Image Provided by Susquehanna Communications
By Grace Tesoro Staff Writer
Susquehanna alumni gave insight into alternative futures in medicinal fields in “Careers in Medicine: MD Not Required” at Break Through on Feb. 8..
The panel consisted of alumni Emily Strittmatter ’11, Mike Marr ’08, Geena Ragozine ’18, and Julia Tolin ’18.
Each panelist discussed their journeys navigating through the medical world to find careers that would complement their work ethic, interests and lifestyle goals.
As a first-year medical student at Temple University for Podiatric Medicine, Tolin detailed her extensive history that led her to want to pursue a career in podiatry.
“I knew I wanted to be in a hospital and work with my hands and perform surgeries, but I also knew that I wanted a balance between the hospital and a home life,” Tolin said.
Ragozine, who graduated with Tolin, detailed the track of becoming a nurse anesthetist by sharing some of her experiences.
“I shadowed in operating rooms and to be critically certified you need to undergo three to four years in the ICU,” Ragozine explained.
Strittmatter graduated from Susquehanna with a degree in Biopsychology and Music Performance. She originally had the intention of working as a genetic counselor. However, her path led her to become a physician assistant (PA) in an emergency room at Abington-Jefferson Trauma Center in Abington, Pennsylvania.
The panel allowed her to clear misconceptions regarding the profession of a physician assistant.
“Normally, people think we just assist the doctor’s, but we do a lot more. As a PA, I see my own patients, their histories, I do my own writeups,” Strittmatter said.
Strittmatter also added that PA’s can set their own schedules, manage their patient load, write their own referrals and view their own test results.
“As a PA you have flexibility, you’re not stuck in one spot. You qualify to apply for jobs in any specialty,” Strittmatter said.
The panelists accredited Susquehanna’s academics that helped them excel through graduate school.
Marr, who pursued a career in dentistry, said that when he went to medical school, he felt very prepared from his course load at Susquehanna.
“Taking anatomy, physiology, and gross anatomy with Dr. Reichard-Brown benefited me. It allowed me to see it for a first time, so seeing it for a second at school, I had an upper hand over other students,” Marr said.
“While being a Biology major and on the soccer team, Susquehanna helped me develop a work ethic. Time management was a huge thing to carry over,” Ragozine said.
First-year neuroscience major Marissa Frusteri benefited from the panel discussion.
“This session showed me the different options I can go into that doesn’t necessarily mean I only do neuroscience; I can apply it to other things. It showed me that I have a variety of different options,” Frusteri said.
