A Plan with a Purpose

Michelle, here. I’m a physician assistant in a rural Ohio town, specializing in adult internal medicine. An absolutely certified science nerd, I try whenever I can to infect others with my love of the subject. Insert my immunology and physician assistant background, as well, and you have yourself a chatty, medically-minded 30-something.

I am lucky to share my life with supportive family and friends. I’m a mother of 2 young children and married to a man who’s seen me through the ups and downs of my medical education–quite a remarkable and difficult task for a significant other. My coworkers make me a better PA every day. I work with amazing physicians, nurses, medical assistants, social workers, phlebotomists, administrators, and patient care staff. My patients, though, are the true motivation behind me beginning this blog.

As aforementioned, I work in rural Ohio. Appalachia. Significant amounts of poverty and socioeconomic barriers exist here. I love my patients because I feel at one with their life journeys. I have seen patients through deaths, divorces, marriages, childbirth, homelessness, employment challenges, insurance issues, addiction, recovery, strokes, heart attacks, psychotic episodes, suicide attempts, prison time (where should I stop?). I feel a heavy but special responsibility to help to determine their outlook on health, and overall, life. Now, whether or not they take my advice is another story. I always attempt to be inspirational and convincing enough in my appointments with them to hopefully see them instill half of what I suggest. I always have the best of intentions for each person on my schedule, each day.

The one impression I’m left with every single day involves the lack of education regarding the human body. We are the captains of our bodies. We are only given one, so why is anatomy education not more robustly taught to us growing up? Now, it doesn’t have to be some 400 level college course, but basic anatomy and physiology would do the trick. Basic mental health courses would do the trick. Basic nutrition courses would do the trick. Knowledge is certainly power. But the wisdom to know what sources to trust is the most useful skill of all. I would say I spend most of my patient education minutes debunking health myths and teaching patients the importance of self-care and healthy habits…and the importance of trusting healthcare professionals over Dr. Google, or Dr. Facebook Article, or Jenny’s friend Karen who said “xyz…”

So, to sum up… this blog will be a source of medical and health information meant to educate you, the reader, and to help you feel well-informed about your wellness. Yes, it’ll be from my perspective and have lots of personal commentary. But, trust me when I say that the information provided will be legitimate, sourced, and written with love. Love of medicine, love of health, and love of my career. Thanks to all who choose to read my posts, and I hope I can inspire and educate you a tad along the way.