We have been honoring Physician Assistants and Pharmacists throughout the month of October. 

In this final week, we are happy to feature both a physician assistant and a pharmacist: Cameron Mortensen, CHAP Training Center Coordinator, is a Physician Assistant who has served at YKHC for over five years and Modinat Ope, a pharmacist who joined our team of competent healthcare professionals this year.

Let’s first hear from Cameron Mortensen as he shares his journey to becoming a Physician Assistant with us:

I started working as a pharmacy technician for Walgreens Drug store while I was in high school. This experience nurtured and spurred my interest in a career in healthcare.  At the time, however, I was unsure of which healthcare profession to pursue. The two foremost options in my mind were working in a pharmacy or in a clinical setting.

After serving a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints in Guatemala, I enrolled in a pre-med program. At the time, I was not aware that a career as a Physician Assistant (PA) existed. It was in the pre-med program that I learned about the PA program. My focus switched from pre-med to the PA program as I felt that a career as a PA was more fitting for me. 

PA school was a two-year program. However, there were many prerequisites to being accepted into PA school. Not only did you have to complete a degree, you also had to accumulate the required number of direct patient care hours to qualify for PA school. Working for several years as an EMT and as a Medical Assistant while pursuing my degree was demanding. I persevered in spite of grueling schedules and juggling school and work as I needed to gain experience in direct patient care for admission into the PA program.  

I love what I do. As in any career, there are tough days when work tests and challenges the very best of us. However, the joy of seeing those we serve become healthier and heal from various ailments make my work gratifying. Not only do I love the work I do, seeing how my work impacts and influences the community health aides and the valued communities we are privileged to serve is intrinsically rewarding. 

A couple of years ago I transferred to the CHAP Training Center, a career move that expanded my opportunities to serve. I have not looked back since. It has been so fulfilling to be a part of and to support the delivery of quality healthcare through the kind and caring hands of committed community health aides, itinerant providers, instructors, and many others who work concertedly to support each other to serve our region.

The immense impact of the community health aides in the delivery of healthcare services to communities throughout our region motivates me to excel and do more to support them. As front-line workers who oftentimes have to work under challenging conditions of inclement weather and staffing shortages, among other difficult circumstances, I salute them for their sacrifices and service to their home, their communities.

Yes, the community health aides are the real heroes in this story. My supporting role to enable them to cultivate and expand their skills set as they continue to deliver quality health services has been gratifying and one of the highlights of my career.  As I reminisce, I am grateful that I made the switch to become a physician assistant many years ago!

Modinat Ope now shares her story of becoming a pharmacist:

My family thought I would end up as an engineer because I love to fix things around our home and in our neighbors’ houses. During my childhood years, my sisters and I would usually stop at the hospital where my dad worked on our walk home. Spending time in the dispensary where my dad worked was where I developed my passion and joy of becoming a pharmacist. I saw how he dealt with patients and colleagues and often envisioned myself as a pharmacist, a goal that I was able to accomplish many years later.

I spent four years getting my undergraduate degree and four years in pharmacy school, so a total of eight years of education. During my third year of undergraduate studies, I started working as a certified pharmacy technician. This experience was invaluable and cemented my career goal to follow in my dad’s footsteps and become a pharmacist.

My work has positively impacted me both personally and professionally. Working with different healthcare professionals/practitioners and serving the community has heightened my awareness of the importance of healthy living for me and everyone within my circle of influence.

It has taught me to be more patient, sympathetic and empathetic. I still have a lot of room to grow to fortify my skills set. I am appreciative of the chance to meet and work with other smart, courageous and knowledgeable healthcare providers who have been great coaches and mentors to me.

I have had the opportunity to work and volunteer in different parts of the US. I love to participate in guest speaking events and in races to support and to give back to communities. My profession has, indeed, expanded my opportunities to help others. Family members, friends, patients and associates often call me when they have questions or concerns about their medications. 

I am grateful for this new journey as a pharmacist at YKHC and look forward to meeting more healthcare professionals/colleagues and exploring and helping this new community. What awaits me both personally and professionally in Bethel and the surrounding villages in the YK Region is an adventure that excites me!