Posted on February 17, 2025
We continue our TidalHealth series “Grow With Us” with our February 2025 profile of Brian Morgan.
This one is a bit “longer distance” than our others because Brian is currently at Frostburg University where he is finishing up his studies in the Physician Assistant program.
The “grow” part of this is from a seed and a love of cardiology that was planted earlier when Brian was working in Nuclear Medicine at TidalHealth Cardiology North. The germination happens upon graduation in May (and licensure shortly thereafter) when Brian hopes to return to TidalHealth Cardiology to launch his PA career.
Monthly, we’ll introduce you to team members, like Brian, who began their career at TidalHealth and advanced in the health system and beyond, and/or who have taken their careers to the next level with significant certifications and achievements.
We’re always looking for people to profile. Send your thoughts and ideas to [email protected].
Off we go to Hagerstown and our chat with possibly TidalHealth’s newest PA, Brian Morgan.
Thanks, Brian, for the opportunity to grab a little time to learn more about you and your plans for an expanded career at TidalHealth. Let us get this interview going by having you introduce yourself to our readers by telling us about where you’re from, where you grew up, family, where you went to college, what brings you happiness in life…the good stuff.
Thanks for the opportunity, Roger! I’m from the small mountain town of Thurmont, MD in Frederick County. I started out my college career at Frederick Community College and later transferred to Salisbury University to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and a minor in Psychology. After earning my degree, I decided to stay at SU and earn a Master of Science in Applied Health Physiology with a focus in Cardiopulmonary Rehab. My mom has been my biggest supporter and has always been there. Whether I’m in the same house, or 3 hours away in Salisbury, she’s always been there for me. A key to my happiness is spending time outside. Whether I’m fishing, kayaking, walking my dog or spending time with friends and family, being outside is truly what brings me peace.
Moms are cool! And this is cool, too. It’s our first “long distance” interview stretching into Western Maryland and onto the campus at Frostburg where you’re currently in the Physician Assistant program. We’ll get back to that, but I want to “begin at the beginning” with your history at TidalHealth. How did you get involved with us and what were you doing at TidalHealth Cardiology?
I first got started with TidalHealth in the spring of 2018, when we were still known as PRMC. I was working at TidalHealth Cardiology North in the nuclear department as an EKG tech during my undergraduate internship. Following graduation and while enrolled in graduate school, I again interned with cardiology, working in the office or rounding on patients in the hospital, to being in the cardiac catheterization lab during life-saving procedures. Following graduate school, I returned to TidalHealth Cardiology North where I was working as an EKG tech and Clinical Exercise Physiologist, where I oversaw stress testing, and assisted with nuclear stress tests as well.
Sounds like you loved it.
Absolutely. I’ve found that cardiology is my true passion.
So, that clearly explains the cardiology inspiration.
It’s pretty funny, actually. It was my last semester of undergrad, and I was taking a stress testing course. Not having heard of this before, I genuinely thought it was a course to see how stressed we were… I mean it’s college, so I was pretty stressed. Come to find out we were analyzing EKG rhythm strips and learning all about the heart. Day one hadn’t ended yet, and I was already fascinated, and found myself getting the hang of it. Turns out that class made me pretty passionate about the heart and drove me to learn more.
It’s a considerable jump from a Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) to PA school. Has that always been a dream, or did you catch that bug working in the office?
I’ve always had the desire to “do more.” Whether it’s continuing school, or taking on more responsibilities at work, I’ve never wanted to settle. While I enjoyed performing the stress tests and diagnosing conditions, I quickly learned I wanted to be the one to treat the issues and prevent future events from occurring. From that point on, I worked to get over 5,000 clinical hours and complete additional prerequisites, to make me a competitive applicant for PA school.
Any family members in healthcare?
Just me! While my dad was a firefighter/EMT in VA and my mom works with insurance, I’m a first-generation college graduate, and the only one in my family to pursue this career.
That’s awesome and congratulations. Mentors are key to so many of us when we’re looking to nail down what we want to do for a living. How important and encouraging to you were the clinicians and providers in the cardiology office?
There’s no doubt in my mind that the words of encouragement, and countless questions answered by the cardiologists at TidalHealth Cardiology North definitely pushed me to get to this point. While the providers were outstanding, I also couldn’t have done it without the nurses, medical assistants and front office staff. It truly was a team effort, and a lot of them don’t get the recognition that they truly deserve.
Over time, that mentoring will fall to you, too. How important will it be for you to do for others what others have done for you?
I truly cannot wait for the day that I will get to mentor future students. Having been in their position, I’ll have patience, understanding and willingness to go above and beyond for their success.
Back to where you are now, at Frostburg. Tell me about the PA program and if that is everything you expected it to be.
Absolutely. Going into PA school, you never really know what to expect, especially everything you hear from peers or read online. The key is going into it with an open mind. Frostburg has been an amazing program and let’s face it; I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for them. The best part about the program is by far the faculty, and their willingness to help. I’m in a 24-person cohort, and every professor and faculty member knows your name, and is always there. The director of admissions even took it upon himself to call every one of us when we got accepted into the program, showing how much they truly care about us.
We mentioned in the introduction that you hope to come back to TidalHealth Cardiology and work in the North office. What’s involved with licensure after you graduate in May?
Following graduation, I sit for my board exam, called the PANCE. After passing and becoming a PA-C, I then need to apply for both Maryland and Delaware state licensure and apply for my DEA number. Luckily during my didactic year, we were able to apply and receive our HPI number, which allowed us to cross off one aspect of licensure.
Why TidalHealth? I mean, PAs are in big demand, and you really have the option to go anywhere.
Well, Roger, this has been something asked by countless people. TidalHealth is where my journey began as an undergraduate intern in cardiology, which truly helped pave the way for my passion. Having the opportunity to return to the hospital and community that built me and my medical career is something I’ve aspired to do. Not only that, but the Eastern Shore has a completely different way of life. I love being near and on the water and really enjoy being away from the craziness that is the Western Shore. Not to mention, there’s something truly special about Eastern Shore sunsets.
Brought me here 38 years ago and has kept me here, too. For so many of us now, it’s just as common to see a PA or an NP in the office as it is a physician, so I assume you’re well aware of the important role you’re about to take on?
Oh absolutely. I look forward to being able to work with every one of my patients and helping them towards better health.
You’ve worked with a number of professionals in your field, learned from others, studied with peers…for you, what separates a good PA from a great PA?
Communication. While you can be an absolutely amazing test taker, and the top of your class, if someone lacks bedside manner and the ability to connect and form relationships with patients, that’s what separates good from great. One of the best compliments I’ve received both before and during PA school, was hearing patients and professors commend me for my bedside manner and being told I will be a great provider.
How about medical school, any chance of that down the road?
Believe it or not, you’re not the first person to ask that. I’ve thought about pursing a Doctorate degree at some point, whether it’s PhD or MD. But I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Dr. Julius Zant, a great guy and retired neurosurgeon, told me during medical school he would walk to the campus at Maryland wearing his lab coat because he knew it would cause the kids in the neighborhood to ask him about a career in medicine. What would you tell those kids?
“Do it. Chase your dreams and do what makes you happy.” If I had given up after the first test I failed, or after the first time I got stressed, I wouldn’t be where I am today. If they ask, I’ll be completely honest with them. Yes, there are moments it sucks, and you realize you miss out and have to sacrifice a lot, but in the end it’ll truly be worth it. If you asked me 5 years ago if I saw myself where I am today, I would’ve responded with “I hope so.” Now, I’m counting down the days till graduation on May 21, 2025. I see the dim light at the end of the tunnel, but with each day it’s getting brighter and brighter.
Get you out of here with this, Brian…we all set goals for ourselves that we hope to achieve before we call it a career. Before you hang up the stethoscope, what do you hope to do both clinically and as a community leader?
I truly hope to make a difference. Every time I hear a patient recommend or compliment a provider, I smile and hope that I have that impact on at least one person. On my first day of PA school, a professor of mine said to my class “be the provider that I would trust to take care of my mom.” At the end of the day, if they don’t remember my name, that’s okay. I want my future patients and their families to know that I am someone they can come to in their time of need.