By David DeFusco
When Ronee Goldman鈥檚 father was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive stage-four brain cancer, everything in her life suddenly shifted鈥攈er priorities, her sense of purpose and the career path she had long planned. At the time, she was on the fast track to a legal career鈥攈aving taken the LSAT, gained acceptance to law schools and secured a job at a law firm. But as she watched her father confronting his illness and witnessed the care he received from medical professionals, she realized her true calling wasn鈥檛 in the courtroom鈥攊t was at the bedside, helping patients like her father.
鈥淢y family鈥檚 very close-knit,鈥 said Goldman, a 2024 graduate of the Katz School鈥檚 M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies. 鈥淒uring that experience, I wanted to find more meaning in what I was doing. I wanted to help people more. Law is wonderful but I felt that in medicine, I鈥檇 make a bigger difference.鈥
During her surgical rotation at Bellevue Hospital, one patient with metastatic endometrial cancer, nearing the end of her life, left a lasting impression on her. The woman arrived in the emergency room with a painfully distended abdomen, and Goldman assisted in performing a paracentesis, draining several liters of blood to relieve her discomfort. As the patient was moved to palliative care, Goldman remembered her father鈥檚 illness, ensuring that the woman鈥檚 family was brought to her bedside so they could share her final moments together.
鈥淚 had a very special place in my heart for this family,鈥 said Goldman. 鈥淚 remember holding my Dad鈥檚 hand close to his heart when he was afraid. I felt his heart racing, and I told him in Hebrew, 鈥楢bba, I know you don鈥檛 like that we鈥檙e going to the hospital, but we鈥檙e going to take good care of you. We鈥檒l make sure you have no more pain.鈥 That鈥檚 what I kept telling him because that鈥檚 the only thing you can promise someone in that situation. Only then did I feel his heart rate go down.鈥
For Goldman, the surgical rotation at Bellevue was especially transformative. In one procedure, she carefully held a patient鈥檚 liver and surrounding organs to give the surgeon clear access to the surgical site. In another, she skillfully maneuvered a thoracoscope鈥攁 flexible tube equipped with a light and tiny camera鈥攊nside a patient鈥檚 chest, ensuring the surgeon had a clear view of the area. Later, during her OB/GYN rotation, she assisted in removing metastatic endometrial cancer tumors from a patient鈥檚 intestines, further deepening her passion for surgery and patient care.
鈥淚 did all the pre-op, and when I walked into the operating room for the first time, I was nervous. You learn about what not to do, what not to touch,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hen the surgeon turned to me and said, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e going to be my first assistant today. Don鈥檛 worry, you got this. Let鈥檚 go.鈥欌
Of the 10 five-week clinical rotations Goldman completed as a student, her most meaningful experience was in breast surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center鈥攖he same hospital where her father had received treatment.
鈥淔or me, it was like coming full circle, going back to the place where he passed away,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 have such a great appreciation for the PAs, the doctors and the nurses who took care of my father. It makes me want to be a better person, a better PA.鈥
As class president of her PA cohort, Goldman spoke at the program鈥檚 completion ceremony, sharing how her experience with loss had shaped her perspective and fueled her determination to heal and advocate for others.
鈥淎s we stand on the threshold of our careers, we must also take a moment to recognize the incredible responsibility we鈥檙e about to carry forward,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he role of physician assistant is woven into the fabric of patient care. We are the listeners, the advocates and the compassionate hands guiding patients through their most vulnerable moments. It is a unique privilege and responsibility鈥攐ne we don鈥檛 take lightly.鈥
