Pediatric Radiology Physician Assistant at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters
People often go into medicine as a result of growing up with a relative in the medical field. Almost as many choose the career after watching a loved one go through a serious illness. In the case of Jeffrey Belcher, it was both – and it was the same person. His mother went through the Sentara nursing program in 1984, and he remembers her spreading her books and study materials out on the floor. “I’d sit beside her and go through anatomy with her, and it was a big influence,” he says. “From that time on, I was interested in the medical field” – so much so that he majored in biology and followed a pre-med curriculum at the University of Virginia.
While working at Eastern Virginia Medical School as a Research Assistant, Mr. Belcher was encouraged by a prominent physician to explore the up and coming field of Physician Assistant. He did so, and was accepted into the Physician Assistant program at EVMS. Early into the curriculum, his mother was diagnosed with end stage renal disease, which would require multiple vascular surgeries and eventually dialysis. He wanted to learn more about renal physiology and vascular surgery, so he could better understand and help his mother. During an elective clinical rotation with a vascular surgery Physician Assistant, he found the combination of surgical skill and clinical application just what he was looking for in a future career.
Upon graduation in 2005, he took a position at the UVA hospital, where he trained in Interventional Radiology, honing skills such as ultrasound guided PICC placement, CVL/ temporary dialysis catheter placement, tunneled HD catheter placement, and subcutaneous port placement. He ultimately returned to Norfolk and took a unique position working at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in the Department of Radiology. Throughout his tenure at CHKD, he has worked diligently to develop significant working relationships with the area pediatricians and pediatric specialists.
The position of pediatric radiology for a Physician Assistant is very specialized, and currently very rare. Mr. Belcher is one of only a few in the country, and may be the only one in Virginia.
A typical daily schedule includes both inpatients and outpatients, their ages ranging from premature neonates to young adults. On these patients, Mr. Belcher performs fluoroscopy to evaluate the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract and urinary systems, allowing the precise placement of a variety of feeding tubes. The work is critical because of the very small window of time available, as these young patients are awake and anxious, and their parent(s) can be present as well. “It can be stressful,” he says, “so I have to bring all of my resources, clinical knowledge and experience to bear to ensure we’re getting the right number of images, using the least amount of radiation possible.”
Mr. Belcher is quick to give credit to his colleagues and coworkers at CHKD. “Every day, everyone works extremely hard, to be sure every patient has the absolute best outcome,” he says. “It takes a very special skill set to work with children, let alone perform procedures on them. Our medical team brings together several caring hands to help families throughout the process. Being a part of a nationally ranked freestanding children’s hospital filled with talented medical professionals adds to that positive experience. There is no greater satisfaction than having a positive impact in a child’s life.”
