Interview with Emory Student

Here's an interview with a student from Emory who also has a neuroscience masters.

1) What made you decide to be a PA?
I decided to be a PA sophomore year of undergrad at UTD. I was originally doing a degree in neuroscience and thought medical school was my only option to be able to practice medicine, though I remember feeling less than excited about the career as a whole. I don't remember how I learned about it but as soon as I came in contact with the PA career I was sold. I knew that it would afford me the opportunity to interact with patients, practice medicine, and follow my passion of life-long learning. In addition, the biggest perk to me was the flexibility. The opportunity to practice in various specialities throughout my career as interests change or if I just felt the need for a new and different challenge 15 years from now continues to inspire me about the PA profession.
I also have had the pleasure of working with some wonderful PAs while I was doing intraoperative neurophysiology for spine surgery before PA school. I always looked at them with envy and couldn't wait to be in their shoes. Neuromonitoring was a great career but I missed the ability to have follow-up with the patients I saw. The full continuum of care was another aspect of being a PA that I felt I was missing. 2) Tell us about your first Masters degree.
My first masters degree was in applied cognition and neuroscience at UTD. It came about as an excellent opportunity where I could do a fast-track program and essentially complete the degree in one additional year. I absolutely loved the program and would find out a few years later that it made the neurology module as well as pharmacology go much more smoothly in PA school as a lot of the information was a second or third pass of learning at that point. 3) How did you choose Emory? What was interviewing like?
The short, and uninspired answer to this question is that it's the first school I was accepted to...but the more substantial reason is that i felt that Emory had an exceptional program with vast opportunities and I absolutely loved it as soon as I stepped foot on campus. Some of the high points of Emory's program include the anatomy course with gross dissection in a 6:1 ratio with classmates, the simulation labs including a Harvey simulator, and 1st year experience getting to do H&Ps in the hospital on patients with conditions that correlated with whichever module we were learning at the time. The program really gets the students involved early and helps to sort of get your feet wet before clinical year. In addition, Emory is committed to serving the community and I have had the honor of serving at the Good Samaritan clinic as well as a week long service project providing healthcare to the South Georgia farmworkers. Long story short, Emory's program is very well-rounded and it made it a very easy 'yes'.

They've done a great job of incorporating ultrasound lectures and hands on practice for each module and have a strong focus on point of care ultrasound, especially in performing an efast exam which I think is an extremely beneficial skill to being to the table.
The interview was great. It was one of the few that did laid back group interviews. There was no complex, stress-inducing, cow bell ringing and running from room to room like the multiple mini interviews. It was a simple conversation with a couple faculty members, a community PA, and a current student that was fun and surprisingly relaxing. 4) What has surprised you about PA school?
What has surprised me most is the incredible backgrounds that my fellow students have. It has been really awesome to be surrounded by people with such diverse prior jobs, career,s and outlooks on life. I've been able to learn a ton both academically and personally from my classmates which has been a great surprise. 5) What study strategies worked? Did that change on rotations?
Everyone studies a little different but what worked for me was before the start of each module I would watch the board review on that topic to get a broad first exposure to the information. Then with each PowerPoint lecture I would go home that night and take hand notes from them of what I thought was important. Then also supplement with information from readings to expand upon parts I felt I needed more details on or to help really understand the 'why'. I love using Ferri's clinical advisor as a supplemental resource. It's a great book that gets updated yearly. It has pretty short and sweet summaries of most diseases and gives basic info, epidemiology, diagnostic tests, treatment strategies, when to refer, and considerations. It was a lifesaver in didactic as well as clinical year. On rotations I primarily try to read up on conditions that I encounter in practice and then create a study guide based off of the PAEA blueprint for each end of rotation exam. It's quite a bit of work but has paid off nicely. I also spend a lot more time now doing practice questions through exam master and smarty-pance which really help to solidify the information and begin the prep for the PANCE.

6) Any plans for after graduation?
Hopefully take a vacation! But also studying for the PANCE-gotta earn that 'C' to make this all worth it. As far as a job goes, I'm on the search. I have loved a few rotations and think I know what I would like to do but will see how the job search goes and hopefully find the right match both personally and professionally.
7) What advice would you give an aspiring PA?
Advice I would give to someone who's considering or applying to PA school, I would say make sure you are going for the right reasons and ensure you're in a good place in your life to dive in. PA school can be pretty grueling and will test your limits mentally and emotionally and put a strain on your friends and family who may not understand your absence. Make sure you're going in to this because it's your passion because that love and grit may be the only thing that pushes you toward another day. But know that it gets better in clinical year; you just have to make it there! For those that are already in it. I know anatomy was one of the hardest courses and most time consuming but if you buckle down and spend the time on it now, learning disease processes and why they are occurring will be so much easier later. Also you'll look like a rock star when you get 'pimped' in surgery--and that will definitely be worth it

Interview with a PA-C in Neuro

Here's an interview witha PA who works in Neurosurgery. 

1) Why did you become a PA?

I became a PA in a roundabout way.  I suppose the same way a lot of people do.  I already had a Master's degree in Anthropology and was burnt out on academics.  I knew I wanted to do something practical with my training and experience.  Initially, I was taking pre-med prerequisites thinking I'd become a physician, but I met someone who was applying to PA school who was taking a class with me.  I did some investigating and realized that becoming a PA would be a better fit for me over all.  I wasn't wrong.

2) How did you pick BCM? What was your application and interview process like? 

I lived in Louisiana at the time I applied to Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.  Louisiana only had one PA school available and it was a Bachelor's program.  Baylor was relatively close to home and I didn't have to meet any residency requirements to go to Baylor.  I loved it there.  Great school and amazing experiences at the Medical Center there.  The application process was easy.  This was 1998-99 so I think it was an individual application process, not a centralized process.  The application process was enjoyable actually.  We all toured the campus and part of the Med Center.  We were assigned to interview with PAs and MDs.  It was pretty relaxed overall even though we were all stressed out.

3) What was your strategy for succeeding in the didactic phase? How did that change in clinicals?

I learn visually and I just remember reading and re-reading and re-reading and talking things through with classmates.  For me, re-writing my notes was really helpful.  Clinical phase was markedly different.  You learn on your feet, helping take care of patients and then reinforcing what you saw and learned by reading more whenever possible.

4)  What do you do as a neuro PA? What does a normal day/week look like for you?

As a neurosurgery PA I see patient's in my own clinic, assist my physician in his clinics, order and interpret tests, assist in surgeries in hospitals and in our surgery center.  I also take call after hours and round on the weekends as needed.  I also field phone calls from patient's and deal with disability paperwork and refill requests.  I also see patients in pre-op clinic and discuss their upcoming surgery and answer their questions.  A normal day starts at its earliest around 7 am and ends around 4:30-5.  I work Monday through Friday and, if on call, round on Saturdays and Sundays.  Occasionally, we do have emergency surgeries that happen after hours.  Occasionally we have to see patients in the hospital in consultation after hours too.

5) How did you get connected to your current practice? Have you worked in other areas of practice?

I actually interviewed with my current employer 9 years ago but accepted another job offer.  I was looking for a new position several months ago and answered an advertisement for a Neurosurgical PA on the TAPA website.  I have also worked in general orthopedics, neurology, orthopaedic spine and orthopaedic trauma surgery.

6) I've heard that the critical component of any PA position is the relationship with your supervising physician. What do you look for in that relationship?

Finding the right "fit" with your supervising physician is very important.  You have to mesh well intellectually and emotionally.  Working with surgeons means that you have to respect and appreciate that your employer may do things differently from other surgeons, but your employer's way is THE right way when you work for him/her.  You are second fiddle to your boss.  If you can't accept that, don't become a PA!  For me, I need to work with someone who is respectful of me, my life and my opinions, and is honest about the expectations.  Some employers will try to win you over with money and benefits but then have no respect for your time outside of work.  I can take working long hours as long as I know that's what is expected of me.  I've been led down primrose paths before thinking that I would work "normal" hours (ie, 9-5) only to be in clinic until 8pm routinely and in the operating room until 11pm all too often.  With no extra compensation for all that time mind you.  If your employer works as hard as you do that's the exception to the rule.  That's how things are for me now.  Not always.  I used to work with ones who took their dedicated time off during the week but expected you to work your 40 hours and more.  

7) You've been practicing for 10 years now [ed: I think I remember that from our conversation, feel free to correct me] How has the role of a PA evolved in that time? 

I have been a PA in practice since 2002.  Medicine has changed drastically.  I think that US medicine is evolving towards a more centralized system.  Not necessarily toward government centralized but more towards hospital centralized care.  I see more and more private practices having real difficulties because they're competing with other providers who are employed by hospitals.  Imagine that you work for yourself and have employees.  All the income you generate is because of your great reputation and hard work.  Then, right next to your name in the insurance directory is a provider who provides, by appearances at least, all the service you offer but their salary is paid for by a hospital system and that provider is expected to keep all their referrals and testing within that system.  That's what we're going to see more and more of.  Your boss may be a surgeon who is competing with other surgeons who provide the same services, but your boss gets paid based on the work that your practice performs.  A hospital employed surgeon gets paid no matter how much work he/she does because they get a salary from their employers - a hospital.  Your boss may need to do 40 surgeries a month to keep the business going, but that hospital employed surgeon....I'm not sure how hard that surgeon would work since they would get a salary no matter what.  I feel that this trend will affect PAs and NPs and more hospitals will employ mid levels directly.  Might not be a bad direction to consider.

8) Any advice for aspiring PAs?

Study hard.  Ask lots of questions.  Listen to the nurses.  They can teach you a LOT.  Don't take things personally if people look at you like you're "just a PA" and "not a doctor."  I'm amazed daily how few people know what PAs are and what we do.  Don't stop learning.  Most patients just want someone who actually listens to them.  Try to really listen to people rather than just waiting for your time to talk.  Do what you enjoy and enjoy what you do.

Neurosurgery PA-C Interview

Here's an interview with a Neurosurgery PA-C

1) Why did you choose PA as your career?

Initially, I was considering becoming a physician, and the more I looked into it, the PA field is much more portable.  I would not be tied down to a practice location, or specialty.  I also like the idea of having an attending physician available to me at all times to provide ongoing consultation, and education which continues to mold my clinical judgment.  


2) Where did you go to PA school? How did you choose?

I applied to probably 7 different schools in TX, NY, IL and FL.  The TX schools I chose because they were for the most part, "local".   The others, I chose because they offered entry within a few weeks of my completing my pre requisites.  So, I could start pretty much immediately.   The other thing I took into consideration was, was whether the program went year round with few breaks, versus on a traditional semester system.  For me it was important to start and finish and begin working as a PA in the shortest time possible.  And, for all those reasons, I chose Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale FL.  


3) What do you do as a neuro PA? What does a normal day/week look like for you?

Typically, I have 1/2 day clinic on Mondays, full day on Wednesdays.  OR cases are scheduled for Monday afternoon and Tues, Thurs and Friday.  We do 7-15 brain and spine cases per week, and I see 25-30 pt in clinic, then do rounds and consults at 5 different hospitals.  There is another PA who shares the patient burden with me, and he is a great asset.   I am "on call" every other weekend, which means all hospital rounds and cases, and I help 3 surgeons during those times.  Not all of them require assistance every weekend, though.  I always make myself available to the other physicians, nurses, and hospital staff at any time, and they all have my cell number.  In this specialty, it is critical that the communication be uninterrupted so problems can be taken care of quickly. There are no "normal" days in Neurosurgery!  Each one is full of new challenges, and I relish that.   The environment is fast paced and can be stressful, but I am part of a team and we trust and support each other tremendously and that makes all the difference in the world.


4) How did you get connected to your current practice? Have you worked in other areas of practice?

A "headhunter" contacted me about my current position.  In the past, I have used the healthEcareers webiste on the AAPA site.  I have worked in Neurology, Neuro Interventional Radiology and Physical Medicine and Rehab, as well as Neurosurgery. 


5) I've read some people in specialty practice would prefer a more specialty focused PANRE. Do you like reviewing the generalist helps you as a PA or would you prefer to focus further into your specialty?

My field is so specialized, that I like having to refresh myself with the generalist PANRE.  I refamiliarize myself with skills and treatments I do not get to use on a daily basis.  It makes me a more well rounded PA with skills and knowledge that cross over into to other areas.  If I can recognize a patient's acute cholecystitis, or UTI, it keeps me from ordering what may be an unnecessary MRI of the spine when I can treat and manage these other issues and get them the care they need. 


6) The PA profession is continuing to grow, with new legislation, more PAs in medical leadership, and practicing in new areas. What would you like to see happen next professionally?

I am pleased that the PA profession is growing and more recognized in communities, & branching into other practice areas in order to serve patients.  Going forward, I would like to see PAs more recognized as legitimate providers of high quality care by more of the medical community and lay people.  The more active we are with supervising physicians in promoting the field, the more receptive patients will be to our involvement.  Professionally, I would like to see more partnering and discussion with, and among mid-levels,  Independent practitioners NPs and PAs, regarding best practices and how to better serve patients and our supervising physicians to expedite the best and most cost effective care for patients.


7) In addition to shadowing and getting good grades, any advice for future applicants?

Remember PA school is a great experience but is just the beginning.  Being a PA is a commitment, and very fulfilling.  Getting good grades is important, but once out of school, thinking quickly about how to solve problems is extremely important, and the ability to do so under stress. 

Interview with a PA-C working in Neuro

Brooke is a PA who blogged about her experiences as a student and has launched a new website about the PA profession. Be sure to check out her sites!

1) Why did you choose to be a PA?

1- diversity of positions. you can start your career in surgery and end in endocrinology if you want!
2-less student debt
3-faster track into the work field (no residency, less school)
4-I get to take care of patients and perform surgery
5-patient-first mentality of the profession

2) You've had some interesting experience in health care before you started PA school. What took you from Orthotics and Prosthetics to Public Health to PA?

While in orthotics and prosthetics I had the opportunity to work with lots of great surgeons and decided early in my O&P career that my scope of practice was too small. I wanted to operate and be part of the preplanning for my patients, not just part of the rehab. I then applied to medical school- got in- then decided that becoming a PA was a better fit. I wanted to practice medicine soon, not in 10 years - so I withdrew my med school applications and applied to PA schools. I had a year to kill during the application process and was interested in population health and quality improvement so I got my MPH from Dartmouth in the interim.

3) How many schools did you apply to and interview with? What were the interviews like? How did you choose Northeastern?

I applied to 2 schools. UNE and Northeastern. I had moved all over the place for my previous schooling and had decided that I was going to apply to 2 schools and let the chips fall where they may. I luckily got into both schools on the first try and choose Northeastern for a few reasons: 1) great school, great reputation 2) it is in Boston (the healthcare mecca of the US) 3) less expensive

4) What has surprised you about Northeastern's PA program so far?

I think this applies to all PA schools ---- but IT IS HARD WORK! You will study more and sleep less than you could have imagined. But it is all worth it in the end.

5) Have you found any successful strategies for surviving the didactic portion of your program?

Find 2-3 sources to study from and stick to them... it is easy to get bogged down with too many resources. One of my favorite and most used books was Step Up To Medicine.

6) What's the coolest things you've done so far?

-Sewn a finger back on
-1st assisted on a C1-C3 spinal fusion

7) What got you into blogging? What future intersections of social media and health care do you hope to see?

I started blogging because I was finding and sharing resources with other PA students - and what I found was that it was becoming too time consuming to share information one by one... so I started a blog so that I could just post stuff once and people could visit it when they wanted. It has worked out well so far!

8) Any advice for future applicants other than good grades and shadowing?

1-Get to know healthcare, its delivery system and how it works. As a PA (esp as a PA in the future) it is very important to know they system in which you work... if you don't ... you are a less effective provider.
2-Know the history of the profession
3-Become a member of your state PA chapter or the AAPA to gain professional information about the profession