Clinical Care

Olivia Foley’s path to Florida State University was a no-brainer.

Foley, now an alumna of the FSU College of Arts and Sciences and FSU College of Medicine, grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, surrounded by the university’s traditions.

“My childhood experiences, like attending football games and enjoying the Homecoming parade each year, made FSU feel like home long before I officially became a student,” Foley said. “It always felt natural to follow in the footsteps of my mother, who attended graduate school at FSU and later worked as the university’s audit director.”

However, it wasn’t until Foley moved into the pre-med track that she realized the varied avenues her career could take. 

Foley studied biology in the college’s Department of Biological Science, earning a bachelor’s in 2019 and then a master’s degree in 2023 from the School of Physician Assistant Practice in the College of Medicine. After completing her clinical rotations at FSU’s Daytona Beach Regional Medical School Campus, she began working as a physician assistant in family medicine in 2024 before switching to plastic surgery a few months later.

Today, as a physician assistant at the Tallahassee Plastic Surgery Clinic, Foley serves as the primary clinic and operating room PA for three surgeons, balancing clinical responsibilities like conducting preoperative consultations and follow-up visits while also assisting in surgical procedures. PAs work closely with supervising physicians and act as an extension of their care, allowing medical practices to see more patients and provide treatment across a wide range of specialties.

“Olivia developed from an enthusiastic student into a confident and capable clinician,” said Ricardo Martin, senior associate clinical education director for FSU’s PA program at Daytona Beach and Foley’s supervisor during her emergency medicine rotation. “She’s highly personable and exhibits an excellent bedside manner, fostering strong rapport with patients, and she's equally skilled in performing procedures, demonstrating both aptitude and efficiency in acquiring clinical skills.”

In nearly every area of medicine, there’s an increasing need for PAs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the occupation is projected to increase in employment by 20 percent from 2024 to 2034, which is 17 percent higher than the national average across all other occupations.

“As health care needs continue to grow, PAs play an important role in helping practices expand access to care and ensuring patients can receive timely treatment,” Foley said. “Our goal is always to support our colleagues and ensure that patients receive the best possible care.”

In addition to working in the clinic and its operating suite, Foley also travels to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital to assist with complex surgeries and check on the clinic’s patients who are recovering there.

“My days can look very different from one another, and my schedule can change at a moment’s notice depending on surgical needs and patient care priorities,” Foley said. “One of my favorite aspects of my job is assisting with wound closure in the operating room — it allows me to combine technical skills with an extreme attention to detail. It’s rewarding to play a hands-on role in helping our patients achieve the best possible surgical outcomes.”

After graduating with her bachelor’s, Foley earned her medical assistant certification and began working at FSU PrimaryHealth, FSU’s primary care outreach clinic, as a medical assistant from 2019 to 2022 while pursuing her master’s. While there, she saw firsthand the benefit of FSU’s medical training programs.

“Every rotation I participated in offered valuable lessons, even in areas I didn’t expect to pursue,” she said. “One of my rotations was with a bariatric surgery practice, which specializes in weight loss surgeries. At the time, I didn’t realize how useful this experience would be for my career, especially gaining familiarity with the operating room environment and developing skills in stitching.”

From childhood to post-graduation, Foley has remained a Seminoles fan and is grateful for the memories, opportunities, and mentorship that her alma mater has continuously afforded her. 

“All my FSU experiences played a major role in shaping my path,” Foley said. “It’s been very meaningful to build my career in the same community where I grew up and first developed my interest in medicine.” 

Carly Nelson is an FSU alumna who earned a bachelor's degree in advertising in 2025. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in strategic communications with plans to graduate in Summer 2026.