by Kristen Simpson

G eorgia College & State University alumna Kelly Anderson (’15) has been a practicing anesthesiologist assistant for the last six years. 

Each day starts early in the morning, her work ranging from assisting C-sections to removing appendixes at Northside Hospital in Canton, Georgia. She’s responsible for prepping operating rooms, pre-operative evaluations, managing patient airways, patient advocacy and more. 

“What I really love about what I do is seeing a patient through an acute issue all the way to their recovery,” Anderson said. “For me that’s a 10-fold experience—being able to help someone through the process of getting better.”

One might wonder how chemistry led Anderson to her path, and she didn’t consider it at first either. Originally she was interested in pharmacy, but seeking an immediate impact in patient care drove her to pursue anesthesiology. 

Understanding chemistry is imperative to managing anesthesia, since it teaches professionals how different medications react to the human body, or other drugs. 

“There are neurons in the brain that fire for pain, and there’s medicine we can give that will interact with those neurons to either stop the firing or blocking pain receptors,” Anderson said. “It’s a mix of the chemistry of medicine and the chemistry of a patient’s body.”

Originally from Buford, Georgia, Anderson graduated in 2019 with her master’s in medical science from South University in Savannah, Georgia, and has been practicing since. 

During her undergraduate studies at Georgia College, Anderson researched how heavy metals travel through city waterways under the tutelage of Dr. Catrena Lisse, professor of chemistry. 

Anderson researched the water quality of the Ocmulgee River in South Georgia, and how heavy metals traveled through the river’s connection to the Oconee. 

“Dr. Lisse was always so willing to help and come with me on adventures,” Anderson said. “We would drive and camp through all kinds of forestry to reach river quality sites.”

As Dr. Lisse was building the Science Education Center in 2015, Anderson helped her develop the ‘STEM-ming into the Community’ program, where the center takes chemistry into local schools.

“Her outreach into the community is really remarkable, and I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to reach out,” Anderson said. “It taught me a lot of empathy and desire to help see how science could go further.”

“It made me want to find a job where I was applying my knowledge every day, and I found that fit for me,” Anderson said. “I see a whole spectrum, and it’s very rewarding to help patients through their scariest times.”

GCSU'S NEW BIOCHEMISTRY PATHWAY

Biochemistry is now a specific concentration that can be chosen by students earning a chemistry degree at Georgia College. In addition, Georgia College offers an accelerated pre-pharmacy track and partnerships with pharmacy schools at the University of Georgia, Mercer University, Auburn University and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

“Whether students want to go to professional school, enter the workforce or any other goal, we make sure they get the best experience and qualifications to fulfill their dreams,” said Dr. Wathsala Medawala, associate professor of chemistry. “Our faculty-student interaction is very strong, enabling the students to always get the guidance they need.”