Alumna Spotlight: Ariela Navasartian

We spoke with Ariela Navasartian about her experience as a medical scribe with ScribeAmerica, her path to pursuing a career as a PA, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

Ariela’s interest in medicine started early, shaped by both family influence and a growing fascination with biology. “When we came to America, the dream was for me to become a doctor or a provider. At first, it was my parents’ dream, but once I learned about the human body and fell in love with biology, it became mine too.”

She was following the traditional premed route and even took the MCAT before she learned about the option to be a PA. “About three years ago, I met a PA at an orthopedic office. She told me how much she loved her job,” Ariela said. “I did research, talked to more PAs, and realized they were happy and fulfilled. That’s when I fell in love with the idea.”

From then on out, she knew she wanted to become a PA, but she didn’t know where to begin until a friend told her about scribing. “She told me about this position, and that’s when I really got interested,” Ariela said. “I did some research and saw that it counts as hours towards PA school, which is what I’m trying to become.”

She applied and started her first position in a trauma center emergency room. It was intense from the start. “I’m not going to lie, I got to see a gunshot victim on my very first day,” she said. She originally thought that kind of fast-paced, chaotic environment would be her dream. “I always thought I wanted to work in a trauma center,” she said. “But you never know until you’re actually placed in that environment.” It turned out the pace and pressure weren’t the right fit, and she eventually transferred to an orthopedic surgeon’s office.

The switch changed everything. “That was much better for me because I actually want to become an orthopedic surgeon PA,” Ariela said. She splits her time between two specialists, one focused on hips and knees, the other on feet and ankles. “The hip and knee doctor sees about 45 to 55 patients in a day,” she said. “I prep the charts in the morning, shadow him to every room, and I’ve gotten really good at reading the X-rays myself before he even tells me what’s going on. I write the chart before he says it, and then I adjust based on what he confirms.”

Her afternoons are spent with the podiatrist, who works at a fast pace. “He sees 30 patients in about two hours,” Ariela said. “So you need to type really fast and be great at multitasking. Every doctor works differently, not just in how they treat patients, but how they like their charts. You have to adjust.”

The volume and variety of cases has taught her a lot. Multitasking, she says, is one of the biggest skills she’s developed. “You’re listening to the doctor and the patient, watching what’s happening in the room, and typing,” she said. “It’s something I’ll use as a PA for sure.”

Beyond clinical knowledge, working as a scribe has given Ariela a front-row seat to something not easily taught, how to actually be a provider. “You’re literally in the room with the doctor, watching how they communicate, how they manage time, and how they handle patients who are difficult or upset,” she said. “That’s where you learn bedside manner. That’s what people don’t think about.”

She also noticed how much of a difference a scribe can make, not just for the doctor, but for the patient. “When I go see a doctor and they don’t have a scribe, they’re not really looking at me. They’re typing, distracted,” Ariela said. “But when there’s a scribe in the room, the doctor is fully focused on the patient. They make eye contact. They connect. It’s so important.”

When she first started, she didn’t feel confident. “I felt really discouraged,” she admitted. “You get that impostor syndrome, especially when the other scribes are faster and seem to know everything.” But her trainer was patient and encouraging. “No matter how long it took me to finish charts, he’d sit next to me and guide me. He’d compliment me on everything I got right and be kind about what I got wrong.”

That support inspired her to pass it on. Now, she trains new scribes using the same approach. “I know what they’re going through. I know how stressful it is. So I try to make it easier for them.”

Beyond medicine, Ariela leads a rich and balanced life. She’s an avid reader and a certified personal trainer. “The gym is my second passion in life,” she said. “It’s kind of the same as being a provider. You assess someone’s needs, figure out what their goals are, and make a plan together. It’s helped me with communication and explaining things clearly.”

Looking back as she waits to begin PA school, Ariela wouldn’t trade her scribe experience for anything. “I know that if it wasn’t for ScribeAmerica, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m very thankful.”

Her advice to future scribes? Be patient with yourself. “You’re not going to be good at this right away. It’s okay to not be good at something when you’re new. Just ask questions. Don’t make mistakes and not learn from them, and be curious. This might be the field you end up working in one day.”