June 21, 2023

Old School Flashback

Brittany ‘s healthcare path began when she attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock, which is a HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), for her undergraduate degree.  She attained a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minored in Chemistry.  After graduating, she first worked as a Patient Care Technician at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, and later as a Histology Technician at UAMS Little Rock campus.  It is in that latter position she recognized she wanted to continue in her education and began researching the occupation of Physician Assistant.  To attain her patient care hours, Brittany served as a Medical Assistant in a Podiatrist office.  Upon becoming a PA-C, Brittany accepted a position with the Arkansas Children’s Hospital in the Hematology/Oncology division where her focus was on rare conditions such as Hemophilia and clotting disorders.

While practicing as a Hematology, PA Brittany provided a lot of patient education and taught other medical providers about bleeding disorders.  She also served as a Mentor for UAMS PA students in their Hematology elective rotation.  These opportunities highlighted her appreciation for the teaching and guiding future generations of Physician Assistants.  When a PA faculty position opened at UAMS, she applied and began as Program faculty in May 2021.  As faculty, Brittany especially likes the opportunity to coach PA students who may be facing challenges during their scholarly pursuits.

Brittany would like to share with our alumni and other medical providers that they should consider serving as a mentor for patient encounters, or a clinical preceptor for student rotations.  She relates, “It is a really is a rewarding experience for both mentors and students”

Brittany cherishes her family time.  Along with her husband, she raises two little girls.  She likes traveling and shares that her favorite trip was to Glasgow Scotland where she enjoyed both the scenery and the cuisine.  She practices yoga and has a passion for Lifestyle Medicine.  Brittany recently attained her Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional certification and is Course Director for the new Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine course in the UAMS PA Program.