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Cayla Adams

3x

Finalist

1x

Winner

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Sewing
  • Cheerleading
  • Exercise And Fitness
  • Photography and Photo Editing
  • Advocacy And Activism
  • STEM
  • Child Development
  • Aerial Silks

Reading

  • Adult Fiction
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • Science Fiction

I read books multiple times a month.

Bio

Dear Donors, My name is Cayla Adams, and I am deeply grateful that you are considering me for this scholarship. I would like to share a bit more about myself as the applicant. Despite the odds, managed to keep me in extracurriculars and supported me starting college at age sixteen. That year, I petitioned the city council to host a peace fest. By eighteen, I had simultaneously earned two associate degrees along with my high school diploma and had hosted three community peace festivals. I continued my education at Xavier University of Louisiana. While there, I worked three jobs, cheered competitively, and obtained scholarships to cover my tuition. In May of 2021, I earned my Bachelor of Science degree. Since graduating, I have developed a deep passion for addressing maternal health disparities, so I became a certified doula. I subsequently took on healthcare jobs that taught me the vital importance of advocacy and informed patient consent. I am currently a physician assistant student (PA-S) at Rosalind Franklin University. For the first time in my life, I am unable to work, as my classes run from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and my time outside the classroom is dedicated to studying. As a future PA-C, I intend to take on leadership roles that allow me to advocate for my patients. By selecting me for this scholarship, you are alleviating the financial hardship I face during this rigorous training. With your assistance, I will become a PA dedicated to serving underserved and marginalized communities. Sincerely, Cayla Adams

Education

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

Master's degree program

2025 – 2027

Majors:
  • Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other

Xavier University of Louisiana

Bachelor's degree program

2018 – 2021

Majors:
  • Biology, General
Minors:
  • Chemistry

Southwestern Illinois College

Associate's degree program

2016 – 2018

Majors:
  • Biology, General

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Majors of interest:
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
Medical school interest:
No

Career

  • Full spectrum Doula

    Health, Wellness, and Fitness · Sunflower Womb Doula LLC

    Jan 2022 – Present

  • Medical Assistant

    Hospital & Health Care · STL Fertility

    Jan 2024 – Jan 2025

  • Healthcare Associate

    Hospital & Health Care · Planned Parenthood

    Jan 2022 – Jan 2024

  • Medical Assistant

    Hospital & Health Care · Kindbody

    Jan 2023 – Jan 2024

  • Sever

    Restaurants · Eckert's Country Store and Restaurant

    Jan 2016 – Present

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Medicine
Dream career goals:
Physician Assistant
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
Learner Tutoring Innovators of Color in STEM Scholarship
I believe my passion for taking care of those disproportionately affected by health disparities is what led me to Physician Assistant (PA) school. When I consider how tough my life outside of school is, how rigorous this educational load is, or acknowledge the financial insecurity I am currently facing, I think of my hometown and how Black patients are being disproportionately affected by the healthcare system. Those thoughts rejuvenate me and remind me of my "why." I do this so I can actively educate my family and help them find resources to obtain the care they need. I am learning from my clinical experiences how to treat my future patient population. Until I am a PA-C, I will continue to speak on healthcare and the minority experience so my classmates and I can become better clinicians. Throughout my education and healthcare experience, I have taken a deep interest in reproductive rights and maternal mortality rates. The common theme I have seen is that women are an overlooked population, and Black women are disproportionately affected. As a PA, I will be in a unique position to help. I will offer a safe haven for women of color who feel they have not been validated throughout their healthcare journey. My impact will be showcased through my patients’ problems being heard, validated, and addressed accordingly. Despite the PA profession being ranked as a top healthcare career for many years, many people do not know about this path until they have entered college. Those most affected by this trend are people of color. This is particularly frustrating because the first woman formally trained as a PA was Joyce Nichols, a Black woman. Despite a Black woman being a trailblazer within the field, Black men and women only make up about five percent of certified PAs. This percentage is emphasized in racially based medical disparities across the county. As a PA, I will have the capability to mentor and offer shadowing opportunities to students. This is important because advancement within healthcare often relies not just on what you know, but who you know. I want to be the representation that I did not see in the field while growing up. I want to show minority children that this career is attainable and that they are capable of flourishing in it. I want to provide a safe environment for people of color to gain confidence in networking and to have another person willing to support them along their journey. While my passion for healthcare did not begin specifically with the PA profession, I am grateful that this is the career I chose. I will remain my patients’ biggest advocate while ensuring that they are active members of their own healthcare teams. Finally, I want to be a mentor who is an enthusiastic supporter. Sometimes, the thing I needed most along my journey was a listening ear and a cheerleader, so I plan to be that person for my mentees.
PAC: Diversity Matters Scholarship
When I envision my future as a Physician Assistant, I hope that my colleagues and patients describe me as someone who embodies a spirit of humility, passion, and advocacy. Every impactful clinician I have met in my community possesses these three distinct qualities. As a current PA student (PA-S), I am intentionally cultivating these traits now, knowing they will not only benefit my education but will be vital to the patients I will one day serve. First, I believe an impactful PA must possess humility, defined as the freedom from pride or arrogance. Admission to PA school requires intelligence, but high achievement can sometimes cultivate an ego that hinders education and, eventually, patient care. Currently, I am becoming comfortable with the concept of being wrong. I am learning to voice an educated guess even when I am uncertain, recognizing that the classroom is the safest place to make mistakes. For example, after failing an early exam, I had to put my pride aside and turn to a classmate for tutoring. If I had not been humble enough to be honest about my struggles, I would not have gained the necessary understanding of the material. As a future clinician, I will carry this humility with me, recognizing when I need to ask a colleague for a consultation or refer a patient to a specialist. Secondly, passion is the fuel that sustains a provider through the challenges of medicine. I believe my passion for serving those disproportionately affected by healthcare disparities is what drove me to PA school, and it is what keeps me going. When the rigor of the curriculum feels overwhelming or I experience burnout, I ground myself by thinking of my hometown and how Black patients are often marginalized by the healthcare system. Because of this, I am actively educating my family members now, helping them find resources to obtain the care they need. I am also learning from my current preceptors how to better treat this population. Until I graduate, I will continue to speak on healthcare and the minority experience so that my classmates and I can all become more culturally competent clinicians. Finally, I strive to have a spirit of advocacy. My prior experience working in abortion care, infertility, and as a doula taught me that a provider must be a voice for their patient. As a PA-S, I practice advocacy by providing a defense and explanation for my clinical decisions. In the future, this will translate to fighting for insurance coverage for my patients and collaborating with other members of the healthcare team. Furthermore, I am currently learning to advocate on a macro level as a Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Fellow, where I am designing community initiatives to address sexual health education gaps through interprofessional care. I am using my time as a student to critically assess what qualities will be advantageous to my career. I hope that one day I am viewed as a PA who leads with humility, passion, and advocacy, ensuring that I provide compassionate, evidence-based medical care to every patient I encounter.
Art of Giving Scholarship
Similar to India, I went to the Xavier University of Louisiana on a merit scholarship. I did well the first semester maintaining a "B" average. But during the second semester, my grandfather died and I did not have the funds to travel home to say goodbye to him. Due to this, I lost my scholarship immediately causing my family to pay more out of pocket. It also led to me working up to three jobs at a time while being a full-time student-athlete. I was mentally and physically drained throughout my undergrad to attempt to remain afloat. I know I cannot change the past I do want to decrease the financial burden of my future for myself and my family. To decrease the financial burden I ensured that I graduated from Xavier in three years instead of four. When looking for Master Programs I first found schools that had a program I was interested in. I then shortened the list by determining the cost of living in the area. This removed a lot of schools from the list. But eventually, I fell in love with a program. What I did not count on happening was the renting market becoming so terrible. Due to COVID-19, realtors explained that fewer people are moving. This has created a saturation of people wanting to look without enough properties to look at. Ultimately, I had to opt-in for student housing. This $14,400 bill needed to be paid halfway down within three weeks. Now while my tuition is significantly low due to a scholarship the housing bill was a hard pill to swallow. So I need this scholarship to ensure this year where I am required not to work during my courses does not turn into a financial burden for my family. While I am super excited to continue my education I am nervous about the outcome of not being able to work for a year.
Bervell Health Equity Scholarship
As a child, I was lucky or blessed enough to not experience silliness. Despite this, I watched countless family and friends go through health battles. My grandfather was always impacted by a sickness so we spent fourteen years in and out of the hospital. This led to having many conversations with his healthcare team. I was invested in learning about his care but I also became invested in his team's career. It did not take long for me to observe that none of his doctors were black. However, many of his nurses were. Many explained to me why they could not or did not go the route to become a doctor. They also explained why income and debt would prevent them from working in underserved communities. I believe these conversations gave me a focus on why I wanted to become a doctor. Until the age of 20, I never had a doctor of color. Once I did acquire one I noticed a significant difference in our interactions. I felt significantly more comfortable in explaining my home and school life which was needed for my treatment. The treatment as a whole made me feel like someone was actually listening to how I felt. This was very unlike the past where I had gone a month with a fracture because my doctors did not believe I was showing the pain levels a fracture would produce. My experiences with doctors and going to an HBCU showed me how important representation is. My experience with visiting family in underserved communities and the Belleville Peace Festival taught me the importance of unity in underserved communities. East Saint Louis, IL is the murder capital of the United States however there are only eighty-nine blocks. This community is where most of my family grew up. It used to be primarily a white community until black people began moving in. This led to "white flight" and the community essentially being abandoned. Now the members only depend on each other to fulfill their needs. Due to all of these circumstances, most people are forced to leave their city just to find healthcare. Often they are met with doctors telling them to eat foods that they cannot obtain in their community or with government assistance. I know the importance of knowing the area that you are providing healthcare for I would like to work in an underserved community. While each community is not the same I would do my best to learn what the community offers. I would also volunteer with local organizations. I would do this because it would allow me to adequately provide a treatment plan for my patients.
Cayla Adams Student Profile | Bold.org