Student Stories

Meet Jake Carvalho PA-C G'19

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Drew, from the Bay Path University Physician Assistant Program Class of 2022, shares his incredibly inspirational story detailing his personal journey to PA school.

“My name is Drew, and I am a 29-year-old physician assistant student in Massachusetts. I was diagnosed with TS at age 7. I have been through the whole gamut of medications, conventional, and unconventional treatments. At times I felt that I would never be able to achieve what I wanted to in my life. Having parents in the medical field I always felt some sort of draw to going into medicine.

However, I always believed that from a young age my tics would prevent me from accomplishing this goal, so I redirected my focus. I got my degree in political science and history, but I was not satisfied. I was at a point where I decided that I would not let TS stop me from obtaining a career in medicine.

One month, I decided to pick up everything and move to a different city. I went to school for three more years and worked as an EMT for one. After gaining renewed hope, I still went through years of struggle: tics, mental health, and physical health. Many years later, my hard work finally paid off. I applied to physician assistant school and was chosen out of 1200 applicants for one of 30 seats they had available. Now, I am set to graduate in May of 2022!

Having tics as medical provider is often stigmatized. Many people will doubt your capabilities, skills, competency in being a provider. As one of the few, if not only, physician assistant students with TS, I have a renewed pride in myself. I did not let TS stop me. I do not have fears of my competency as a future provider.

But I would be lying to say that my motor and vocal tics are not a source of worry for me. Instead of saying how my tics can hinder my ability, I would like to say that my tics bring me an inordinate amount of compassion, empathy, and kindness.

My experiences with #TouretteSyndrome will help me become a better provider. I will be able to make sure that my patients are cared for, listened to, and understood. These are all attributes that are lacking in medicine, and I will contribute to change that. This is a time in my life where I get to personally educate and give awareness that TS does not mean we cannot be excellent in whatever we do.

I wanted to write this to show young people with TS that if they have a dream job, especially in medicine, their tics do not have to prevent them from accomplishing it.
YOU ARE CAPABLE! DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU OTHERWISE! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!!!” - Drew Kuban, G'22

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"I’m eager to begin my career as a PA in primary care, and am certain that with the support of my family, through my NHSC scholarship in addition to the education and training I’m receiving at Bay Path, I’ll learn a lot, particularly working in an underserved area like those I lived in for most of my life." - Andrea Fachini G’19 | Read her full interview

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"As a single parent with a passion for healthcare, I'm becoming a PA to fulfill my lifelong dream of caring for and helping others while still having plenty of time to watch my son grow up. I selected Bay Path because there are great networking opportunities thanks to the small class sizes and clinical rotations that will allow me to explore many areas of the field." - Barbara Hoffman G’18 | Read her full interview

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"I've never been one to take a back seat, but Bay Path’s PA program forced me out of my comfort zone. I learned how to take initiative and that strengthened my leadership skills. I worked with general surgeons Dr. Ampadi and Dr. McClelland at Baystate Franklin Medical Center while I was enrolled at Bay Path, and thanks to them, I realized where my career would take me—to the operating room, an area I am most passionate about. Together with Dr. Potee, they shaped who I am as a clinician today."
- Courtney Opalenik, PA-C G'15 | Read her full interview

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