Marilyn Suri

I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for all the mentors that I've had, and great family support who helped me raise a child so that I can finish school. I had incredible professors in my undergraduate career and in graduate school. The CEO of the company that I work for now has been one of my biggest supporters and mentors. The physicians I work with - I've been surrounded by incredible humans who push me forward and really care for me as a human. I always say that if you believe in something strong enough, you should never give up on your dreams. Resilience is key - adversity teaches you character, and resilience teaches you character. If you believe in something, go after it wholeheartedly, but truly believe that it's a meaning and it's giving you purpose. It's a calling. You'll never feel like you work a day in your life.

You have to be so resilient, and you have to look at medicine as something with meaning and purpose and a calling. I think we're missing that with this new generation. To become a medical professional means you have the ability to hold someone's life in your palm. Nobody - not everyone has that ability. You're gifted. It's something you should take wholeheartedly, and to influence a patient's lives and their families is incredible. If you believe in something strong enough, you should never give up on your dreams. Adversity teaches you character, and resilience teaches you character. I always say that to my son - if you believe in something, go after it wholeheartedly, but truly believe that it's a meaning and it's giving you purpose. It's a calling. You'll never feel like you work a day in your life.

The healthcare landscape is a tricky one to navigate nowadays. The healthcare insurance companies and other key players are playing a role of managing patients instead of the providers, as it should once was, and should continue being, but it's not the case. That's a big challenge. I got involved in legislation because I didn't like how some things were in Florida, so I got involved with the Florida Academy of PAs and went into legislation and tried to push for bills that would help expand access to care. What I'm trying to accomplish is helping others, bringing students into the profession, changing legislation so that others can practice and increase access to care for the state of Florida and for patients and private practices who are struggling with the same struggles that us healthcare providers are going through.

I was taught, independent of your profession or career, you treat everyone as a human being, and no one is - I'm not above anyone else. I look at everyone on the same playing field. I respect everyone. I don't see myself as better than anyone else. I truly just want to make a difference in this world. Leave a dent behind. I respect and admire people. I would say I'm definitely resilient. When life throws a lot of curveballs, you just learn to run with them.