ATSU-CHC Physician Assistant student says program putting him on path to success
Posted: August 12, 2022
A.T. Still University-College for Healthy Communities (ATSU-CHC) Physician Assistant program student Matthew Chan, PA, ’23, is well on the way to reaching his goals through the Central Coast Physician Assistant program.
“What I love about being an ATSU student is the support that faculty have provided me,” Chan said. “They make themselves available for me to bounce questions or ideas off of, and give me both the textbook and the in-practice scenario answers. Being a new program, I love that faculty are receptive to student feedback and do their best to adjust things accordingly to help supplement our learning.
“ATSU is helping to pave the road to my goals by providing me the resources and support I need to become a knowledgeable, culturally-aware and empathetic healthcare provider.”
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Chan is a 2014 graduate of Syracuse University, with bachelor of science in nutrition science, a bachelor of arts in biology, and a minor in psychology. Chan was attracted to ATSU because of its mission and values of creating providers to serve medically underserved communities.
“Their focus on shaping culturally aware and competent healthcare providers will make a big impact on the care of the patients in these communities,” Chan said.
Chan has taken an active role as an ATSU-CHC student, becoming president of the Physician Assistants for Central Coast Community Health Student Society, and a student ambassador.
“I became a student ambassador because I wanted to share with other applicants my experiences of the program,” Chan said. “Being in the shoes of other applicants at one point, I know how nerve-wracking the process of applying and interviewing can be. I want to be there to answer their questions and ease their worries.
“One of my great achievements in the past year was the mentoring I’ve provided to PA applicants through advising, essay revisions, and mock interviews, where I’ve helped 28 students reach their dream of getting into PA school.”
When he’s not studying, Chan enjoys learning about food culture, cooking, and “most importantly, eating.” He enjoys roaming the beach with friends, traveling, watching NBA games, exercising, and walking his friends’ pets.
Ultimately, Chan hopes to become a well-rounded clinician who effectively treats and educates his patients.
“I look forward to acquiring a role within healthcare where I can utilize the growing field of medical informatics and data to improve current workflow and systems. Eventually, I would also like to return to ATSU as a professor and help with the education of the next wave of PAs,” Chan said.