Experience, example, and excellence: ATSU-ASHS preparing students to serve underserved communities as physician assistants

Experience, example, and excellence: ATSU-ASHS preparing students to serve underserved communities as physician assistants

Guillermo Flores Aguilar, PA, '27, is a student in the A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program. A native of El Paso, Texas, he earned his bachelor of science in biology with a biomedical sciences concentration and double minors in chemistry and biomedical engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Before coming to ATSU, Flores Aguilar built an extensive clinical background as a multi-skilled technician, anesthesia technician, surgical tech, and lead cath lab tech, gaining hands-on experience across orthopedics, cardiology, and cardiovascular care in hospital and traveling surgical settings throughout Texas. He now serves as president of the PA Student Government Association Kettel Society and as a student ambassador, and is currently founding four new PA student organizations as part of his class legacy.

Why did you choose the PA program at ATSU-ASHS?

"I chose ATSU because it simply made sense to me for the kind of provider I wish to become and how I want to impact my community, due to its renowned reputation nationally throughout the medical community of consistently producing and molding excellent community-oriented practitioners in the osteopathic heritage that focus on whole person healthcare. I wanted to personally immerse myself in a program that honors and highlights the same three core values that have exemplified my atypical path to PA school: experience, example, and excellence. I hope to use my experiences to serve and give back to bilingual communities of underserved populations through leading by example as the next generation of PAs that strive to assimilate the ATSU 'body, mind, and spirit' philosophy of team-centered medicine."

What do you enjoy about being an ATSU student?

"What I enjoy most about being an ATSU student is how genuinely connected our community is. It doesn't feel like I'm just enrolled in a program, it feels like I'm part of a close-knit family where students, faculty, and staff all show up for each other. PA school is intense, but at ATSU you never feel like you're doing it alone. There's always support around you, whether that's faculty who truly want you to succeed, classmates who have your back, or resources like counseling and tutoring that are actually encouraged and easy to access.

"Student life here is also active and meaningful, and it really brings people together. We stay grounded in service through community outreach and volunteering, which reminds us why we chose medicine in the first place. The Diversity Festival and student-led events like Hispanic Heritage Month and Black History Month have impacted our program as a whole, diving deep into each other's cultures in ways that unite us in sharing and understanding what makes us truly alike. Interdisciplinary events like Founder's Day, PA Basketball Games, and PA vs. PT Pickleball and Powderpuff Football tournaments build camaraderie across all our programs. We've also had huge pride moments, like defending our title by winning the ASAPA Challenge Bowl for the second consecutive year. On top of that, Lunch and Learns give us the chance to connect with ATSU alumni, clinicians, and faculty in a way that feels approachable and practical. Overall, ATSU has this balance of hard work, service, culture, and genuine support, and to me that's what home should always feel like."

What do you hope to achieve professionally, and how is ATSU-ASHS helping prepare you for your career?

"With my prior roles focused in pre-op/OR, anesthesia/PACU, and surgical care, I saw firsthand the importance of every individual's respective task and how it aligns toward the uniform purpose of playing your role on a clinical team to ensure the patient's overall success. I would love to be a versatile PA throughout my career - providing primary care with consultations to diagnose, while also lending a steady hand first-assisting in the OR in either cardiothoracic or cardiovascular specialties.

"I am privileged to learn from faculty who teach unique approaches to treating patients from all different ages, races, and backgrounds. I will utilize my diverse upbringing and life experiences, along with the innovative strategies offered at ATSU, to advance our shared commitment to increased access to higher quality medical care for bilingual communities of Arizona and along the U.S.-Mexico borderland. Whatever my future holds, I know ATSU will give me the tools necessary to help bridge the physician shortage gap in serving diverse rural settings and medically underserved communities all over the border region, which I, along with thousands, proudly call home."

Why did you choose to get involved in student leadership and founding new organizations?

"What I enjoy most about being class president is realizing that leadership in PA school isn't about having a title, it's about creating a sense of belonging in an endeavor that can feel overwhelming and isolating. I love being able to connect people and help classmates feel seen, supported, and heard, especially on the hard weeks when everyone's running on caffeine and pure grit. Whether it's organizing something that brings us together, advocating for what our cohort needs, or simply being a steady point of communication, it's meaningful to know I'm helping build a culture where we don't just survive PA school, we absolutely crush it and do it together as a team. Watching this cohort grow into incredibly diverse future clinicians, and knowing I played even a small part in strengthening our community, is what makes it worth it."

Why did you become a student ambassador, and what do you enjoy about serving in this role?

"I became a student ambassador because of the impact they made on me since Day 1 during my interview as a nervous prospective PA student. They were a big part of my decision to come to ATSU, which I now know is the best place for me to be successful. I have enjoyed being a helpful resource for others and giving back in the same way, especially for students who are moving to a new city or state to pursue their dream career, as I had to do. Whether giving campus tours or offering transparent feedback on interview days, I have enjoyed representing ATSU to prospective students who will soon be in my position. We were all in their shoes at some point, and it's humbling and extremely rewarding to know you may have been a positive part of their journey."

What are some of your interests and hobbies outside of ATSU?

"I love spending time with my family and classmates outside of school. My hobbies include watching and playing sports, going to the gym, listening to music, singing, dancing, and traveling. My favorite hobby is playing basketball with my mentor on the weekends. I'm also planning to get involved with YMCA Mesa/Gilbert Youth Sports development programs so I can continue coaching basketball, something I did for five years in El Paso. I wholeheartedly believe that teaching young people the importance of teamwork through sports is one of the best ways to give back to the next generation of our communities."