Andrew Cos

My first official patient encounter as a PA student was in a VA hospital near Tampa, Florida. It didn’t go as I’d hoped, but everyone starts somewhere. A medical school professor had assigned each member of my class to different VA patients who  agreed to help us with our training. We were to obtain a comprehensive history from our patient, perform a physical exam, then share a succinct presentation to our classmates the next day.  At that point in my training, I struggled to redirect the flow of conversation. It seemed like everything the patient had to say could be important, so I just let him talk and talk and talk. Gradually, I found ways to politely interject and keep us moving forward. Two hours later, the visit was complete. I walked to the parking lot, frustrated and perplexed. All I could think was, “That was painful! Was this whole medical thing a mistake? How did I even get here?” Well, how did I get into a medical career? Let’s rewind several years before that VA ...

My earliest memories are of living on a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean. My father’s service in the U.S. Public Health Service took our family to Micronesia for a few years. I was four when I learned how to get to high-up mangos on the tree next to our single-story house. A large water tank near the back door served as my ladder, and some branches hung just above the shingles. Here, I first enjoyed the savory satisfaction of creative problem-solving . As I tossed some mangos down to neighbor friends, I also discovered that joy is richest when shared. Our family moved back to Illinois when I was five. Having only known an ocean of water, I discovered new beauty in the Midwest “oceans” of corn and soybean fields. And the possibilities for my creative mind stretched just as far, boundless.   Along my life’s journey, I have collected a wide range of skills and lessons by always being eager to learn and grow and give : Playing basketball and soccer taught me sportsmanship and ...