Name/class year:
Jessica Buck '05
Major: Biology
Minor: English
Employment: Physician Assistant
City: Richmond, Va.
College Involvement: Kappa Alpha Theta, Peer Project Leader, Resident Assistant
How She Helps Allegheny: GatorLocator.org online mentor
Her Advice to Students:
"Spend as much time as possible with professionals in the fields you are interested in."
Jessica Buck didn't plan to become a physician assistant—until she took advantage of a job shadowing opportunity while an Allegheny student.
Although she was primarily observing an orthopedic surgeon, Buck interacted with a physician assistant (PA) as well. She continued to explore the field by shadowing PAs in other medical specialties, and she went on to earn a master's degree in PA studies from Chatham University.
Now employed at a medical practice in Richmond, Va., Buck diagnoses and treats patients with a variety of conditions. She orders diagnostic tests, prescribes medications, and arranges referrals to other physicians.
Buck says Allegheny prepared her well for the challenges of graduate school and a career in medicine. "Many of my [graduate school] classmates had never read a medical journal before and struggled through the process," she explains. "Meanwhile, I had read three or four journal articles weekly in my junior seminar and read many, many articles in the research for my comp." She adds that biology classes helped to refine her ability to think critically and independently—skills that have proven invaluable in the constantly evolving world of patient care.
The First Five is a series of profiles celebrating the accomplishments of recent Allegheny College graduates in their first five years as alumni. Read more First Five profiles here.
