Alumni Spotlight: Eliot Backer
ELLIOT BACKER, Journalism B.A.
Physical Assistant in Dermatology
What led you to this profession?
As a freshman at the U of M, I knew I wanted to do something in the health science. I began shadowing various areas and realized I would be a good fit for the PA profession. I also worked at ACR homes as a personal care provider with autistic men and realized I thrived in the patient care realm of work. I ran with it and never looked back!
What kinds of obstacles have you encountered in pursuing your goals, and how did you overcome them?
Number one obstacle for me was the academic challenges. Grades are important to get into many healthcare professional programs. Many of my friends were in business majors in undergrad and could care less about their grades and focused more on internship experiences and had a lot more fun than I did on weekends. I was forced to be disciplined on weekends and study to make sure I could secure a spot in a graduate PA program. Staying in on most weekends takes a lot of discipline. However, it is worth it long term. Make sure you surround yourself with like-minded health science-oriented people that are taking school seriously and are mature in their studies.
What is your advice for current CLA students interested in a healthcare career?
Shadow shadow shadow. Did I say shadow? For real, you may think you are interested in being a "pediatrician" or "physical therapist" or "physician assistant". Your concept of what that job would be like in your head is typically not really what it is actually like in real life. Use the U of M career center and any other campus resources you can to try to connect with healthcare professionals in the areas you are interested in and shadow to see if you are really willing to take the big step of dedicating a big part of your life to long days of classes, studying, and lifelong learning. Healthcare professions take a passionate and dedicated person that wants to make an impact. If that's not you. You may be making a bad decision to embark on a long road if your heart is not in it.
