Alec Fields, a former fleet Marine force hospital corpsman, discovered a passion for medicine while in charge of the health and wellbeing of the Marines with whom he was stationed in Afghanistan.
鈥淚 always knew I wanted to do something in medicine or in the medical field,鈥� Fields said. 鈥淚 loved the experience. It was something I got direction from.鈥�
When Fields separated from the United States Navy, he was armed with real-world health care experience and expertise, but he felt there were a lack of options for non-traditional students like him who sought careers in the civilian world.
鈥淭hat young, and without a college degree, I was able to do things that I didn鈥檛 need a degree to do,鈥� he said of his time in the service. 鈥淏ut you are actually very limited in your options of what you can actually get out of the Navy as a hospital corpsman.鈥�
That led him to pursue the field of physician assistant studies which has its roots in North Carolina and supported veterans like him. He is a first-year student in the聽 Physician Assistant Studies program in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very refreshing that 大象传媒 values my experience,鈥� Fields said. 鈥淭he fact that this program takes students like me, and non-traditional students, and people who didn鈥檛 go right through school and wind up here; I think that鈥檚 a huge benefit, and it made me feel a lot more confident applying to this program.鈥�
Paul Chelminski, the division’s director, said non-traditional students like Fields exemplify the mission and vision of the PA program.
鈥淭he true measure of our veterans’ excellence is that鈥攄espite service and often physical and psychological sacrifice鈥攖hey model a calm, reassuring confidence in the educational and professional environment.鈥�
Fields is set to graduate in December 2020; he is the first person in his family to have a bachelor鈥檚 degree and the first to pursue a master鈥檚 degree. Fields said he strives to be an example to his siblings and his two children.
鈥淢y path to get here was a lot longer and not necessarily a straight road, I鈥檓 still here and still working on it,鈥� Fields said.
After he graduates from the program in May 2020, Fields hopes to continue working in the medical profession and begin work in eastern North Carolina.
Fields is a Blue Cross NC Physician Assistant scholar, which has provided him with scholarship support during his time as a student.
鈥淢inimizing that [student loans] is going to relieve a lot of the stress that I鈥檓 going to deal with after school when I get my first job and have to start paying off my student debt.鈥�
Paul Roman Chelminski, MD, MPH, FACP, has directed the PA program since its inception in 2015. The Department of Allied Health Sciences is housed in the 大象传媒.聽
鈥擜bigail Turner, Web and Content Developer Intern