My name is Sami Prochaska, and I’m a second-year student in the Master of Science in Anesthesia Program at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. I had a bit of a different start than many of my classmates—I was actually an accountant for nearly 10 years before I started the program!
I completed my undergraduate business degree at The Ohio State University, and after working for awhile I decided to look for a new career. A friend of mine was an anesthesia fellow at University Hospitals, and recommended I look into the MSA Program. After visiting the website to learn a little more about the program and about certified anesthesiologist assistants, I was sold right away. I re-enrolled in an undergraduate biology program to get all of my pre-med requirements (while still working as an accountant), took the MCAT, and applied to the program. The rest is history!
There are so many good things about this program. From the things I’ve learned to the friends I’ve made, I wouldn’t trade in a single second of it. I have made some of the best friends I’ve ever had in this program, and without them I don’t think I would have made it! When I first started out, I remember feeling so challenged, but there was this moment that came after a few months where things started to click for me. Every day that I have spent in clinicals since then has been an adventure. Now, as I get closer to graduation, everything comes naturally and flows well for me in the operating room.
The MSA Program in Cleveland has been a great environment for me. I live in Akron, and commute to the city, but never find myself out of things to do. I really enjoy hanging out around campus to grab food after class or visiting the Flats downtown for a night out with my friends.
My advice to future students is to stay focused and work hard. If you keep the end in sight and take every opportunity to learn as much as you can, everything will fall into place and you’ll do great!
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.