Confusione admitted that her existing research experience was limited to shadowing a doctoral student in an exercise physiology lab as an FSU undergraduate. Still, she was intrigued by the opportunity.
“ I thought it would be an interesting article to write and research, and I also thought it would challenge me,” she said.“ I really had no experience with academia and writing, especially with something like a specific disease.
“ It was kind of handed to me and like,‘ Write something and I’ ll look at it and edit it.’ We wrote it together and he was super encouraging; very helpful and supportive throughout the whole experience.”
Confusione said her clinical exposure at Dermatology Associates, in an office with College of Medicine assistant professor and dermatologist W. Harris Green, M. D., and accompanying Hasbargen and Jennie Merchant, PA-C, to Marianna where they would treat patients, was especially beneficial. She said watching them work together and interact with patients was“ one of the most beneficial and impactful things that happened during my year there.”
Those interactions further strengthened her desire to become a PA, which was piqued as an undergrad. The appeal of the fast-track to a medical career with less debt, the lateral mobility the field offers and the opportunity to spend more time with patients and have a work-life balance were equally enticing.
Those weekly trips to Marianna also influenced her research into atopic dermatitis.
“ I felt like I had a lot to learn about the subject,” Confusione said.“ Working with [ Hasbargen and Merchant ], seeing different patients, helped me see it clinically.”
“ Through it all, it really opened my eyes to the multi-bacterial disease that atopic dermatitis really is. There are so many factors in someone having it.”
The published article addresses both the genetic and environmental factors of the disease.
“ It really affects a person’ s life, especially in the Asian population,” she said.“ In the article, I talk about a certain gene that has been found to have a high prevalence in these populations that might predispose these individuals to have atopic dermatitis. It just opened my eyes to how a chronic condition can have an overall impact on the quality of a person’ s life. It was a very enlightening experience.”
Saejin Confusione collaborated with College of Medicine clerkship faculty member Tristan Hasbargen, MMS, PA-C on a research article published in the Journal of Dermatology for NPs & PAs.
Hasbargen had high praise for Confusione’ s written work.
“ Her dedication and craft to writing really stood out to me,” he said.“ I was very impressed with her articulation and understanding of the topic. She is the first student I have worked with on a publication, but to be honest, her work was a lot better than other practicing PAs and nurse practitioners whom I have helped get published in the past.”
Both Hasbargen and Confusione acknowledge the professional benefits associated with research.
“ We are pushing for more and more PAs and nurse practitioners to get published in order to advance our profession,” Hasbargen said.“ I believe that they can be overlooked due to their lack of experience in publications, clinical trials and research. This only adds value to our profession and gives more credibility to our areas of expertise.”
“ Medicine is constantly evolving and changing,” Confusione added.“ We’ re going to have to be up to date on the latest technology and innovations, that I think specifically with this research project – looking at different articles and picking out the findings, conclusions and results – was really helpful for me to see.
“ It’ s important to have a well-versed perspective on articles that come out and be able to transfer that to the patient for diagnosing and implementing.”
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