Tom Dreyer, PA-C, first became interested in neurology as a high school student. This fascination grew after a neurology elective during his training as a physician assistant. Now, he’s treating patients in our 1L clinic and learning more about the field as one of our APP neurology residents. In this week’s “Spotlight” interview, Dreyer talks to us about how working as an emergency medical technician gave him a new perspective on how access to care and patient education affect the field of health care. He also talks about his current work, his plans for the future, and enjoying travel, the outdoors, and the films of Alfred Hitchcock when he’s not at Duke.
What are your current responsibilities as an APP resident? What does a typical day look like for you?
I have been in the outpatient setting for the past few months working alongside providers in clinic 1L. My typical day involves seeing patients in clinic and reporting back to the provider I am working with to discuss the case. These are often great discussions that give us the opportunity to go over any good teaching points from the case. In addition to my clinic time I attend various lectures throughout the week, including daily noon conference, grand rounds, and our weekly interesting case conference.
When and how did you decide to become a physician assistant?
I grew up with an interest in medicine thanks to my grandfather and mom and as I moved through college, I spent a good deal of time working through which career field would work best for me. I had the opportunity to shadow some providers in Ohio and it was because of those experiences that I decided this was the career path I wanted to take. Soon after I finished my undergraduate degree, I began looking at schools and I eventually ended up here at Duke to attend PA school and I recently graduated in August of last year. It’s been a long journey but I couldn’t be happier with the career I’ve chosen.
What made you decide to focus on neurology? What aspects of the field do you enjoy the most?
I have been interested in neurology since I was in high school and my attraction to everything neurology has only grown over the years. While at Duke for PA school I had the opportunity to do an elective neurology rotation which solidified it as the field I wanted to go into after graduating. What I enjoy most about working in neurology is the synthesis of so many aspects of medicine that I enjoy (patient history, physical exam, imaging, anatomy etc.) applied to a field that I am fascinated by. I enjoy the challenge of weaving information together from various domains and coming up with a diagnosis and treatment plan. As a learner, I frequently encounter new and unexpected findings which are great opportunities add pearls I will carry on to my future independent practice.
Like your colleague Zachary Gilbert, you were an emergency medical technician before you became a physician assistant. What was that like, and how does that experience influence your current perspective and work?
My time working as an EMT during my undergrad years and beyond was a great opportunity to “get my feet wet” in the world of medicine. It was where I began developing basic medical knowledge and practical skills but perhaps more importantly, where I learned how to interact with the various factors that play into health. While some interactions were of course true emergencies, more often than not I primarily evaluated and treated chronic medical conditions and their sequelae. Looking back, I can better appreciate how things like access to care and lay-person medical education affects all aspects of the healthcare system. What I will carry forward through my career is the importance of enabling patients to manage their care independently and as effectively as possible.
You’ve also had experiences providing care in other countries. What were some of those experiences, and how did you learn from them?
I had the opportunity to briefly work in the Dominican Republic in rural and underprivileged clinics and it was an extremely eye-opening experience. This was well before my medical training so my role was a support role with some patient education component. Similar to my experience as an EMT I can now see how the interplay of access to care and patient education can have a huge impact on both the individual and community’s overall health. There certainly is a great need both here in NC and around the world but I have seen how large of an impact a single provider can have on the health of a community.
What would you like to do after completing your residency? If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
I plan on staying here at Duke once I finish the residency, though I do not know what area of neurology I will end up practicing. Truthfully, I can’t say I have a specific dream job in mind but someday I would love to work overseas.
What passions or hobbies do you have outside of work?
Anything and everything outdoorsy are always a go-to for me (hiking, kayaking, etc.). I love to travel to new places and try new foods, though I will admit that my adventurous spirit is somewhat dulled after trying tripe in France recently (look it up, bleh). I am also a big Cleveland and Ohio State sports guy and I’m always up for watching a good movie (Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope is a new favorite).