Phoebe Ryan, PA25
What inspired you to pursue your degree, and how has your personal journey shaped your career goals?
I became interested in working in healthcare during my early years of college after taking a few science and psychology classes, however, I hadn’t yet heard of the Physician Assistant (PA) profession.
After learning about the role of a PA, I felt it perfectly embodied what I was looking for in a healthcare career. I love personal interaction, so I wanted a patient-facing position that also offered autonomy—a role where I could practice with some independence. As a mid-level provider, a PA can do just that!
To meet the requirements for PA school, I started working in an entry-level position in breast cancer research. Here, I was introduced to the field of oncology, which has since shaped the trajectory of my PA career. I built fulfilling relationships with patients, worked alongside compassionate and intelligent providers, and witnessed life-saving innovative medicine.
After completing PA school, I am thrilled to return to this field as a certified PA (PA-C), where I can contribute to such meaningful work in a more advanced and impactful way.
How have your experiences at Tufts prepared you for your future career?
Tufts PA program was simultaneously two of the most challenging and most rewarding years of my life. Through didactic and clinical years, the academic expectations for students are high and the work is rigorous. However, by the time I reached the PANCE—the national certification exam for PA graduates—I felt prepared. Tufts provides support and pure faith in each of their students to achieve success. The faculty are all approachable and kind, getting to know each student on a personal level and supporting them during every step of the program. Looking back on my time at Tufts, I’ve learned that hard work and dedication truly does pay off, and that an environment rooted in collaboration and support can transform even the most stressful experiences into meaningful and enjoyable ones.
What are your aspirations and goals beyond graduation, both personally and professionally?
After graduating from the Tufts PA program, I moved to New York City and am starting a job in oncology—the field I am most passionate about. Looking ahead to the next few years, I am excited to gain independence and fulfillment, both personally and professionally, in this new stage of my life. A year from now, I hope to look back at my first year as a PA-C and see growth in my knowledge and skillset, confidence in my practice, and the impact I have made in patients' lives.
What advice would you offer to prospective students based on your own experience?
As a newly graduated PA-C, my advice for any prospective student would be: you are capable of more than you think you are! The "pre-PA" phase of this professional journey is an intimidating place to be, but every successful PA has been in that same position. The path to becoming an PA is definitely uphill—it takes hard work to even apply to PA school and is even more difficult to get accepted. The two years of PA school are fast-paced and overwhelming at times, but Tufts provides the support and reassurance needed to succeed.
Looking back on my two years in the PA program and the three years of experience before that, there were definitely moments of self-doubt. However, in every situation that I doubted my potential, I surpassed my expectations and am now so excited and proud to start my career as a PA-C.
So, believe in yourself because you can do it too!
As a PA, how do you hope to make a difference, and which areas of medicine inspire you most?
I am eager to start my first job as a PA-C in inpatient hematology/oncology. I chose this field of medicine because, in my experience, there is an extra level of compassionate care toward oncology patients that I deeply connect with and will strive to achieve in my practice.
Cancer is a disease that can be disheartening and filled with heartbreak when terminal. However, there are also cases where remission is possible and even a cured! The field of oncology is advancing rapidly, and it excites me to be a part of this work—transforming what were once terminal diagnoses into potentially curable conditions.
I hope that my compassionate, patient-centered perspective, combined with my motivation to contribute to medical progress, will prove successful in making a difference in healthcare throughout my PA career.
Can you share a patient interaction that reaffirmed your commitment to becoming a PA?
One of my favorite memories from my clinical rotations was during a day with the outpatient hematology/oncology providers at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. The PA I was working with allowed me to go into the patient room to start the visit. Before I entered, he gave me a warning that the patient sometimes took a little bit to warm up to people.
With this information in mind, I entered the room with a big smile on my face and was determined to win her over. After introducing myself and beginning the visit, the ice was broken and we ended up chatting about her upcoming 80th birthday party for the next 15 minutes—I even got to see a preview photo of her birthday outfit!
This interaction is memorable to me because it is a reminder of why I am motivated to go into medicine, especially oncology. The hospital can be a scary and intimidating place for people, and I want to be a provider who helps change that experience for my patients.
My goal as a PA is for my patients to feel comfortable coming to their visits, knowing that I see them as a person first, and patient second—that in addition to caring for their health, we can also chat about life outside of their disease, such as an 80th birthday party!