My name is Kyla Gaddis and I am an aspiring Physician’s Assistant. I am a fourth-year undergraduate student in the University of Georgia Honors Program, and my major is Health Promotion with a minor in Classical Culture. I have a passion for increasing the accessibility and quality of healthcare for low-income individuals, and I have spent much of my undergraduate career researching the health disparities associated with socio-economic status (SES).
This research inspired me to want to be a part of the solution myself by volunteering as a tutor (Oasis) and medical assistant (Mercy Health Center) to low SES populations in Athens. I also founded a chapter of the Global Medical Training Club (GMT) at UGA to increase access to medical treatment globally. I have a strong desire to find a solution to this issue from within the medical field. This is what I plan to do as a Physician’s Assistant.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my three sisters, pictured to the right. I also love spending time outdoors, especially near the beach, and my favorite memory is attending a summer semester at the University of Hawaii with two of my sisters. I enjoy painting, reading, tasting new food, and thrift shopping. I love to travel for both vacation and for healthcare service projects. I recently attended GMT medical trips to the Dominican Republic in March 2019 (pictured on the right) and to Panama in December 2019 to provide medical treatment to residents of underserved villages. Although COVID interrupted my plans for a UGA GMT trip this year, I plan to schedule another as soon as travel bans are lifted.
I am a firm believer in preventing illness versus treating it. I encourage those around me to practice healthy living habits by eating well and exercising regularly. I try to live this way myself and have found the benefits to both my body and mind to be significant. My ultimate goal is to become a Physician’s Assistant focused on educating patients on prophylactic lifestyles while providing excellent treatment for illness when necessary.
Oh, and one more thing….I’d like to do this all at an affordable cost for those who need it.
