Earned a 4.0 GPA My Didactic Year

My name is Broneka Korkaz, and I am a second-year Physician Assistant student at UC Davis, Class of 2025. I also serve as the class representative for my cohort and as the secretary of the Graduate Student Council. My journey into healthcare was deeply influenced by my upbringing as an immigrant in a medically underserved community. Growing up, I often accompanied my parents and family members to their medical appointments, where I witnessed the significant barriers they faced due to language and cultural differences. These experiences inspired me to pursue a career where I could make a difference for patients who struggle to understand their diagnoses, treatment plans, and goals of care. As a multilingual individual, fluent in Farsi and Assyrian, I strive to bridge these gaps and empower underserved populations. 

When I started PA school, I quickly realized how overwhelming the curriculum could be. The sheer volume of material we needed to master during the one-year didactic phase felt insurmountable at times. I often struggled to organize my studies, identify high-yield content, and keep up with the pace of lectures. These challenges left me feeling frustrated and unsure of how to approach certain blocks, such as hematology/oncology, which I found particularly difficult. 

It was during this time that a practicing PA and alumnus of my program introduced me to OnlineMedEd (OME). He shared how it had been instrumental in his own success, and after using the free trial, I immediately saw its potential. For my birthday, he gifted me a one-year subscription, and it quickly became the most valuable resource in my academic toolkit. 

I began incorporating OME into my studies by watching videos before lectures. This gave me a foundational understanding of each topic, allowing me to actively engage in class discussions and feel more confident in my learning. The concise, high-yield content helped me focus on what truly mattered, and the downloadable notes made it easy to stay organized. For certain blocks, I even skipped in-class lectures and relied solely on OME, knowing it would cover everything I needed in a clear and effective manner. 

Thanks to OME, I was able to excel academically, earning a 4.0 GPA during my didactic year. More importantly, the tips and tricks I learned through the platform have stayed with me, allowing me to retain critical information that I now apply during clinical rotations. I’ve since renewed my subscription to continue using OME as a resource to refresh my knowledge and stay prepared.