PA Student Reflects on Resilience and Journey From Combat Medic to Future PA Amanda Lugo Combines Military Discipline, Mentorship and Maternal Insight in Her Path to Becoming a PA Amanda Lugo, MS, LAT, EMT-B, a 2025 NCCPA Endowed Scholarship recipient, is forging a remarkable path toward becoming a PA. Her journey has been shaped by military service, personal loss, motherhood and an unwavering dedication to service. She is on track to graduate from the University of Washington MEDEX Northwest PA Program in August 2025. Before entering medicine, Lugo earned a full scholarship to Auburn University, where she completed her first master’s degree in kinesiology. Soon after, she joined the Army as a combat medic and deployed twice over four years. During her service in the military, she was introduced to the PA profession through the provider who attended to her battalion. “If it weren’t for the Army, I wouldn’t have even known what a PA was,” Lugo said. “The blend of autonomy, collaboration and mobility mirrors the teamwork I loved in service.” Lugo’s path has also been shaped by significant personal milestones. While at Auburn, she married her first husband, a fellow service member, who tragically passed away in a car accident. Now remarried, Lugo balances the demands of PA school with motherhood — a journey that has deepened her interest in women’s health and pediatric medicine. “Becoming a mom in PA school has been both a gift and a challenge,” she said. “It’s made me even more aware of the gaps in maternity care and inspired me to help close them.” Lugo is also deeply involved in mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals. She has volunteered with programs such as UW’s SHPEP, UDOC, and HCOP, which support students from underserved communities. Prior to PA school, she worked with the USO to support active-duty families. “I want to be the person 15-year-old Amanda needed,” she said, recalling how a high school counselor once discouraged her from applying to college due to her disadvantaged background. “That’s why I share my story — so others know they can do this too.” Earning the NCCPA Endowed Scholarship, Lugo said, validated her journey. “It meant someone believed in me. Someone recognized my struggle and wanted to support me,” she said. “That’s powerful.” Looking ahead, Lugo hopes to specialize in women’s health and continue her work in mentorship and patient advocacy. “Being a PA isn’t just about mastering medicine,” she said. “It’s about building trust, empowering patients and giving back to the community that made me.” While Lugo does not identify a specific role model, she acknowledges the influence of various individuals who have impacted her journey, including her sergeant major's discipline and the empathy of a provider who assisted her during a period of grief. “Every person you meet has the opportunity to change your life,” she said. “I want to be that person for someone else.”