Jennifer Lorgan
A stay-at-home mom of four, Jennifer Lorgan always aspired to be in the medical field. Even though such a career move felt daunting in her mid-40s, Lorgan successfully applied for the LANL Foundation’s Regional College / Returning Student, now Career Pathways, Scholarship. Her award funded a year’s worth of prerequisite classes for a Physician Assistant program—the nation’s fastest growing healthcare profession.
“I enjoyed helping people,” Lorgan said. “Becoming a Physician Assistant seemed like the best match because, in addition to helping people, I would also be solving problems, making decisions, and researching. It would continuously challenge me to learn and grow as a person.”
Through her prerequisite classes at the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos, Lorgan explained she was able to develop the confidence to further pursue her education trajectory in her desired career. Her perseverance landed her in a rigorous Physician Assistant program at the University of St. Francis in Albuquerque.
“PA school was the greatest challenge of my life,” Lorgan said. “I had to maintain high standards in my undergraduate work and push myself. I was determined to give it everything I had and hope it would pay off in the end, which thankfully it did.”
Lorgan graduated just before her 50th birthday and passed her medical board exams to become a licensed Physician Assistant in the state of New Mexico. She is currently employed at the Los Alamos Medical Care Clinic primary care and dermatology clinics.
“I hope my story encourages people to take chances; to pursue their dreams with everything they have, and never allow obstacles to get in the way,” Lorgan said. “Thank you to everyone who donates to the LANL Foundation to help people achieve their dreams.”
