Jill Trnka ’23
Major: Health Sciences
PA-S1, St. Ambrose University
How did Butler prepare you for your career?
My courses at Butler covered various topics within the healthcare field and beyond that gave me a well-rounded foundation for the content I am learning about in PA school. Science classes like Biology or Chemistry are crucial in this field. Still, other areas of our curriculum, such as Healthcare Communication, Ethics, and Health Disparities, helped prepare me to have essential and impactful conversations as a graduate student. Outside of Health Sciences, classes like my PWB in Pickleball remind me that work-life balance and time for yourself are necessary with any career.
What skills or knowledge gained at Butler have been most useful in your career?
One of the most important skills I developed at Butler was confidence in myself. Butler offers so many extracurricular activities, and I was able to get involved in Greek life, SGA, and I was a SOG for two years. My various leadership roles on campus taught me different ways to work with others. Most importantly, these positions forced me to get out of my shell and trust my abilities when taking on responsibilities and challenges. This growth has been invaluable for me during PA school interviews and interprofessional activities and will be beneficial when working with patients.
What is the most important thing you learned at Butler?
During my first year, I remember hearing people say, “Dawgs hold doors,” so much so that it became a common phrase in my friend group. It is an essential reminder that even small acts of kindness can go a long way in someone else’s life. In healthcare, your patients come from all backgrounds, and what could be just another day for you could be one of the worst days for them. Extending warmth and empathy to others is critical because you never know what could happen in their life.
Who influenced you the most while you were a student?
I met Dr. Jane Gervasio on my first few days on campus as she was my FIR in Irvington. She helped my roommates and me adapt to life at Butler and always emphasized well-being. Although she primarily teaches in the Pharmacy department, I was fortunate to take a few of her classes during my Junior and Senior years. In Integrative and Holistic Medicine, we learned about various self-care practices and got to work on implementing some into our own lives. In Sustainable Healthy Nutrition, we participated in local gardening and learned how to promote nutrition in our community, such as with food pharmacies. One of my favorite memories from that class was having a cooking competition at the end of the semester!
What advice do you have for students interested in pursuing a career in this field?
Gain as much experience as you can in different areas of the medical field. Narrow down what you do or don’t want to do as a career and give you knowledge about other professions you may be working with. Remind yourself that you are intelligent and capable, keep an open mind, and stay positive that everything will work out how it should.