Jennifer Spisak, MHA, PA-C

From her first doll, Dr. Barbie, to her first game, Operation, Jennifer Spisak knew a career in medicine was her true calling. “Growing up in the Midwest in the 1980s, practicing medicine meant being either a doctor or a nurse. I leaned toward the physician side of that and set myself up for medical school. Fast forward 25 years, I discovered the physician assistant (PA) profession. I shadowed both PAs and physicians, and, in that time, I realized that I was able to do more of what I wanted as a PA. I valued the time I saw the PA spend with the patient, and that realization set me on the course of pursuing PA school,” Spisak explains of her professional journey.

After earning her Bachelor of Science in neurobiology and physiology from Purdue University, Jennifer applied to the PA program at the School of Health Sciences of Touro University. With its big-city location and rigorous academics, Touro was an ideal fit for Spisak. “My educational experience at Touro reinforced my longstanding mantra that you get out of something what you put into it. Work hard, set yourself up for success, and be kind to people along the way,” she said.

Now serving as the Program Director of the Emergency Medicine APP Fellowship at NYU Langone Medical Center, Spisak appreciates the hard work and challenges involved in being a PA. She explains, “I truly value the face time I get with my patients as a PA. I believe that our patients benefit from team-based care, while also valuing the autonomy I've earned over my years of experience taking care of patients.”

Along the way, Jennifer has also learned the value of self-care. Despite the rigors of her demanding job, Jennifer always makes time for her beloved dog, cooking, and traveling. “It’s important to take time for those non-medical things you enjoy,” Spisak advises. Good advice for us all to remember!