Episode #17: Sarah Floyd, McMaster PAS1
“Anything you learn in PA school is fair game in your career. There’s no getting through an exam and never thinking about it again. There’s an accountability to actually grasping every concept so you can treat every patient with due diligence.”
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 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.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARNHow to position a non-traditional healthcare background as an asset in the PA application process
hat McMaster's PBL model genuinely requires from students beyond classroom preparation
How to approach longitudinal placements (LPs) clerkship rotations, and preceptor relationships with professionalism
What responsible social media use looks like for PA students representing their program, their patients, and their profession
GUEST BIOSaral Floyd began her healthcare career as a registered massage therapist, training at the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy before returning to complete an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Kinesiology at the University of Guelph-Humber, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Her path to the PA profession took shape during a firefighter occupational health research project, where observing a PA conduct comprehensive physical exams clarified the level of clinical practice she wanted to pursue.
She applied to all three Canadian PA programs in her first cycle, interviewed at both UofT and McMaster, and came back the following year having built stronger preparation through direct engagement with practicing PAs and a more deliberate approach to the MMI. She was accepted into McMaster's PA program and completed her first year in its self-directed, problem-based learning environment.
Now entering second year and approaching clerkship rotations across the Hamilton region and select Toronto teaching hospitals, Saral is focused on more than clinical practice. She connects individual patient outcomes directly to population-level health standards and has a strong interest in public health policy as a long-term direction. Her goals reflect both the clinical foundation she has worked to build and a broader commitment to advocacy within the Canadian healthcare system.
ON REAPPLYING TO PA SCHOOL“I took the opportunity for granted. I didn't realize how hard it was to get those interviews. It made me shake in my boots and I think I just took everything so much more seriously the following yea”
— Name, Status
ON INCREASING HER SCOPE OF PRACTICE (FROM RMT TO PA)“Before, I was limited to not diagnosing or prescribing. Now I have such a large, integral role in patient care. That's a completely new avenue.”
— Sarah Floyd, 1st year McMaster PA Student
ON SOCIAL MEDIA“You are the writer, the editor, the publisher. You have full control. So present yourself as you'd like to be seen on your best day, not your worst.”
— Sarah Floyd, 1st year McMaster PA Student
ON PATIENT CARE“If you can make one person's care better, if you can improve their outcomes per person, then on a system level you will improve the population.
My dream is population-level care. If you can understand what people need, you can advocate for them. And if you can create health policies that protect today's population, you protect generations to come”
— Sarah Floyd, 1st year McMaster PA Student
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Why PA Matters
Sarah [0:00] I thought what I knew from massage therapy school would actually lend to my knowledge in the physician assistant program, but it didn't. It did for one section, and I was really surprised by that. You don't realize how specialized your knowledge is until you put it in the broad perspective of learning to be a generalist.
Sarah [0:19] I think it helped me for the interview.
Ann [0:21] Welcome to the Canadian PA Podcast.
Sarah [0:23] Hi, my name is Sarah Floyd. I'm going into second year of the Physician Assistant program. Previously I was a registered massage therapist as well as certified in phlebotomy.
Ann [0:36] The phlebotomy.
Sarah [0:36] Yeah, I did that back in 2016. My company decided to pay for it and I did the schooling through an online program, and then I was able to take the practical component after that.
Early Career Start
Sarah [0:52] I practiced for a year and then I wound up in PA school, so I didn't continue anymore.
Ann [0:59] Can you tell us a little bit about your journey starting from undergrad?
Sarah [1:02] I'm going to pull you back even a little bit further before undergrad, because that's when I started massage therapy. Out of high school, I really wasn't sure what I wanted to do. University intimidated me. I was really interested in doing something a little bit more hands-on.
Sarah [1:18] I went away on an abroad program first, and when I came back I decided to apply for the massage therapy program. At the time, the local community programs like Centennial didn't really come to mind. I did a private college — the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy.
Sarah [1:37] I was very pleased with that. I not only learned the basics of massage and the practice of that, but I also learned hydrotherapy, which has been a great addition. It's more like water therapy — ice, cold, Epsom salt, paraffin waxes.
Sarah [1:53] People think of it as more of a spa treatment, but it has an absolute therapeutic role as well. Following that, I worked for about two years and decided that if I didn't go back to school, I probably wouldn't. I was really enjoying massage, but I was looking for further stimulation.
Undergrad and Growth
Sarah [2:09] The scope of massage therapy is very different from medicine, and I did crave something broader in terms of scope of practice. So I did my undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph-Humber — an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Kinesiology.
Sarah [2:28] Concurrently, I completed a diploma in Fitness and Health Promotion, so essentially it was like personal training. I get to say I learned how to deadlift in university, which is pretty fun. The fitness component has helped me in my extracurricular life, but truly not something I used professionally.
Sarah [2:50] I did like the health promotion side. That's where I began to find my passion for educating patients, advocating for their health, and empowering them to improve their own health. Fast forward — I was at the company I mentioned, doing the phlebotomy.
Sarah [3:09] I had graduated from university and was doing some research with a firefighter health and wellness program. I had this real interest in the health promotion component of my program, and at that point was working in an integrative medicine clinic doing phlebotomy while also involved in this research.
Sarah [3:28] Two years in, I decided it was time to apply for PA school. I applied once and unfortunately did not get in. I'm sure there's maybe one or two people who've had that experience as well — or some who haven't gotten in yet and are really looking for that little bit of extra inspiration.
Sarah [3:47] I did apply again the second year and I did get in, and I'm so grateful. People have asked me, now that first year is done, what I've really thought about the program. The one thing I keep saying is: I'm so happy I made the bold decision to switch careers and go back to school, especially being a little bit older than my peers.
Discovering the PA Role
Sarah [4:14] It's something I weighed carefully — leaving a stable career for something that was very unknown. No regrets.
Ann [4:25] Can you tell me a little bit about how you heard about the profession?
Sarah [4:28] That was through the health and wellness research project with the firefighters. We went in and evaluated the physical fitness of each firefighter — obviously they need to be at a certain level to fight fires and protect themselves while protecting the public.
Sarah [4:49] A physician assistant would come in and do all of the physical exams and make sure that on an occupational level, they were prepared to do their job. I watched them — not in the room, but I watched them take each patient in, complete their health history and physical exam.
Sarah [5:08] Being the one who did all the administrative work, I did see the paperwork, and I realized how in-depth they were going with this medical review.
Choosing the Medicine Path
Sarah [5:17] I thought, that's something I would really like to be a part of. I would like to provide that level of care not only to people who protect the public, but to the public.
Ann [5:26] Were you contemplating other careers at the time as well?
Sarah [5:29] Absolutely. I think we all go through that. From the earliest age I can remember playing Barbies where they were all doctors. Everything went through my mind — from being a physician, to chiropractic, physio, osteopathy, naturopathic medicine, occupational therapy. You name it, I looked at it.
Sarah [5:55] It took a long time to see what spoke to me. Honestly, I didn't want to do anything more in allied health. I'd been there, I could appreciate it, and I was ready for a change.
Guidance for the Undecided
Sarah [6:11] It was going to be something in medicine. And when I learned about this wonderful career through the research project, I was like a steam engine — you really couldn't hold me back.
Ann [6:21] What advice would you have for someone struggling with wanting to do something in healthcare but not sure which direction?
Sarah [6:27] I would ask yourself if going to college or university is something you'd enjoy. I think choosing a profession based only on what it is makes the decision really difficult. Having done two diplomas and a degree and now a second degree, I love school — I love the hands-on application, the research, and the problem-based learning that McMaster throws at you.
Sarah [7:01] But if you don't enjoy that style, university is just not a fun place. So I would say: ask yourself whether you want to learn in a more hands-on, college-type environment or whether you want that scholarly approach. Look at what each type of institution is offering you rather than leading with the profession itself.
Sarah [7:18] They're all going to lend themselves to working with people and improving patient outcomes. But at the end of the day, always ask yourself: what's the thing in that profession I don't want to do, and can I live with it?
Applying to PA Schools
Sarah [7:35] Because there's always the great parts — and if you can do the thing you least like doing with a smile on your face, you'll be happy.
Ann [7:42] Which programs did you apply to?
Sarah [7:46] First round, I put all my cards in every bucket. I applied to all three programs in Canada — the U of T consortium, McMaster, and the University of Manitoba. Obviously different timelines and different qualifications for each.
Sarah [8:03] Fortunately, I had the undergraduate GPA that made me a candidate for all programs, plus the course requirements just from what I'd taken. I also had the 900 clinical hours that U of T requires, having been a massage therapist for eight years.
Earning a Top GPA
Sarah [8:22] I graduated with a 91.4% average from the University of Guelph-Humber, which translated to a 4.0. I can tell you that most people in my program did not have that. Most are definitely not sitting at a 4.0, so I don't want that to deter anyone. But getting a 4.0 is also possible — if that's your dream and goal, go for it.
Ann [8:50] What attributes or habits helped you obtain a 4.0 GPA while balancing all these extracurriculars?
Sarah [8:56] I have to credit my friends and family and my own personal tenacity. My family supported me financially, giving me the opportunity to decrease my work hours so I could actually put the time into studying. I also had a profession where I could take what I was learning and apply it right away in real life.
Sarah [9:39] I developed the ability to look at a piece of research, assess its quality and validity, and evaluate how much it actually applies to that patient population. I could then bring evidence-based practice into my work, which unfortunately wasn't as much of a focus at the college level.
Sarah [10:14] Back in massage therapy school, when I learned anatomy — which is all memorization — I would literally draw structures on myself. I would draw on my friends. So many friends had permanent marker all over them just trying to learn.
Sarah [10:30] That work ethic carried through to university. Even with the extra demands of working in a career while balancing school, I knew how to recognize the areas I was weak in — which was not a skill I had in high school. As a more mature learner, it was actually easier to tackle things like math and biophysics because I understood where I needed to spend my time.
Sarah [11:09] Even though I dreaded it, I would find different ways to reward myself. I play games with myself — I'm a very competitive person, more competitive with myself than anyone else. A simple rule: if you can't remember the names of all three hamstring muscles, you have to write them out three times. There's a little bit of punishment, but also a little bit of learning. When you're a glutton for punishment, it works out.
First Cycle Setbacks
Sarah [11:51] All schools are wonderful in that they respond, but it's not necessarily the response you'd hope for. The University of Manitoba was not a win for me. I was a little disappointed not to be invited to an interview, but that's okay. You're a candidate in some ways for some schools and not others — and that's actually a kind of positive note to take.
Sarah [12:07] I did receive interviews for both U of T and McMaster, and I went to both. I didn't have a really fun time, I'll admit. I thought, what is this MMI business? I'd never done it before, although it reminded me of my OSCE from massage therapy school — going from one station to the next.
Sarah [12:28] I'm a little surprised I wasn't better on my feet. Unfortunately, I did not receive offers of admission. I did receive a waitlist spot at McMaster, but it didn't translate into an offer at the end of the day.
Sarah [12:44] What I learned from the whole experience was that I needed to come better prepared. I took it a little bit for granted. I didn't realize how much of an opportunity I had squandered, or how difficult it was to get those interviews. It made me shake in my boots for the next year, and I took it so much more seriously the second time.
Handling Rejection and Loss
Ann [13:02] I know it's devastating for a lot of students to put in all this work and not hear back. How did you process those feelings when you got the initial decline?
Sarah [13:11] Probably like some people — I was very sad. I cried a little. I was mad at myself for not putting in the time and not taking the opportunity seriously. It's so unlike me. I heavily debated sharing this, but we talked about what makes us real and relatable.
Sarah [13:31] I had just experienced the passing of somebody super important to me the week prior to the first interview at U of T, which was actually across the street at Toronto General. That person wasn't a candidate for an organ transplant and passed away within days.
Sarah [13:47] It was so hard. Not only was that person close to me, they were my inspiration through school and they really wanted me to get in that year. The following year, I promised myself — and I promised that person, who had been my professor for four years at university — that I would persevere.
Sarah [14:10] He introduced me to the physician assistant profession through having PAs on-site in that project. He said, "I want you to be the head PA for this project one day." Although that may never happen now, I think he would be really proud of my perseverance and how far I've come.
Second Cycle Preparation
Sarah [14:29] I stay in contact with his family still. He's got two bright, beautiful young children and a lovely wife, and my partner and I stay in contact with them. It's nice to share my journey with someone who really appreciates how much it's meant.
Ann [14:42] What did you do differently this time around, and did you apply to all three schools?
Sarah [14:46] After reviewing the requirements for all the programs and honestly my odds of getting in, I decided to stay local and only apply to Ontario schools, as it's where I truly wanted to be as well.
Sarah [15:03] What I did differently was prepare, prepare, prepare. I lived and breathed what I thought was the PA profession — because you don't really know it fully until you're in it. I spent time talking to current PAs who met with me at Starbucks or near their workplaces, and just talked to me about the profession.
Sarah [15:28] About the ups and downs, the unique challenges, and how my skill set might blend with what's truly required of a PA. I also spent time researching current Canadian healthcare issues — what challenges we face right now.
Sarah [15:44] With my background, I'm familiar with the RHPA — the Regulated Health Professions Act — as well as thinking about things like the Constitution. I wanted to understand what was fundamentally Canadian and fundamental about our system here in Ontario and in medicine.
Sarah [16:16] Because at the end of the day, it's not about how much you know in terms of medicine content. It's who you are as a person and how you convey that. If you're educated and you understand what's going on in your world, you can speak to those things, you can be relevant, and you can really showcase your best self.
Sarah [16:40] That's what I did the second time around. I even spent time preparing for as many random questions as I could, because that's sometimes how it feels — the questions feel very random. I would film myself and have people sit in a room with me, including physicians and PAs, and they'd ask me the question. I'd film it, listen back, review it together with them, and get feedback.
Sarah [17:01] You never know exactly what the interviewers are looking for. But what I found was that when I left the interview, I had a strong feeling — a strong sense that I laid myself out there. I was happy with that interview. I laughed, I smiled, I actually had a fun time. I thought: how could that possibly be?
Sarah [17:28] I had such a negative experience the time before, and yet the following year I was laughing and enjoying myself. Halfway through I relaxed and thought, if I'm not the right candidate, I'm okay with that. Sometimes that's just how the world works out.
Ann [17:43] That's interesting, because successful PAs I've talked to often say that they enjoyed themselves at the interview. And you definitely present yourself differently when you're relaxed — the interviewers sense that as well, just as patients do.
Nontraditional Strengths
Ann [18:00] Programs in Canada are very competitive, and I would consider you a nontraditional candidate. How did your previous experience help distinguish you and make you more competitive?
Sarah [18:16] I once read about a massage therapist who became a PA — a U of T graduate who was working up north — and I thought, could a second person do that? The switch is actually quite large. But I was used to talking to people day in, day out, from all walks of life — from child athletes to patients at the integrative medicine clinic who were sometimes very unwell, sometimes coming from remote areas of the province.
Sarah [18:54] I once averaged out my massage therapy patient population and it was 43 years old. I was in my early 20s at the time. That gave me the confidence to talk to people in many contexts and in any situation. But it's also just part of my nature. My grandmother used to say, "Don't worry, this girl talks to the wall" — even when I was talking the ear off the person trapped in the elevator with me.
Returning to School
Ann [19:28] Was it intimidating — the idea of going back to school after having work experience?
Sarah [19:30] Absolutely not. I was so excited. Actually, I was more nervous going to university the first time for undergrad — switching from college, taking two years off, and then starting a degree. But coming into the PA program? I was so elated to be in such an elite program with so many like-minded people.
Ann [19:54] And how do you find getting along with classmates who might be a little bit younger or have less life experience?
Sarah [20:03] It's sometimes hard to tell the age difference — they're really a mature group. I'm very fortunate that everybody has been welcoming and encouraging. There hasn't been any animosity. There's been quite a sense of community and I think we've all fostered that amongst ourselves.
Sarah [20:23] It's sometimes easy to get competitive, but the PA program at McMaster has done a commendable job of trying to eliminate that and build this sense of community and knowledge sharing, where everybody wants to improve not only their own knowledge but the knowledge of their peers. Because we're a small profession, and as good as you look, as good as the next person looks, you just keep growing and you grow this profession.
McMaster Learning Style
Ann [20:53] How would you describe the McMaster style of teaching in the PA program?
Sarah [20:56] I think that was the biggest learning curve for me. One thing the younger students offered so much in was access to technology — the way they interact with information has really improved my experience with problem-based learning.
Sarah [21:16] Accessing information is not the same as it used to be. You don't go to the library and come with handwritten notes. People come with laptops and they come with information. The challenge is striking a balance between getting enough to have a thorough understanding of a concept without getting caught up in all the details.
Sarah [21:41] For instance, my mom is a respiratory therapist. When we started the respiratory unit and I really didn't get blood gases — which is quite a confusing concept when you're first learning whether something is acidotic or alkalotic — she was able to simplify it for me in a way that connected to everything else I was learning, including the disease processes, the pathophysiology, and how to manage or evaluate something clinically.
Ann [22:21] There's this misconception that studying medicine in PA school is very similar to learning in undergrad. How would you say they're different?
Sarah [22:29] At the undergraduate level it feels like a very passive learning experience. The information is disseminated to you hopefully in the most tangible, applicable way, but you're relying on somebody who's an expert to give you information through a series of slides. Then you take it home, memorize it, maybe do a little extra research, and move on.
Sarah [23:04] Contrast that with the PA program. In PA school, anything you learn is fair game in your career. In undergrad, do I use biophysics today? Can I calculate shear forces through somebody's spine with certainty? Absolutely not. There are things that just don't apply in daily life.
Sarah [23:34] But in PA school, I am scared in my boots if I don't grasp a concept — because I know somebody's going to come in with that issue, whether in emergency, family medicine, or a specialist's office. I'm going to be called upon to care for that patient. You can't just breeze through and think, "I passed that exam, I never have to remember that again." There's an accountability to actually grasping every concept so you can treat every patient with due diligence. It's a huge responsibility.
Staying Organized
Ann [24:29] How do you make sure you stay on top of the information? Do you have a note-taking system? Binders, folders, Dropbox?
Sarah [24:38] OneNote. Most people will tell you either OneNote or Microsoft Word — something on your computer that you have access to. Otherwise there are some loose-leaf papers here and there, but it's all digital. I have different tabs and I pull things up. If I really want to remember something, I take a picture on my phone and leave that screenshot somewhere on my computer.
Who Thrives at Mac
Ann [25:07] In your opinion, what kind of person excels in the style of learning that Mac offers in the PA program?
Sarah [25:13] That's a tough question. If you met any of my classmates, their answers would all be different. All of them are so different, and what works for one doesn't necessarily work for me — and I think that's almost the beauty of it. Feed off your strengths. People don't do themselves enough of a service building on what they're already great at. There's value in working on weaknesses, but never forget what you're fantastic at.
Ann [25:50] Can you give an example?
Sarah [25:51] I love anatomy. I'm really good at it. When we were trying to palpate different organs on a physical exam, I could actually visualize where they were. With classmates who weren't sure, I could say, "Here's how you count the ribs, here's how you get there." That sense of tangible, kinesthetic learning — putting my hands on something, drawing it, feeling it — that's where I shine.
Podcasts for Learning
Sarah [26:40] There are other things I really enjoy — like learning by podcast. I'm a big fan of the Canadian EH. I find them a great resource. They're not too long, there are hundreds of them at this point, and I just listen in my car. I commute a lot, so I've gotten good at driving and listening at the same time.
Longitudinal Placements Explained
Ann [27:14] McMaster has a program called Longitudinal Placements, or LPs. Can you explain what an LP is?
Sarah [27:20] In brief, it's basically a one- or two-day learning experience. It can be done over several days, but essentially you come in and you organize it yourself as a student. Say I want to organize one in respiratory therapy — I reach out to my mom and ask if she knows a respiratory therapist willing to take on a student for a day or two.
Sarah [27:45] The administrative setup is usually quite manageable because facilities are generally wonderful with learners and want to help the people who will one day be working in the profession. At McMaster, you require four LP experiences, and I make it sound breezy but it isn't always that easy to arrange.
Finding Preceptors and Showing Gratitude
Sarah [28:18] It's easier if you have contacts. But if you're coming into a school where your family is in business or law and healthcare contacts are limited, it's more challenging. The program does provide data banks of preceptors willing to take students.
Sarah [28:36] Other people in the profession currently working as PAs are generally quite open to taking students. It's so gracious of them, because everyone needs to get that start somewhere. And it's something I always loved doing even in massage therapy — if someone wanted to come in and ask me a few questions, I'd welcome them. It's a little bit of altruism, helping your community in a way you don't necessarily gain a whole bunch of benefit from.
Sarah [29:16] The longitudinal placements are a great opportunity for students, but students must show their gratitude and respect for having the opportunity. Saying thank you goes a long way — not only to being invited back, but maybe to having a job placement one day.
Getting the Most from LPs
Ann [29:25] What advice would you give to incoming students about getting the most out of their LPs?
Sarah [29:29] Research. If you don't know about an industry or area going into it, don't just put it on that teacher to educate you on every concept. Come prepared knowing what you want to learn. Have some idea of what you might see there. Even if it's a specialty you're not familiar with, understand what that specialty involves, what a typical day looks like, and what you specifically want to take away as a PA.
Sarah [30:01] The placement I prepared the most for, I got the most out of. You get out of it what you put in.
Professionalism and Site Rules
Ann [30:08] What's the expected behavior of a student on an LP? Are you a wallflower in the background, little notebook in hand, writing questions? Do you just follow the PA wherever they go and ask questions between pages? How should they show up? How should they dress?
Sarah [30:23] Good question — because in the famous words: it depends. Every institution and every placement is different. So ask. Just ask. When I was going into surgery, I didn't know whether I was supposed to wear scrubs from that institution or bring my own, or whether because we were on clinical rounds that day I was supposed to be in business casual.
Sarah [30:48] The surgeon forwarded me to his administrative assistant, and she was such a valuable resource for those day-to-day details — parking, what to wear, where to show up, who to see for your badge. Use them as a resource for administrative questions. They're not the person you ask about specific surgical tasks, but they can be so helpful for background information.
Sarah [31:28] When it comes to doing procedures or participating in anything hands-on, it really is up to the institution and their policy. Some places I could grab my stethoscope and listen to different heart murmurs. At another hospital it was absolutely no touching — you needed a buffer zone. You want to be respectful, because this is an opportunity they're extending to you. Patients are in extremely vulnerable situations, and you want to be as respectful as possible. Not only are you representing yourself and your school, but you might get a job there one day.
Clerkship Rotations Overview
Ann [32:16] Just for those not familiar with the PA program — what is clerkship?
Sarah [32:16] All schools use their own terminology, but essentially clerkship is your year of rotations where you do core placements in things like family medicine, emergency medicine, and surgery. They're generally four to six weeks each. Then there are also two electives — choose your own adventure.
Ann [32:34] Where are generally the locations for rotations within the McMaster PA program?
Sarah [32:42] A lot of them are in Hamilton and the Greater Hamilton area — Stoney Creek, St. Catharines, Burlington, Oakville, those areas. But there's quite a reach. Some classmates are in Delhi, Kitchener, and Guelph. And there are some in Toronto, particularly for core emergency medicine rotations at the big teaching hospitals. So there's access to those, which is very exciting for me since I'm local to Toronto.
Rural and International Electives
Ann [33:14] Is there the option to do rural, out-of-province, or international electives?
Sarah [33:19] Absolutely. You sign up through the program and they help you with that. There are definite incentives and benefits to doing a rural placement. I have some interest in it — although through doing the PA program, I've learned I get quite homesick. I thought bringing access to rural places was something I wanted to do, but unless I uproot my family, it would be so hard. Maybe a few weeks up north, I can totally handle. We should really commend all the people who are willing to be up north. And kudos to U of T's program for really pushing that — all the programs are so unique, and that's definitely one of U of T's highlights.
Procedures to Look Forward To
Ann [34:11] What are you looking forward to in clerkship?
Sarah [34:11] All the procedures. Actually, I'm really looking forward to paperwork — no, of course not. Who looks forward to charting? Though I'm sure there will be some enjoyment in it for me. What I'm truly excited about is intubation. I've heard so much about it from my mom over 15 years of talking shop, and having now practiced it on mannequins during our clerkship transition day, I'm just so excited to do it for real.
Sarah [34:44] Anything procedural, really. I'm already more comfortable with IVs, phlebotomy, drawing blood, intramuscular injections, ECGs, and ultrasounds — I've done carotid ultrasounds in a previous job too. So those won't be as much of a novelty. It's the newer things I haven't done yet that excite me most. Honestly, even just putting oxygen on a patient for the first time will get me excited.
Defining the PA Role
Ann [35:14] Now that you've finished first year and you're about to go into second year, how has your understanding of what a PA is changed — from being a pre-PA to having actually gone through the program?
Sarah [35:24] They say you don't really know what it's like until you're in it. But here's the thing — our program on the very first day of PA school handed us a sheet of paper and said, "Write the definition of what you would say a PA is." On the second-to-last week of PA school, they handed it back and asked: what do you think about your definition? What would you change? What would you add?
Sarah [36:04] I looked at mine and I went — that's pretty good, actually. I was verbose, because I like words and I write as I talk. But what I've learned is that being short, sweet, and concise is very fundamental.
Sarah [36:19] A physician assistant is an integral member of a healthcare team. They provide direct primary patient care — they take health histories, perform physical exams, order and interpret different tests like blood work and investigations like X-rays, and they follow patients through management. Whether that's over the short term in the emergency room or long term in a family doctor's office, they extend the care of the physician across the medical team.
Sharing PA Life Online
Ann [37:00] You've decided to share your journey as a PA student on Instagram. What inspired you to start?
Sarah [37:05] I'm a person who likes to share. Having the opportunity to document my experience is cathartic, it's reflective, and I get to look back and say, "Look how far I've come." You really want a sense of community in this profession.
Sarah [37:23] It's nice to reach out to other people who are doing the same thing and want to share as much as you do. Sometimes it feels like you're being put on display and you're quite nervous about it. But the feedback I've received has been nothing but positive. People spark up conversations, message me about the program and my experiences. It's been very rewarding.
Social Media Boundaries and Privacy
Ann [38:06] How do you balance capturing the experience of being a PA student while also putting your best foot forward — in terms of perspective, patient privacy? How do you know that line?
Sarah [38:20] I personally separated myself — that's what I was comfortable with. I have a private personal account for my home life and a professional account that is open and public. And I am meticulous about what I share on there. I'll sit on a post for half a day sometimes and not post it because I'm extremely aware of the consequences — good or bad — that can come with having an online presence.
Sarah [38:58] It's a huge responsibility to present yourself accordingly. You can build a community, which builds you a reputation — good or bad — and it will follow you. It's also a small community. And you're representing your school and institution. A lot of what we do is through McMaster and Children's Hospital. If I tag something from their premises, I want to make sure I'm allowed to do that first, and that nobody feels like I'm overstepping.
Sarah [39:36] I never want to be in a position where someone says to me, "You shouldn't have done that." If it ever did happen, I would hope someone would say something so I could rectify it. Being as meticulous and conservative as I have been has benefited me. Our program actually addressed this — they held discussions about how we interact with different platforms. The takeaway was simple: if you think you shouldn't post it, don't. Don't risk it for yourself or your image.
Sarah [40:33] There's also the empowering side of social media — you have full control. You're the writer, the editor, the publisher. The program showed us how empowered we can be with that. Other highlights from that session: present yourself as you'd like to be seen on your best day, not your worst, and take advantage of the unique opportunities social media has to offer.
Why PAs Matter in Healthcare
Ann [41:21] Why are you excited to be a PA?
Sarah [41:22] I'm so excited for the scope of practice. It's so different and so broad in comparison to what I've been used to. Before, I was limited to not diagnosing or prescribing. Having such a large and integral role in patient care is a completely new avenue for me.
Ann [41:46] And what impact do you see PAs having on healthcare?
Sarah [41:49] There's both a unified sense of what PAs bring to the table and also what each individual brings in their context-specific role. What someone brings in a specialty is going to be very different from someone working in research, or at an advocacy level, or in long-term primary care.
Sarah [42:09] In general, what I believe PAs bring to the table is good quality patient care and a dedication to improving Canadian health standards. A lot of professions want to do that. But what PAs are doing really well is raising the bar — and once they attain that bar, they want to keep pushing it a little further. It's a very respectable thing in a day and age where resources and time are so strained.
Sarah [42:52] Having that level and quality of care impacts people on a personal level. It's about those individuals, not just the system. If you can make one person's care better, if you can improve their outcomes per person, then on a system level you will improve the population.
Public Health Policy Dreams
Sarah [43:07] My dream is population-level care. I said I was interested in health promotion, and I'm still very interested in direct patient care. But what I think that translates to over time — and what I hope to work in one day — is public health policy. If you can change things on an individual level and understand what people need, then you can be an advocate for them.
Sarah [43:39] I even looked into a Master of Public Health because it's something I value deeply. Down the line, maybe I will be a politician, or work more in the health policy vein. Way back, I used to work for Lululemon, and they used to say: what's your BHAG — your Big Hairy Audacious Goal? I said I'm going to be the Minister of Health one day.
Sarah [44:12] Even if you don't become the Minister of Health, that's okay — you're going to strive for the moon and you will reach somewhere beautiful in the stars. The idea is that hopefully I can understand what we need as a city, as a province, and hopefully as a nation, so that I can create health policies that will protect and serve today's population and the generations to come.
Engagement and Wedding Timeline
Ann [44:30] You're a bride-to-be, yes? When did you get engaged and do you have a wedding date?
Sarah [44:35] Yes! I got engaged on the very surprising but romantic day of Christmas last year — December 25th, 2018. It was a cute little scavenger hunt and then he popped the question. We cried, it was great. You're not really sure what to expect because you've never been through the process before.
Sarah [45:01] Anyone who is getting engaged or thinking about it — the very next question everyone asks is: when's the date, where are you getting married? We set our date for September 25th, 2020. I will have finished my clerkship and PA school by that time, just before the big board exam.
Ann [45:19] What have you been able to plan since getting engaged?
Sarah [45:21] Not much. I planned the venue. That's it.
Planning a Wedding in PA School
Sarah [45:26] You've got to pick what's most important to you. Not everything in your wedding can be the priority. For me, it was the venue. I wanted something outdoors and I looked at about twelve different places — which was excessive, but I justified it by saying this is probably going to be the most expensive part, so I've got to love it.
Sarah [45:50] After locking down the venue, I spent time figuring out my game plan and then subdividing that into smaller tasks. Looking at the whole big task is daunting, as you probably know.
Ann [46:09] Slightly. It's almost like project management with deadlines to follow.
Sarah [46:14] It's funny you say that, because I was thinking — can I put this on my resume? We're planning events that are in the tens of thousands of dollars here. That was the first time I thought, wow, this is what event planning is like. This is truly why people get paid to do this — it's not only hard work, it takes real experience. So I learned my lesson. I've been doing my research — watching content on how to plan a wedding, how to keep expenses managed.
Sarah [46:47] I've been putting that work in upfront and then finding my people — my resources. The people who'll say, "I'll be there when you need to paint that decoration" or "Come try on dresses." I've got a little list of people who've offered to help, and I can call them for various tasks.
Sarah [47:07] Being a PA bride-to-be means everything is amplified but your timing is more congested. You have to balance school, your placements, what your physicians expect of you, with going to taste that beautiful cake. The PA program is already compressed, and trying to fit in something that takes so much time and something I actually want to enjoy — that's the challenge.
Sarah [47:42] I don't want to miss out on enjoying it just because it flew by because I was trying to do too many things at once. I think that's going to be my personal biggest challenge. The other amplification is the finances — modern day weddings are expensive, and when you're in a two-year program straight for 24 months, there's no time to work. No summers, no free time.
Budgeting and Bride Tips
Sarah [48:16] Even doing massage therapy on the side is not an option. I stopped back in January and left the profession as an active member — I jumped in two feet to being in this program. And then I got engaged and was like, okay, do two things at once. It makes me human.
Ann [48:34] Any tips for brides-to-be?
Sarah [48:36] The biggest thing I've figured out is talking to your partner. Just communicate and be clear — because this is one of the first big things you'll do as a couple together. My partner's approach is: "Does it make you happy? Is it within budget? Sounds great." That works perfectly for me since I have a whole vision in my mind already.
Sarah [49:11] Other tips: set your budget first. It really determines everything — your venue options, your guest list, all of it. Then lock in your guest count, because that changes not only the venue but the whole budget structure. And just like anything else, there's never a perfect time to get married. You're always going to have things going on in life. Pick a time that makes you happy. Not everybody will be able to come — that's the reality of any event, let alone a wedding.
Sarah [49:46] Do it when you want, when it makes you happy. And the biggest piece of advice I've been given: on that day, let it go. You planned everything up until that day. Everything on that day is out of your control. Just go with it, roll with every single punch — because you'll have a beautiful day no matter what.
Final Thanks and Wrap Up
Sarah [50:02] I just wanted to thank you, Ann, for having me on your series here. It's been a privilege and an honor, and I appreciate everything that you do for our community and everything that you've done for me, even in my first year. So far, thank you. I really appreciate that.
