National PA Week: Jess Ridgely, Northwest Hospital Department of Internal Medicine

It's National Physician Assistant Week, and we're celebrating our dedicated physician assistants at LifeBridge Health by having them share their stories.


Why I became a Physician Assistant
by Jess Ridgely, Northwest Department of Internal Medicine and Surgery

When I was looking for a lifelong career, I knew it had to be an active, dynamic and growing profession. When presented with a physician assistant (PA) opportunity, it seemed to fit my expectations.

A native Baltimorean, I went to Campbell University in North Carolina for undergraduate studies, and originally thought I wanted to be an athletic trainer. But becoming a PA offered a range of opportunity in all specialties of medicine with flexible schedules and seemed conducive to family lifestyle.

I completed the Towson University/Essex Community College PA program, and found that becoming a PA provided vast opportunities, from working in a pediatrician's office to an emergency room to a private family practice. Ultimately, working at Northwest Hospital seemed to be the best fit for me. I enjoy managing a wide variety of internal medicine diagnoses, and being a first-assistant in the operating room. Balancing complicated issues on the medical zones AND having the ability to use technical skills in the operating room has proved to be personally rewarding.

But the biggest reward is having a patient say thank you; not only for knowledgeably treating physical ailments, but also for caring about the emotional/mental well-being of the patient. For the family, coming to the hospital is often anxiety provoking, and we are there to help.

Are you interested in working with Jess? Click here to see our open positions at LifeBridge Health.