Asha Byrd, a student in the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP), aspired from a young age to help her community through a career in healthcare, ultimately landing on becoming a physician assistant (PA).
As an undergraduate student, Byrd participated in the Four Directions Summer Research Program at Harvard, a program whose mission is to train the next generation of leaders in Native American healthcare. While participating in the program, Byrd was able to explore the different professions within healthcare and their impact.
“It was at Harvard that I had a chance to fully explore the role of PAs in the healthcare system and the flexibility and range of care I would be able to provide as a future PA,” said Byrd. Her experiences there propelled her toward being a PA and ultimately brought her to RMUoHP.
While PA school is challenging and demanding, Byrd focuses on maintaining balance between school, clinical rotations, and her own well-being to help her be successful. “Similar to the way flight attendants ask adults to put on their oxygen masks prior to helping children and others, I believe providers should ensure their ‘oxygen mask’ is on by keeping their physical and mental health as a top priority to ensure they can provide outstanding care for their patients,” said Byrd.
Even as a student, Byrd has also found success and made an impact through her participation in community events, such as Utah County’s recent Mask Up campaign encouraging students to wear a mask to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Byrd represented RMUoHP by speaking at the press conference with local mayors and county officials. “I was able to educate the population about the significance of masks and other preventative measures during this pandemic by standing behind a cause that I feel is truly essential for all community members,” said Byrd.
Byrd’s passion for helping the community will continue on as she finishes the MPAS program and starts her career as a PA. “I truly hope to make a direct impact on underserved communities as soon as possible, wherever that path may take me. I aim to be in a position where I can provide care specifically to Native American and rural communities, many of whom lack critical medical, social, and economic support.”
Her heritage and passion to care for the community will make a significant impact on her work as a healthcare provider. “As a multiethnic individual with a South Asian and Native American mother and father respectively, my heritage has taught me that tolerance and diversity should be revered and practiced in all aspects of your life,” said Byrd.
“I believe my unique heritage will help me in navigating complex social and intergenerational interactions and expectations. My upbringing and cultural background inspire me to connect with patients of all backgrounds and to take the time to fully understand and respect each person’s own unique cultural and social perspectives. Many patients find it difficult to find providers that resemble them. I hope that my diverse background will enable my future patients to have a stronger connection with me.”
As the United States grapples with diversity awareness and support, students like Byrd who seek to understand and support diversity provide hope toward an improved and more equitable healthcare system because of their desire to provide patient care across all populations.
Byrd said, “The presence of diversity among healthcare providers impacts every patient who walks through the door. It assures them that their culture and ethnic background is respected and ensures that there is someone who can identify with them, communicate with them, and better serve their individual needs. People from different cultures may perceive disease and treatments in different ways and face barriers that others are not even cognizant of. Increasing the diversity of providers can help dismantle such barriers that patients face when seeking care and can contribute to a greater quality of healthcare for all.”
She adds, “In various studies across industries and disciplines, it was found that diversity in gender, culture, etc. within a team resulted in greater overall performance and/or output. I believe this to be especially true in healthcare, where performance can be measured in efficacy and quality of patient care, which is greatly improved through the diversity of the medical team.”
For Byrd, a large part of that understanding of diversity and passion for care comes from learning of her own heritage. “As a member of the Shawnee Tribe, I have not only witnessed, but also learned vast amounts about the cumulative historical trauma and internalized oppression of native and indigenous peoples that arose from exposure to wars, genocide, disease, and forced removal and relocation over generations. The resulting trauma our people, cultures, and traditions have suffered from over time has had tangible consequences, which have manifested in all aspects of health (emotional, mental, physical, spiritual),” said Byrd.
“There are many such disadvantaged groups and diasporic populations across the nation that have suffered systemic oppression, disparities, and inequalities for years now. The process of healing for native populations and other minority groups should not be viewed solely as a shared goal between patient and provider, but it instead should be acknowledged that providers have the responsibility to educate themselves on their patient’s histories to better serve and empower them,” said Byrd.
Byrd and Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions recognize the importance of raising cultural and historical awareness during Native American Heritage Month and beyond. “The importance of honoring Native people runs much deeper than this one month of celebration and commemoration but should be a step toward an ever present recognition of the historic and significant contributions of Native Americans and Indigenous people,” said Byrd.
