Episode #17: Sarah Floyd, McMaster PAS2 | RMT to PA: Switching Careers
From Massage Therapist to McMaster PA Student: Sarah Floyd on Applications, MMIs, and LPs
Sarah Floyd, a second year Physician Assistant student at McMaster University and former registered massage therapist, shares the path that led her to PA school. She reflects on discovering the PA role through firefighter health research, exploring different healthcare careers, and navigating a challenging first application cycle after being waitlisted and declined by several Canadian PA programs. After strengthening her interview preparation and reapplying during a difficult personal year, she was accepted on her second attempt.
In this episode, Sarah also talks about what it takes to succeed once you get into PA school. She explains how PA learning differs from undergrad, the study systems that helped her keep up with McMaster’s problem based curriculum, and what clinical training actually looks like, from longitudinal placements to clerkship and electives. She also shares honest reflections on professionalism, patient care, and balancing life outside school while planning a wedding during training.
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BEFORE PA SCHOOL:Sarah’s Journey before PA School 1:09
How Sarah heard about the PA profession 5:05
Contemplating Different Health Care Careers 6:09
Tips on Picking a Career in Healthcare 7:21
APPLYING TO PA SCHOOL:
Sarah’s Experience in Applying to PA School 8:48
Sarah’s Undergrad GPA 9:33
Sarah’s Experience with PA Admissions 13:19
Processing Rejection from PA School 14:59
Reapplying to PA School 16:48
SARAH'S EXPERIENCE IN PA SCHOOL:
How her previous health care experience helped 20:36
Being a Non-Traditional PA School Candidate 20:51
Sarah’s Experience with Problem-Based Learning 24:13
Learning in PA School vs Undergrad 25:58
The Ideal McMaster PA Student 29:02
Longitudinal Placements in 1st year PA School 31:22
Second year PA Clerkship 37:10
PA ADVOCACY:
“What is a PA?” 40:05
Staying Professional on Social Media 44:17
Why Sarah wants to be a PA 47:54
How PAs can Impact Canadian Health Care 48:28
Sarah’s Interest in Public Health 50:04
SARAH, PA BRIDE-TO-BE:
Planning a Wedding while in PA School 51:35
4 Key Takeaways from Sarah:
1. Rejection isn’t the end, it’s a reset. Sarah didn’t get in the first time she applied. She talks openly about what went wrong, how personal grief impacted her interviews, and how she used that experience to fuel serious prep the second time around.
2. Be more than your GPA. Yes, Sarah had a 4.0 GPA. But she’s the first to say most of her classmates didn’t. What really helped her stand out? A mix of patient care experience, communication skills, and learning how to prepare smart for interviews, not just hard.
3. Longitudinal placements are what you make of them. McMaster’s LPs are self-directed shadowing opportunities, and Sarah emphasizes just how important it is to show up informed, curious, and respectful. Doing your homework before stepping into a specialty makes all the difference.
4. You can plan a wedding and survive PA school, but don’t do it alone. From spreadsheets to delegation to letting go of perfectionism, Farrah shares how she’s approaching wedding planning with the same mindset that helps her succeed in PA school. It’s a masterclass in boundaries and balance.
