She grew up in Pepperell, Mass., and became interested in medicine while in high school. She didn’t decide on a career as a physician assistant until her senior year in college. Physician assistants are state-licensed healthcare professionals who practice a wide range of medical services under the supervision of a doctor. Rowse was an athlete in high school and college, and she has a special interest in the musculoskeletal system. Surgical was her favorite rotation during her clinical training, so orthopedics felt like a good fit, she said.