Taylor Anderson: Being a Physician Assistant is ‘what I’ve been dreaming about’
Physician Assistant Taylor Anderson is aware of the challenges – and the critical need for quality health care in Placer and Nevada counties.
“Getting to work in a community where I was raised is important to me,” says Anderson, who grew up in nearby Newcastle. “These patients need good, quality providers.”
And Anderson is committed to her community, her patients – and her new profession.
“This is what I’ve been wanting to do forever,” says Anderson, who earned a Master of Physician Assistant degree from the University of California, Davis, in September 2021 and joined Western Sierra a few months later. “This is what I’ve been dreaming about.”
She knows her dream-come-true career is as much about connecting with patients as diagnosing the cause of an illness or treating an injury. And that begins with making patients feel comfortable and listening to their needs, whether they are battling a chronic condition – like asthma or diabetes – or facing more of a social issue, such as food or housing insecurity.
“Aside from delivering high quality care, my biggest priority is to make patients feel comfortable,” says Anderson, who embraces the clinic’s treat-the-whole-person approach that focuses on the cause of the health issue and not just treating the symptom. “I want patients to feel like I’m helping and listening to them … and to always feel respected.”
Anderson is a primary-care provider at the Auburn clinic, and has experience in numerous other areas, including dermatology and pediatrics.
“I feel it is important to get a good foundation,” says Anderson, who has a deep interest in women’s health. “Many women feel uncomfortable talking about these issues, and I understand that. I want to help make them feel comfortable and make these issues easier to talk about.”
She also wants to make sure all of her patients have access to what they need – including annual checkups and the ever-important preventative screenings – and reduce the number of trips to Sacramento for medical visits, especially since transportation can be an issue for some.