Here's an interview I did with PA-C and current TAPA President, Trisha Harris-Odimgbe. Once again, sorry about the noise.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
TAPA Video Interview #5
Here's a video interview with long time PA-C Dick Gillium. Sorry about the noise, I didn't realize it picked up that much of the background.
TAPA Vide Interview #6 - Student Forum
This is a multi-part video from the PrePA reception/PA-S student panel. We were able to sit down with TAPA Student Directors from several of the Texas schools ( and a couple of PA-Cs) and get there feedback on our questions!
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Interview with a PA-S from UTHSC San Antonio
Here's an interview with a student who was in Pubic Health before going to PA school.
1) Why did you want to be a PA?
I majored in Dietetics at Western Michigan University. While I was working on my Bachelor's I started to feel like I could do more for patients that just talk about food. I wanted to be able to give them medical information about the conditions they were seeing me for. At the same time I was working at a private pediatric practice as front desk staff. Over time, they started giving me more responsibilities in the clinic like performing hearing and vision screenings on children entering public school and coordinating the practice's records in the state immunization registry. I loved being in the clinical environment. Personally, I've seen several Physician Assistants as a patient and always had a positive experience; I actually preferred seeing the PA. When I moved to Texas I was working in public health, specifically HIV/AIDS prevention. At least once a week I would have a participant ask me a question about a symptom she was having and I would always have to respond by saying "I am not a doctor or nurse, you really should go to a clinic and have it checked out if you are concerned." That reinforced my desire to become a PA. I really feel like being a PA will fill the gap that I had when I was providing services to my participants.
2) What did you do before starting PA school?
I stayed at Western Michigan University (WMU) for a 5th year to finish up some of the pre-requisite courses for PA school with a scheduled graduation date of April 2007. I interviewed at 2 PA programs in Michigan in December 2006. During my last semester I was looking for activities to keep me busy since most of my friends graduated the year before. I decided to participate in the Alternative Spring Break Program. During the week of spring break I traveled to San Antonio, TX with ten other students to volunteer at the San Antonio AIDS Foundation. I got rejection letters from those 2 PA programs while I was on the trip. I had a friend check my mail while I was out of town and she called to tell me I got something from both schools. She didn't read the letter before she called me and we were both upset to find out I didn't get it. I didn't have a back-up plan in Michigan and San Antonio seemed like a nice city so I decided that I would move to Texas after I graduated. One week after I graduated I packed my car and drove to San Antonio. I stayed with one of the volunteers from the San Antonio AIDS Foundation until I found a job and an apartment. About six weeks after I got here I started working for the immunization program at the health department. Later I worked as a nutritionist for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program with the health department. After that I briefly worked for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program in town and finally found my place doing HIV/AIDS prevention education for high-risk women. I worked as a health educator for about a year before I was promoted to Program Manager. I was there for 3 years before getting into the PA program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. During that time I've had a number of volunteer position. At WMU I volunteered with a Registered Dietitian and the WIC program; held officer positions in the Student Dietetic Association; and completed a 2 semester internship as a Sexual Health Peer Educator. After arriving in San Antonio I continued to stay involved in the HIV/AIDS community and I participated in planning committees for several local HIV/AIDS awareness events. I am also on an advisory board for a local reproductive health program. In 2010 I completed a Masters of Public Health.
3) What was your application process like? (how many schools, interviews, how did you choose)
This time I only applied to the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). After some discussion with my family, friends and significant other I thought that it was a good time to reapply to PA school. I had a little more experience than I did the first time I applied and I thought the UTHSCSA program was a good fit for me. I really liked the program's focus on community health, especially the community medicine capstone project. I turned in my CASPA application on October 1st and didn't hear that I was selected for an interview until the end of January, about a week before the day they wanted me to come in. I was incredibly nervous and thought that because I was interviewing so late they probably already had their class selected. A couple of weeks after my interview I received the letter that I was selected.
The first two interviews I had in 2007 were your standard panel interviews. I talked to a couple of PAs and some current students about why I wanted to be a PA, why I thought I would be a good PA and how I would handle different situations as a practicing PA. Both programs required I write a brief essay on-site. Both also provided a campus tour. I left one of the interviews feeling confident that I would get in. The second interview was terrible; I was nervous, I couldn't form a coherent thought. I don't know what happened. I think the main reason I wasn't accepted to those schools (aside from the terrible interview) was that I barely made the clinical hours requirement. Both schools wanted at least 500 hours of direct patient contact. I had exactly 500 but I was interviewing with people who had thousands of hours as nurses, paramedics, registered dietitians, et cetera.
My interview at UTHSCSA also had an essay component and a campus tour. I interviewed with a number of faculty and community PAs. I really don't want to give away much more information in case your readers are applying to UTHSCSA. I was nervous at the beginning but eventually calmed down. I think I was better prepared this go around because of the work experience I've had in the last 5 years.
4) How does PA school compare to your other master's program?
PA school is much more time consuming and much more challenging. I had some difficult classes for my MPH, like biostatistics. That was hard for me because it had been a long time since my previous statistics course and in addition to learning about the different statistical tests we were learning a new software. Other classes, like Program Planning, Implementation and Evaluation, required a lot of work but it was similar to what I was doing in my job so I had an idea of how to accomplish our tasks. That program required me to learn new information and apply it to the big picture.
So far in PA school I feel comfortable with the type of material we are covering. Most of it I've at least heard of at some point in the past (I'm sure this will change when we get to our medicine courses and more of the clinical skills). During the first semester I had to spend a lot of time brushing up on the basics that I haven't used in awhile (like physiology). This semester I'm having to memorize a lot of information for anatomy. I'm much better at big picture than I am at memorizing. PA school is also a greater volume of information. I worked full-time when I was working on my MPH and the class work was manageable. A lot of what I was doing at the time mirrored my work so that made it somewhat easier. Classes in PA last almost all day and my free time is spent studying.
There have been some new things that I've never done before that were more challenging than I expected. Things like learning the physical exam and even phlebotomy.
5) What has surprised you about PA school so far?
The amount of time I spend studying and preparing for exams. I knew PA school would be challenging but I've never been kicked out of the library because it was closing before. It takes me at least 3 hours to read a chapter in our book and take good notes. I've never had to do that before.
6) What has been your strategy for surviving the didactic portion of the program?
I'm a planner and I like to look ahead and know what is coming. I fill out my calendar at least one month in advance with the class schedule, deadlines for papers and the exam schedule. I plan my study schedule backward from the date of an exam. My school schedule really comes first and everything else (work, the gym, social time) gets worked in around it.
7) What do you wish you had done to prepare for PA school?
Honestly, I'm pretty happy with how things turned out. I think that everything that has happened since I moved to Texas has put me in a good position to do well in this program. If I had to go through the application process again I would just make sure I had more PA shadow time and a letter of recommendation from a PA.
My "Big" told me to enjoy my summer and not worry about school until it started. I almost wish I didn't listen and at least read the first chapter in our physiology book because I felt like I was always one week behind. Although I will probably tell my "Littles" to have fun and enjoy their summer too.
8) What advise would you give a future PA?
Gosh, I don't know what advice I would give a future PA since I'm not there yet. I'm guessing there is a lot PAs could tell me. As far as future PA students, I would say not to give up on the application process or the PA school dream. If you are worried you don't have the right qualifications to apply review the program websites, talk to their admissions coordinators and go to their information sessions. One of my big concerns before applying was financial aid since I have loans from undergrad and my masters. I contacted the financial aid office and health professions welcome center months before I decided to apply. They were incredibly helpful! If you don't get in the first time you apply don't get discouraged. Learn from the interview process, figure out what it is you need to make yourself more competitive and try again. Volunteer with a cause that means something to you.
1) Why did you want to be a PA?
I majored in Dietetics at Western Michigan University. While I was working on my Bachelor's I started to feel like I could do more for patients that just talk about food. I wanted to be able to give them medical information about the conditions they were seeing me for. At the same time I was working at a private pediatric practice as front desk staff. Over time, they started giving me more responsibilities in the clinic like performing hearing and vision screenings on children entering public school and coordinating the practice's records in the state immunization registry. I loved being in the clinical environment. Personally, I've seen several Physician Assistants as a patient and always had a positive experience; I actually preferred seeing the PA. When I moved to Texas I was working in public health, specifically HIV/AIDS prevention. At least once a week I would have a participant ask me a question about a symptom she was having and I would always have to respond by saying "I am not a doctor or nurse, you really should go to a clinic and have it checked out if you are concerned." That reinforced my desire to become a PA. I really feel like being a PA will fill the gap that I had when I was providing services to my participants.
2) What did you do before starting PA school?
I stayed at Western Michigan University (WMU) for a 5th year to finish up some of the pre-requisite courses for PA school with a scheduled graduation date of April 2007. I interviewed at 2 PA programs in Michigan in December 2006. During my last semester I was looking for activities to keep me busy since most of my friends graduated the year before. I decided to participate in the Alternative Spring Break Program. During the week of spring break I traveled to San Antonio, TX with ten other students to volunteer at the San Antonio AIDS Foundation. I got rejection letters from those 2 PA programs while I was on the trip. I had a friend check my mail while I was out of town and she called to tell me I got something from both schools. She didn't read the letter before she called me and we were both upset to find out I didn't get it. I didn't have a back-up plan in Michigan and San Antonio seemed like a nice city so I decided that I would move to Texas after I graduated. One week after I graduated I packed my car and drove to San Antonio. I stayed with one of the volunteers from the San Antonio AIDS Foundation until I found a job and an apartment. About six weeks after I got here I started working for the immunization program at the health department. Later I worked as a nutritionist for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program with the health department. After that I briefly worked for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program in town and finally found my place doing HIV/AIDS prevention education for high-risk women. I worked as a health educator for about a year before I was promoted to Program Manager. I was there for 3 years before getting into the PA program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. During that time I've had a number of volunteer position. At WMU I volunteered with a Registered Dietitian and the WIC program; held officer positions in the Student Dietetic Association; and completed a 2 semester internship as a Sexual Health Peer Educator. After arriving in San Antonio I continued to stay involved in the HIV/AIDS community and I participated in planning committees for several local HIV/AIDS awareness events. I am also on an advisory board for a local reproductive health program. In 2010 I completed a Masters of Public Health.
3) What was your application process like? (how many schools, interviews, how did you choose)
This time I only applied to the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). After some discussion with my family, friends and significant other I thought that it was a good time to reapply to PA school. I had a little more experience than I did the first time I applied and I thought the UTHSCSA program was a good fit for me. I really liked the program's focus on community health, especially the community medicine capstone project. I turned in my CASPA application on October 1st and didn't hear that I was selected for an interview until the end of January, about a week before the day they wanted me to come in. I was incredibly nervous and thought that because I was interviewing so late they probably already had their class selected. A couple of weeks after my interview I received the letter that I was selected.
The first two interviews I had in 2007 were your standard panel interviews. I talked to a couple of PAs and some current students about why I wanted to be a PA, why I thought I would be a good PA and how I would handle different situations as a practicing PA. Both programs required I write a brief essay on-site. Both also provided a campus tour. I left one of the interviews feeling confident that I would get in. The second interview was terrible; I was nervous, I couldn't form a coherent thought. I don't know what happened. I think the main reason I wasn't accepted to those schools (aside from the terrible interview) was that I barely made the clinical hours requirement. Both schools wanted at least 500 hours of direct patient contact. I had exactly 500 but I was interviewing with people who had thousands of hours as nurses, paramedics, registered dietitians, et cetera.
My interview at UTHSCSA also had an essay component and a campus tour. I interviewed with a number of faculty and community PAs. I really don't want to give away much more information in case your readers are applying to UTHSCSA. I was nervous at the beginning but eventually calmed down. I think I was better prepared this go around because of the work experience I've had in the last 5 years.
4) How does PA school compare to your other master's program?
PA school is much more time consuming and much more challenging. I had some difficult classes for my MPH, like biostatistics. That was hard for me because it had been a long time since my previous statistics course and in addition to learning about the different statistical tests we were learning a new software. Other classes, like Program Planning, Implementation and Evaluation, required a lot of work but it was similar to what I was doing in my job so I had an idea of how to accomplish our tasks. That program required me to learn new information and apply it to the big picture.
So far in PA school I feel comfortable with the type of material we are covering. Most of it I've at least heard of at some point in the past (I'm sure this will change when we get to our medicine courses and more of the clinical skills). During the first semester I had to spend a lot of time brushing up on the basics that I haven't used in awhile (like physiology). This semester I'm having to memorize a lot of information for anatomy. I'm much better at big picture than I am at memorizing. PA school is also a greater volume of information. I worked full-time when I was working on my MPH and the class work was manageable. A lot of what I was doing at the time mirrored my work so that made it somewhat easier. Classes in PA last almost all day and my free time is spent studying.
There have been some new things that I've never done before that were more challenging than I expected. Things like learning the physical exam and even phlebotomy.
5) What has surprised you about PA school so far?
The amount of time I spend studying and preparing for exams. I knew PA school would be challenging but I've never been kicked out of the library because it was closing before. It takes me at least 3 hours to read a chapter in our book and take good notes. I've never had to do that before.
6) What has been your strategy for surviving the didactic portion of the program?
I'm a planner and I like to look ahead and know what is coming. I fill out my calendar at least one month in advance with the class schedule, deadlines for papers and the exam schedule. I plan my study schedule backward from the date of an exam. My school schedule really comes first and everything else (work, the gym, social time) gets worked in around it.
7) What do you wish you had done to prepare for PA school?
Honestly, I'm pretty happy with how things turned out. I think that everything that has happened since I moved to Texas has put me in a good position to do well in this program. If I had to go through the application process again I would just make sure I had more PA shadow time and a letter of recommendation from a PA.
My "Big" told me to enjoy my summer and not worry about school until it started. I almost wish I didn't listen and at least read the first chapter in our physiology book because I felt like I was always one week behind. Although I will probably tell my "Littles" to have fun and enjoy their summer too.
8) What advise would you give a future PA?
Gosh, I don't know what advice I would give a future PA since I'm not there yet. I'm guessing there is a lot PAs could tell me. As far as future PA students, I would say not to give up on the application process or the PA school dream. If you are worried you don't have the right qualifications to apply review the program websites, talk to their admissions coordinators and go to their information sessions. One of my big concerns before applying was financial aid since I have loans from undergrad and my masters. I contacted the financial aid office and health professions welcome center months before I decided to apply. They were incredibly helpful! If you don't get in the first time you apply don't get discouraged. Learn from the interview process, figure out what it is you need to make yourself more competitive and try again. Volunteer with a cause that means something to you.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Interview with a PA-S from UTSW
1) Why did you want to be a PA?
It wasn't until my last few weeks as a Peace Corps volunteer that I decided I wanted to become a PA. I knew I wanted to continue working in the field of public health, just as I had in-country for the past two years, but it wasn't until I met a PA who was serving as our interim medical director that I truly decided becoming a PA was the right choice for me. I told her I wanted to go into health care and was considering either becoming a physician or nurse practitioner, she looked at me and said, "deciding to become a PA was the best decision I ever made." I've never heard anyone speak so confidently and proudly of their profession before, so I talked with her over the next several days, did my research, and ended up taking my prerequisites and applying through CASPA as soon as I landed stateside. It has been one of the toughest, yet most gratifying things I've done to date.
2) What did you do before starting PA school?
I worked for about 10 years as an entomologist, computer programmer, and Peace Corps volunteer. I also volunteered at a free clinic and worked as a handyman in my free time.
3) What was your application process like? (how many schools, interviews, how did you choose)
Texas is amazing in terms of the number of PA schools we have. I applied to five different programs, interviewed at three of them, and was finally accepted at both UTSW and UNTHSC.
4) How does UTSW stand out to you? What do you now appreciate about the program that you weren't aware of during the interview?
UTSW has an amazing reputation, great facilities (I still remember being able to dissect an entire cadaver my first semester at school), the program includes medical Spanish as part of its core curriculum, our school is affiliated with Parkland (one of the largest teaching hospitals in the nation) and there are only 36 students in our class. I appreciate how personal the classes are and the solidarity I have with my fellow scholars.
5) What has surprised you about PA school so far?
I am constantly amazed and delighted at how brilliant all of my fellow classmates are and how encompassing the material we study is.
6) What has been your strategy for surviving the didactic portion of the program?
Creating a balance between studying and enjoying life is key. My wife and I schedule date nights, travel, and I even started playing guitar recently as a creative outlet to relieve the intensity of my PA program.
7) What do you wish you had done to prepare for PA school?
Somebody gave me the following advice when I was accepted to PA school: "Don't try to study before classes start. Enjoy your time with family, friends, and loved ones. Travel. Read something non-medical. You'll have plenty of time to study and cram your head full of diseases, diagnoses, and treatments once school begins."
8) What advice would you give a future PA?
Make sure you have all of your prerequisites in order.
Volunteer or work in health care.
Take the GRE and fill out your CASPA application as early as possible.
Shadow somebody.
Be yourself at interviews.
It wasn't until my last few weeks as a Peace Corps volunteer that I decided I wanted to become a PA. I knew I wanted to continue working in the field of public health, just as I had in-country for the past two years, but it wasn't until I met a PA who was serving as our interim medical director that I truly decided becoming a PA was the right choice for me. I told her I wanted to go into health care and was considering either becoming a physician or nurse practitioner, she looked at me and said, "deciding to become a PA was the best decision I ever made." I've never heard anyone speak so confidently and proudly of their profession before, so I talked with her over the next several days, did my research, and ended up taking my prerequisites and applying through CASPA as soon as I landed stateside. It has been one of the toughest, yet most gratifying things I've done to date.
2) What did you do before starting PA school?
I worked for about 10 years as an entomologist, computer programmer, and Peace Corps volunteer. I also volunteered at a free clinic and worked as a handyman in my free time.
3) What was your application process like? (how many schools, interviews, how did you choose)
Texas is amazing in terms of the number of PA schools we have. I applied to five different programs, interviewed at three of them, and was finally accepted at both UTSW and UNTHSC.
4) How does UTSW stand out to you? What do you now appreciate about the program that you weren't aware of during the interview?
UTSW has an amazing reputation, great facilities (I still remember being able to dissect an entire cadaver my first semester at school), the program includes medical Spanish as part of its core curriculum, our school is affiliated with Parkland (one of the largest teaching hospitals in the nation) and there are only 36 students in our class. I appreciate how personal the classes are and the solidarity I have with my fellow scholars.
5) What has surprised you about PA school so far?
I am constantly amazed and delighted at how brilliant all of my fellow classmates are and how encompassing the material we study is.
6) What has been your strategy for surviving the didactic portion of the program?
Creating a balance between studying and enjoying life is key. My wife and I schedule date nights, travel, and I even started playing guitar recently as a creative outlet to relieve the intensity of my PA program.
7) What do you wish you had done to prepare for PA school?
Somebody gave me the following advice when I was accepted to PA school: "Don't try to study before classes start. Enjoy your time with family, friends, and loved ones. Travel. Read something non-medical. You'll have plenty of time to study and cram your head full of diseases, diagnoses, and treatments once school begins."
8) What advice would you give a future PA?
Make sure you have all of your prerequisites in order.
Volunteer or work in health care.
Take the GRE and fill out your CASPA application as early as possible.
Shadow somebody.
Be yourself at interviews.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Interview with a Texas Tech PA-S
1. Why did you want to be a PA?
Nearly everyone who embarks into the medical profession has the same compassion and desire to help others and to make them feel better. I believe that the PA profession is the best possible fit for me because I have the knowledge and experience to diagnose and treat the patients who come to me seeking care. Also, as a PA, I have more time to spend with patients and counsel them and their families on whatever questions they may have. Not only are there numerous job opportunities across the United States, but there is a great respect from physicians towards their PAs. For me, becoming a PA was the perfect choice because I have the ability to work whenever (part-time/full-time) or wherever I want which is very important to me and my family.
2.What did you do before starting PA school?
Before beginning PA school, I attended Baylor University and earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience. While at Baylor, I would travel every other weekend to Dallas to work as an EMT at Children's Medical Center to gain more experience in the health care field. Although it was a challenge balancing undergrad and working, I really enjoyed working at the hospital because I was able to have that patient interaction that inspired me to continue my journey to PA school. I graduated from Baylor in May, 2010 and began PA school at Texas Tech in May, 2010.
3. What was your application process like? (how many schools, interviews, how did you choose)
I narrowed down which schools I applied to based on which prerequisites I took. I applied to 4 schools: UTMB, Baylor College of Medicine, OU and Texas Tech. Out of those, I interviewed at OU and Texas Tech and was accepted to both. Before interviews, I was almost 100% sure I wanted to go to OU for PA school. However, after I interviewed there and at Texas Tech, I felt that Tech was the best fit for me.
4. How does the Texas Tech program stand out to you? What do you now appreciate about the program that you weren't aware of during the interview?
What solidified my decision to attend Texas Tech was the atmosphere. I felt very comfortable and "at home" when I interviewed there. That isn't to say that they aren't a very rigorous program because even after almost 2 years of PA school, I would definitely say it is still very challenging and I have learned more than I thought imaginable! Also, another aspect that I was very attracted to was that they have 7 different regions of Texas that students choose from to complete their clinical rotations. They include: Waco/Temple (I was obviously drawn to this area being a Baylor grad! Sic 'Em!), San Angelo, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, El Paso, Amarillo and Abilene. Once rotations begin, students will live in their selected region for a year and complete their rotations in that area. This was attractive to me because I would be able to live in one city for a year instead of traveling to different cities of the state every 6 weeks and attempting to secure housing while managing all of the other stressful aspects of PA school. Throughout my experience at Tech, I have found that the faculty and staff are very supportive and involved in the students journey of PA school. They are always available to answer questions or provide a better explanation for concepts that are challenging to grasp and their main goal is to help students in any way possible in order to achieve the awesome credentials of "PA-C". During my interviews at Tech, I certainly had no idea how much of a positive impact my PA school professors would make on my life during PA school and as a medical professional.
5. What has surprised you about PA school so far?
I guess what has surprised me about PA school so far is how much I have learned and how much I have yet to learn! They compare PA school to trying to drink from Niagara Falls: A lot of information to learn in a short amount of time. It doesn't matter how many times I can review certain details of particular treatments and diseases, I will always get them mixed up or forget an important detail. But, I am sure I will master them with time and experience!
6. What has been your strategy for surviving the didactic portion of the program?
I would definitely recommend finding a few good friends in PA school to study with during the didactic portion. In undergrad, I studied by myself and that worked for me. However, in PA school, there is so much to learn in such short amount of time that you need someone to not only hold you accountable to study (instead of being distracted by something) but to also be able to talk things out with. A lot of times, my friends and I would study certain topics and then we would discuss them and that would help solidify my understanding of those topics. Also, Starbucks and/or the library will become your new home!
7. What do you wish you had done to prepare for PA school?
I did not have as much shadowing experience as I think would have been helpful. Although I had hospital experience as an EMT, I was not as experienced with the common encounters and decisions that PAs make on a daily basis and I think that more shadowing hours would have helped this.
8. What advise would you give a future PA?
I would say to never give up! We all have our own challenges and struggles in our journey to acceptance into PA school and while we are there completing the journey to becoming a PA. It will be difficult at times but nothing worth having ever comes easy. So, stay focused and determined and you will achieve one of the greatest accomplishments of your life!
Nearly everyone who embarks into the medical profession has the same compassion and desire to help others and to make them feel better. I believe that the PA profession is the best possible fit for me because I have the knowledge and experience to diagnose and treat the patients who come to me seeking care. Also, as a PA, I have more time to spend with patients and counsel them and their families on whatever questions they may have. Not only are there numerous job opportunities across the United States, but there is a great respect from physicians towards their PAs. For me, becoming a PA was the perfect choice because I have the ability to work whenever (part-time/full-time) or wherever I want which is very important to me and my family.
2.What did you do before starting PA school?
Before beginning PA school, I attended Baylor University and earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience. While at Baylor, I would travel every other weekend to Dallas to work as an EMT at Children's Medical Center to gain more experience in the health care field. Although it was a challenge balancing undergrad and working, I really enjoyed working at the hospital because I was able to have that patient interaction that inspired me to continue my journey to PA school. I graduated from Baylor in May, 2010 and began PA school at Texas Tech in May, 2010.
3. What was your application process like? (how many schools, interviews, how did you choose)
I narrowed down which schools I applied to based on which prerequisites I took. I applied to 4 schools: UTMB, Baylor College of Medicine, OU and Texas Tech. Out of those, I interviewed at OU and Texas Tech and was accepted to both. Before interviews, I was almost 100% sure I wanted to go to OU for PA school. However, after I interviewed there and at Texas Tech, I felt that Tech was the best fit for me.
4. How does the Texas Tech program stand out to you? What do you now appreciate about the program that you weren't aware of during the interview?
What solidified my decision to attend Texas Tech was the atmosphere. I felt very comfortable and "at home" when I interviewed there. That isn't to say that they aren't a very rigorous program because even after almost 2 years of PA school, I would definitely say it is still very challenging and I have learned more than I thought imaginable! Also, another aspect that I was very attracted to was that they have 7 different regions of Texas that students choose from to complete their clinical rotations. They include: Waco/Temple (I was obviously drawn to this area being a Baylor grad! Sic 'Em!), San Angelo, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, El Paso, Amarillo and Abilene. Once rotations begin, students will live in their selected region for a year and complete their rotations in that area. This was attractive to me because I would be able to live in one city for a year instead of traveling to different cities of the state every 6 weeks and attempting to secure housing while managing all of the other stressful aspects of PA school. Throughout my experience at Tech, I have found that the faculty and staff are very supportive and involved in the students journey of PA school. They are always available to answer questions or provide a better explanation for concepts that are challenging to grasp and their main goal is to help students in any way possible in order to achieve the awesome credentials of "PA-C". During my interviews at Tech, I certainly had no idea how much of a positive impact my PA school professors would make on my life during PA school and as a medical professional.
5. What has surprised you about PA school so far?
I guess what has surprised me about PA school so far is how much I have learned and how much I have yet to learn! They compare PA school to trying to drink from Niagara Falls: A lot of information to learn in a short amount of time. It doesn't matter how many times I can review certain details of particular treatments and diseases, I will always get them mixed up or forget an important detail. But, I am sure I will master them with time and experience!
6. What has been your strategy for surviving the didactic portion of the program?
I would definitely recommend finding a few good friends in PA school to study with during the didactic portion. In undergrad, I studied by myself and that worked for me. However, in PA school, there is so much to learn in such short amount of time that you need someone to not only hold you accountable to study (instead of being distracted by something) but to also be able to talk things out with. A lot of times, my friends and I would study certain topics and then we would discuss them and that would help solidify my understanding of those topics. Also, Starbucks and/or the library will become your new home!
7. What do you wish you had done to prepare for PA school?
I did not have as much shadowing experience as I think would have been helpful. Although I had hospital experience as an EMT, I was not as experienced with the common encounters and decisions that PAs make on a daily basis and I think that more shadowing hours would have helped this.
8. What advise would you give a future PA?
I would say to never give up! We all have our own challenges and struggles in our journey to acceptance into PA school and while we are there completing the journey to becoming a PA. It will be difficult at times but nothing worth having ever comes easy. So, stay focused and determined and you will achieve one of the greatest accomplishments of your life!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Interview with a UTMB PA-S
Here's an interview with the TAPA student director from UTMB.
1) Why did you want to be a PA?
I started my undergraduate career as a biology major because I always had a passion for the biological sciences. I specifically chose the PA career due to my interest in medicine and a desire to help others. I was attracted to the flexibility of the PA profession in regards to specialization. Overall I also like the flexibility of the work schedule. You are trained like a doctor but have the option of working less
hours. Essentially, the PA profession was a good match for my passion for medicine and appreciation of medical team in the care of patients. PA vs NP = PAs are trained in the medical model of care similar to a physician whereas an NP is trained in the nursing model of care.
2) What did you do before starting PA school?
I went straight from my undergrad university into PA school so my medical experience was limited. I shadowed and volunteered with nurses and ER doctors at a local ER (Scott and White). I also shadowed an orthopedic PA from Scott and White. I was very active during my time at my undergraduate university, however. I was a co captain of my cross country and track teams, vice president of a volunteer organization (Alpha Phi Omega), volunteer coordinator of the biological honor society (Beta Beta Beta), and secretary of our leadership organization on campus.
3) What was your application process like? (how many schools, interviews, how did you choose)
The application process is probably one of the most difficult parts of PA school. Be sure to start early and spend lots of time on the application. It will pay off! I applied to 5 Texas PA programs and was invited to interview at 4. I essentially chose the school that I thought was the best fit and offered the best education. I am guilty of looking at the school rankings and partially basing my decision on that factor but I have learned that those rankings are very politically driven and don’t always represent the true ranking of the schools. I definitely encourage you to find the program that you feel is the best fit. Don’t worry about rankings, especially in Texas, because all the schools produce wonderful, intelligent, and capable PAs.
4) How does UTMB stand out to you? What do you now appreciate about the program that you weren't aware of during the interview?
UTMB is a very student friendly program. We are a tight knit community within the program and all our professors have an open door policy. Also, UTMB is unique in offering the opportunity to begin seeing patients during the didactic year at the student run clinic on the island. St. Vincent’s clinic serves the medically underserved population of Galveston. Students see patients, present to senior faculty, and broaden their clinical skills while helping the uninsured population of Galveston. There is no greater feeling! This is unique to UTMB. Also, UTMB is a very inexpensive program compared to others in Texas. This was a big factor for me because I had loans from undergrad. Another unique feature of UTMB is the diversity of our clinical rotations. We have rotations all over the state of Texas which allows students to serve a wide variety of populations. This enhances cultural diversity as well as medical knowledge of a wider range of medical conditions. Finally, our clinical rotations are geared toward your interest as a student. I was allowed to chose 3 different medical specialties and one surgery elective.
5) What has surprised you about PA school so far?
I knew PA school was going to be difficult but I never thought it would be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. It has definitely been a journey and I am very proud of the hard work that goes into completing any PA program. It is tough so be prepared, learn time management, and learn how to de-stress. Another surprising part of PA school is how close you become to your classmates. I have made friends in PA school that I will have for the rest of my life. Finally, I am surprised and rateful for how fun rotations have been. Didactic year is tough and you learn so much about medicine but nothing ever makes perfect sense until you go out on clinical rotations. You learn so much more and it makes the learning and hard work from didactic year worth all the effort.
6) What has been your strategy for surviving the didactic portion of the program?
Time management and stress management. Be willing to work hard and long hours. I literally went to class, came home, studied all night until midnight only breaking for dinner, and waking up by 6 am and going to school before classes started to study some more. You are taking lots of classes and learning lots of new information. One analogy is drinking water from a fire hydrant. Drink as much as you can without drowning. That’s how it is for the didactic portion of the program. So learn how to manage you time wisely and prioritize your classes. But don’t forget to take time for yourself. I enjoy cooking and working out so I would always give myself time to do those things. And you will be stressed out so find things to help you de-stress. Oh, and warn your family, friends, and loved ones that you will be less available during this time. They may think you have dropped off the face of the earth
7) What do you wish you had done to prepare for PA school?
I don’t think I would have changed much of how I prepared for PA school. I didn’t study the summer before I started and I am glad that I enjoyed my time off. Vacation time is few and far between so take every moment to enjoy vacation time. I might have been more prepared if I had taken a year off between undergrad and PA school and done more shadowing, research, or more medical training but I did well during the didactic portion and I have been doing really well during the clinical rotation portion.
8) What advice would you give a future PA?
For the pre-PA students I think you are preparing well for a future in PA school. I never had a pre-PA society to join so I had to do my research on my own. Research as much as you can about the PA profession, different specialties, PA programs, and the curriculum. You are already a step ahead of the game by being a member of a pre-PA society! I would also say to be aware of the way healthcare works and how you feel PAs play a role in the delivery of healthcare, especially underserved areas. If
you are looking for loan repayment options, the National Health Service Corps is a great place to apply for a scholarship or loan repayment after graduation. PAs are one branch of the NHSC. The NHSC serves medically underserved areas throughout the nation. Finally, if you can go on a medical mission trip, this is another great opportunity to expand your medical and cultural knowledge and improve your resume
Plus they are super fun!
1) Why did you want to be a PA?
I started my undergraduate career as a biology major because I always had a passion for the biological sciences. I specifically chose the PA career due to my interest in medicine and a desire to help others. I was attracted to the flexibility of the PA profession in regards to specialization. Overall I also like the flexibility of the work schedule. You are trained like a doctor but have the option of working less
hours. Essentially, the PA profession was a good match for my passion for medicine and appreciation of medical team in the care of patients. PA vs NP = PAs are trained in the medical model of care similar to a physician whereas an NP is trained in the nursing model of care.
2) What did you do before starting PA school?
I went straight from my undergrad university into PA school so my medical experience was limited. I shadowed and volunteered with nurses and ER doctors at a local ER (Scott and White). I also shadowed an orthopedic PA from Scott and White. I was very active during my time at my undergraduate university, however. I was a co captain of my cross country and track teams, vice president of a volunteer organization (Alpha Phi Omega), volunteer coordinator of the biological honor society (Beta Beta Beta), and secretary of our leadership organization on campus.
3) What was your application process like? (how many schools, interviews, how did you choose)
The application process is probably one of the most difficult parts of PA school. Be sure to start early and spend lots of time on the application. It will pay off! I applied to 5 Texas PA programs and was invited to interview at 4. I essentially chose the school that I thought was the best fit and offered the best education. I am guilty of looking at the school rankings and partially basing my decision on that factor but I have learned that those rankings are very politically driven and don’t always represent the true ranking of the schools. I definitely encourage you to find the program that you feel is the best fit. Don’t worry about rankings, especially in Texas, because all the schools produce wonderful, intelligent, and capable PAs.
4) How does UTMB stand out to you? What do you now appreciate about the program that you weren't aware of during the interview?
UTMB is a very student friendly program. We are a tight knit community within the program and all our professors have an open door policy. Also, UTMB is unique in offering the opportunity to begin seeing patients during the didactic year at the student run clinic on the island. St. Vincent’s clinic serves the medically underserved population of Galveston. Students see patients, present to senior faculty, and broaden their clinical skills while helping the uninsured population of Galveston. There is no greater feeling! This is unique to UTMB. Also, UTMB is a very inexpensive program compared to others in Texas. This was a big factor for me because I had loans from undergrad. Another unique feature of UTMB is the diversity of our clinical rotations. We have rotations all over the state of Texas which allows students to serve a wide variety of populations. This enhances cultural diversity as well as medical knowledge of a wider range of medical conditions. Finally, our clinical rotations are geared toward your interest as a student. I was allowed to chose 3 different medical specialties and one surgery elective.
5) What has surprised you about PA school so far?
I knew PA school was going to be difficult but I never thought it would be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. It has definitely been a journey and I am very proud of the hard work that goes into completing any PA program. It is tough so be prepared, learn time management, and learn how to de-stress. Another surprising part of PA school is how close you become to your classmates. I have made friends in PA school that I will have for the rest of my life. Finally, I am surprised and rateful for how fun rotations have been. Didactic year is tough and you learn so much about medicine but nothing ever makes perfect sense until you go out on clinical rotations. You learn so much more and it makes the learning and hard work from didactic year worth all the effort.
6) What has been your strategy for surviving the didactic portion of the program?
Time management and stress management. Be willing to work hard and long hours. I literally went to class, came home, studied all night until midnight only breaking for dinner, and waking up by 6 am and going to school before classes started to study some more. You are taking lots of classes and learning lots of new information. One analogy is drinking water from a fire hydrant. Drink as much as you can without drowning. That’s how it is for the didactic portion of the program. So learn how to manage you time wisely and prioritize your classes. But don’t forget to take time for yourself. I enjoy cooking and working out so I would always give myself time to do those things. And you will be stressed out so find things to help you de-stress. Oh, and warn your family, friends, and loved ones that you will be less available during this time. They may think you have dropped off the face of the earth
7) What do you wish you had done to prepare for PA school?
I don’t think I would have changed much of how I prepared for PA school. I didn’t study the summer before I started and I am glad that I enjoyed my time off. Vacation time is few and far between so take every moment to enjoy vacation time. I might have been more prepared if I had taken a year off between undergrad and PA school and done more shadowing, research, or more medical training but I did well during the didactic portion and I have been doing really well during the clinical rotation portion.
8) What advice would you give a future PA?
For the pre-PA students I think you are preparing well for a future in PA school. I never had a pre-PA society to join so I had to do my research on my own. Research as much as you can about the PA profession, different specialties, PA programs, and the curriculum. You are already a step ahead of the game by being a member of a pre-PA society! I would also say to be aware of the way healthcare works and how you feel PAs play a role in the delivery of healthcare, especially underserved areas. If
you are looking for loan repayment options, the National Health Service Corps is a great place to apply for a scholarship or loan repayment after graduation. PAs are one branch of the NHSC. The NHSC serves medically underserved areas throughout the nation. Finally, if you can go on a medical mission trip, this is another great opportunity to expand your medical and cultural knowledge and improve your resume
Plus they are super fun!
Monday, March 5, 2012
TAPA Video Interview #4
Here's an interview with a PA-C from Houston who is also a former TAPA president.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
TAPA Video Interview #2
Here's an interview I did at the TAPA conference Spring 2012 with The Admissions Director and the Program Director from UT Pan America. You can find Elias on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/theiphonepa
Saturday, March 3, 2012
First Video Interview now up! TAPA Video #1
Here's my first video interview from TAPA. James Bonson from UTHSC SA talked to me about his experience as a PA, faculty, and the program at UTHSC SA. Check it out!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Interview with a PA-S from BCOM
1) Why did you want to be a PA?
I was an older student and medically experienced prior to applying to PA school. Mostly due to my age, PA school was attractive because it saved me from all the hoops one must jump through for traditional medical education. It affords me greater flexibility at obtaining an advanced medical education and career, but at the same time finish the education part with enough time to enjoy family and other critical elements of a balanced life. Because PAs are capable of contributing significantly to medical teams, medical literature, as well as to their patients I saw this route as offering more benefits and less risks for my particular situation.
2) What did you do before starting PA school?
I did several health care related jobs. Notably, I was an EMT-B, I worked in nutrition and addiction counseling, and I worked as an ER-tech.
3) What was your application process like? (how many schools, interviews, how did you choose)
I applied to all the Texas schools, and a few others outside the states. I always hated the question "Why do you want to go to this school?" The honest answer for me was "Because you offer the degree!!" But of course, you should never say that. I believe its best to get a feel for as many schools as you can and if you are fortunate enough to be able to have your pick of several schools then to go to the one where you feel the most comfortable. It is hard to know where you feel comfortable until you interview so apply to all the schools that are congruent with your geographic wishes.
One important factor may be considering which schools focus on rural area primary care and which are more consistent with contemporary education (which are then more conducive to specialization.) This is important because you may not be happy doing all your rotations in rural primary care centers if you really want to do something like plastic surgery. It goes the other way around too. All schools will give you a good education in primary care, but the schools in the major medical centers will shift more focus on various medical specialties as well.
4) How does Baylor stand out to you? What do you now appreciate about the program that you weren't aware of during the interview?
Baylor has an incredibly fun interview! I'll be honest, I was a bad pre-PA student. When I applied I didn't know Baylor was one of the top PA programs (I thought Baylor was in Waco!) You should know that Baylor College of Medicine is an incredibly prestigious medical institution and PA program. We are also completely and utterly not affiliated with Baylor University in Waco.
What I really appreciate about that we have one of the most established PA programs in the country. Our director was in the 2nd class of PAs in history, and Baylor is one of the oldest programs. We are located right in the middle of the world's largest medical center and surrounded by medical innovation and cutting edge research. The medical school is ranked one of the top medical schools and we are able to benefit from many of their best educators and courses.
Most importantly, when I interviewed at BCM it was a relaxed and inviting interview. The faculty are just incredibly cool which means the students accepted here are just incredibly cool. It felt notably different then my interview at other institutions. It was my last choice when I applied to PA schools and my top choice after interviewing.
5) What has surprised you about PA school so far?
What is humbling and surprising is just how complicated and esoteric medicine can be. It has been said that medical school (and PA school) are really only good for teaching you how to use the index at the back of the book. You feel like you are constantly feeding information into your brain and then confront a medical case and realize that you truly do not know anything. To me, this makes the study of medicine incredibly exciting. There is always more to learn, and PA school should give you a healthy drive to go out and learn more to be a great healer.
6) What has been your strategy for surviving the didactic portion of the program?
Organization, balanced healthy lifestyle, and working as hard as you can. I think of it as a ironman / marathon that just never ends. The end goal is that you are doing this to take care of patients. I often think that I wouldn't want my physician or PA to have barely passed anatomy. So everyday you have to stay motivated to continue on and try and do your best. It is incredibly important for the patients who will be under our care.
7) What do you wish you had done to prepare for PA school?
I took several allied health courses at a community college before PA school. Pharmacology. Pathophysiology. Things like that. Those courses were very helpful and surprisingly not offered at most 4 year institutions. Reflect on why you want to go into medicine because it is not a field for everyone. Make sure that PA is for you and that you would actually not be happier as an MD, DO, or NP.
Once you are accepted DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!!!!! Just enjoy your time and wait for the wild ride.
8) What advise would you give a future PA?
Wise advice would be to always consider the big picture. When you are in school do not just study to prepare for exams, but attain an understanding of a disease from primary manifestations to final treatment. Be organized. Be methodical. Be thoughtful. Learn from your patients. Students have the luxury of time to spend with a patient to really understand how this disease has evolved for them and how it is affecting them. Practicing MDs and PAs rarely have the time to really understand some of these things about one particular patients, but an understanding of those little details really helps you to provide care for the patient and understand the disease to help your future patients once you are licensed and practicing.
I was an older student and medically experienced prior to applying to PA school. Mostly due to my age, PA school was attractive because it saved me from all the hoops one must jump through for traditional medical education. It affords me greater flexibility at obtaining an advanced medical education and career, but at the same time finish the education part with enough time to enjoy family and other critical elements of a balanced life. Because PAs are capable of contributing significantly to medical teams, medical literature, as well as to their patients I saw this route as offering more benefits and less risks for my particular situation.
2) What did you do before starting PA school?
I did several health care related jobs. Notably, I was an EMT-B, I worked in nutrition and addiction counseling, and I worked as an ER-tech.
3) What was your application process like? (how many schools, interviews, how did you choose)
I applied to all the Texas schools, and a few others outside the states. I always hated the question "Why do you want to go to this school?" The honest answer for me was "Because you offer the degree!!" But of course, you should never say that. I believe its best to get a feel for as many schools as you can and if you are fortunate enough to be able to have your pick of several schools then to go to the one where you feel the most comfortable. It is hard to know where you feel comfortable until you interview so apply to all the schools that are congruent with your geographic wishes.
One important factor may be considering which schools focus on rural area primary care and which are more consistent with contemporary education (which are then more conducive to specialization.) This is important because you may not be happy doing all your rotations in rural primary care centers if you really want to do something like plastic surgery. It goes the other way around too. All schools will give you a good education in primary care, but the schools in the major medical centers will shift more focus on various medical specialties as well.
4) How does Baylor stand out to you? What do you now appreciate about the program that you weren't aware of during the interview?
Baylor has an incredibly fun interview! I'll be honest, I was a bad pre-PA student. When I applied I didn't know Baylor was one of the top PA programs (I thought Baylor was in Waco!) You should know that Baylor College of Medicine is an incredibly prestigious medical institution and PA program. We are also completely and utterly not affiliated with Baylor University in Waco.
What I really appreciate about that we have one of the most established PA programs in the country. Our director was in the 2nd class of PAs in history, and Baylor is one of the oldest programs. We are located right in the middle of the world's largest medical center and surrounded by medical innovation and cutting edge research. The medical school is ranked one of the top medical schools and we are able to benefit from many of their best educators and courses.
Most importantly, when I interviewed at BCM it was a relaxed and inviting interview. The faculty are just incredibly cool which means the students accepted here are just incredibly cool. It felt notably different then my interview at other institutions. It was my last choice when I applied to PA schools and my top choice after interviewing.
5) What has surprised you about PA school so far?
What is humbling and surprising is just how complicated and esoteric medicine can be. It has been said that medical school (and PA school) are really only good for teaching you how to use the index at the back of the book. You feel like you are constantly feeding information into your brain and then confront a medical case and realize that you truly do not know anything. To me, this makes the study of medicine incredibly exciting. There is always more to learn, and PA school should give you a healthy drive to go out and learn more to be a great healer.
6) What has been your strategy for surviving the didactic portion of the program?
Organization, balanced healthy lifestyle, and working as hard as you can. I think of it as a ironman / marathon that just never ends. The end goal is that you are doing this to take care of patients. I often think that I wouldn't want my physician or PA to have barely passed anatomy. So everyday you have to stay motivated to continue on and try and do your best. It is incredibly important for the patients who will be under our care.
7) What do you wish you had done to prepare for PA school?
I took several allied health courses at a community college before PA school. Pharmacology. Pathophysiology. Things like that. Those courses were very helpful and surprisingly not offered at most 4 year institutions. Reflect on why you want to go into medicine because it is not a field for everyone. Make sure that PA is for you and that you would actually not be happier as an MD, DO, or NP.
Once you are accepted DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!!!!! Just enjoy your time and wait for the wild ride.
8) What advise would you give a future PA?
Wise advice would be to always consider the big picture. When you are in school do not just study to prepare for exams, but attain an understanding of a disease from primary manifestations to final treatment. Be organized. Be methodical. Be thoughtful. Learn from your patients. Students have the luxury of time to spend with a patient to really understand how this disease has evolved for them and how it is affecting them. Practicing MDs and PAs rarely have the time to really understand some of these things about one particular patients, but an understanding of those little details really helps you to provide care for the patient and understand the disease to help your future patients once you are licensed and practicing.
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