Student Spotlight: Amy Lee

Amy Lee, a Lewis Katz School of Medicine Physician Assistant (PA) student and President of the Class of 2024, has had a transformative journey while in the program. Her commitment to serving the community and her passion for helping others have propelled her to also excel in the program. 

Reflecting on her second year in the program, Ms. Lee shares that her most impactful experiences were serving the community during breaks from classes. "Those instances serve as my motivation to succeed in the classroom. I learned how to communicate and gained perspective from their point of view. So, entering the clinical year, I knew how to better work alongside patients," she said. 

During her behavioral health rotation, Lee encountered a woman seeking detox treatment. With her experience in harm reduction as an EMT and Emergency Department Tech, she knew how to approach her and offer resources. The woman confided in her that her motivation to quit was to reunite with her daughter.  “This encounter has been the most impactful, knowing I can take part in ending the drug epidemic in the community,” said Lee.

Ms. Lee credits the PA program for preparing her well for the transition from classroom learning to clinical practice. "The program does a great job of providing us with opportunities to practice through simulated patient encounters and education modules. These interactions keep us engaged and focused on what matters most, our patients’ well-being," Lee said.  

Her favorite instance was when she got to talk to patients about their symptoms and conditions during a hospital encounter. "That was my full circle moment, being able to put together all the pieces we learned in the classroom. Now instead of simulations, I’m doing the same thing but with real patients. The classroom helped to build my confidence and time management skills for clinical practice," she added.

During her second year, Ms. Lee faced the challenge of transitioning from spending a lot of time in the classroom to working independently on separate rotations. "I learned early on that with this shift comes a sense of solitude that I was not prepared for,” Lee continues, “Fortunately, even though we can’t be together physically, we continue to be there in spirit for each other.” 

As Ms. Lee approaches graduation, she aspires to pay forward all the support and encouragement she has received along the way. Amy hopes to be a provider that allows her patients to feel understood and educated well in their conditions. She also hopes to lead as a friendly face and guide those both in and aspiring to join the profession. "What I’ve enjoyed most about this profession is all the support and encouragement I’ve been given along the way both in the work field and in the classroom," said Lee.