Two medical students do clinical rotations at Jewell County Rural Health Clinic

Two medical school students from this general area, 25-year-old Drake Kee from Beloit and 31-year-old Trenton Colburn from Belleville, are enrolled in the Kansas State University's Physicians Assistant program doing clinicals at Jewell County Rural Health Clinic since early January. The clinicals began Jan. 8 and concluded Wednesday.

Kee is a graduate of St. Johns High School in Beloit. He is in his second year of the physician assistant program and this is his first clinical rotation. Kee said he was inspired to go into the medical field because he wanted to be able to take care of people in the times they need it most.

"My parents weren't in the medical field," Kee said but he does have an aunt and a brother who are nurses. His sister is an occupational therapy assistant. His oldest brother is a dentist. "The medical field just seemed to be the right thing to study," Kee commented.

Kee is leaving his speciality undeclared for now. However he likes the time in family medicine In family medicine, he commented, "You have to be like a Jack of all trades."

Kee worked in dermatology before as a medical assistant, but this is his first clinical in the physician's assistant program. "If I come into something I love, then great, but I'm leaving it open," he said. He said his destination will depend on his speciality. "I'm leaning more towards rural areas," Kee explained. "I'm not much of a city person."

Kee enjoys hunting, fishing and doing a little bit of woodworking in his free time. Last year, however, he didn't have the free time to do any of that as exams were given four out of five days. "I juggle life and the demands of school carefully," Kee said. This year, Kee is able to relax a little and focus on patient care as there aren't as many exams.

The physician assistant students are assigned different locations to do their clinicals. For this first clinical rotation, he received a call and was told that Jewell County Rural Health Clinic had a position. Since he was from around the area, he took the position. In this clinical rotation, Kee saw patients, gave reports to providers, did physical exams, interpreted lab results, looked at chest x-rays and did a few procedures.

Kee's favorite part of PA school is definitely the clinicals. His least favorite part has been the exams last year. He said he enjoys seeing patients and applying the knowledge he has gained.

Kee said he is a lifelong learner and who enjoys learning about things and people. "If you see me shopping or just out in the community, just come up and say Hi" Kee said.

Trenton Colburn is a graduate of Republic County Junior-Senior High School. He has a longtime interest in physiology. In high school, the sciences were what he was drawn to. He said, "I wanted to do physical therapy, but then decided I wanted to do more." So, Colburn went back to school and got his PhD. That didn't provide him with the opportunity to work with patients in a clinical setting, so Colburn set his sights on becoming a physician assistant.

Colburn is undecided on a speciality and said, "I am hoping to get a clearer idea this year going through all of the rotations." He is considering family practice in a small area, but is maintaining an open mind. He wants to stay in Kansas but where in Kansas will be dependent on the speciality he chooses and job availability.

Since the physician assistant program takes a lot of work, there is little down time. Colburn takes time to see his wife and family and watches shows to give his mind a little break. He likes to do outdoor activities, including running, hiking and trail biking.

Doing his first clinical in Jewell County was chosen for him. "They gear towards areas where students are from, and the availability of positions," Colburn explained. His favorite part of clinicals was interacting with patients, getting their life story and background. "Clinicals are definitely more enjoyable than the book work," Colburn said. His least favorite part of the program is the long period of classes. "You have a full 12 months of schooling with no summer break," he explained.

"I'm always interested in knowing my patients, both health related and non-health related since those two things go together. There's a reason the patient is in the clinic and getting help, but they also have a life," He said.

Colburn wants people to know that if they see him, in or out of a clinic, they can feel free to come up and talk to him.

The PA program through K-State is a 27-month program, and Kee and Colburn are in month 15. Their projected graduation date is May, 2025.