Making Moves: More Than Medicine

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Hi there! Welcome to More Than Medicine!

My name is Amanda, and I am so excited to be writing my first blog post! Although I am admittedly a little nervous to be starting this new adventure, I have been thinking about launching a platform like this for a while.

The idea of More Than Medicine came to me when I was going through one of the largest and most difficult changes of my life. I had just transitioned from Physician Assistant or Physician Associate (PA) student to newly graduated PA, starting my very first job. Everyone talks about how difficult PA school is, and how it is the "most challenging thing they've ever done". However, I must disagree. PA school was hard, but nothing is more challenging than being a newly graduated Physician Assistant, starting your very first job.

Personally, I struggled greatly with imposter syndrome, in addition to struggling with finding work-life balance, adapting to a new phase in my life, and climbing the VERY steep learning curve of practicing real-life clinical medicine (not just the ideal medicine taught from a book). I had dedicated many years of education, discipline, and sacrifices to get the privilege of practicing medicine, my dream job. And there I was, living my dream. So why was I feeling so stressed? Maybe even a little depressed? Why was I sleeping SO MUCH??

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Imposter Syndrome:

- behavioral health phenomenon described as self-doubt of intellect, skills, or accomplishments among high-achieving individuals.

Source: (Imposter Phenomenon - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov))

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In the beginning, I was ashamed to talk about it. I wanted to portray that this transition was a breeze. And although I loved my new job (which I am still working currently and still love), I really wasn't as happy as I should have been. That's right, I felt happier in PA school, where my life was nothing but stress, tests, and constantly worrying about tackling the next thing.

It took months for me to realize that there is no way I am the only one struggling with this transition, these feelings, and, simply, just trying to figure it all out. Speaking with my PA school besties, I realized quickly that they were just as stressed as me. And, just like me, felt the pressure of keeping it cool.

I thought about it for a while, and I feel that the pressure largely came from the expectation of always needing to be perfect in order to practice medicine. You must always know: 1. What to do, 2. What not to do, 3. ALL THE GREY THAT LIES IN BETWEEN #'s 1&2 (...it's infinite). I will never be able to truly explain the stress and pressure of always having to be performing at my best. We are treating HUMANS. A mistake can seriously harm or kill somebody. And yet, I'm sure you all know the infamous saying, "Human error", or even, "everyone makes mistakes."

It took me over 6 months to have the confidence to discuss my feelings out loud with my peers from my PA class even when I found out they were struggling with the same problems I was. In my head, I thought that expressing these feelings made me a less qualified provider and I was afraid of being judged. Upon learning my colleagues were struggling with the same feelings, I felt relief that I wasn't alone. But this thought continued to blossom, and I realized, finally, after many weeks that WE were not alone. Other PA students all across the nation must be feeling the way we were, too.

Practicing medicine is hard, and by no means simple. The same concept can be said about transitioning into any position in medicine, no matter what role: physician, phlebotomist, PA, nurse, NP, therapist, OT, PT, medical assistant... this list goes on and on.

More Than Medicine is a safe space for us to come together. To lean on each other, to talk about the hard stuff. To learn how to cope, to find joy outside of work, to make our lives a little easier, and to be our best selves. Yes, even through all of the stress, change, and self-doubt.

I'm hoping to grow this blog to encompass two main things:

1. Medicine

2. More than medicine

On the medical side of my blog, I will share gems that helped me through PA school, share study guides/resources I've made, and share my experiences that helped me succeed. The other side of my blog will be about balance, and everything there is to life that DOES NOT involve medicine! Because although we sacrifice so much of our time, selves, and joys to

F I N A L L Y work in medicine, at the end of the day...

there is more to life than medicine.