Alumni Spotlight

Paul Fitzpatrick took 6 years off after UP, before he started at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences just a few weeks ago. He used this time to do clinical research, after finding out that laboratory research was not for him.  He was able to participate in over 50 different clinical trials and get several publications from his research; he found fulfillment in these clinical trials as he got to work directly with patients. During this time he also worked as a scribe in the ED at NW Acute Care Specialists. After 2 years, he took a full-time position in research and transitioned to working one shift per weekend in the ED.  He believes that scribing is the best job you can do to prepare yourself for medical school, PA school, or other higher medical education because “you get to see actual patients and learn how to think/write like a provider without actually being one yet”.  He was fascinated by the presentations within the ED, being able to see many of the diseases, conditions, and procedures he later learned about in med school. Now he stands far beyond his classmates in this regard. Go forth and conquer, Paul!

1. Give a short description of your application process / tips for upcoming applicants.

I took the MCAT 1 year after graduating and didn't do very well.  I took a few more years off before taking it again the summer I was applying (during COVID when everything changed).  I did much better the 2nd time, but realistically was lower than the average score.  My application strengths were my research experience/publications, working in the ED as a scribe, and my experiences as a patient.  It also helped that I was on 2 of Legacy Health's three IRBs (essentially the ethics counsel for research studies going on at the hospital).  I would not recommend taking your MCAT while working full-time as I did because you only have so much time to study.  I would try to take several days off beforehand also and don't study the day of the exam!  I am sure shadowing experiences are still affected by COVID, but if you can shadow a physician, try to!  Better yet, if you can go back with that physician multiple times to build a rapport, do that.  This will also help you with letters of recommendation in the future.  Show interest when you're shadowing, ask if you can help with anything, assist the RNs and office staff, go above and beyond, but also don't be annoying.

2. How did your time at UP help you with your career choice, application, etc.?

My time at UP was helpful in solidifying my desire to be a physician.  I was also introduced to osteopathic medicine (DO schools), which I had not heard about.  DOs can do everything an MD can do, plus more (Osteopathic Manual Therapy, OMT).  I am still in my beginning stages of learning this, but you will master palpation skills and be able to help patients with somatic dysfunctions with your hands.  It is in some ways like chiropractic treatments, but mostly based in neurophysiological interactions within the body.  I was a bit skeptical at first, but the more I learn about it, the more interesting it becomes and the more I think about how I could incorporate the techniques on my patients in 3rd and 4th years and beyond.  Even if you choose not to use it in the future, it is just extra knowledge to have---and a very detailed knowledge of anatomy (our course is one full year long vs 8 or 10 weeks at most MD schools!).  Anatomy lab at UP was super helpful in introducing me to cadavers which you will dissect yourself in small groups in medical school.  UP also provided advising recommendations on who to reach out to for scribing and setting up times for different medical schools to come give talks about their schools at UP.  I would highly encourage attending these!  Also, take physiology lab with Dr. Flann because you WILL use the topics he teaches you about in med school--I re-learned about the action potential during my first week of med school!  Also, he is the best and I loved TA'ing for phys lab.

3. What are your favorite memories of UP / any highlights?

I loved my upper division biology classes, especially physiology/phys lab.  I also enjoyed endocrinology and biology of exercise.  Anatomy lab was super interesting and will help prepare you for med school, at least by giving you a preview of what is to come.  Physiology is probably the best class you can take for med school though; the first 10 weeks of med school at PNWU are basically molecular and biochemistry bootcamp, but with a physiological focus.  A good grasp of physiology will behoove you in the future.

4. What general advice would you give aspiring pre-health types?

Explore different areas of medicine (MD vs DO vs PA/NP, physical therapy/occupational therapy, pharmacy, etc).  Many students come in thinking they want to do one thing and realize after learning about different fields that something else interests them.  There are lots of opportunities at UP to learn about different professions, so seize them.  Also, another plug for osteopathic medicine, I highly encourage everyone to learn more about it--it is a more holistic way of treating patients, looking at their physical, mental, and spiritual health and how they all interact with one another.  Coming into UP I thought for sure I wanted to go to OHSU, but after learning more about DO schools, I found that I actually prefer them vs allopathic med schools.  However, that is just my preference and MD schools are also wonderful--each person is different so expose yourself to as many things as you can.  Also, volunteer early--I started as an ED volunteer at Emanuel and that helped me get my job as a scribe (in that same ED) after graduating from UP.  Try to get longitudinal shadowing opportunities as well--I met an anesthesiologist at Emanuel that I shadowed for something like 100 plus hours total.  She ended up being a reference for me during med school applications and even did my anesthesia when I had surgery!  There are lots of paths to professional school (med school, PA school, pharmacy, PT/OT, etc.), just because someone else does something does NOT mean you need to do it that way.  Also, I highly recommend taking at least 1-2 gap years.  First, you get a break from school and after 16+ years, you need it to not be burned out.  Second, you get to earn a little money which is nice.  Third, and most importantly, you get real-world life experiences.  If you work as a scribe or MA, you get to interact with patients.  But also, you get to live a little before going back to school.  I matured more in the *cough* several years I took off than I did during school.  I learned how to deal with difficult patients, I got to accomplish things outside of school that I wanted to, I was able to enjoy my 20s a bit.  Some people travel or go on mission trips or learn a new skill they've been wanting to or become Alaskan fishermen.  Whatever you want to do, go do it for a bit.  Then you can get back to your education.  We have a 50 year old in our first year class who used to be a teacher and most recently a farmer--that's pretty awesome!  Enjoy your life a little before going back to school--it will benefit both you as a person and your application as a whole (especially at DO schools--they look for well-rounded students with life experience).  Good luck on your applications!!