Hospitalist of the Month Mitchell Kramer
Mitchell Kramer, a spring 2023 graduate of the NAU Physician Assistant Studies (PA) program, has recently been named Hospitalist of the Month for MedStar Health. Read on to hear about his journey thus far as a hospitalist.
Why did you choose to pursue a career in the medical field?
Like most people doing this work, I’m here because I want to help others. But a more personal answer is that I am motivated by a sense of social responsibility that is summed up by the Father of Pathology, Rudolf Virchow: “Medicine is a social science, and politics is nothing but medicine on a large scale. The physicians are the natural attorneys of the poor, and the social problems should largely be solved by them.” Those of us in healthcare are uniquely situated to advocate for our patients because of our intimate proximity to their health and to the system of healthcare delivery. This is what keeps me going.
What motivated you throughout PA school?
I wouldn’t have been able to stay motivated if it weren’t for my partner and the friends I made in PA school. We kept each other afloat and supported each other. It wasn’t competitive at all. We shared our failures and successes and celebrated them as a group.
What has been the most memorable experience throughout your PA journey?
During my first year of work as a hospitalist, I admitted a woman into the hospital who had a newly discovered mass on her lung. I was wearing my “clinical hat” during the first part of the admission but quickly realized that I needed to take it off and be human for a moment. I allowed myself to feel with her through the hurt and fear and sadness that came with those first moments of what was likely a new lung cancer diagnosis. During her stay of a few days, I got to meet her family and check in with her regularly. I overheard her telling her family how good she felt my care was and how well I treated her. I’ll share another quote that captures how that made me feel: “The recognition that you have positively affected the life of another person in a way that few can is the greatest reward of this great profession.”
Your diligence has led to a complete reassessment of the Code Stroke policies and practices at MSMHC. How does it feel making such impacts so early into your career?
I’m nothing without my team. If I didn’t have so many experienced clinicians surrounding me, I would’ve been completely lost. I don’t feel that I did anything more than look out for the health of my patients.
How do you feel NAU’s PA program prepared you for your career?
I had the pleasure of being an undergraduate for five years at NAU and was very happy to come back for graduate school (though I wish I could have been in the lovely town of Flagstaff again!). NAU did a great job at creating a supportive and non-toxic learning environment. Several faculty members lifted me up and really helped me get to where I’m at now by providing the connections I needed and by simply being available when I needed them.
What advice do you have for current PA students?
Don’t be afraid to be a learner. I had to remind myself daily that I was here to learn and it was okay not to know everything yet. Nobody comes into this with perfect knowledge of medicine. It’s okay to forget things and have to Google that medication again for the millionth time. It’s okay to be wrong and say something stupid in front of the patient or your preceptor. You’ll make mistakes and will have to learn how to be at peace with your mistakes and, at the same time, forgive others for their mistakes.
Contributed by Business Administration, Marketing undergraduate student, Katie Fahy