The Pioneering Physician Assistant
Jessica Jiménez ŮٱƵ19 knew about Pace well before she enrolled. ŮٱƵMy father learned English as a second language [on the] New York City Campus when he came here from Mexico,ŮٱƵ she told us. Her mother and older sister graduated from Pace, too, and were supportive of JiménezŮٱƵs decision to apply. ŮٱƵThey always talked about Pace with such pride,ŮٱƵ she said, a legacy she would easily live up to when pursuing her BA in Psychology. Jiménez was named one of PaceŮٱƵs Top 100 Scholars in 2016, received DeanŮٱƵs List First Honors four times, won first place in the English DepartmentŮٱƵs Writing Contest for poetry, and also won for an experimental psychology research paper in the Writing Enhanced Course Contest, which was presented at the Annual Pace Psychology Conference. Talk about work ethic!
She cited her professors as just one of the many reasons why she ultimately decided to pursue a masterŮٱƵs degree at Pace as well, saying that, ŮٱƵI believed that PaceŮٱƵs graduate professors would be just as goodŮٱƵif not better.ŮٱƵ Her new focus? The recently launched Physician Assistant (PA) program on the Pleasantville Campus. ŮٱƵI had to take numerous science prerequisites,ŮٱƵ Jiménez explained, who also worked as a physical therapy aide all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.
ŮٱƵThe biological and pathological components of medicine have always fascinated me,ŮٱƵ she said, but it was the team aspect of the work that also sparked her interest in pursuing the career. That and their dizzying breadth of knowledge across a variety of medical specialties. ŮٱƵThere are many callings in life,ŮٱƵ Jiménez told us, ŮٱƵbut for me, they all pale in comparison to the skilled care and healing touch that a PA can provide to so many people.ŮٱƵ
It was that level of dedication and a desire to lend her skills for the greater good that she took up the mantle of Historian and NYS Chapter Representative of the PA program on the Pleasantville Campus, becoming a leader for her peers. ŮٱƵI wanted to be a part of that impact to set an example for future students,ŮٱƵ she explained. ŮٱƵEverything we do reflects on our program, and since we are the first class, first impressions are crucial to succeed.ŮٱƵ
Currently, Jiménez is in the clinical phase of the rigorous 27-month PA program. In general surgery alone, she faced a challenging schedule beginning in the early morning hours and working well into the evening, covering ŮٱƵtrauma, acute care, minimally invasive, and vascular surgeries (including a 24-hour shift), as well as completing projects at night for my surgeons, creating a presentation for my class, and studying every day for my end of surgery exam.ŮٱƵ Whew!
During one of those many surgery rotations, Jiménez encountered a patient and his wife who were both extremely nervous about his upcoming procedure. ŮٱƵI volunteered to wait with [them] until a medical transporter came to take him to the operating room,ŮٱƵ she said, explaining that she listened carefully to the coupleŮٱƵs concerns. ŮٱƵI reassured them that they [were] in good hands, [and] mentioned how I saw a lot of people who maintained a good quality of life after,ŮٱƵ as Jiménez was very familiar with this particular procedure. ŮٱƵI went with him down to pre op and the couple said they felt better knowing that I was going to be there surgically assisting in the operating room.ŮٱƵ
We know Jiménez will go on to help countless others in her medical career, and weŮٱƵre excited to hear more about what will undoubtedly be a bright future for her.