Physician assistant graduate says school prepared him for ‘real deal’
Patrick Nguyen credits P.A. program’s high-tech facilities, team-based learning for skills needed for career
P.A. Alumna Patrick Nguyen shares his UC Davis experience
Patrick Nguyen, a 2018 alumnus of the P.A. program, now works as a fellow in the UC Davis Medical Center Radiology Department.
The appeal of a strong work-life balance prompted Patrick Nguyen to pursue a career as a physician assistant (P.A.). The reputation of UC Davis and the connection to UC Davis Medical Center drove him to choose the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis P.A. program.
“UC Davis is very innovative because the school offers the latest in technology with a building that really prepared me for the real deal,” says Patrick, a 2018 alumnus of the master’s-degree P.A. program. “It even set me up for my current position as an advanced practice fellow in the Department of Radiology at UC Davis Medical Center.”
Patrick credits the team-based learning aspects of the UC Davis program with equipping him with the skills he needs day-in and day-out on his job.
“Because of the UC Davis P.A. program, I am on a career path today that I never thought was possible.”
“The program really taught me how to professionally work with people,” Patrick explains. “I made connections with nurses, doctoral students, physicians in my rotations and the incredible faculty. Experiencing all that while in school now helps me to easily connect with other team members.”
In addition to the state-of-the-art facilities of Betty Irene Moore Hall and the interprofessional coursework, Patrick says the staff’s willingness to work with him during difficult times that made all the difference.
“I had a family crisis and thought I might have to defer my studies. But the rotation coordinator understood. She saw me as a person, not just another student. I —and other classmates, too —really felt like the whole UC Davis team cared about our success,” Patrick says. “Because of the UC Davis P.A. program, I am on a career path today that I never thought was possible.”
Are you interested in applying to the physician assistant program? If so, you can learn more on the program web pages. Prospective students may also sign up for the school’s email group to receive regular updates about the school’s graduate degree programs.
