Stella Willoughby needed a moment to herself. Everything felt too much. She just got notice that she lost her job as the rowing coach at Lake Washington Rowing Club. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a lot of uncertainty. Many industries were shut down, and many people lost their jobs. Willoughby was one of them, but she used the time of uncertainty to her advantage.

What does it take to turn ambition into action? First-year graduate student Grace Delice might know a thing or two.

Daisy Rivera, PA-C, serves as a dedicated clinical preceptor and director of Physician Assistant Education at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, where she mentors PA students through immersive, multidisciplinary clinical rotations. Motivated by personal experiences and a passion for equity in healthcare, Rivera strives to inspire future providers to deliver culturally competent, compassionate care while encouraging them to grow beyond the clinical role into advocacy and leadership.