My name is Ashley Hudson. I am a second-year student in the Master of Science in Anesthesia Program at Case Western Reserve University in Houston, Texas. My path to this program has been long and eventful. I knew I wanted to work in anesthesia from the time I was 16 while volunteering at a local hospital. After finishing high school, I joined the United States Army and deployed to Iraq. After finishing my contract with the U.S. Army, I transitioned over to the Texas Army National Guard so that I could attend college. I graduated from the University of Houston-Downtown with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Chemistry in 2017. My plans were to go to medical school to become an anesthesiologist. After taking the MCAT, I received an email advertising the MSA Program with CWRU. I applied to the program, along with medical school. After interviewing and being accepted into the MSA Program, I decided that becoming a certified anesthesiologist assistant was the best route for me. I have to say I am not disappointed in my decision!
I am currently finishing my trauma rotation at Memorial Hermann at the Texas Medical Center in Houston. Memorial Hermann TMC is a Level I trauma center in the heart of Houston, so there has been no lack of traumas. This past month I have gained a large amount of hands-on experience, allowing me to apply and expand on the knowledge learned during my first year of didactic training. I have truly enjoyed my experiences during my trauma rotation, as I’ve seen how we can take patients that are so near death and bring them back to their families. It is truly a wonder that we are able to accomplish the things that we do. One of the greatest rewards in this profession is knowing that you are helping to save lives.
I grew up in Magnolia, Texas, just north of Houston. I still live in the same area with my husband, my one year old son and eleven year old step-daughter. When I’m not busy with the MSA Program, I enjoy spending time with my family outdoors. I am also currently still serving in the Texas Army National Guard. I’m proud to serve my community in the military, and greatly look forward to serving my community as a certified anesthesiologist assistant in the near future.
About this post: The Student Spotlight series highlights MSA students in Cleveland, Houston, and Washington. The series is a student-led initiative, and is designed to share current student experiences with prospective students.