Chase Kaufman enjoying time at PCHC

500 Chase Kaufman is currently on a clinical rotation at the Phillips County Hospital and Family Health Clinic and though he was born and raised here, he has spent plenty of time in the area.

Kaufman is originally from Billings, but has local ties to Phillips County as his father, Vance, grew up in Malta. Vance now lives in Billings with his wife, Chase's mother, Estela, and the medical profession – like Phillips County – run deep in the family.

"Mom's a nurse and Dad's a physical therapist," Kaufman said.

Kaufman is on an internal medicine rotation, doing a six week clinical rotation at the Phillips County Hospital and Family Health Clinic for training needed in his second year of Physician Assistance School.

"I am in my second year of the master's program," Kaufman explained, "and in my second year, I do a clinical rotation every six weeks in a different branch of medicine."

Thus far in his studies, Kaufman has completed rotations in Family Practice, Women's medicine, Orthopedics and his studies in Phillips County find him focusing on his medicine rotation.

"I will have four more to do until I graduate in August," Kaufman added. "Once I graduate I will take the PA National Certifying Exam and if I pass that I will be certified and I can get a job."

Kaufman obtained his undergrad degree at Rocky Mountain College in Billings where he is also currently studying for his masters. During his training, Kaufman has done rotations in Billings, Miles City and Big Sky and now in Malta.

"Malta is a great little community and I am really loving how close-knit it is here," Kaufman said. "I have been to Malta my whole life since I was little to go to family functions or go fishing and I always enjoy myself here."

Kaufman started his Phillips County rotation on January 3 and will be here until February 10. As for studying medicine, Kaufman said Dr. Edwin Medina and Family Nurse Practitioner Sherry Gairrett have been wonderful to study under.

"They are both very supportive and I have been learning a whole lot," he said.

Upon graduation, Kaufman said he isn't 100-percent sure which field of medicine he wants to work in, but added that he has enjoyed his rotations in pediatrics and family medicine.

"I'd like to stay in Montana, I can say that much," Kaufman said. "Other than that, I am not really sure where I would like to end up, but I am fairly flexible. Staying in Montana, however, would be ideal."

Aside from working at the clinic, Kaufman said he has spent a lot of his time in Malta studying and visiting with family friends and added that he is also supposed to be going ice fishing sometime soon.