Yep! Being a PA is an AMAZING profession! The doctors with whom I work always refer to me as a "colleague". I never feel like some kind of "underling" even though they are my superiors (occupation-wise). If you want to learn more, please consider subscribing to my channel. Peace! Dr.O the PA Pro🤓

MafiaMike123 Yay!!! Good luck!!

I was on the fence for a while, too. I ultimately decided to go PA, mostly because of my family (I am married with one child). My issue was the same as yours, being a PA with a wealth of experience, likely knowing more than the young physician I am having to report to. I was also hung up on the title; let's look at the path a PA must take. Most have to get their undergraduate degree (usually in the sciences), so that's about 4 years, and they usually have to have health care experience to get accepted to their programs. Then they have to complete a 2.25 year master's program, that's another 2+ years, and those programs usually require either a thesis or a 'capstone project', which is essentially the same thing. A thesis is a very difficult undertaking, considering you are also having to commit so much time to studying for your higher-level science courses like anatomy and pharmacology. All this work and you are called a physician 'assistant'? Really? I understand that PA's are NOT physicians, but referring to them as 'assistants' is just demeaning...one upside, if I ever decide that my disdain for my title is keeping me from enjoying my career, I can always go back to medical school in a few years. (Some medical schools are starting 'bridge' programs for PA's! Shortening medical school to 3 years instead of 4.).

I think when you view the healthcare field as a hierarchy you may get hung up on titles. If your going into the healthcare field the reality is your working on a team. All providers work together. The most important person in a hospital isn't the doctor it's the patients. If you have the time and finances go for med school. Just know medicine will be the focus of your life until retirement. It may vary by specialty but the hours are pretty strenuous. Whereas a PA has a more traditional forty hour work week. Down the line if you wanted to change specialty from say Emer Med to Family Care to lessen your stress and workload. As an MD you would go back and complete another 3-4 yr residency. PAs just apply for a new job

Janae French I am also interested in the pa career we should team up & talk about it

@@mcmahanlevi Hey Levi, I definitely feel you on the title part, it's something that I can't quite shake. I think they should change the name to Physician Associate.....same letters, but a different name, much better. For me, it's a time factor, if I continue with my path to med school, I won't finish residency till 41, whereas if I do PA school, I'll finish at 35. That means you get to start your life 6 years sooner than a physician and you have income for 6 more years. Also, working under someone younger than me in my 50's definitely is an issue, but again, time is important for me which you can't get back, like money, which you can.

@@Meera436 reason I think I will always choose PA over MD

I agree.. PA vs NP is such a controversial topic ...

That would be great.

lovemandypie what was your undergraduate major? if I may ask

My undergraduate major was Health Sciences Pre-Clinical meant for matriculation into a clinical program such as PA, medicine, pt, etc. after graduation.

Nice!! I have my undergraduate in health sciences

lovemandypie​

Ryan Phelps Yeah, it's standard now. I took the GRE back in the 90s but it was for grad school in Genetics.

Almost always meaning that about 98/250 DON'T require the GRE. In other words, 39%--not what I would consider "rare".

Same here. Also once an MD completes their 3 to 4 year residency after four years of medical school. They can only practice within that specialty ie obgyn. In order for an obgyn to go into say surgery. They must complete another 3-8 yr residency depending on specialty and retake board exams. If a PA wants to switch from family care to dermatology they just apply for the position.

ThanhThanh Vo I have a DO interview scheduled next week!!! Stay tuned!

Elise Friloux Yes!! I'm working on finding an NP to interview :-)

val1daz123 Yes definitely!!

LaurenAlexandra711 I think she is generally first assist. That means she does the surgery right next to the doctor and helps the whole time. She probably does a lot of the closing sutures at the end as well.

Summers To my knowledge, most PAs are first assist in surgery- so they are right next to the doctor doing a lot of the surgery, but the main doctor is in charge. My husband did orthopedic surgery and he would do lots of stuff on his own like prepare the tendons, etc. One of my girlfriends is a PA and harvests veins for cardiac surgeries. So you get to do a lot!

@@AndreaTooleyMD thanks for the information. Your husband is a surgical PA or surgeon?