Perspectives Winter/Spring 2019

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | 29 Above: One of the teams Thomas Peter Waligora played for was the Montgomery Biscuits—a minor- league, Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Left: Waligora, a second-year PA student, plays for the Lansing Lugnuts—a minor-league, Class-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Class of 2019 student Thomas Peter Waligora , who is in the midst of completing his clinical year, credits more than a decade of experience as a baseball player to his successful transition as a PA student. Waligora played at the College of William & Mary; coached at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and played professionally for eight seasons with the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Tampa Bay Rays organizations at various minor-league levels. Like many applicants, his interest in the PA profession began through his contact with medical professionals—including physician assistants—who reconstructed his pitching elbow and assisted him in a 22-month physical therapy regimen. Waligora’s story, however, goes beyond the restoration of his health. “As a child, I dreamt of pitching in the big leagues. As a young man, I pursued that dream and coached others to do the same. The daily, demanding trials forged a certain perspective and perseverance. Each day was filled with successes and failures as I worked to build trust, foster team cohesiveness, and communi- cate on a personal level with teammates from various cultures who frequently spoke another language,” said Waligora, who went on to explain why he was motivated to become a PA. “Achieving greatness as a member of a team, within the framework of individuals fulfilling their established roles, was one of my most rewarding experiences. Dealing with repeated injury and multiple surgeries strengthened my resolve, but eventually altered my goals,” he added. “Now, I desire to be a productive part of a different type of team, not one that wins titles and trophies, but one that saves and restores lives.” † Janet Sparker is an assistant professor in the Physician Assistant—Fort Myers Program.