Airman trades scale for stethescope

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class William O'Brien
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  An Edwards Airman was recently selected to attend the Tri-Service Physician Assistant program in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. 

Senior Airman Melissa Wendt, 412th Maintenance Squadron precision measurement equipment laboratory technician, is one of 37 Airmen who will attend the program in April 2009.

"I'm really excited for the opportunity," said Airman Wendt, Air Force Sergeant's Association Airman of the Year Award winner and Volunteer of the Year Award winner. "This is what I wanted to do before I enlisted, and I am glad I'm getting this opportunity." 

To be selected for this physician assistant program, applicants must meet certain criteria including be active duty between grades E-3 and E-8. They must also receive a minimum score of 80 on the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery, as well as have a Scholastic Aptitude Test composite score of 1425. 

An applicant must also have 60 semester hours of transferable college credit, and cannot have a court-martial or have received an Article 15 during their current enlistment.

"Meeting all the criteria while doing my job was hard," Airman Wendt said. "I had to get everything done for the PA program and still perform my part of the mission."

The Tri-Service Physician Assistant program has two phases. The first phase is didactic courses that include basic sciences, clinical medicine, orthopedics, cardiology, surgery, obstetrics gynecology, dermatology, neurology and radiology. It also includes psychiatry, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, primary care and advanced trauma management.

The second phase is completed in an on-base clinic, where the students apply what they learned to hands-on situations.

"I am confident that Airman Wendt will be successful," said 1st Lt. David Supinski, 95th Medical Operations Squadron, a staff physician assistant who helped orient Airman Wendt about the physician assistant career field. "The program is demanding but, with the work ethic that she displays, I am certain she'll do well."

Airman Wendt spent more than 100 hours volunteering at the 95th Medical Group clinic to understand how the physician assistant program works, he said.

"As someone who has completed the course, I'm confident her work here has prepared her for what she will be expected to do in the program," Lieutenant Supinski said.

If successful in completing both phases of the program, Airman Wendt will be commissioned as a first lieutenant.

"I feel I'm fully prepared for the program," Airman Wendt said. "I went to college and majored in a similar career field, and my work with Lieutenant Supinski prepared me for the practical aspect of the course." 

For more information, visit http://www.samhouston.army.mil/ipap