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 Jessie O’Donnell
AAPA student member since 2019
“Although I am not yet a working pathologists’ assistant, as a current PA student, COVID-19 has also created a new normal for me. I am a first-year student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Like most universities across the country, all of our didactic classes have been moved to an online format for the remainder of the semester. Several of my classmates, including myself, have left the area for the time being to return home and be with family. Although it can be difficult to focus on schoolwork at home, I think we are all making the best of it.
My classmates and I are taking three classes this semester: lab management, physiology, and systemic pathology. The most challenging class we are in right now is by far systemic pathology. Our lecturers are various residents and attendings in the pathology department who have been gracious enough to continue our learning experience by giving us live lectures through Blackboard Collaborate. We can interact with them and ask questions, which I think has helped all of us stay connected and engaged in our studies. Normally, in addition to lectures, we would go into the lab and see specimens of each of the pathologies we have been learning about, but unfortunately, the lab component for the class has been postponed. I know we are all looking forward to going back to campus when this is all over and getting our hands dirty again!
The second-year students had about six weeks of rotations left when they were canceled. Fortunately, they are all still set to graduate in May. For the time being, they are at home finishing up their remaining graduation requirements including writing up a case study, doing CAP inspector training, filling out an autopsy competency list, editing a grossing manual they made last year, and writing up practice quizzes for my class. Additionally, Carlen, our fantastic Associate Director, is working on sending them two to three cases a week so they can continue to practice dictating. I know all the second-year students are disappointed to be missing out on their last several weeks at rotations, but all those I have talked to said they feel confident and ready to enter the workforce. I think this speaks to how great our program is, but maybe I am a little biased.
I know these have been challenging times for all of us, but I just wanted to say thank you to all of you that continue to go to work every day. I am grateful for the important work each of you are doing, and I am so excited to become a part of this amazing field. I hope you all stay safe and healthy!“
We want to hear from you! During this time of isolation, now more than ever we need to see and hear from our PA community! How is COVID-19 affecting your work? What tips and tricks have you found useful? How are you using this time to promote pathologists’ assistants? Send us a summary describing your “new normal”, along with one or two high-resolution photos, and your story may be featured next (read previous features here). Or, if you have any COVID-19 resources to add to our list, please pass them along. Remember, we are all in this together, and the AAPA will be here to support you throughout this crisis and beyond.
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