A One-Woman Show

Being the first to do anything comes with a multitude of unseen obstacles. To be the first means to possess flexibility, patience, and grace for yourself and those trying to help. 

Molly Lewis was one of the few first students that went through Franklin College’s Physician Assistant (PA) program. But because of her, many generations to come will benefit from her obstacles. 

“There were some growing pains with being the first class. Franklin helped with having a small class size, which made sure I had great relationships with all my professors.” said Lewis. “We had times scheduled throughout the program to check in and discuss how I was doing. PA school is difficult no matter where you go, but the support Franklin was able to provide was really helpful. They took our feedback into account and adjusted throughout the program as needed.” 

 Now, Lewis is an Itinerant Physician Assistant with Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation headquartered in Alaska. She travels to rural villages for ten days at a time, supplying primary and acute care to those in need. 

“The clinics I go to are typically either unmanned, meaning I am the only person there for the 10 days, or have an office assistant and/or health aid there. We are a full-service so generally I am answering phones, scheduling, drawing my own labs, mixing medicines for kids, dispensing meds from the small closet pharmacy in the clinic, drawing up and giving vaccines, etc. It also means I respond to any emergencies while I am there.” — Molly Lewis ’21

 As a one-woman show  Lewis has been stuck not only in villages but also spent eight hours trapped in a river due to flooding and loss of power. On top of that, the water systems in these villages are underdeveloped, so Lewis must bring her own drinking water to refrain from getting sick. 

 “Well, being off the road system is certainly very different. I have to conserve water and be prepared for power outages, but at the same time I am still practicing medicine. We are limited to the types of labs we can run, so we have to rely on physical exam and clinical suspicion, and consult frequently with physicians in Bethel and Anchorage,” said Lewis. “All that is to say, I do a lot while I go to the villages — as much as I can with whatever supplies or resources I may or may not have during the trip.”  

 Lewis’s mom got sick when she was starting her undergraduate degree, which is where she met her first PA. Inspired, Lewis changed her major and ended up in the PA program at Franklin. There she was immediately introduced to how to perform physical exams, which let her build other skills throughout the program. Lewis also had the opportunity to spend a semester in Heilbronn, Germany. The common denominator between her time at Franklin, her study abroad, and working in underserved communities in Alaska is Lewis’s passion for helping people. 

 “The great thing about the PA profession is there is a lot of room for lateral mobility in my career path. I hope to one day be in a position that allows me to be home with my husband and my dog every night,” said Lewis. “Past that though, just having a job that allows me to have meaningful visits with patients while also allowing me to explore outside and do all the fun things nature has to offer would be great.”