Beyond the Campus Walls: Mission Match
Posted: October 23, 2015
Although challenged many times as a child and adult, Alisha Crabtree, PA, ’16, had a dream that would not be crushed by the odds.
“I knew in my early childhood that I wanted to work in healthcare,” says Crabtree. “As a 2-year-old, my mom said I’d lay my hands on friends and family, and when asked what I was doing, I would say, ‘I am healing them.’”
By age 5 she remembers telling clients at the hair salon where her mother worked that she was going to be a doctor. And in her young, subconscious mind so earnestly inspired to heal, Crabtree credits her mother, who despite struggling financially herself at times, would still give to others in need.
“It was watching my mother’s passion for others and her selflessness that greatly influenced my desire to help others,” she says.
Crabtree never lost sight of her aspirations to heal, even after being faced with a poignant decision as a high school freshman to put her education on hold and eventually work full time to assist with household bills. However, putting school on hold indefinitely was never an option. She earned her GED at age 17, all while working two jobs. By 19 she was a married, working professional and at 20, she had a baby on the way.
Path to PA
Employed as a personal banker, loan officer, and then a licensed realtor, Crabtree’s true mission to heal always trailed closely behind. She channeled her ambitions through wordplay like ‘loan health checkups’ and dubbing herself ‘the lending doctor’ through interactions with clients.
“It was an empty search to validate my thirst for helping people in a health-directed way,” she says.
In 2008, Crabtree’s career and livelihood were impacted by the economic recession. But this unplanned, life-altering moment became an opportunity for her. In 2009, with the support of her admiring grandfather, she enrolled in Paradise Valley Community College to complete the pre-requisites needed to apply to a medical program. This would mark the beginning of her path to becoming a healer.
Excelling in academics, Crabtree quickly earned the respect of her professors and was presented with the Chancellor’s Scholarship, awarded through the community college’s honors program. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she enrolled in the Master of Administration-Health Sciences program at Northern Arizona University.
“After experiencing only four months of high school, entering college was one of my life’s defining moments,” Crabtree recalls. “I wasn’t handed the easy route, and if it wasn’t for my grandfather, I might not have returned to college.”
She now holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree and is a second-year physician assistant (PA) student at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS).
Crabtree considers herself a ‘mission match,’ as choosing the PA profession aligned with her aspirations to give back and help heal.
“My mother was always a giver and this greatly influenced me,” says Crabtree. “Soul-searching led me down the PA path, which would give me the flexibility to serve in two areas of medicine that I am very passionate about, oncology and primary care for the underserved.”
Crabtree will complete her PA education in rotation sites ranging from a women’s prison to family practice and pediatrics. Eventually, she plans to open a free weekend health clinic for underserved women and single mothers in central Phoenix which will allow her to accomplish her ultimate goal of advocating for the health of her future patients.
“A clinic will allow me to be a health advocate for women and single mothers who have no other option,” she says.
Mission driven
Crabtree knew A.T. Still University was a perfect match during her faculty interview; she was introduced to Phoenix Allies for Community Health (PACH). PACH, which is a free, volunteer-run clinic, gives students an opportunity to provide free preventative healthcare services to underserved communities while gaining real-world, hands-on experiences with patients.
Crabtree has accomplished many of her goals, but has no plans of slowing down. She is continuing her personal mission of reaching out to the underserved in the community in other ways as well. She is currently launching a non-profit clothing boutique through e-commerce site Etsy, suitably named When I Was A Little Girl Inc.
“I design custom-made clothing and 100 percent of proceeds will go to support single mothers,” Crabtree explains. “My goal is to make comfortable, quality apparel that is both motivational and promotes a spirit of giving.”
Although When I Was A Little Girl Inc. is in its infancy, Crabtree has big plans to help underserved women in education and housing through shirt sales. In the future, she hopes to elect a board of directors so it can grow and sustain long into the future.
Throughout all of her endeavors she is thankful for the ongoing encouragement given by her family and instilling into her a mission-driven mindset.
In September 2014, just months after Crabtree entered the PA program, her grandfather – champion and confidant – passed away.
“I am so thankful that he had the opportunity to watch me walk across the stage to accept my master’s degree and to receive my white coat at A.T. Still University,” says Crabtree. “He was my biggest fan.”
Succumbing to the odds was never in the cards for Crabtree. Instead, she commanded her education and never lost sight of her personal mission to heal. When asked what she would tell someone who is feeling overpowered or defeated by life’s challenges, she says take that first step and continue to fight. To her, many people never fully understand what they are capable of until they are forced to perform against the odds.
Beyond the Campus Walls features an ATSU student who exhibits a dedication of service to the underserved.