Mariah Waaland is a certified physician assistant and a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the New York State Society of PAs. She received her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Albany Medical College in Albany, NY, and earned her Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH. Mariah completed an internship at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s, focusing on children of all ages with ADHD, conduct disorder, autism, and other clinical disorders. She has a particular interest in neurology.
From a young age, Mariah knew she wanted to enter medicine. Growing up on a farm, she frequently treated injured and ill animals. Watching and aiding them in recovery brought Mariah such joy that she began shadowing medical doctors in high school. When shadowing a neurosurgeon, the doctor paired her with a physician assistant to see a patient. After a short ten-minute conversation, following her question, “What is a PA?” she knew exactly what career she wanted to pursue. Mariah loves creating working relationships with her patients so treatment can be as effective as possible. She believes communication is critical in all provider-patient interactions, especially in family medicine, where counseling and education are major pillars to the foundation of success. Mariah takes the time to listen to her patient’s concerns. She values her patient’s opinions in addition to creating a working relationship with them. Her patient’s health is always her priority, and she looks forward to providing them with the best treatment options possible.
During undergrad, Mariah worked part-time in emergency medical services. While off-duty, she received a page for a rollover car accident involving teenagers. The patient she oversaw was a terrified 18-year-old girl with broken legs and severe head trauma. That was the first day Mariah truly treated a patient physically and emotionally. Mariah and her patient forged a relationship between pain, terror, and uncertainty in just those few minutes. Three months later, Mariah saw the same girl in a wheelchair with casts on both legs smiling at her. She remembered Mariah and thanked her for what she had done. Little did she know, she taught Mariah a lesson that day. She showed her that by always valuing relationships with her patients, regardless of how complicated or overwhelming a situation may seem, Mariah will always practice the best kind of medicine.
Mariah is originally from northwest Ohio but moved to the Albany area for her PA education and to begin her medical career. Throughout her studies, she researched correlations between electroencephalogram and affective components of emotion and explored correlations between environmental factors and pediatric relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Outside work, she was the community outreach chair for her PA class and became involved with the Capital City Rescue Mission, Capital Roots, Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, and American Heart Association. Mariah loves the outdoors, hiking, kayaking, biking, and swimming. She also enjoys equestrian sports and playing the piano.