As I considered what to share in this message, I realized quickly that I wanted to convey one of the strongest feelings that Wake PA has continually embodied for me. In Urdu, the language most commonly spoken in Pakistan, apnaiyat (pronounced ap-na-ee-yuth) means a feeling of belonging, but it also signifies inclusion, comfort, familiarity, and support. This January marks 10 years for me as a member of the Wake PA family (which we fondly call the PAmily), and I am so grateful for the apnaiyat that this program has extended to me and countless others over the years.
Creating a sense of community has long been at the core of the Wake PA program. One of the foundations of our inquiry-based learning (IBL) curriculum is to foster a supportive and empowering learning environment for our students within their small groups. In IBL, our students also discuss how to create a professional relationship centered on trust with their patients. Wake PA is working diligently on the journey to foster a truly inclusive culture, and our students have been the biggest catalysts for change. They have helped to create and lead the Wake PA Health Equity Task Force, which focuses on advancing health equity through recruitment and outreach, curriculum updates, and professional development. If we seek to transform our culture, we must recognize and work to dismantle the systems that perpetuate injustice and inequity.
My dear friend and colleague, Alisha DeTroye, has taught me that in addition to standing for Physician Assistant or Physician Associate, PA also stands for Passionate Advocate. Over the years, I have witnessed my PA colleagues advocate fiercely for creating safe spaces where we all belong. They have worked to break down barriers and to challenge the hierarchical norms in healthcare that can often feel more restrictive than supportive. In a recent meeting, I shared that I have felt imposter syndrome as a non-clinician working in PA Studies, and my colleagues vehemently advocated that I am a valued member of the team.
This past July, Advocate Health and the Wake Forest University School of Medicine introduced the new Office of Justice and Belonging (OJB), which will help teammates and students actively create a culture rooted in belonging. The OJB and the Health Equity Task Force have been asking innovative, challenging questions, such as “How could artificial intelligence and technology be used to improve disparities in health equity as well as increase access to medical education?”
We just completed recruitment season to admit our next cohort of PA students. As I talked with prospective students during interviews, I encouraged them to interview us and make sure that Wake PA is the best fit for them as they begin their careers. I truly hope that each of them can sense the feeling of belonging and apnaiyat that we strive to cultivate.
Sincerely,
Sobia Hussaini
Director of Admissions & Strategic Recruitment
Assistant Professor, Department of PA Studies
Wake Forest University School of Medicine