Here's an interview from a PA that works in the Emergency Department at my hospital.
1) Why did you choose the PA profession?
I was thinking about med school and optometry school at first. Decided optometry was going to be too boring. Chose PA school after speaking with counselor at UT. Didn't know anything about it at the time. It was more of a time/length of school factor for me.
2) Tell me about your preparation for application to a PA program.
Really just looking at the pre-req's ad concentrating on my grades, especially in my core classes (sciences)
3) What was your most challenging period as a PA-S?
Most challenging periods were the in-patient clinicals with call schedules. I think they have changed/limited the number of hours now, but at the time, I would be at the hospital for 30-40 hours straight on those days.
4) What areas of practice have you worked in as a PA-C?
Only emergency medicine so far
5) How do you think the role of a PA will change in the future?
I hope to think it will only get stronger. Our value seems to be our best asset.
6) What advice would you give an aspiring PA?
Concentrate on grades in school. It is pretty competitive, so don't slack on studying. Also, I think now they are wanting some type of experience/exposure, so volunteer, work or shadow when you can.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Things I did to Prepare: Mock Interviews
My background is in recruiting, so I'm very comfortable with interviews. Preparing for questions, understanding the tone and pace, and ways to positively conclude an interview are all very familiar territory for me. I have still GREATLY benefited from doing mock interviews with my peers. Questions I hadn't thought of come up, answers that sounded good in my head my not deliver as well in person, and just practicing sitting in front of someone all gave me a much sharper preparation than I would otherwise have.
Our mock interview sessions go like this: We both come up with questions, meet at an agreed time, and treat the situation like a real interview. I'll ask all my questions, making notes about the answers and anything else I want to address afterwards. Then we trade and I get asked questions. We try to cover at least four known questions (popular) and two unknown. At the end we go over what we could do better, anything that stood out as strange or out of place, and anything that was positive and helpful.
Mock interviews are great training. An actual interview adds a great deal of pressure, so its better to have run through the situation a few times in a safer scenario.
Our mock interview sessions go like this: We both come up with questions, meet at an agreed time, and treat the situation like a real interview. I'll ask all my questions, making notes about the answers and anything else I want to address afterwards. Then we trade and I get asked questions. We try to cover at least four known questions (popular) and two unknown. At the end we go over what we could do better, anything that stood out as strange or out of place, and anything that was positive and helpful.
Mock interviews are great training. An actual interview adds a great deal of pressure, so its better to have run through the situation a few times in a safer scenario.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Interview with PA-C and TAPA President!
Lauren Dobbs is the President-elect for TAPA and a PA-C in Pediatrics. She was kind enough to let me interview her, so be sure to check out what she says below! (ed: she is also faculty at UNT HSC)
1) Why did you choose the PA profession?
I chose the PA profession for a variety of reasons but one thing that stood out was the ability to move from one specialty to the next. I like variety and knowing I did not have to pick an area of medicine and work in that area for my entire career was intriguing. As a PA you can work in surgery for 10 years, Pediatrics for 5 and oncology for another 5-10 if you wish. I think this may also prevent burn out that so many other professions endure.
2) Tell me about your preparation for application to a PA program
When I prepared for application to PA programs, I researched a variety of programs and found 8-10 programs that sounded like a good fit for me. I made sure I met all the qualifications for each program and applied using CASPA. I kept track of deadlines, secondary applications, interviews and such in a planner and tracked each program as I received acceptance and rejection letters and gradually narrowed my selection down to one.
3) What was your most challenging period as a PA-S?
The most challenging period as a physician assistant student for me was the end of the didactic year. This period was a mental challenge because as a student I was burned out on classroom time, enduring study fatigue and eager to get into the clinics and actually apply information I had learned. Now I look forward to conferences to get additional classroom time.
4) What has surprised you since you've become a PA-C?
I was surprised to find how many patients do not know about physician assistants. We are a relatively new profession and constant education on our field of medicine is necessary for the education of our patients, their families, and their friends as our profession grows.
5) What areas of practice have you worked in as a PA-C?
I have worked in general pediatrics thus far.
6) How did you first get involved with TAPA?
I first got involved with TAPA a month after I moved to the state of Texas. I had emailed a TAPA executive board member prior to conference discussing that I was new to the area and wanted to get involved. I attended the conference and was introduced to various leaders, committee chairs, and others. During this conference, I attended meetings and joined several committees. By the end of the year, I was chairing a committee and have worked with TAPA ever since.
7) How has participating in TAPA benefited you?
TAPA has been a great resource for me. It helps keep me current on the laws, allows me to network with other PAs, and provides CME in order for me to keep my license up to date.
8) How do you think the role of a PA will change in the future?
I think as health care shortages cause larger demand for services PAs will fill the areas with provider shortages and allow more patient access.
9) What advice would you give an aspiring PA?
Advise: You will never know it all. Keep learning every day. If you don't, you will never know enough.
1) Why did you choose the PA profession?
I chose the PA profession for a variety of reasons but one thing that stood out was the ability to move from one specialty to the next. I like variety and knowing I did not have to pick an area of medicine and work in that area for my entire career was intriguing. As a PA you can work in surgery for 10 years, Pediatrics for 5 and oncology for another 5-10 if you wish. I think this may also prevent burn out that so many other professions endure.
2) Tell me about your preparation for application to a PA program
When I prepared for application to PA programs, I researched a variety of programs and found 8-10 programs that sounded like a good fit for me. I made sure I met all the qualifications for each program and applied using CASPA. I kept track of deadlines, secondary applications, interviews and such in a planner and tracked each program as I received acceptance and rejection letters and gradually narrowed my selection down to one.
3) What was your most challenging period as a PA-S?
The most challenging period as a physician assistant student for me was the end of the didactic year. This period was a mental challenge because as a student I was burned out on classroom time, enduring study fatigue and eager to get into the clinics and actually apply information I had learned. Now I look forward to conferences to get additional classroom time.
4) What has surprised you since you've become a PA-C?
I was surprised to find how many patients do not know about physician assistants. We are a relatively new profession and constant education on our field of medicine is necessary for the education of our patients, their families, and their friends as our profession grows.
5) What areas of practice have you worked in as a PA-C?
I have worked in general pediatrics thus far.
6) How did you first get involved with TAPA?
I first got involved with TAPA a month after I moved to the state of Texas. I had emailed a TAPA executive board member prior to conference discussing that I was new to the area and wanted to get involved. I attended the conference and was introduced to various leaders, committee chairs, and others. During this conference, I attended meetings and joined several committees. By the end of the year, I was chairing a committee and have worked with TAPA ever since.
7) How has participating in TAPA benefited you?
TAPA has been a great resource for me. It helps keep me current on the laws, allows me to network with other PAs, and provides CME in order for me to keep my license up to date.
8) How do you think the role of a PA will change in the future?
I think as health care shortages cause larger demand for services PAs will fill the areas with provider shortages and allow more patient access.
9) What advice would you give an aspiring PA?
Advise: You will never know it all. Keep learning every day. If you don't, you will never know enough.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Things I did to Prepare: Info Sessions
Many PA programs will host one or several information sessions on campus with members of the program. Usually they are a few hours long and give a brief overview of the program, explain the PA profession, and any some questions. These are highly valuable for several reasons. You get to find out about the program: professors, facilities, and some of its culture (what does it take pride in? what is its history?). They are a chance to ask questions about the application and interview process before hand. They are also a great opportunity to interact with some of the leaders in the program directly.
I have attended three different info sessions at three different schools. The first had just a brief overview and ended with a Q&A time. The second added onto that format a campus tour, meeting current students, and a chance to talk to the director of the program. The final had the same format as the first, but was led by the program director and the head of admissions who were available for questions. Being able to talk with and ask questions of those two helped me understand the school and application process immensely. I found out a different approach they preferred for the personal statement, and what changes they were hoping to make in teh school in the next few years.
Some schools location or schedule make it impossble to attend their sessions, but if you have a chance I would higly recommend going to any and all info sessions.
I have attended three different info sessions at three different schools. The first had just a brief overview and ended with a Q&A time. The second added onto that format a campus tour, meeting current students, and a chance to talk to the director of the program. The final had the same format as the first, but was led by the program director and the head of admissions who were available for questions. Being able to talk with and ask questions of those two helped me understand the school and application process immensely. I found out a different approach they preferred for the personal statement, and what changes they were hoping to make in teh school in the next few years.
Some schools location or schedule make it impossble to attend their sessions, but if you have a chance I would higly recommend going to any and all info sessions.
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