“Patients come from all types of underrepresented backgrounds. It is an unexplained bond that occurs when you see community and patients that speak the same language as you and relate with you on core experiences that you share. That level of trust carries them through their entire patient experience.” -Alex Leng, PA-C
For May’s monthly edition of the “I Am NCAPA” Member Highlight, the North Carolina Academy of PAs (NCAPA) is excited to be highlighting the co-chairs of the Student Affairs Committee – Shay Shaw, PA-C, and Alex Leng, PA-C!
Alex Leng is a Physician Assistant (PA) practicing in hospital medicine at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, the very same hospital where he had gained his patient experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
A Cambodian-American from Lexington, North Carolina, Alex received his undergraduate degree from the University of California Irvine, prior to moving back to his Carolina roots. He is a proud graduate of the Wake Forest PA Program.
“My parents escaped a genocide in Cambodia and had to face hardships when they immigrated to the United States with little money,” he shares. “Growing up, I was very self-taught, and I went through a lot of struggle. In the end, it is really important to know that even though you may not have all of the same resources as your counterparts, as long you have that drive and energy to help others with an intrinsic motivation to give back to your community, that should be more than enough.”
Alex shares that he initially had no knowledge of the PA profession during his undergraduate experience. In fact, when he first heard about the PA role and wanted to learn more, he started by cold-calling PAs for information and requesting their advice online. “I actually reached out to YouTubers who vlogged their experiences as a PA on social media. They shared their PA school journey, their tips, and tricks. These were individuals who looked like me and achieved the journey.”
Although he got a handful of redirections and no responses, Alex explains that one YouTuber accepted his request to review his application. “These PAs were strangers to me. They did not know me, and yet, were willing to guide me through the process, review my essays, and were very straightforward with me the whole time.”
Alex continued to lean on social media for more information on PA school, connecting with PAs of color who had offered their stories of personal growth and overcoming adversity.
“Their advice still sticks with me to this day. They said, ‘don’t ever cut yourself short, and don’t be afraid to ask for a seat at the table.’” -Alex Leng, PA-C
On his journey within PA school, Alex remarks, “I graduated from PA school as a first-generation student, meaning no one in my family before me went to graduate school,” he says. “It was very difficult in the beginning, trying to navigate the process on my own and feeling a bit lost at times, with questions like ‘How do I apply for this school?’ or ‘How do I prepare for this entrance exam?’”
His experiences play a key part in his role as the NCAPA Student Affairs Committee co-chair. “When I graduated, I had the mentality that my work with mentoring future PAs and peers wasn’t done yet. I renewed my NCAPA Student Membership after graduation and became a Professional Member. I was shortly reached out to by NCAPA President and Wake Forest faculty, Andrea McKinnond, PA-C and was introduced to leadership roles within the Academy.”
He continues, “I always had a special place in my heart for mentoring and guiding those that may feel lost like I was, or experience imposter syndrome. The two mentors and Youtubers that did not know me at all but were so incredibly willing to help me. They did not know who I was, but only asked if I could pay it forward to the next generation of PAs. And that is what I hope to do as co-chair of the Student Affairs Committee.”
About to celebrate his first year working as a hospitalist PA, Alex reflects on where he hopes the PA profession will go in the next five or ten years. “I think the most important thing is to continue spreading the message of what a PA is, what our education and training consists of, and what we are capable of doing. I want to continue spreading the message of how PAs are collaborative and work alongside providers and caregivers in one common team, towards one common goal, which is to take care of our patients.”
And if he were not a PA? What would Alex choose to do instead? “I would honestly be an entrepreneur. I could see myself wanting to run my own business or creating a product for a service. I also really enjoy fitness and challenging myself with how many days I can fit any sort of movement/physical activity into my life (it’s been 554 days!). I have even done tai chi while in the middle seat of an airplane!”
Alex says, “I also really enjoy traveling – in fact, in the past year since graduating PA school, I’ve traveled to Japan, Switzerland, France, and Spain! I am really fortunate and thankful that I can have all of these incredible experiences, in part because of my journey as a PA.”
