Alumni Spotlight

Making an Impact on Patients

Maysoon Dayoub ’01, PA-C, MPAS

maysoon

Maysoon Dayoub ’01 knew she wanted to pursue a career in medical care.  This goal pushed her to pursue a degree from the highly regarded and competitive physician assistant program at Philadelphia University.  Dayoub reflected on her days as a student and admitted that she has a new appreciation for the professors and course material.  They have prepared her for the challenges she faces as a PA.  Also, the rigorous clinical rotations gave her insight on what to expect once she graduated.  Dayoub explained, “The PA program really taught me how to work hard and efficiently, which has helped me in my career.”   

For seven years, Dayoub worked in interventional radiology. During her time at Jefferson University Hospital, Dayoub performed outpatient consultations for patients who were undergoing minimally invasive procedures as well as post-operative care for the IR department. She decided to leave Jefferson with the same supervising physician, who at the time was going to play a key role in revamping the IR program at Lankenau Hospital. At Lankenau, Dayoub was performing minor procedures using radiology equipment and seeing the majority of her consultations in the hospital but, she also had many outpatient consultations.

Currently, Dayoub works in the anesthesiology department in pre-admission testing at the Albert Einstein Medical Center, a section primarily run by PA’s. Dayoub and her colleagues perform all of the pre-operative screenings for patients. This is a great challenge because often patients arrive with issues that were not previously discussed with surgeons or family physicians. PAs like Dayoub have to work through these issues before their patient’s surgeries.

The biggest challenge for Dayoub, even early in her career, was learning when to seek help. There have been times when she has dealt with difficult patients or procedures that she did not feel proficient preforming. “It is always helpful to admit limitations and then try to seek out the proper support to overcome them,” noted Dayoub. Other medical professionals are very willing to assist when they see willingness to learn and grow.

Working in a hospital, especially with patients, can be very rewarding. Dayoub enjoys running into patients at the hospital or outside the community who recognize her and are thankful for the treatment she provided. “It really does feel good knowing that I am making a difference and to see patients look and feel better is the ultimate reward.”

Being a great physician to patients requires knowledge, skill and honesty. Dayoub believes that it is crucial to be honest to patients and oneself. It is important to know ones limitations and strengths. “If a situation didn’t feel right or I felt I didn’t agree with somebody morally, I learned that it was important to speak up,” admitted Dayoub.

The medical field is constantly growing and Dayoub is amazed at the different uses of technology that are incorporated in the way she treats patients. New equipment such as telemedicine and robotics are being used to perform procedures. The use of technology although beneficial, can be troublesome. Dayoub runs into issues obtaining data at the moment she needs it and occasionally the programs used to access patient records are unable to function properly. These missteps can affect her day in terms of seeing her patients in an efficient manner.

husbandDayoub is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and serves on the PhilaU Alumni Board. She is at a stage in her life where it is imperative to balance her personal and work life. Her position at Einstein allows her to be home early enough to spend time with her toddler.  She is home on the weekend, which gives her greater opportunity to be with her son and husband. “Because of the fast paced and sometimes stressful nature of being in healthcare, I balance it by exercising, spending time with my family and attending cultural events,” said Dayoub. She loves theater and music and enjoys seeing an opera or play but, she wishes she had more time to travel. Dayoub and her family participate in the Annual Philadelphia AidsWalk and fundraise for Operation Smile. 

sonDayoub believes that PhilaU alumni have been well prepared to enter their fields and have successful careers. Dayoub noted, “Please don’t forget that you can network and also draw from our alumni community … I think sometimes people graduate or move away and forget that they can utilize us as a support system, for networking, etc.”