Sophia Collier

I am currently a medical assistant assuming the role of clinical lead following the retirement of my mentor, Lark Ann Waltimyer, LPN. Through phlebotomy, prophylactic injections, and point-of-care testing, we serve a diverse adult patient population managing chronic and acute conditions. I coordinate care for 20-45 patients daily and we serve as liaisons between three providers and patients. For the past six months, I have independently managed laboratory quality control and completed over 99% of prescription prior authorizations.

I assisted in and performed high-responsibility tasks supporting both preventative and surgical patient care. I prepared patients for excisional, trauma-related, and biopsy procedures conducted to evaluate potential malignancies. Following these procedures I prepared surgical specimens for pathology, educated patients on wound care and coordinated plans for follow-up. I also communicated benign pathology results, scheduled outpatient excisions, and independently evaluated and removed sutures during routine post-operative visits. Worked alongside two PA-Cs and one double board-certified plastic and general surgeon.

I was invited by the neuroscience staff to apply for a teaching position in which I instructed peers in neuroscience research techniques. I administered bisphenol-A (BPA) to rodent subjects and collected data on anxiety-related behaviors. I performed all terminal injections and instructed students in cardiac perfusions, ovariectomies, brain dissections, and cryosectioning techniques. I upheld ethical standards of animal care outlined by Dickinson’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). This role strengthened my procedural leadership and commitment to responsible research.

As part of a Spanish for the Health Professions course, I participated in weekly 5-hour clinical outreach sessions serving migrant agricultural workers. I performed patient registration, obtained vital signs, and educated patients about primary care services offered by Keystone Health. Working in a fully Spanish-speaking setting, I translated consent forms for influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations and facilitated communication between patients and nurses during vaccine administration. I also assisted in the setup of mobile clinic sites across orchards and distributed health kits containing hygiene and respiratory protection supplies to reduce pesticide exposure.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked as a dietary aide in a neurodegenerative unit of a retirement home where I was responsible for food safety and infection prevention standards during a period of rapidly changing workflows. I collaborated with nurses and a licensed dietitian to provide residents with standard, mechanical soft, and puréed diets. Through 12+ hour shifts, I strengthened my adherence to PPE use and pathogen control protocols while supporting clinical care for a vulnerable population during a public health crisis. During some of the most difficult days of 2021, I also helped prepare an enjoyable final meal for residents as their families gathered outside the sick room windows to say goodbye.