MARION – RaKay Dunlap does her job to help people — and to honor her dad.
“I knew I wanted to go into the medical field around age 10,” she said. “I always said I wanted to help people.”
Her dream came true. Today, Dunlap is a certified physician assistant at Midwest Internal Medicine Associates.
“I evaluate and treat my patients daily,” she said. “I enjoy learning about my patients and their families, and may take a more personal approach than some providers. I try to treat all of them like my own family.”
Dunlap grew up in Upper Sandusky and graduated from Upper Sandusky High School in 2010.
“I’ve always been interested in science and mathematics,” she said. “When I took anatomy and physiology in my senior year of high school, I knew my dream of going into the medical field was solidified. Our teacher was a huge influence on all of us in that class. Several other students also ended up in the medical field as nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians.”
Dunlap earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Ohio State University, then a master’s in physician assistant studies from the University of Findlay.
“I worked at three different emergency departments after graduating from Findlay — Marion General, Grady, and Fisher-Titus,” she said. “I enjoyed it. However, I really missed the patient relationship in internal medicine/primary care and caring for the same people.”
Dunlap started with Midwest Internal Medicine in July 2020.
“I wanted to help during the pandemic,” she said. “I saw an open position at Midwest and applied. It was an excellent fit. I’ve been here full-time since then.”
Diana Duran is an advanced practice registered nurse at Midwest Internal Medicine Associates.
“RaKay is an exceptional provider with a genuinely caring heart,” Duran said. “Her dedication shows in everything she does. Her patients adore her and remain incredibly loyal because of the compassion and commitment she gives to each of them. She’s a hard worker and a strong advocate for her patients, always ensuring they receive the best care possible.”
“I absolutely do this from the heart,” Dunlap said. “My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer as soon as I became a PA. Having gone through a family member battling for their life, I can often relate to treating chronic medical conditions on a personal level. I know how hard it can be to deal emotionally with patients experiencing hard times.”
“I miss my dad dearly every day,” she said. “I wish he was still here to have met his grandkids or walk me down the aisle. If I can assist patients to help them fight for more time with their families, at the end of the day, that is why I do it.”
Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at news@marionstar.com.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: RaKay Dunlap enjoys helping people as this week’s Aces of Trade
Reporting by Drew Bracken Special to the Marion Star, Marion Star / Marion Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
