My name is George Patterson and I am a first-year Master of Science in Anesthesia student at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Being from the Detroit area, it was easy to transition to Cleveland, a city that is somewhat similar and has a ton to offer!
I attended Northern Michigan University in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where I received a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and swam for the NMU swim team. After my graduation in the winter of 2016, I still hadn’t found my niche in the medical field. I had considered becoming a PA, MD, PT—essentially all the other medical professions. It wasn’t until I shadowed a certified anesthesiologist assistant after doing more research on healthcare careers that I knew this is where I was meant to be. Being hands on with patients and being able to keep them safe in their most vulnerable state is what drove me to pursue the CAA profession.
As members of the MSA program, our class has gotten very close with one another. Over the holidays, we had a Secret Santa gift exchange to celebrate all of our hard work we have put in this past half year! It is so nice to have such a caring and supportive group of people. It is truly incredible how much we have all learned and grown as people as well as anesthetists in such a short period of time.
This winter has been very busy, but my classmates and I were pleasantly surprised with all of the winter activities to do in and around Cleveland! For example, the botanical gardens right near campus has holiday lights and gingerbread houses during the holidays, and throughout winter University Circle Inc. hosts an ice-skating rink on Wade Oval! Places just outside of Downtown Cleveland also have lots of fun activities to do. Strongsville has a 700-foot toboggan run, and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park has a polar express train ride to go on which helps keep the cold season fun!
Currently, I am wrapping up a general rotation at MetroHealth in Cleveland. It is great how much clinical time we all have gotten, especially since we start in the operating room after just a few weeks of classes in the summer semester. This is one of the reasons why I was so attracted to this program, because I was able to apply our didactic instruction to our clinical experience so quickly.
Cleveland has welcomed me with open arms and I am so glad to call it my home!
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.