In today’s Graduate Student Spotlight, we’re highlighting Physician Assistant student Sara Luna Salman!  Sara Luna is a dedicated researcher, and is fascinated by the human brain and how it correlates to behavior. In her undergraduate career, she was a member of the MIND lab group at our Ann Arbor campus– it was this experience that sparked her current interest in the subject! She hopes to continue to study the human brain and add on to her knowledge during her graduate studies, here at UM-Flint! She is a practical and resourceful member of her cohort, and enjoys exploring Flint in her free time away from school. Thank you for your participation, Sara Luna! We asked her our usual questions, and this is what she told us:

What’s Your Favorite Part of Your Graduate Program?

My favorite part of being a Physician Assistant Student at the University of Michigan-Flint has to be the diverse educational opportunities offered. The program’s curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the medical field, while also allowing for individual specialization and hands-on experience. Being in Flint, we have access to a variety of clinical sites, giving us the chance to work with a diverse patient population and gain real-world experience. Additionally, the supportive community and resources available to us, such as access to cutting-edge technology and knowledgeable faculty, has made the educational experience even more enjoyable. 

What’s Been Your Favorite Class?

Patient Evaluation

What’s Your Favorite Part of Campus?

I like that our campus is close to Downtown Flint. I am a city girl and I love being in the city and experiencing everything that it has to offer. I love how close the farmers market is and I enjoy going there whenever there’s a restaurant popup. It’s a great place to network while eating yummy food.

Any Advice for Other Students?

Find the things that fire up your passions. PA school is not easy and imposter syndrome is real. You need to find what motivates you and hold on to it, for you to be able to go through this rigorous program and succeed. Network and build a relationship with your faculty and fellow classmates. It is hard to go through grad school alone and we all need a support system that will understand your situation firsthand. Build a toolbox with different tools in it that you can pull out whenever you need to. TIME MANAGE. Finally, maintain a work life balance, work hard but also maintain your mental health and put yourself first always.