Hello, my name is Nkem Asianua and I am currently a second-year student attending the physician assistant program at the University of Utah. For those of you who do not know, my journey to gaining acceptance into PA school was not an easy road. I encountered setbacks along my journey in terms of making sure that I was not only able to meet the requirements to apply, but also to make sure that I did the personal work to strengthen my emotional maturity and leadership skills along the way. Although the path was not easy, I stayed the course because I knew the profound impact I would have on my community by doing so.

That being said, I now have the opportunity in January to participate in an international elective in Thailand as part of my clinical rotation experience. Throughout the years, I have participated in a variety of community engagement opportunities within my community and I have found this to be an important way to not only help meet the needs of that area, but also build impactful bonds. Going to Thailand would provide me with a better understanding of how different cultures are filling the gaps in healthcare (particularly in primary care and women’s health) as well as identify various perspectives on helping patients become better advocates for themselves.

My goal is to raise $7,000 to help me cover the tuition and travel costs. Some barriers that I currently face are having to pay out-of-state tuition, not being able to work during my program (it is strongly discouraged) and being away from my support system in California. I know that within this current economy, money is tight and not everyone has it to give. However, any amount raised to support my efforts will be much appreciated and would truly go towards a worthy cause.