Page 15 - WesternU View - Fall/Winter 2014
P. 15
teacher. Her parents completed WesternU’s PA program “A lot of practitioners focus on patients when they
when she was a teenager. become ill,” Lo added. “I’m more focused on the whole
picture. What I’ve seen through their practice, they focus
“They’ve created a great lifestyle for themselves,” on patients not just when they’re sick, but when they are
Stephanie said. “I look up to both of them.” healthy, so they don’t become sick.”
Carl and Sheri both have dual backgrounds as PAs and Carl set up a model for how Lo could get into nursing
nurses. Carl graduated from WesternU’s PA program in school. He taught Lo how to take blood pressure and
1997, when it was a certificate program. Sheri graduated what is expected of a medical person in the military.
the following year. Both had already worked in health
care as RNs.
After graduation, Carl worked part time as a PA, then “A lot of practitioners focus on
worked full time teaching middle school math and
science. The Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks motivated patients when they become ill.
him to become a commissioned officer in the California
State Military Reserve. His goal is to work at a Veterans I’m more focused on the whole
Affairs hospital.
picture. What I’ve seen through
“I grew up in a military family, and I serve part time in their practice, they focus on
the military,” Smith said. “It’s a group of people I believe
in.” patients not just when they’re
Carl currently works as a physician assistant clinical sick, but when they are healthy,
coordinator at Western Pacific Medical Corporation,
where he also utilizes his nursing skills by supervising all so they don’t become sick.”
of the nurses who work under him in outpatient direct
rehabilitation. – Jeffery Lo, MSN-E
Carl and Sheri mentored another incoming College of
Graduate Nursing student, Jeffrey Lo, who is a first-year
Master of Science in Nursing-Entry (MSN-E) student. Lo’s “When he fulfilled all the requirements set before him,
interest in nursing started to grow when he met Carl we signed the recommendation for him to go to school,”
through the state military reserve. Carl said. “During that process, we became close. In a
sense, he’s part of our family.”
“He became a mentor to me. He started giving me insight
and direction on how to achieve my goal in nursing,” Lo Carl said he believes he was given the opportunities and
said. “Ever since then, they’re like my second family. gifts to help and heal people as a nurse and PA. In turn,
They showed me what it’s like to be a nurse and how to he and others in the health professions have an
become a provider.” obligation to pick their replacements.
Lo shadowed Carl and Sheri in their practices. “We have an obligation to find the best people we feel
are qualified. These are people who will take care of us
“They gave me more insight into what I want to be as a when we’re old and will take care of our family
nurse. I’m interested in becoming a nurse practitioner members,” Carl said. “When I went to my daughter’s
like them,” Lo said. “I’ve seen what they do in practice. It graduation, I went up to all the male students and told
influenced me and motivated me to follow in their them ‘Congratulations. I’m a nurse. You are my
footsteps. replacement.’” – Rodney Tanaka
WesternU View Fall/Winter 2014 13
when she was a teenager. become ill,” Lo added. “I’m more focused on the whole
picture. What I’ve seen through their practice, they focus
“They’ve created a great lifestyle for themselves,” on patients not just when they’re sick, but when they are
Stephanie said. “I look up to both of them.” healthy, so they don’t become sick.”
Carl and Sheri both have dual backgrounds as PAs and Carl set up a model for how Lo could get into nursing
nurses. Carl graduated from WesternU’s PA program in school. He taught Lo how to take blood pressure and
1997, when it was a certificate program. Sheri graduated what is expected of a medical person in the military.
the following year. Both had already worked in health
care as RNs.
After graduation, Carl worked part time as a PA, then “A lot of practitioners focus on
worked full time teaching middle school math and
science. The Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks motivated patients when they become ill.
him to become a commissioned officer in the California
State Military Reserve. His goal is to work at a Veterans I’m more focused on the whole
Affairs hospital.
picture. What I’ve seen through
“I grew up in a military family, and I serve part time in their practice, they focus on
the military,” Smith said. “It’s a group of people I believe
in.” patients not just when they’re
Carl currently works as a physician assistant clinical sick, but when they are healthy,
coordinator at Western Pacific Medical Corporation,
where he also utilizes his nursing skills by supervising all so they don’t become sick.”
of the nurses who work under him in outpatient direct
rehabilitation. – Jeffery Lo, MSN-E
Carl and Sheri mentored another incoming College of
Graduate Nursing student, Jeffrey Lo, who is a first-year
Master of Science in Nursing-Entry (MSN-E) student. Lo’s “When he fulfilled all the requirements set before him,
interest in nursing started to grow when he met Carl we signed the recommendation for him to go to school,”
through the state military reserve. Carl said. “During that process, we became close. In a
sense, he’s part of our family.”
“He became a mentor to me. He started giving me insight
and direction on how to achieve my goal in nursing,” Lo Carl said he believes he was given the opportunities and
said. “Ever since then, they’re like my second family. gifts to help and heal people as a nurse and PA. In turn,
They showed me what it’s like to be a nurse and how to he and others in the health professions have an
become a provider.” obligation to pick their replacements.
Lo shadowed Carl and Sheri in their practices. “We have an obligation to find the best people we feel
are qualified. These are people who will take care of us
“They gave me more insight into what I want to be as a when we’re old and will take care of our family
nurse. I’m interested in becoming a nurse practitioner members,” Carl said. “When I went to my daughter’s
like them,” Lo said. “I’ve seen what they do in practice. It graduation, I went up to all the male students and told
influenced me and motivated me to follow in their them ‘Congratulations. I’m a nurse. You are my
footsteps. replacement.’” – Rodney Tanaka
WesternU View Fall/Winter 2014 13
