Students One-on-One
Alison Vollmer
Why did you choose to become a PA?
I really want to help people; that is #1 on my “things to do in my life” list. (Yes, I really do have a list written down on paper! #2 is go sky diving!) There are so many health problems that I believe could be prevented by educating the public. As a PA, you can help patients by treating their existing illness and educating them to prevent future illnesses. I believe I have an opportunity to truly make a difference in people’s lives.
In what field(s) of medicine are you interested in working?
I’m considering Family Medicine. There’s such a deficit of primary healthcare providers, and it would be a great opportunity to make a difference by increasing American’s access to healthcare.
When you get away from school, what do you do for fun and/or burn off stress?
The gym has a ton of awesome group exercise classes! They’re fun to go to with classmates, they’re really good workouts, and they’re a nice way to take a study break. Check out the website: http://www.musc.edu/hsc/index.html
What’s your favorite medical TV show?
Nip/Tuck. The drama, the blood, it’s got everything you need!
The song that best describes my life as a PA student is…
Black Eyed Peas, “I Gotta Feeling” – We love this song! It’s a song we like to listen to on test days because we know we get to kick back and relax for a night!
Any advice to give prospective students?
At an interview it’s important to remember that it’s not just about MUSC choosing you; you have to choose MUSC. It’s important to ask yourself, “Why should I choose MUSC?” I’ll tell you why! I’m incredibly happy in this program; it’s obvious the faculty care about us. I love my classmates; I feel like we’re a family. MUSC has incredible board-passing rates, and great extracurriculars to get involved in. There is a student-run clinic you can get clinical experience at, and there are medical mission trips that go to South Africa, Nicaragua, and Vietnam. You definitely want MUSC!
