Lessons from a student leader in MUSC Physician Assistant Studies program

As part of their curriculum in the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (PAS) program at MUSC, first year students gain invaluable real-world experience by volunteering at St. Andrew’s Medical Clinic, which provides free routine medical care to adult community members who do not have health insurance. Under the supervision of PA providers, four student coordinators are selected each year to manage all aspects of the clinic, including its limited resources, student volunteers, and a varied patient population. For Lucy Pelham, PAS Class of 2026, serving as a student coordinator for the clinic has also offered a chance to embrace the rewarding experience of building patient relationships.

What motivated you to take on a leadership role as a student coordinator at St. Andrew’s Medical Clinic? What does the position entail?

Applying for this role was one of the few things in life that felt no less natural than breathing. I learned about the clinic during my interview with MUSC, and hearing more about the patient population it serves and the good work being done appealed to my undergraduate background of studying public health. As a student coordinator, I attend clinic every other Tuesday with another coordinator (we alternate with two other coordinators), and we help see patients, present information to the providers, and write notes for the patients we see. Additionally, all four of us organize the student volunteer schedule and oversee them during their shifts.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of working with a varied patient population?

To consider this question through a non-medical lens first, there is a richness in every conversation with a person whose circle does not completely overlap with your own on a Venn diagram. There is a quote that says something to the extent of us seeing the world as we are rather than as it is, and it serves as a reminder that our perspectives are subjective and there is no limit to the width or depth to which we can seek to understand people and the world. At the clinic, working with a varied patient population has helped me become a better person and future provider. Humility is a posture I strive to maintain, and despite being in PA school and learning about reducing disparities, and having discussions about the marriage of the two, there is a special form of insight that can only be gained through conversations with our patients. The most rewarding aspects of working with our patient population have been the perspectives I have been introduced to and the rethinking and restructuring of what I thought I already understood.

How do you balance overseeing student volunteers while ensuring patients receive quality care?

The neat part about the clinic is that the student volunteers are my peers, and we’ve been learning the same material and practicing the same skills since day one, so the combination of having leveled experiences alongside the eager and caring disposition of everyone has made finding the balance come with ease. When volunteers arrive, the other coordinator and I give a rundown of how the clinic operates, and we hold a discussion with the volunteers about what they are comfortable with, which parts they want to lead, and if there are any questions or concerns before we see patients. I prefer to let volunteers take on as much as they want, and throughout the interactions we provide instrumental and informational support.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in managing the clinic’s limited resources?

For better or for worse, the challenges we face are not unique to St. Andrew’s, meaning that the unfortunate prevalence of having limited resources has made finding ways to address it a mainstream issue, which helps lower the barrier of being able to do so. We have limitations with respect to the diagnostics available to us at the clinic, but we are able to confront these challenges through agreements with local partners to provide labs and imaging for our patients, and we work to connect them with other online resources. Although our resources are limited, we have been privileged with the ability to lean on the kindness of others to ensure our patients receive the care they deserve.

How has working in the clinic deepened your understanding of health care disparities and the role of PAs in bridging gaps?

It’s one thing to learn about social determinants of health and health disparities as concepts, as if they exist only as a lesson in a classroom and all that needs to be done to achieve health equity is make quick changes to some policies, but it is very a different thing to see them hold true in the world around you and recognize that carrying out that work takes time, effort, attention, and commitment. Change can be slow, but the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice, and I’m grateful to be entering a profession that was created to expand access to health care, whose collaborative nature allows for working with other health care professionals to address health needs in a variety of settings, and functions to bridge the gaps.

Can you share a specific moment or patient interaction that reinforced why you chose this profession?

The reinforcement has come from the accumulation of many small moments rather than one significant one. I have wanted to become a PA for ages, and once I started taking public health classes at Clemson, I found what my professional and personal goals would be; to my luck, this clinic is at the intersection of both. Being able to have conversations with patients and play a role in their achievement of good health and wellbeing is very fulfilling, and knowing the purpose of the clinic as I show up on Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. as I do those things is food for my soul.

How has your experience as student coordinator in the clinic shaped your skills as a future PA?

The relationship between my role as a PA student and my role as a student coordinator at the clinic is a prime example of mutualism. The knowledge I gain from class and the hands-on experience I get in lab improve my patient interactions at the clinic, and being able to apply the material I’m learning in school to my work at the clinic helps reinforce the information. Each part supplements the other, and having the opportunity to be at the clinic during my didactic year will undoubtedly serve me well on my rotations and as a future PA.

What advice would you give to future PA students considering a leadership role at the clinic?

If you find yourself gravitating toward the clinic, you should lean into it. Having the consistent presence and the responsibilities of being a coordinator affords you the ability to interact with patients on a regular basis, apply class concepts, and grow skills, so I implore you to consider applying. If you are unsure whether or not you want to be a coordinator because of the time commitment, I understand how tricky it can be to gauge if you’re spreading yourself too thin, so I want to remind you that volunteering is still an excellent way to be involved and gain experience. Being a student coordinator has been such a joy to me, and I’ve managed to balance it with life and school, so I think you will be able to as well.