The Missouri State University Physician Assistant Studies Department is pleased to spotlight Class of 2024 student Harlee Kelley. Harlee serves as the Class of 2024 Student Academy Representative on the American Academy of PAs Assembly of Representatives. After successfully navigating the challenging first year of PA education, Harlee is eager to gain hands-on experience with community health care partners in the clinical phase of education beginning January 2024. 

Read our interview with Harlee to find out more about her journey through the first year of PA education, and her best advice for new PA students.

Hometown: Lee’s Summit, MO

Degree: MSU BS in Microbiology/Biotechnology, minor in General Business

Previous health care experience: floating MA at mercy cross trained as an NA in the CVICU, scribe at CoxHealth family med and ED, MA at Kanarek Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

Interesting Fact:

I am scuba certified and would love to dive the great barrier reef someday.

Why did you decide to become a PA?

I knew I wanted to be a medical provider because I love the fast paced, challenging field of medicine. I decided to go the PA route because I love that our profession gives us flexibility and a good work-life balance while still maintaining autonomy as a provider.

Describe your experience so far in the program. What are you looking forward to next year?

So far in the program, it has been super challenging, but also one of the best times in my life. I am so amazed by the amount of information I’ve learned and how much closer I am to becoming a PA. I also have met the best people in the world through this program, and I can’t imagine life without them. Not only has this program given me an amazing education, but it gave me my best friends in the process. Next year I am nervous but so excited to see and treat real patients. It will be the perfect opportunity to take the knowledge I’ve gained this year and apply it to real life scenarios where I can make a big difference in people’s lives.

What do you like best about Missouri State’s PA program?

What I love most about this program is how close the students and professors are. I feel so comfortable coming and talking to any of the professors in our program and I truly feel like these will be lifelong professional relationships, which I have never experienced with any other college-level professors. I feel like these relationships we have been able to build create such a great environment to learn and ask questions and are an important part of the program’s success.

Do you have any advice for prospective PA students? Any helpful tips to prepare for PA education?

My advice to future students would be to find your people and stick with them! It is impossible to get through didactic year without people that love you and understand what you’re going through. Having the support of my friends throughout this process has been one of the most important things for me. Everyone has their down days as PA education is extremely difficult, but having amazing friends to pull you back up is an invaluable resource to help get you through.

What specialty or career goals do you want to pursue? 

Right now, I am going into clinical year open to try and find a specialty I love. I don’t have my heart set on any specific specialty, but I have an interest in emergency medicine, plastic surgery, oncology, and general surgery. I hope next year will help me solidify what I do and don’t like, so I can find the perfect specialty for me!