Alumni Spotlight: Selma Sosic '22
Current Role: PA Student, Emory & Henry University (2nd Year)
Location: Marion, Virginia
Selma's Journey
Selma’s journey toward becoming a Physician Assistant began with her family’s experiences as Bosnian war refugees, where limited access to healthcare left a lasting impression. Over time, Selma’s love for medicine grew into a passion for listening to patients, understanding their concerns, and making sure their medical needs are met and understood. Her work as an EMT, pharmacy technician, and in the public health sector have given Selma insight into the challenges patients face and the important role of compassionate, patient-centered care. As a PA, Selma is committed to serving patients from all backgrounds with dignity, respect, and advocacy.
Impact of the Center
“While conducting research at the Center for Community Health Innovation, I helped analyze Community Health Assessment data from hospitals and healthcare systems across Virginia. Our team reviewed survey results, compared them to census data, and measured how well the surveyed populations reflected their communities. By closely examining demographics like age, gender, and race, we learned to identify underrepresented groups and the systemic barriers that limit access to care. These findings helped shape initiatives like Melrose Plaza, which now offers a grocery store, adult education programs, and wellness and financial services in a historically underserved neighborhood.”
Through these experiences, I gained the ability to analyze complex data sets and identify meaningful trends, as well as the skill to translate those findings into strategies that address real-world health needs. More importantly, I developed a deeper awareness of how social, cultural, and systemic factors impact health outcomes, and I carry that awareness into every patient interaction.”
Career Influence
"My journey toward being a Physician Assistant began with my family's experiences as Bosnian war refugees, where limited access to healthcare left a lasting impression on me. Over time, my love for medicine grew into a passion for listening to patients, understanding their concerns, and making sure their medical needs are met and understood. My work as an EMT, pharamacy technician, and in public health has shown me the challenges patients face and the value of compassionate, patient-centered care. As a PA, I am committed to serving patients from all background with dignity, respect, and advocacy."
Advice to Students
“Pay attention to the real-world impact behind the data. At the Center, I learned that numbers only matter if you understand what they mean for the people and communities they represent. Ask questions, think critically, and look for patterns that reveal needs or barriers. The value comes from turning those insights into action, whether improving access, targeting outreach, or making systems work better for the people they serve.”
On Being a Changemaker
“Being a changemaker is not a single moment or action. It is a deliberate, layered process that takes time. It starts with gathering the right data, asking the right questions, and being willing to see the problem from every angle. It requires many voices from different backgrounds and organizations working toward a shared goal. At the Center, I saw how this process turned numbers on a spreadsheet into something tangible, like Melrose Plaza. That experience showed me that real change is built step by step until it becomes something people can see, feel, and use.”