Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Peth.
Hi Rachel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My story is a little confusing because of the vastly different fields I am in; music and medicine. Ever since I was little, I’ve loved performing, dancing, singing, etc. but I was also naturally interested in science and the human body and dreamt of taking care of kids. If you know many people in the medical field, it is actually very common to have creative interests such as music and using it as an outlet from the intensity of medicine sometimes.
I am a certified physician assistant currently in a yearlong pediatric surgery training program. When I am not in the hospital, I am collaborating with other artists, writing songs in the studio, or taking lessons, and I truly enjoy every minute of it. It really is an escape from the intensity that can come with pediatric surgery, which is a very meticulous and careful field of medicine. Fortunately, it is also a lot of fun because the kids can really brighten your day. You have to keep a positive attitude and stay strong for them.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing worth having is ever easy to achieve. Like most people, life outside of your career can get in the way. Whether you let it completely take over your life or not is a different story. I believe there are different phases of life. Just because you may be in a really tough spot right now does not mean it will always be this way. There were definitely a lot of bumps in the road, big and small. Without getting into detail, I moved four times within my two years of PA school due to life circumstances outside of my control. At one point, I slept on an air mattress for 2 months and had an incredible friend that let me stay with her a few times. She was a huge support when I really needed it. I think having a difficult road on the way to your destination is almost necessary. It can give you an appreciation for how far you have come, no matter what phase of your journey you are in.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a pediatric surgery physician assistant. I completed 4 years of undergrad and 2 years of PA school, where I earned my master’s in physician assistant studies. I then took my board exam that certifies I can practice as a PA. I am currently training at the only accredited pediatric surgery PA fellowship in the US. There were 60 applicants, and 4 of us were chosen. We are required to work a minimum of 60-hour weeks (we typically do five 12-hour shifts in a row Monday-Friday). I get the opportunity to learn from world-renowned pediatric surgeons, assist in various surgeries including heart, transplant, neuro, general, etc. It has been an eye-opening experience. I am always so happy to see healthy kiddos when sometimes all I see at work is very sick kids. I truly love what I do and cannot wait to see where I end up once this fellowship ends in February 2024.
The career that was placed on the back burner due mostly to my medical training is music. Any and all free time I have is typically spent honing my skills as a singer, writing/making music, and connecting with other artists. I don’t have any songs out yet because of the last few years in medical training. Also, in all honesty, I’m a perfectionist. I really want to make sure the first song I put out is truly who I am as an artist and sets me in the right direction. Trust, I have projects in the works though. I cannot wait for everyone to hear!
These are two vastly different careers that most definitely sound a little odd when mentioned together, but I am proud of my path. I am able to fund my music and feel extremely fulfilled by my work in medicine. Making music and performing is a passion of mine, but I don’t see my career in medicine as a backup plan. I see it as a challenging opportunity. I have had self-doubt in medicine and in music my entire life. I never thought I would make it to PA school, and I definitely never thought I was talented enough to make music. I have thankfully continued to prove myself wrong. I encourage others to do the same and challenge those thoughts of negativity. No one will believe in you until you do.
What do you think about luck?
I cannot say I truly believe in luck, but maybe it does exist in some cases. Moving to Texas has opened so many doors for me, and whether it is luck or fate, I don’t know. I can say I feel lucky every day! Either way, I worked hard to be where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelpeth/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/rachelpeth
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/shop/rachelpeth?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_aipsfrachelpeth_J4ST0N849PZ1S54DHQQ8
