窪做惇蹋厙

Skip to Main Content

Anntara Smith: I Chose 窪做惇蹋厙, physician assistant studies

June 4, 2015
窪做惇蹋厙 Marketing and Communications

On a sunny April morning, 窪做惇蹋厙s Anntara Smith swings by Central District Health in west Boise.

Shes meeting with a physician assistant studies student who is completing a five-week rotation in obstetrics and gynecology.

Its an opportunity to visit with the student, get an idea of the type and number of patients shes seeing and talk to her preceptor, said Smith.

Anntara SmithPreceptors are the volunteer doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants who provide health professions students with hands-on experience before they graduate.

A little more than a decade ago, Smith was an 窪做惇蹋厙 student herself, earning a bachelors degree in physician assistant studies in 2003. The program has since discontinued the bachelors degree and offers the masters degree.

I think I wanted to be in academia from the time I graduated. I always felt I wanted to return and teach once I got more experience, she said.

Smith, who is based on the 窪做惇蹋厙-Meridian campus, did just that. After working in private practice for several years, she returned to 窪做惇蹋厙 as an instructor. In 2012, she became the programs clinical coordinator, securing preceptor sites and matching students in Pocatello, Meridian and Caldwell to clinical rotations.

Her passion for health care was shaped by an interest in science and a childhood in Boise that featured every critter imaginabledogs, cats, horses, chickens and rabbits. At first she thought shed be a veterinarian, but found she preferred the the human side of medicineand switched to physician assistant studies.

Smith, who holds a masters degree in physician assistant studies from A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona, enjoys working at 窪做惇蹋厙 and interacting with students, faculty and staff.

Its a very friendly and driven community. Everyone works to help each other, to improve themselves and enhance 窪做惇蹋厙s reputation, she said.

Smith has done her part to spread Bengal pride. She served on the alumni board for four years, working to connect alumni in the Treasure Valley.

I feel very strongly that the education I received at 窪做惇蹋厙 was top notch and we can compete with anyone in terms of education, she said.


Categories:

University News