Marissa Leavitt, PA-C
Profession:
Physician Assistant
Alma Maters & Graduation Years/Degrees:
Boston University, 2014, B.A.
Duke University Physician Assistant Program, 2018, M.H.S.
Preferred Pronouns:
she/her
Hometown:
Newton, MA
Where do you work, what are your main responsibilities, and are you working with a specific population?
I work as a Physician Assistant at Vibrant Dermatology in Dedham, MA. I work independently and cooperatively with my supervising physician, Dr. Joyce Imahiyerobo-Ip, treating a diverse group of patients. We treat all conditions related to the hair, skin, and nails.
Can you share your journey about how you became a PA? Have you always known you wanted to be a PA? Is there a specific moment/experience that solidified your career choice?
My mother’s moxie as a registered nurse inspired me from a young age to practice medicine. As such, as a student at Boston University, I enrolled in the pre-med track and planned to attend medical school. However, that dream changed upon spending a summer with my cousin during his medical residency. That summer I gained valuable insight regarding life after medical school, and decided to explore alternative options within the medical field instead of continuing down the traditional MD path. Next, through a combination of my life experiences with my cousin and professional experiences gained through shadowing multiple Physician Assistants in the Boston area (which I highly recommend to current students deliberating career paths), I decided to pursue a career as a mid-level provider. The most exciting aspect of this career to me is the profound opportunity to create a positive medical impact on patients, while maintaining a level of independence in practice, and still receiving a real work-life balance.
What does a typical day look like for you? Who do you work with most closely or collaborate with frequently? What does your work-life balance look like?
For me, a typical day involves caring for my patients’ various dermatological needs. Dermatology is fast paced and allows me to perform a multitude of both medical and cosmetic procedures, so each day is unique and exciting. I work closely with my supervising physician to diagnose, assess, and treat our patients. Seeing our patients heal over time and watching their confidence soar throughout the process is a privilege of the profession and, personally, one of my favorite parts. Additionally, our medical assistants are all either pre-med undergraduate students or in their gap years before graduate school. This grants me the opportunity to mentor these intelligent and driven young women, which is one of the most rewarding and unforeseen components of my career. If you are interested in gaining hands-on experience before graduate school, I would encourage you to check out our website at: https://vibrantdermatology.com/gap-year-program/.
What are some challenges in your profession that you did not expect while you were in undergrad/PA school?
The process of applying to PA school felt rather disorganized. All of the schools had different standardized testing, course, and direct patient care requirements. It was crucial to be extremely organized throughout the process.
What are some specific things you remember doing to prepare for applying to PA school?
While at BU I shadowed as many Physician Assistants as I could to get a true feel for the profession and also the different specialties.
Are there any tips/advice you would like to share with our pre-health students?
Seek out mentors through the BU alumni department and the surrounding hospitals. I still keep in touch with the providers I shadowed over ten years ago. I truly value these relationships and they have been instrumental throughout my career.