In this series, we will be sharing the stories of members of our community who are working and volunteering in the healthcare field during the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. We want to say thank you to the countless alumni, parents, and other members of our community who are working tirelessly to keep us healthy and safe. We appreciate everything you do.
Healthcare Heroes Series: Physician Assistant Andrea McGovern '07
Andrea McGovern '07 is currently a physician assistant in the Duke University Health System, where she is testing and treating COVID-19 patients.
"I feel fortunate to be on the front line fighting this pandemic," shared Andrea. "There are times when I get nervous, sad, and overwhelmed. But, I was drawn to a career in medicine to help people, and I feel I am doing just that.
Andrea has been working in the healthcare field since she volunteered as a first responder in college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since then, she has worked in clinical research, as an emergency medical technician, and completed her Physician Assistant studies while obtaining her Masters in Public Health at Campbell University.
In response to the current COVID-19 situation, the Duke Health System has designated several urgent care centers and primary care clinics as COVID-19 Respiratory Triage and Care Clinics to only treat people with respiratory symptoms, helping to keep otherwise healthy people from coming into contact with potentially infected patients.
By working in the vital frontline work in urgent care facilities and designated respiratory clinics, Andrea and her colleagues have been helping to keep emergency departments and hospital beds free for those patients with more acute symptoms of the virus. "I am doing my best to keep people out of the hospitals and ERs," she said.
"There are silver linings, " she went on, "This crisis has given us the opportunity to really think about what matters. If we haven't already, we will surely realize that our relationships and interactions with peers, family and friends are extremely valuable and should never be taken for granted."
We are so grateful to Andrea for her dedication to her patients. If you - or an EA community member you know - are working or volunteering on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to share your story. Please contact us at alumni@episcopalacademy.org.