My name is Catherine Olumba, and I am a second-year Master of Science in Anesthesia student at Case Western Reserve University in Washington, D.C.
I am currently in my trauma rotation at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, which is located in the district. The trauma rotation has allowed me to challenge myself and has given me a vast amount of knowledge that I can use both in trauma situations and in general surgeries. Our trauma rotation entails a lot of overnight shifts and working with burn patients. Both entities have been amazing to learn and grow from, in terms of both academics and practical skill. I have had so much excitement from my trauma rotation.
I was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and I love the city because there is always something exciting going on. My favorite thing to do in the district is go out to restaurants. DC has a wide variety of ethnic restaurants that allows you to experience and taste the rich culture of different ethnic groups. Washington is widely diverse with people from all over the world, and that's something I genuinely appreciate about D.C. and its community.
My advice to incoming students is to enter the MSA Program with an open mind and with the willingness to absorb as much information as possible. To be a certified anesthesiologist assistant you have to be flexible and use a great amount of critical thinking. No one surgery is the same and no one patient is the same. With those two skills, flexibility and critical thinking, you will go far in the program and in your future career.
About this post: The Student Spotlight series highlights MSA students in their second year of coursework in Cleveland, Houston, and Washington. The series is a student-led initiative, and is designed to share current student experiences with prospective students.