Interview with a PA Student from UNTHSC

Here's an interview with a current student at University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth.

1. What made you decide to be a PA? 

I went to SMU and majored in Applied Physiology & Health Management (APHM) and Biology. As part of my APHM major, I had two opportunities that together inspired me to pursue a career as a PA. The first was being a research assistant in a physiology lab that evaluated sympathetic nerve activity in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. I had a passion for research and data analysis, but I learned that what I enjoyed most was getting to know the patients and how their condition affected their daily lives. The second was a summer internship at the MS clinic at UTSW where I had the opportunity to shadow and conduct research with the physician, PA, NP, PT, and social worker. Here I saw the PA take care of patients in the clinic, conduct research, and teach lectures at UTSW. I was able to see just how broad the scope of a PA can be as well as how fulfilling this job is. I could see myself in a PAs shoes and ultimately decided to apply to PA school that same summer. 


2. How did you choose UNTHSC? What was interviewing like? 

UNTHSC was the school that was closest to home for me, but one of the biggest reasons I chose it was because of its vision for being “one university,” which meant interprofessional collaboration and teamwork between all the programs on campus. This was reiterated by the VP of Student Affairs and the faculty during the interview process and is something I have seen implemented into the core of our program. Programs like Interprofessional Education and Practice (IPE) and Seniors Assisting in Geriatric Education (SAGE) as well as all the interprofessional organizations on campus that bring students from different programs together are a unique and valued aspect of this program. The interview process was not a traditional one but rather consisted of multiple activities. I enjoyed this process because each activity targeted different abilities and strengths and allowed each student to be evaluated as a whole. 


3. What has surprised you about PA school? 

I was surprised about how hands-on the didactic year was throughout. Classes like Physical Exam Skills during the first semester got us right into practicing our clinical skills from the beginning. Classes like Clinical Integrative Medicine during which we practiced suturing, injections, pap smears, IV placement, and many other skills prepared us for rotations. It was a great mix of in-class and hands-on lab instruction and it was a pleasant surprise. 


4. What study strategies worked? Did that change on rotations? 

Three study strategies that worked for me were 1) reading notes out loud, 2) explaining what I’ve learned to a classmate, and 3) practice questions. Specifically, working through practice questions even before having learned all the material needed for an exam is something that is recommended to all students by the Center for Academic Performance on campus. One thing that changed on rotations was that I was no longer surrounded by all my classmates, and this made it difficult to go through material with a partner. However, the great thing about rotations is that I’m actively learning throughout the day while seeing patients, and this in itself helps solidify the knowledge that I’m studying at home. 


5. Tell me about your involvement and experience with TAPA

I was introduced to TAPA by our incredible Student Director for TAPA and have been a member since starting PA school. I have attended each of the TAPA conferences since then, joining workshops and lectures as well as getting to know students from other schools and competing in the Challenge Bowl. It has been an opportunity to network with so many great people. I have also received pertinent information and updates about current legislature and the issues facing PAs in Texas today. This has allowed me to gain knowledge on how TAPA advocates for PAs and PA students and the changes that they are making on our behalf, which has been extremely valuable.


6. Any plans for after graduation? 

Before I started PA school my plans for after graduation included leaving TX since I grew up here and I was ready for a change. However, Fort Worth has grown on me. I have gotten to know the beautiful community here and it is a city with great opportunities for PAs. I haven’t decided which specialty I’d like to go into yet, but I’m keeping an open mind and will be grateful to have an opportunity in the DFW area. Of course, all this after a relaxing vacation to celebrate graduating from PA school! 


7. What advice would you give an aspiring PA?

My biggest piece of advice would be to get involved in activities (leadership, volunteering, internships, community work, etc.) that you’re truly passionate about rather than what you believe will look impressive on a resume. The majority of activities I was involved in during college didn’t actually have anything to do with being a PA at all. For example, I volunteered at a jail for one semester where I helped offenders go through a rehabilitation program during which I saw them change and heal from their past. Being a part of that helped me to see just how much people can change if they are determined to do so and helped me develop a newfound compassion for these individuals. It is something I was able to talk about during my PA school interview process and an experience that has helped me as a PA student working with patients on rotations. Get involved with things that you are passionate about and it will take you a long way!

Interview with PA-S from UNTHSC

Here's an interview from a PA student at UNTHSC who just graduated!


1) What made you decide to be a PA? I’ve always looked up to my own pediatrician growing up and truly appreciated how he treated my family and I so graciously. I aspired to serve others in that way and instill hope and confidence in children and their parents. I didn’t actually know what a PA was until I was in my second year of college and another student told me about it, sparking my interest. After some research into the career, I decided that this career path would fit my lifestyle better than going to medical school to be a physician. I would still have the wonderful opportunity to serve in pediatrics in the way I dreamed, however I would finish school faster and be able to have the family life I always envisioned for myself before the age of thirty. Felt like the perfect dream. 2) How did you choose UNTHSC? What was interviewing like?
Choosing UNTHSC was easy for me. My family is based in Fort Worth, so I was incredibly blessed to get in. I also thought the campus was pretty and nicely located in the middle of Fort Worth. The people had such a friendly vibe and I felt like it was easy to connect with everyone. Interviewing at UNTHSC was a little more intense than the interview at UTMB, but at the same time I felt more comfortable with the faculty. I remember I was in the afternoon interviews, so we had a quick bite to eat while sitting with faculty and other applicants. Then there was some sort of essay to write in a given time, a one on one interview with the faculty, and a team exercise with other applicants. It was stressful, but I tried to maintain my cool! That’s pretty much how everything went! It was all stressful, but then again I’m a worry bug. 3) What has surprised you about PA school?
Looking back on PA school, what surprised me was how hard it actually was. What also surprised me was how much you realize you are capable of learning! The learning curve applies to learning how to learn. Once you get your study habits on track, it goes much smoother. 4) What study strategies worked? Did that change on rotations?
During didactic, I realized quickly that my old study habits of making flashcards and reading were not going to cut it. I turned to my classmates for help and quickly realized that I needed a study buddy. I needed to review things out loud with someone to ensure that thought processes were correct and test one another to see multiple perspectives of the same material. I needed to see how the same information could be asked in different ways. I also used test banks like ExamMaster and books like PANCE Prep Pearls to figure out what were the main highlights and must knows within a topic. On rotations I had to fend for myself. I mostly used PANCE Prep Pearls book and ExamMaster to review material and topics. I also reviewed over old notes from didactic occasionally.
5) Tell me about your involvement and experience with TAPA.
TAPA was a great opportunity to do something outside of school with my classmates while also benefiting my career. My classmates and I always made a fun trip out of it and we got to see and meet students and alumni from other programs. It gave me a chance to learn about different career opportunities and practice communicating with other professionals. I think I went to at least one conference each year, if not two! It was fun to go to different cities and also to learn about what our career had to offer and what changes were being made. 6) Any plans for after graduation?

I found a job in primary care pediatrics! Start in August, so I have a couple months of lounging around and enjoying my last ever summer break!
7) What advice would you give an aspiring PA?
I would say that you should keep pushing through! All the hard work will pay off! Work hard to keep your GPA high in undergrad, volunteer, shadow, and don’t burn any bridges with anyone because you never know where a relationship will lead. Networking is key! I found my first job through my rotations! It is a great career and totally worth every moment of hard work!

PA in healthcare consultanting

Here's an interview with Rachel Miller, a PA who is now a consultant with Deloitte. 


1.       Why did you choose to become a PA?

I wanted to make a difference!  From surgery to preventative medicine, I like working with people to help them become their best selves.  One of the best parts about being a PA is that you really can do it all—work in primary care, transition into surgery, leave your mark as an administrator, professor, or business leader.

2.       What was your experience like at UNTHSC? Any strategies for didactic phase and clinical phase?

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes!  From didactics to clinical phase to extracurriculars, you are there to learn!  Volunteer to try new things, get out of your comfort zone, start a club, make new friends, and ask for help.  All too soon, you will look back and realize what a powerful time these 3 years were in your life—take full advantage of all there is to learn!

3.       You have an interesting first job story. Tell us how you taught the practice what a PA can do. 

All healthcare providers should practice to the maximum of their credentials and training!  That sounds obvious, but in practice, it’s not always the case.  My first job was as a surgical PA, and I had the opportunity to educate the practice on the full capabilities of a PA.  I worked with my supervising physician to design a position (as well as draft standing delegation orders) that allowed me to practice to the full extent of my education and training.  It greatly improved practice operations and even opened up an opportunity for me to operate a small aesthetic dermatology practice underneath the practice umbrella. 

4.       What do you do as a consultant? What would a week look like for you?

Now healthcare companies are my patients!  It seems like a strange metaphor, but I work with a team of business and healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, pharmacists – I am the only PA…for now!) to assess, diagnose, and fix big problems for healthcare companies.  For example, the CEO of a large hospital or health system might call my company and ask for help in reducing costs or generating new revenue over the next few years.  My team assesses the problem and develops and implements solutions.  As a PA, I keep clinical quality at the forefront, and I get to take the lead in solving clinically-related problems.

Every week is very different—that’s one of the best parts of the job, but here’s a typical example:

Project:  Improve operating margin (by either reducing cost or improving revenue) in large west coast hospital’s spine surgery group, while maintaining or improving clinical quality outcomes.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
6am flight to California Internal team meetings	Observe OR cases, prep and turnover procedure Late night work session to compile findings	Review findings with team, analyze data, develop presentations Team dinner Late night work session	Work Session with surgeons & administrators—discuss observation findings and potential solutions Flight home 6pm	Internal team conference calls Evidence-based research Prepare for next week’s meetings

5.       Any advice for future PAs?

Congratulations on choosing one of the best career paths on the planet!  There is so much that you can do as a PA—from practicing in any area of medicine…to advising start-ups… to becoming an administrator or leader of a hospital or health system.  Your knowledge, experience, and passion is powerful, and there is no limit to what you can do!  

PAEA Student Health Policy Fellowship

Hello! I just got back from our nation's capital where I was able to participate in the PAEA Student Health Policy Fellowship. If you don't know, the PAEA is the national association that focuses on PA education.

Here's a video interview with Marc Geller, PA-S from UT Pan American and myself discussing our time in D.C.

Interview with a UNTHSC PA-S

Here is an interview with a second year from UNTHSC.

1.       Why do you want to be a PA?

-        I chose to enter the PA profession because of my experience while working for a PA. I was able to witness firsthand the respect patients have for their PA. I heard from several patients that they felt a PA spends more time with them during their appointment than the doctor normally would. I really enjoy working with people, and medicine so I thought the PA profession would be a perfect match for me.

2.       What did you do for health care experience before starting PA school?

-        Right after graduating from undergrad, I worked as a transporter in a local hospital in Lubbock, TX. Basically I would transport patients via wheelchair or hospital bed to and from imaging and procedures in the hospital. I was able to interact with the patients, which I enjoyed very much, but I was using this job to get my foot in the door into another medical setting. While working in the hospital I asked a PA who worked in the hospital, if I could shadow her. She told me where to go to contact her supervisor and I ended up shadowing a different PA in an Internal Medicine clinic on the afternoons that I could off work early. One weekend I asked the PA if I could take her out to lunch as a thank you and to pick her brain about the application process and school. While at lunch she mentioned me getting a job at the office as a MA. She talked to the office manager and the physician who owned the practice and I was hired as the PA’s personal scribe and a MA, while not scribing. So basically I went into all the appointments with the PA and typed her notes in EMR. Needless to say, I had an amazing experience prior to starting PA school and it prepared me well.

3.       How did you pick UNTHSC? What was the interview experience like?

-        After applying to eight different schools, five in Texas, one in New Mexico, one in Arizona and one in Colorado, I was offered interviews at 5 of the schools. My first interview was extremely nerve wrecking. I have a good friend who was currently in PA school and her advice to me was just to be myself. I could not have asked for better advice. I was myself at my first interview and two days later I got a call from the school offering me a seat in the class. I later went on to interview at 4 more schools. With each interview I would research the schools and find information about the class size, course schedule, PANCE pass rates, and faculty turnover rates and compared the information across the schools. My interview experience at UNTHSC was great. It was a very welcoming environment and I witnessed the camaraderie amongst the students. It was a place that I knew I would fit in well at. In the end, I chose UNTHSC because of its reputation, location and because it was close to family.

4.       What study strategies have worked for you in PA school? 

-        This is an excellent question, that I tend ask myself regularly. Finding the perfect studying technique has been difficult for me. Some classes, I am able to just read the power points and soak up the information. Other classes, I like to convert the power points into handouts because I don’t care to stare at the computer screen hours upon hours. I am a very visual and audio learner, so what I have found most beneficial when I am able to, is to preview the lecture the night before to become familiar with the material and then when I am in lecture and listening to the professor explain the material, it’s like going over the material for the second time. Unfortunately, not all professors are good about posting the power points until class time.

5.       Any advice for future applicants?

-        I think the best piece of advice I could give future applicants is to get your applications turned in as soon as you can. Once you turn in your CASPA application, start working on secondary applications that are available to you. Stay on top of what material you still need to submit for each school by what date. When it comes time for interviews, be yourself! The application and interviewing process is long, keep your head up and stay confident.

Health Care Experience

Health Care Experience is a big part of your application. Many programs even require a minimum amount of hours you need before applying. I had a few friends from my class tell me about their previous health care experience so you can see some of the variety represented in our program and have an idea of the variety of experiences out there. 




Before school, I worked in a clinic with doctors of all specialties getting CTs and MRIs approved with insurance companies. I learned about the MANY different types of insurances and what criteria they look for before they will approve your imaging study. I learned how important it is for a practitioner to be detailed in their clinical notes in order to make it easier for the people getting the approvals. I also gained experience navigating EMR software, because I had to look at patient labs, previous imaging studies, current meds, and clinical notes.




I worked as an EMT/Paramedic in between graduating from undergrad and getting into PA school.  I also completed a 2-year community college certificate program while I worked to upgrade my abilities/title/pay early on.  I also worked my last year as an ER technician.  For me, it helped cement that I wanted to be involved in hands-on medicine (not research) as I had no previous experience in which to defend any post-grad education.  It’s helping me immensely with PA school in the functional aspects of it, such as feeling comfortable with patients and skills I’ve already encountered (eg: VS, interviewing), and some knowledge background, particularly on emergency-related health care which covers a huge variety of trauma and disease.




I worked as an MA at a sports medicine and orthopedic office in Bryan. As an MA, I took histories and vitals, ordered xrays, took out staples and stitches and cleaned incisions/wounds, helped put on casts (and got to use the awesome cast saw to cut them off!!), ordered, scheduled, and authorized MRIs, CTs, arthrograms, and surgeries, wrote orders for PT, sent/called in prescriptions... The doctors that I worked for are the team physicians for A&M athletics, and one of them is a renowned orthopedic surgeon, so I got to meet a large variety of patients, from Olympians and college athletes to 90 year olds with DJD. Working there helped me gain a bigger idea of what working in a medical office involved and how to be the best you can for your patients, and I was able to be taught by some of the most passionate and caring physicians! 




I didn’t know I was interested in medicine until I had the opportunity to work in the medical world as a pharmaceutical sales rep.  I think it helped me prepare for school  in a number of ways.  First, having 8 years of real-world experience after college has definitely prepared me for this program.  I feel I have a mature outlook to a post-grad program like this from being out in the professional work force for years.  Second, I have learned a lot about the healthcare system in general.  There are many facets of healthcare other than just the provider-patient interactions.  The hospital/system dynamics and politics, the payer influences, and the overall business side of healthcare is often overlooked by those going into medicine.  My experiences have helped me gain a deeper understanding of these aspects.  As far as the pharmaceutical understanding and disease state knowledge, I definitely am more prepared for certain disease state blocks and pharmacology drug class sections of the program.  That being said, this program continues to open my eyes to the amount of knowledge that I have yet to learn.

Once I decided to pursue a career in healthcare, my first step was to seek out shadowing opportunities.  Through family friends that were doctors and pre-healthcare organizations in undergrad I was able to find opportunities to shadow orthopedic surgery, spinal surgery (office visits only, no OR), family medicine, and emergency department.  While in the ED, the physician was complaining about the transition to EMR and the pressure he was feeling from administration to utilize a tablet to document patient visits.  I convinced him to let me give it a try just on a whim, and it eventually morphed into a scribe position for the remainder of that semester.  

I also worked at a company that did zip-line canopy tours.  This was not a healthcare job, but I did all I could to turn it into one.  For example, I initiated first-aid training sessions, outfitted the rescue bags with better first-aid equipment, and updated all emergency action plan protocols.  I believe you can show your passion for health and patient care regardless of the job you work, so don't be discouraged if it's hard to find HCE.

My most recent job before PA school was working as a scribe/MA for an orthopedic and spinal surgery office.  I found this job by relentlessly applying to every place I could find, until I got a hit from a Craigslist post.  I would not have landed this (paid) position had I not had the previous experience scribing in the ED (unpaid). Take any job, even if it's unpaid, that gets your foot in the door and prove to them that you can contribute to their practice. I sent countless letters of interest to any doctor's office I could find to ask about open positions...never hurts to ask.





I worked as a clinical dietitian prior to coming to PA school which gave me the opportunity to work with interdisciplinary teams including doctors, PA's, NP's, social workers, speech therapist, occupational therapist and physical therapists. It made me realize the unique position PA's are in and the respected relationships they build with not only patients but the interdisciplinary team. My job also gave me great experience in interviewing, educating patient's, communicating with nurses/physicians, charting, writing orders and conducting research.





My healthcare experience was really varied prior to entering school.  In high school I worked as a hospital volunteer, mainly in the ER, so I got to see a lot early (this was 20 years ago before things got really tight regarding PHI).  During college years, I worked in a small town as ER triage and registration and as a 911 dispatcher which was tied with a local "lifealert" system for seniors.  After getting my master's degree in exercise physiology, I worked as a research assistant at a very unique human physiology lab (http://www.ieemphd.org/) that not only conducts experimental research studies, but provides clinical care.  At this job I worked with healthy individuals of all ages and various patients (ex: seniors with HTN, young women with POTS, pregnant women).  Also, I was able to work as a inside chamber attendant for the hyperbaric medicine unit at the IEEM.  Here I assisted in the care of patients that have wounds that are not healing well (diabetic or post surgical), post radiology patients, scuba divers with the bends, and those suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. I got direct PA shadowing experience with an ortho I personally saw who has an ortho PA working for him, and two PA acquaintances I have that work in the ER and with a cardiologist's office respectively.  All worked at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. 

TAPA Fall Conference 2013 Video Interview #1

Here is the first video interview from the conference. John and Alesha are UNTHSC alumni speaking about their experience.

First weeks of school

Here's some thoughts about the first weeks of school from some of my classmates:

1) How did you prepare for the start of PA school?

A) I had many friends and even a few new PA-Cs tell me that I should relax and just enjoy my time away from books. I took this advice but a month into ‘relaxing’ I felt that I hadn’t been keeping my mind focused. So, a few weeks before school began I checked out lumosity and used those ‘brain games’ to keep my mind sharp.

B) As far as actual "prep", I had to go back to school after being out of school since '04. I had to resign from my job as a pharmaceutical sales professional, sell my house, and move my family from Houston to the DFW area. Other than that, I mentally prepared myself that I don't know everything and this is all a new experience so stay loose and roll with it.

C) Most of my preparation was through my scribing at an ER in College Station. However, I really did anything I could to improve my application, such as shadowing in surgeries and doctor's offices, I did some research in undergrad with a professor, and some volunteering.

D) I volunteered in the hospital, shadowed PAs, and worked as a traveling health technician for an employee wellness company. I had a year between attending PA school and the end of pre-PA classes, so I definitely took a lot of time for myself. I think it's important to enjoy yourself before PA school becomes your life. 


2) What has been the most interesting thing you have learned so far? What has been the hardest?
A) Thus far, I have had the easiest time identifying structures with our cadavers, so lab is fun and pretty easy for me. The hardest thing to learn so far has been arteries, nerves and innervations of the antebrachial region.

B) The most interesting thing I've learned so far is not necessarily anything to do with info covered in lecture, but more just getting to know my class and their individual backgrounds. So far, I don't feel like anything has been "hard", rather it's just another challenging task in front of me. I'm sure it will get more challenging as the program gets into full swing.

C) The most interesting thing for me, which is a little cheesy, but how incredible the human body is. I love learning information that I will use on a daily basis, rather than pointless information that I will forget later in life (see calculus). The hardest has been finding the best method for studying and keeping everything organized. It's  a ton of information at once, so keeping it straight can be quite difficult.

D) I think everything I've learned has been really interesting. It's only been three weeks since the start of the semester, so I can't comment on what has been the hardest. However, I'm just in sheer amazement of how complicated our bodies really are.


3) What study strategy has worked? What hasn't?

A) A good study habit I’ve started is to study by myself during the weekdays for about two to three hours. I try to set goals to have certain points down before concluding my study time. At the end of the week I try to group study and listen to how others approach topics and if I missed anything. I have found that studying alone sometimes causes me to ignore some things that shouldn’t be ignored.

B) I find the best study method for me is to teach. If I can understand the principle and then turn and teach it to someone else, then I have it nailed down. I didn't like studying on the 4th floor (silent floor)... way too much stress and quite for me.

C) I enjoy studying alone at first, then meeting with classmates to hash out everything and bounce ideas off each other. Talking out loud to myself and utilizing the cadaver lab and models is what seems to help me understand/remember the most.

D) You can't study the night before an exam. You just can't. When you're going through 3 weeks of undergraduate material in a day in PA school, you really have to be diligent about keeping up with the material. This is your life for the next 2-3 years, so you have to just suck it up. The best study strategy is repetition and asking questions when you have your classmates or professors available to you. Don't be afraid to look stupid. 


4) What do you like about PA school vs. undergrad studies?
A) Strangely, I love that it is fast paced. It forces students to stay on top of their studies. I’ve always loved summer classes that resulted in tests each week, so PA school’s schedule feels more natural for me, versus learning a topic one week and waiting almost a month to test over it.

B) I LOVE how here, the goal is for you to succeed, NOT to weed you out. I especially love the PA program in that we are not in direct competition with each of your classmates. Rather, we are all in this to succeed and the things and skills we are learning now will be put into real practice.

C) I love that I'm not wasting my time. The faculty are preparing me for the real world, and my classmates are helping me learn and gain experience in interprofessional relationships. I also like that everyone wants others to succeed. We are all part of a team, which can be different than cutthroat settings of undergrad.

D) Everything you learn is relevant for your future career. There were times in undergrad where I was bored to tears and I was wondering why in  the world I needed to know something. Nothing in PA school is extraneous information. It's also great that everyone is experiencing the same things you're experiencing. Same classes, same stressors. It's a great bonding experience. 

TAPA 2013 Video Interview #4

Here's an interview I did with a PA-C working in Hormone Replacement Therapy. 

End of Didactic Interview

Here are some quick thoughts from a PA student who is wrapping up the didactic portion of her program and moving into clinical rotations!

1) Tell me about your PA school experience thus far. (ups and downs, was it overwhelming, what surprised you, etc)

Overwhelming is an understatement, but there have definitely been more ups than downs. There's more work and studying in PA school than I would have ever imagined, but the entire experience of PA school is what you make of it. I've enjoyed my experience in school so much because despite having to work so hard, I've always allowed myself to have time set aside for fun, friends, and family - this is something that I highly suggest. If you are always studying and never give yourself a break, the stresses of school will really get to you. Also, no matter how hard it gets or how badly you wish you weren't studying at the moment, always be thankful that you're in the program because there's a lot of people who would rather be in your place!

2) What was your favorite unit/section/class?

My favorite section is clinical skills. Its the class where you learn all of the basic clinical procedures like sutures, IV placement, and foley catheters. This was my favorite because it's hands-on learning and is a sign that you're almost at the end of your didactic portion. Also, learning the procedures is just fun.

3) How did your study techniques evolve during your time in the didactic phase? What worked best and what didn't work?

Group studying helps out a lot, especially when you're teaching others. It's great because in order to teach someone, you really have to know the material well. However, everyone in the group must study individually before the group study session in order to be efficient. This has worked out well for me throughout the entire didactic phase, and worked for a lot of other people as well.

4) Which clinical are you looking forward to the most? What about that one excites you?

The rotation that I am most excited for is orthopedic surgery! The orthopedics block was really interesting and I really enjoyed surgery when I was shadowing, so naturally this would be the one I'm most excited about. Plus surgery is nothing like the other clinical rotations - the process of manually fixing the body is fascinating!

Interview with a Rural Medicine PA-C

Here's an interview with a PA who practices Rural Medicine in North Texas.

1) Why did you become a PA?

 I spent quite a bit of time in my undergraduate career trying to decide between medical school and physician assistant school.  I had the opportunity to work as a medical assistant at a Christian family practice office where I feel like I was introduced to excellent medicine and a great example of a physician/PA team. One of the physician assistants I met there had trained at Duke during the first few years of that start up PA program in the 1960's, so coming to know him and hear his stories of training was truly a dose of PA history! The other physician assistant at the practice was a new graduate and offered a fresh perspective on the process of applying to PA school, and the up and coming advances in the PA profession. It was through coming to know these excellent physician assistants that I realized the value of the profession and began to learn more and more about PA's and their patient centered focus.

2) How did you pick UNT HSC? What was your time like there? What strategies helped you?

I picked UNTHSC because of the warm welcome I received during my interview period.  I had taken a few days to talk candidly with students at several of the Texas PA schools, and the UNT students were honest about the difficulty of PA school but spoke highly of their program, and felt like they had the support of their faculty and student peers.  I also knew I wanted a longer PA program, so the length of UNT's program was very attractive to me.

I had an excellent time at UNTHSC.  Looking back, it was very challenging, but also a time of great personal and academic growth.  Our class of PA students operated like a family, we all worked together to take complete notes, and shared study materials; the fact that competition between classmates was not a hindrance was something that helped all of us navigate the three years of PA school.  Taking one day or part of a day off from studying, a "day of rest" if you will, was another vital part of maintaining a balance in school.  There is a "buddy system" in place where you will be assigned an upper class PA student to help you with tips and strategies during the first few weeks of school, and I would recommend taking full advantage of their experience and knowledge.  

3) How did you get into Rural Medicine? Did you do a rural rotation in school?

I did not complete a rural medicine rotation, and would not have initially seen myself practicing in a rural setting.  I knew I wanted to gain experience in primary care with my first job after graduation. To be quite honest, when I interviewed for my current position, I didn't fully realize how rural a setting it was until I arrived at the job interview!  Once I met my supervising physician, and saw the practice setting, I was intrigued  and impressed; I decided I was up for a challenge and an adventure in rural medicine, and I have not regretted that decision.

4) How has your perception changed about Rural medicine since you started practicing?

My perception has changed in several ways.  My perception of the PA/physician team started off as something fairly standardized, but now I realize that that relationship is unique to the individual physician and physician assistant, as well as variable by practice setting.  The scope of practice of rural family physicians and by extension, that of rural physician assistants, is still fairly extensive.  

My perception of work/life balance has changed quite a bit; in the rural setting, your job and involvement in the community doesn't end at 5:00 pm.  You become an integral part of the community, and people come to know you as a leader, and will ask you to commit to various voluntary or appointed positions.   I've had patients call me in the middle of the night, with a health emergency or question.  You see people at the local meat market or grocery store and they will ask you their medical questions with bold (and sometimes amusing) honesty; they will often introduce you to family and friends and say "This is my PA, they take care of me".  

Finally, my perception of the medical community overall has changed since I began working in a more rural area.  We do have limited specialist coverage, and all of the family physicians rotate call for any patients that are admitted to the hospital.  There is a spirit of teamwork between the family doctors, their physician assistants, and the specialists we have covering our local hospital which I have not witnessed anywhere else in my training, and this is something I will always remember about rural medicine.  The medical staff here truly do rely on each other for personal and professional support, and everyone collaborates very well to help patients receive the treatment they need, even if it means staying late or taking on an patient consult. For example, I frequently contact our orthopedic surgeon and cardiologist on call for our area hospital on their personal cell phones when I need advice on a patient I have in the office.  

5)  What kind of patients do you see?

I see a range of patients in the family clinic, infants to geriatrics, for anything from preventive exams to chronic disease management, to walk in visits for sick patients and minor injuries.  My supervising physician and I also see patients at the local nursing home, so I round on those patients at least one per month. I am the provider on call for the nursing home, so take 24 hour telephone call for any situation that may come up with our patients there.  After building my skills in the clinic and nursing home my first year in practice, I have had the opportunity to gain some experience with inpatient medicine; I essentially pre-round on any patients my physician or I admit to the local community hospital, and work closely with my supervising physician to coordinate hospital orders and discharge planning.

What does a typical week look like for you?

My days start at around 06:30 when I call up to the local hospital to check on any admitted patients.  If we have patients in the hospital (usually anywhere from 1-5) I head up to the hospital around 07:00 and start rounds and progress notes.  My supervising physician usually meets me on the inpatient side and we wrap up discharge planning or further hospital orders together.  Clinic starts at 8:00, so I head to the office after hospital rounds, and see patients from 8-5.  If anything comes up for our nursing home patients during the day, or if I received an overnight call for any problem, I will drive by the local nursing home during lunch of after office hours to make a nursing home visit for any sick patients. I don't typically take call at the hospital or round on patients over the weekend, although I am still on call by telephone for the nursing home;  If our nursing home patients get sick over the weekend and I am in town I usually will pay a weekend visit to them.  The providers at our office number seven (three physicians and four physician assistants) and we alternate shorter weekend clinic hours, so we each work one out of every seven weekends.

6) What is your favorite part of your practice?

My favorite part of my practice is the long term relationships I have had the opportunity to form with patients.  It is common to build relationships and take care of several generations of a family.  It is rewarding to see patients back for follow-up over an extended period of time and mark their progress.

7) Any advice for future PAs?

I think my advice would be to remain open to career changing opportunities, but don't be a afraid to take that first job in primary care, for those who are so inclined. I believe it has been a really valuable experience, and I think that physician assistant scope of practice can really be utilized to its full extend in that setting.  Second, I would say to make sure to try and maintain a work/life balance that will help you stay grounded and prevent burnout, especially during the first few years of practice. 

Interview with a PA-S from UNTHSC

1) Why did you choose to be a PA?

I chose to become a PA because I really wanted to have a career in the medical field, but I also wanted other things in life like raising a family. The shorter duration of PA school and the fact that we don't have to do residency allows for both of those things. Furthermore, I really wanted to have a position that would allow me to spend a lot of time with patients. I feel that becoming a PA will satisfy all of my goals and I've been very happy with my decision.


2) What did you do to prepare to apply?

I focused on making myself into a well-faceted applicant. I was involved in multiple organizations at my school, participated in community service projects, held a job, and shadowed at the ED. PA programs want to see that you can balance more than just academics because once you are in school, they will encourage you to join professional organizations and do community service projects.


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

I applied to 4 schools and interviewed at 3. My interviews were nerve wracking of course, but my suggestion is to make sure you're prepared. You'll be nervous no matter what, but as long as that's not your very first time in an interview, you'll do just fine. I realized at my interview day that I really wanted to go to UNTHSC because unlike the students at other some of the other schools, the UNTHSC students looked happy and invigorated. It scared me that at some of the schools that I visited, the students looked like zombies but at UNTHSC, it was a completely different feel.


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

I was surprised at how involved their faculty is in ensuring the success of their students. Each student is assigned a mentor (faculty member) for the duration of the program, and the goal of the mentor is to serve as a support system with any academic or personal issues that the student is willing to talk about. It's a great resource, and a good way to get to know your professors too.


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

Study groups have worked out really well for me. We spend so much time in the classroom listening to lectures so the last thing that I wanted to do was sit and study by myself. It nice to learn interactively, plus explaining concepts between group members really helped solidify everything for me.


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

The coolest thing so far was learning from cadavers in the anatomy lab. It was a great opportunity to be able to see the bodies first hand and learn from a team that included anatomy professors, forensics personnel, anthropologists, and health care providers. Also it's pretty neat how comfortable you get with dead bodies.


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

I highly suggest that pre-PA students become involved with TAPA, the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants. The benefit is great for students because it allows you to stay informed about the profession (which is more important now more than ever because of health care reform) and along with your membership, you get a seriously reduced registration price for the TAPA Conferences. Going to at least one TAPA Conference would be a really good idea because there are student tracks that are focused on enriching lives of students before entering PA school, during school, and in the transition from school to practice. Additionally, there are a ton of faculty members from all the schools there. In fact, I was asked during one of my interviews if I ever attended one of the conferences.

First Week of PA School UNTHSC

Here's a Q&A with a few students from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth about their first week of school.

1) How did you prepare for the start of PA school?

Student A: To tell you all the truth, I knew I was not going to have much free time after school started, so I did not do any studying. I guess you can say I prepared by catching up with my family and friends, so that it will be more out of my system when school started. UNTHSC does offer optional pre-matriculation classes the week before orientation (which is a week before classes start) that teaches anatomy to give students a head start. The students who took the classes found them to be helpful and information overload just like everyday of PA school!


Student B: I had a year off between when I graduated from undergrad and started PA school, so I took a few elective classes to keep me in the routine of school and studying. However, the month and a half to two months I had off before PA school started, I took that time to spend time with my friends and family as much as I could. I knew once school started, I would be missing that free time

Student C: My work experience was one of the greatest assets to prepare for the start of your school. I worked as a medical scribing in neurology clinic, and got hands on experience on vacation communication, basic medical knowledge, and helpful refresher on pharmacology and anatomy and physiology. During the leisure time, I also made sure that I was polishing my medical terminology. I had to settle the habit of eating breakfast.

Student D: With the help of talking to a few PA students, I came prepared with the mindset that PA school will be a fast-paced and difficult journey. You honestly don’t understand how busy it is until you’re in it. You just have to be prepared that you have to be focused the ENTIRE day. Make sure you bring your entire life with you the whole day and that you’re awake during class from 8-4pm. If that means drink up 2 cups of coffee (I drink 1 cup but I advise no more than 2), then do it! After that, it’s important to review (well, at least try the best you can) what you have learned earlier that day once you get home. Right before you sleep, make sure you’re prepared the next day (since every day/week is different for us)! I find that keeping up with life (such as cooking/cleaning/laundry/driving/grocery shopping) can take a lot of time out of studying time. I would suggest planning a week’s worth of lunch & dinner so you don’t waste your time cooking every night and definitely suggest planning errands weekly to be time-efficient!
Since weekdays are super intense and hectic with classes during the day and material reviewing at night, make sure to take a day off on the weekend just to do what you like to do non-school related, such as hanging out with family/significant others, exploring the city, cooking, fishing…etc. I assure you - You won’t regret the time off just to de-stress and doing the things you prioritized over school. If everything you do is just school, school, school, then you will get tired out fast. Older students advised us to think of 3 things you would want to do besides school and have a proper balance between those 3 things with school!


Student E: Coming into PA school, I knew the work would be very challenging, demanding, and intense. I can sense myself being overwhelmed with information and knowledge. However, in order to prepare for this upcoming challenge, I constantly remind myself to stay mentally strong, motivated, and focused. I feel that is the only way to survive the vast amount of information that I will have to learn and master in the next 34 months.



2) What has been the most interesting thing you have learned so far? What has been the hardest?

Student A: The most interesting thing I have learned has been how knowledgeable and dedicated everyone in my class is. My classmates come from all different backgrounds and have had numerous health care work experience. I have learned that every person has something to teach everyone else. It is all about team work!
The hardest thing for me has been adjusting to the rigorous schedule. We have 8 am classes that last until 4 pm most days. Sometimes we get out at 2 or 3 pm on Fridays. After class, we come home, eat, shower and study until bedtime. After exams we don't do much for the next few days :). It easy to fall behind if you do not keep up with the class material. I wouldn't say it isn't too hard (so far). The toughest part is the amount of material we learn each day. It seems like we cover half a semester's worth of material in a week! UTD offers an excellent science program, so much of the material I am learning now is just review from undergrad.


Student B: The most interesting thing that I have learned so far is how to take vital signs and do a integument exam in our Physical Exam Skills class. I am really excited about that class and learning how to actually perform a physical exam on a patient. The hardest has been managing the amount of material that comes at you at once and making sure you are staying ahead of the material that you need to study.


Student C: Most interesting thing I have learned so far is how everything I learned so far since middle school or high school and throughout my undergraduate school makes a full circle and has prepared me to take on this meticulous program. The hardest thing I have learned so far would be neuroanatomy.


Student D: We have this class called Medical Interviewing and so far I have learned a great deal about how we should conduct our interviews with patients. What kind of mindset we should have while listening and observing patients and what we can assess from how patients explain their complaints and medical histories. That class is very interesting in the fact that I could never guessed how useful each class would be and now I can see the importance of taking this course.
The hardest class would be Clinical Anatomy for me because it has been two years since I have taken Anatomy & Physiology. I don’t remember the terms for any anatomical structures and it takes some time for me to get familiar what each structure is. I’m a big picture person so I need to understand what they do instead of just memorizing what they are, so have a good idea what kind of learner you are. In addition, it is very important to know the structures from the cadavers so it’s another thing to take time to visit lab after school hours to correctly identify the structures on real human bodies. Make sure you find your weakness from your first exam in every class and see how you can improve on studying!


Student E: The most interesting I have learned so far is learning how to apply the knowledge of anatomy and physiology to clinical situations that I will likely be exposed to as a PA. The hardest thing is so far about PA school is keeping up with the materials and information that just never seem to end.



3) What study strategy has worked? What hasn't?

Student A: The second and third year PA students say that study groups will help a lot in PA school even if it was not your style in undergrad. I do feel like that is partially true because everyone has something different to add to the discussion. However, we have only had two exams and I mostly studied on my own the same way I did in undergrad. I did work in groups during anatomy lab with the cadavers and that was a very big help!
A strategy that hasn't worked for me is going into the cadaver lab or study session unprepared. It is a lot more productive to look over the material before attending, so that you know what everyone is talking about and can contribute to the group.



Student B: So far, what has helped the most is reading the material before you go over it in class, taking good notes in class, and then go over the material again after class. Looking over the material before class has helped me so much. For me, I am a visual learner. So I can't just read the material over and over again and hope it sticks. I have to draw it out in my own way and make my own outlines of the material. Also, YouTube has a video for just about any concept you will go over in class. So that is also very helpful!


Student C: Memorizing doesn't work when you are in PA school. You have to make a habit of learning in a way that we can relate to clinically. Group study helps with physiology. I'm sticking to daily routine and sustainable study habit is the way to go.


Student D: Studying right after a whole day of school DOES NOT work. I used to take naps all the time but I figured studying right after school would be the way to be “most productive.” I was trying to make use of the time outside of school and sleep time for studying but after a week of it, I didn’t get much out of time spent on “studying” and I was tired all the time. Make sure you take breaks so you are refreshed in between studying. If you need to take a nap, then definitely do so! Just don't take a long nap but sleep reinforced your memory retention. Also, I used to study by myself a lot during college, but I heard group studying helps so I started doing that first week of school. Make sure you self-study some materials first and also make a study group with various classmates to figure out who are you best studying with. It’s useful when you study with classmates so you could see in what areas you can help one another to understand the materials.


Student E: In undergraduate, I used to be able to get away with studying a day or two before an exam. However in PA school, I have constantly reviewed the materials after class which has helped me tremendously in retaining the information. This has allowed me to keep up with my other courses and avoid constantly struggling to keep up.

4) What do you like about PA school vs. undergrad studies?

Student A: I like how everyone in PA school genuinely wants to be here. Everyone works hard, pays attention in class, and is eager to learn. From what the second and third year students tell us, the class average for most exams are high B's and sometimes even A's. :)


Student B: In PA school, you really learn how to take what you learn in class and apply it in a clinical way. It is so much more than memorization. You have to start thinking in a clinical way, which was a big change for me from undergrad. However, the material is all information that will help you in your career as a PA. That makes it much more enjoyable and easier to understand.


Student C: The difference I see in PA school versus undergraduate studies is how I see equally motivated colleagues around me and how we are working hard for the "golden egg". I definitely enjoyed not taking Chemistry, Spanish, Physics classes but all the subjects are pertinent to the goal we are pursuing.


Student D: 1. Helpfulness. Everyone wants to help one another. It’s no longer a competition. Make sure there’s a Dropbox account so everyone can share useful documents. It has been working out amazing for our class!
2. Direct focus of the curriculum. No extra work – even if there are random quizzes or papers to do, everything is going to be useful towards your career and for patient care. They make you busy for a reason. School will be hard but it’s definitely do-able; It is hard and busy so you are used to the busy schedule in the real world


Student E: I love the amount of depth and details we are exposed to in our courses. I constantly find myself learning more things on my own in PA school which I believe will help me prepare for exams.

Interview with a PA-C

Here's an interview with a PA-C who has worked extensively in the Emergency Department.


1) Why did you choose to be a PA?

The experiences I had with PA's prior to becoming one was that they universally seemed to be more down-to-earth, common sense professionals, which fit more in line with how I was raised. It seemed also like a natural extension from my prior career as an EMT.


2) What was your application process like (how many schools, how many interviews, how did you choose)?

I applied to schools in Texas only, since that is where I lived, and Texas is an absolute bargain for higher education. I applied to all state public schools except for UT Pan Am, was granted interviews at 4 of them. One of the schools I was offered was Texas Tech, but the date they offered was right in the middle of a trip to Las Vegas. I gambled (no pun intended) on getting accepted somewhere else, and thusly turned down the Tech interview. Thankfully I DID get in somewhere else, and I don't recommend doing what I did :)

The interview process at each school was very different. The most comfortable I felt was at UNT in Fort Worth, which is where I ultimately was accepted and chose to go to school. UT San Antonio was by far the hardest, and lasted all day from 8-5: an impromptu essay writing, followed by four individual interviews (with an impromptu spanish-language thrown in additionally), and ended with a panel interview with 4 different PA's.


3) Since graduating, what areas have you worked in?

I have only worked in emergency medicine since graduating, and at the original place I began working after becoming certified. I took a bit different course after PA school though, as I immediately entered a residency program in ER for PA's, which was 18 months in duration. I was hired on as staff at the same hospital after completing the residency, and have been there ever since. I don't see myself going into any other specialty in the near future.


4) What has surprised you about being a practicing PA so far?

What has surprised me the most is how much I was able to learn and absorb simply by being in the PA residency out of school- the first year after graduating is definitely an experience in exponential learning potential. Before PA school, I never thought I could have done medical school if I wanted to. After having gone through that, as well as training alongside emergency medicine physician residents, I know that I could do it if I wanted to....but I have no desire to go beyond being a PA.

On another note, it has shocked me at how many of my classmates switched jobs within a year after graduating from PA school. There's only a very small handful of us, myself included, who are still at our original jobs. But then, this is the uniqueness of being a PA- the ability to move into another field if you so desire.


5) You've done some research on emergency medical practices and PA roles there. I know that a PA will do very different things in one Emergency department versus another. How has that role evolved and where is it heading?


In general, there has been a trend towards more autonomy for the PA in the emergency department. We have several in our specialty who are running rural ER's on their own, although this will likely continue to be the exception rather than the rule. I am thankful that in my own practice, that the physician whom I work with on any particular day and I will just trade off who is seeing which patient- there is no defined limitation on which patients I am able to see or not see.

Because of this trend towards more autonomy, there has been a measured push towards more formalized training for PA's in emergency medicine. Just in the three years since I graduated PA school, we have gone from 3-4 PA residencies in the ER to approximately 10 (with more in the pipeline), and the first standardized test for PA's in emergency medicine- the CAQ exam. While residencies and specialized testing is still optional, it would not surprise me that in the distant future you would not be able to switch specialties without at least passing a CAQ exam, if not also completing some sort of post-graduate training. At the very least, the emergency physicians (ACEP) advocate for us to acquire additional training specific to the ER in whatever form that may take, and there are plenty of options out there other than a formalized residency program.


6) You trained in Texas and now practice in a different state. How are the regulations different in your current state? What was the licensing process like for someone from an out of state school?

Pennsylvania is definitely unique in that there are actually two boards of medicine- one for allopathic and one for osteopathic. As a PA, you choose one or the other based on your supervising physician (although you are not limited to one or the other based on who your substitute supervising physicians are). PA's in Pennsylvania are also able to write for DEA combination Schedule II opiate medications, whereas in Texas you are limited to Schedule III and lower. There is also a bill currently going through the legislature that will take away the requirement for all PA charts to be co-signed by a physician.

The licensing process was actually very painless- it's always easier to get your initial license than it is to acquire an additional one after practicing for a few years. Most states enable you to acquire a temporary license that's valid just as soon as you graduate from an accredited PA program, and last until you pass the PANCE (when it automatically rolls over to a permanent license). So as soon as I graduated from PA school, I had my program director sign my license application and sent it straight to Pennsylvania, and within a week I had a temporary license. Unlike in Texas, there is no additional exam such as the Jurisprudence exam that needs to be passed in order to acquire a permanent license.


7) Besides shadowing and good grades, what advice would you give future applicants?

*PRACTICE INTERVIEWING! It will truly make you more relaxed when you're in that one-on-one situation come crunch time.

Other than that, there is a vast wealth of information at the PA Forum to help future applicants. It's helped me and countless other PA's get to where we are today.