PA Student and US Army Sergeant Aims to Make a Difference in Patient Lives

PA Student and US Army Sergeant Aims to Make a Difference in Patient Lives

Michelle Zilberman discovered her passion for healthcare while working as a medical assistant at an urgent care.

"I got to watch procedures, them suturing," she said. "Just being hands-on and seeing that first-hand, I was just like, OK, this is what I want to do."

A first-year physician assistant (PA) student, Michelle Zilberman began The University of Toledo's College of Medicine and Life Sciences Physician Assistant program last fall. Zilberman is a sergeant in the U.S. Army stationed in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, where she serves as a Medical Laboratory Technician.

Before joining UToledo, she earned a bachelor of science degree in health professions from Temple University and worked as a medical assistant at an urgent care facility while completing her degree. There, she worked closely with PAs, gaining a deep understanding of the profession.

After graduating, Zilberman enlisted in the U.S. Army, where she gained her ASCP BOC, American Society for Clinical Pathology Board Certification, enabling her to serve in her current role as a lab tech, where she reconnected with PAs during her clinical rotations at West Point Military Academy in New York, securing a firsthand look at her future career.

"I ended up working with PAs more than physicians," she said. "I got to talk to them and see what they were doing and that's where my interest in becoming a physician assistant began."

Her family led her to UToledo, but the exemplary PA program captivated her.

"What I really liked when I came here to visit is the fact that they had a simulation center, and they also had radiology rotation, which a lot of other programs don't have," she said.

UToledo's Physician Assistant Program is a 27-month graduate program leading to a master of science in biomedical sciences degree with a physician assistant concentration, offering hands-on experience through simulation and clinical settings.

For Zilberman, UToledo felt like the perfect fit.

"When I came here, I just fell in love with the campus, with the program itself and the curriculum," she said. "It just felt more aligned with my values and goals in comparison to other schools."

She said she found the hands-on experiences at UToledo to be the most impactful.

"I think it's really beneficial how they have the sim center," she said. "We're able to learn the hands-on stuff. We recently had an infant examination where they were able to bring a real child."

The Lloyd A. Jacobs Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Center (IISC) teaches students through cutting-edge methods such as high-fidelity simulation models, simulated clinical environments and virtual immersive environments, providing hands-on and immersive learning experiences.

Kelly Izsak, program director of the Physician Assistant Studies program, said that Zilberman is an exceptional student.

"Michelle is thoughtful, dedicated, service-oriented and deeply committed to the PA profession," Izsak said. "While balancing military service with the demands of PA school, she approaches every challenge with remarkable determination and professionalism, making her an outstanding representative of both our PA program and the physician assistant profession."

Zilberman balances her coursework and military duties each month, finding time wherever she can.

"I do a lot of coursework on the weekends," she said. "I fly back and forth because my unit is back in Pennsylvania. I have to balance it each month."

Zilberman still finds time to get involved on campus, recently becoming a student ambassador for the College of Medicine. She explains that she's the only PA student ambassador, making her a key point of contact for future PA Rockets.

"I know a lot of people need to differentiate between PA school and medical school," she said. "Just being able to talk to somebody and figure it out and get the knowledge of the differences to see what a better fit for them would be helps. In my experience, I have seen how PAs take the time to understand, diagnose and treat patients' medical conditions, which is what ultimately drew me to the profession."

Zilberman set out two potential paths after graduation: become a PA for the civilian side or continue her time in the military.

"After I get my degree, I could direct commission and continue my time in the reserves as a physician assistant," she said. "And be able to be a difference for service members who need medical assistance. On the civilian side, I'm kind of interested in general surgery or cardiology."

In addition to her clinical skills, she is fluent in four languages - French, English, Russian and Hebrew - noting the importance for people to understand their medical care in a language they speak.

Zilberman isn't sure which path she'll take after graduation, but she knows one thing: "I definitely want to make a difference in the medical field and help people out."