Alison Garcia

Hey There! My name is Ali and I’m originally born in Queens , NY but grew up in the Poconos in Pennsylvania. I am vibrant, versatile and excited to be a part of something bigger than myself.

I began as an Emergency Medical Technician in medicine when I was 16. About two years after I began my work as a volunteer, the 9/11 world trade center disaster had happened. My cousin was the first EMS bus on scene and the phone call exchange we had changed my life. Hearing the bodies hit the pavement during the phone call, listening to the fear in her voice, realizing this was all happening because cultures had somehow misunderstood each other and in actuality didn’t care to understand each other. It changed my life. I continued volunteering, doing outreach work in NYC during rebuilding phase and had never been so proud to be part of a bunch of selfless individuals in my life.

I moved on thereafter to become a Physician Assistant and have worked primarily in the field of neurosurgery ever since. Since becoming a PA, I’ve taken pride in learning other specialities so that I can understand how the hospital itself works better. I have since been covering urology, ENT, general surgery, trauma, stroke, and teaching as a clinical preceptor for Weill Cornell.

My interest in global health arose during my own vacation experiences. I realized that Physician Assistants were not as well identified as Nurse Practitioners on a global scale and their value of what they can bring to the medical field understated. This needed to change. Especially within populations that PAs could truly make a difference. This is why am here and this is why I believe in the mission and purpose of this organization.