Doral Resident Joins Pediatric Surgery Team After WCU PA Program

Emma T., a Doral resident, will begin her career in pediatric surgery after graduating from West Coast University-Texas’s Master of Physician Assistant program. T. chose the physician assistant profession over medical school, valuing its emphasis on teamwork, flexibility, continuous learning, and patient-centered care.

“I’m team-oriented, and I love that PAs have the ability to learn constantly, switch fields, and provide intentional, patient-centered care,” T. said.

T. described her experience at WCU-Texas as academically rigorous and collaborative, with faculty members invested in students as future colleagues. She learned the “art of medicine,” which she explained involves developing clinical judgment and recognizing that healthcare situations are rarely straightforward.

“The challenge was figuring out what kind of provider I want to be. Medicine isn’t black and white. We always talk about the ‘art of medicine,’ where two things can be true, and you have to work with both to give the best care,” T. stated.

Her new role in pediatric surgery will involve assisting in surgical procedures, conducting hospital rounds, and seeing patients in clinic. This broad scope aligns with T.’s decision to become a PA.

“I love the mix of surgery, hospital work, and clinic — it keeps me on my toes,” T. said.

T. advises aspiring PA students to “lean in and lean on the people around you” and to approach each day with a mindset of learning something new, even when it is challenging. She believes this approach fosters growth as both a person and a provider.