Sarah Chan
Hoag Hospital Emergency Department
Newport Beach, CA USA
"Make it clear what’s acceptable for you as a person, as a human being. You’re not a machine. You have to be content in your own personal life in order to bring that same energy into your workplace."
Career Roadmap
Sarah's work combines: Medicine, Science, and Learning / Being Challenged
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Biology
Barry University
Graduate Degree
Physician Assistant
Point Loma Nazarene University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I’ve always really enjoyed biology. After volunteering in the emergency room while in high school, I realized that I wanted to pursue medicine.
2.
My next step was determining what role in medicine I wanted to pursue; there are so many avenues to choose from when pursuing a career in the medical field.
3.
While at Point Loma Nazarene University, I discovered the role of a physician assistant (PA).
4.
Since I majored in biology, I had fulfilled all of the prerequisites needed to apply to a PA graduate program.
5.
At the time, I only qualified for programs that were out of state, so I chose to live in Miami, Florida and attend Barry University.
6.
The end of school was challenging. While taking my certification exam, I remember thinking I wasn’t ready to be a full-fledged provider.
7.
I am now working as a physician assistant in Hoag Hospital's Emergency Department.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
You aren't prepared enough.
How I responded:
Nobody ever feels ready. Persevere and remind yourself why you’re doing it. In medicine, you cannot have an ego. You have to know what your limitations are and everyone has them so it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Knowing what your strengths and weaknesses are and asking for help when it’s appropriate is imperative. You have to do right by the patient.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
Sometimes employers will ask a lot of you and as a new grad you comply because you want to prove yourself. But, working extra hours, coming in early, and staying overtime can only last for so long before you burn out.