comes from all different walks of life and can bring a unique skill to the program, so find your unique quality and build off of it.

Heather Petitmermet

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
Class of 2025

Where is your hometown?
Fort Collins, CO

Undergraduate Studies:
Business Administration

Graduate Studies:
Juris Doctorate, University of Colorado School of Law

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I had hoped to work in healthcare since I was a little kid. However, life took me in a different direction, and I ended up going to law school and becoming an attorney. I was fortunate to have a truly fulfilling legal career that spanned 15 years. But, it was never quite the right fit for me and I found myself continually wishing I had gone into medicine instead. When COVID hit, I took time away from work to be around for my kids, and this gave me a great opportunity to take a few classes and explore whether a transition to the PA profession would be doable. Obviously I decided it was, because here I am! I am married to a super supportive guy, and we have three amazing kids who are pre-teens/teenagers.

What initially brought you to RVU? Why did you decide to pursue this degree?
My family has lived just up the street in the Tech Center for many years. Because we are deeply rooted in this community, leaving the area was not an option. I was so pleased that RVU is located nearby, and also offered so many of the elements I found important. In particular, the extended clinical period was key, as I definitely learn best by doing. The small class size was also very appealing. The faculty here really impressed me during my interview (and continue to ... everyone here is so great and truly cares about your success.

What do you enjoy doing when not at RVU?
I spend a ton of time in the mountains with my family. Most winter weekends, I can be found trying (unsuccessfully) to keep up with my kids on the ski slopes. I also love travelling, trying new restaurants, and hiking/playing with my yellow lab, Gus.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given by a professor or a student while at RVU?
To pick a couple non-negotiable items that you make sure to keep in your life while attending PA school. School can take up every last minute if you let it, and it is important to continue doing things that make you happy. For me, that means prioritizing family time and also getting to bed at a reasonable time every night (cause I'm worthless without sleep).

What are your medical interests?
I love working with kids, so definitely interested in something in peds. But, keeping my options open at this point!

What advice do you have for prospective students?
If you're a non-traditional student like myself, and considering going after a dream, just take the first step and see where it leads you.

Alexandra Skender

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
Class of 2024

Where is your hometown?
Aurora, CO

Undergraduate Studies:
Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I have lived in Colorado for my whole life! I grew up in Southeast Aurora and completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado Boulder. While in college, I worked as an undergraduate research assistant in the Sleep and Chronobiology Lab on campus, and I was an active member of my sorority. After college, I obtained my CNA certification and later became a medical assistant at a neurosurgery practice in Denver. I worked there for about 3 years, and it is here where I was exposed to the versatility and scope of a PA! I was able to observe many surgeries and be involved in the care of patients both pre-op and post-op. It is at this time where my interest in surgery grew and I knew that I wanted to become a surgical PA!

What initially brought you to RVU? Why did you decide to pursue this degree?
was originally drawn to RVU due to the shorter didactic phase paired with a longer period of clinical rotations! I am a very hands-on learner, so I knew that this would be the program for me. Due to a longer clinical portion of the program, we are able to complete 12 different rotations, which provides for a lot of exposure into all specialties so that we can become well-rounded and competent PAs. I also liked the small class size. It is nice to have a small class so that there is more one on one time with professors as well as a group of people that become your close friends. Additionally, the cadaver lab was available 24 hours a day and was a great resource for learning anatomy, especially because I want to go into surgery.

I decided to pursue this degree because I realized that the possibilities of being a PA are endless! I also think that PAs have a unique opportunity to truly form strong relationships with their patients and have the ability to communicate and make patients feel heard.

What do you enjoy doing when not at RVU?
When I'm not at RVU, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I have a lot of family and friends in the Denver area, so most of my weekends include catching up with them. I also enjoy live music and will never say no to a concert at Red Rocks! Traveling is my favorite thing to do, and I like to do it any chance I get. RVU has a lot of clinical sites out of state, so I have been able to travel to different areas, even during the program.

What is an interesting or little known fact about you.
I studied abroad my junior year of college in Rome, Berlin, and London!

What is the best piece of advice you have been given by a professor or a student while at RVU?
The best advice I have ever gotten is to trust the process! While in PA school, it can feel really overwhelming due to the fast nature of the program. Although it feels like learning everything in such a short amount of time will not be possible, it is important to take things one step at a time and to realize that didactic is your first exposure to material and the foundation that you will create for clinical rotations. Once in rotations, your knowledge will be solidified, and you will be able to put all of that learning into action! RVU does a great job of preparing students for clinical rotations, end of rotation exams, and the PANCE. As long as you trust the process, work hard, and take as much as you can from each learning opportunity you are given, you will be successful!

What are your medical interests?
Surgery, Women's Health, Pediatrics

What is a favorite memory you have from being at RVU?
My favorite memories are those that involve getting together with my classmates on holidays. Last year, we were able to organize a Halloween party, Friendsgiving, and a Christmas party! Because of the small class size, it is easy to get close with classmates and form a relationship with them outside of class. We also try to do events with the other classes. Most recently, we had an event in Denver with the classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025, which was a great opportunity to meet everyone and provide advice and support!

What advice do you have for prospective students?
My greatest advice would be to support each other! We are all in this together. Because of the competency based program, everyone is not their own path to success which eliminates the competitive environment and allows for a more supportive and productive relationship with classmates. The didactic phase can be really difficult, so I think it is important to lean on those who understand the experience you are going through firsthand. Also, never hesitate to ask for help! The faculty and tutors in the upper class are all very willing to meet with you and help in any way they can, so take advantage of it!

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720-875-2840

For faster response, please direct inquiries to the PA Program:
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