Elizabeth Sherman

Quinnipiac Physician Assistant Program

I grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and went to college at Michigan State University, where I received my bachelor’s degree in journalism. After graduation I moved to California and then to Utah where I spent five years working seasonally as a Ski Patrol EMT and on Yosemite Search and Rescue in Yosemite National Park. After working as an EMT for many years I decided that I wanted to go to PA School. I started taking prerequisite classes and at the same time worked as an ER Tech in the University of Utah Hospital Emergency Department. During this time I also volunteered at an OB free clinic and was a volunteer ski coach. I did this for three years until I was able to apply to physician assistant school. Being a part of UST is very exciting to me for few reasons. First, it is an amazing opportunity to learn more about what is currently happening in the field of primary care. With the health care reform bill and big changes happening in health care, I feel that UST is an amazing organization to be a part of, so as to stay on top of the changes. I also feel that it will be an amazing opportunity to learn how to be a better patient advocate as well as how to better provide community medicine and health education in a primary care setting. I know through my experience that teamwork with other professions in health care is critical in managing, treating and effectively taking care of patients. During my time in the ER, I worked very closely with case managers, crisis workers, pharmacists, doctors and nurses, even dental residents, who all worked collaboratively to take care of people. Modern medicine doesn’t function without all of the health care roles. The ability to network and bounce ideas off of people of different trainings, experience and backgrounds adds new perspective and insight to patient care, medicine and the entire health care field.