Graduate Spotlight: Survivor of deadly illness hopes to make healthcare more accessible
Abigail McQueen |
Hanna Rinkevicz has always been interested in a career in the medical field. However, a life-threatening illness and time spent in the hospital inspired her decision to pursue a physician assistant degree.
When Rinkevicz was in high school in Grand Haven, Michigan, she contracted a virus that caused her brain to swell and ultimately led to her being a coma for 11 days. Afterward, she stayed in the hospital for an extended time to fully recover.
During her stay, Rinkevicz was exposed to many careers in healthcare, but she was especially drawn to her neurology PA. After being discharged, she followed up with the PA for several years. As she learned more about the field, she decided it was the right path for her. “I liked the idea of being able to extend medical services in areas with physician shortages, and I liked the flexibility that being a PA has to offer,” she says.
Having completed the prerequisites for admission to Lipscomb’s School of Physician Assistant Studies, housed in the College of Health Sciences, Rinkevicz chose to apply, as she was interested in attending school in Nashville. While she was nervous because Lipscomb had a newer program, she ended up being “blown away” during her interview. As she describes it, “The faculty were welcoming and encouraging, the curriculum seemed strenuous and thorough, and the facilities were outstanding.” She left knowing Lipscomb was the place for her.
In December, Rinkevicz’s dream of earning a degree in physician’s assistant studies became a reality when she graduated with a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Lipscomb. While Rinkevicz went to a large school for her undergraduate studies, she enjoyed the tight-knit community of Lipscomb, where she felt “known and cared for as an individual.” She appreciates the support she received from her professors.
“The faculty have gone above and beyond to ensure our questions are answered and our educational, emotional, and spiritual needs are met,” Rinkevicz reflects. She says she is also especially grateful for is her peers who helped motivate her during difficult times but also gave her people to laugh with. Now that her cohort has graduated, she is immensely proud of everyone she got to share her time at Lipscomb with.
Moving forward, Rinkevicz plans to serve in a Professional Shortage Area in Rockford, Illinois. At the facility she will be working at, patients will not be denied care based on their ability to pay. Rinkevicz says she hopes that she can make healthcare more accessible and create more trust between patients and healthcare providers.
After overcoming many personal trials and graduating from a rigorous program, Rinkevicz wants to encourage others to embrace challenges. “Learning the difficult thing feels so uncomfortable,” she says, “but it is so rewarding long term and really helps you to grow.”