Laura Blanchard, PA-C, MPAP, an Inpatient Supervisor in Hematology, was the first in-patient APP hired within Hematology and has balanced being a wonderful role model and leader within her job and her family!
What is your role in the Department and what patients do you serve?
Inpatient Supervisor in the division of Hematology caring for adult patients with leukemia, lymphoma and/or myeloma.
Where are you from?
Greenville, NC
Did you always envision yourself as an APP?
No. I started my college career as a trumpet performance major, but quickly realized music was an internal passion of mine and that I wanted to help people on a more personal level. I learned about the PA profession towards the end of my college career and after learning more, I knew this was the perfect fit for me both personally and professionally.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
Helping patients and their families navigate the worst day and sometimes the best days of their lives. Receiving a cancer diagnosis is life changing and come with ups and downs. I enjoy helping patients better understand their disease and treatment options and guiding them every step of the way.
How has your role evolved over time since you’ve been here?
I was the first inpatient APP hired within my division and have helped grow our program into the independent APP lead service caring for complex and critically ill patients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
What is one thing that you wish people knew about your job?
As inpatient APPs, we are masters of multitasking and time management. We are often pulled in many directions but always manage to provider the most compassionate and high-quality care to all our patients every day.
Personally or professionally, what are you most proud of?
Being a working mom who has been able to balance being a strong role model for my children while also feeding my passion for caring for and making a positive difference in the lives of my patients.
If you didn’t have a career in medicine, what would you be doing?
Full time Baseball mom
What hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?
Making/listening to music and watching my kids play the sports they love
If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Little Caesars cheese pizza
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
If you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life.
What do you hope to accomplish in the next year?
Grow in my leadership skill to help all APPs grow both personally and professionally.
What’s the last song you listened to?
“It’s Gonna Be A Good Day” – Christian Davis