Why do you want to become a PA?

I could hear his heartbeat on the monitor as nurses and physicians rushed around to prepare a young, epileptic man for intubation. It was 8:00am and I was shadowing an Emergency Department PA-C. The doctor called out for a 6.0 tracheal tube and a straight blade to visualize the larynx, while nurses were announcing the IV injections they were administering. As one nurse shined a light into the pharynx, the physician assistant supported the head of the patient while the physician inserted the straight blade and strategically placed the tracheal tube. I locked eyes with the patient’s wife and gave her a look of hope as she reciprocated it back. That day at the Emergency Department, I was reminded of a statement by Dr. Atul Gawande, “Success requires making a hundred small steps go right - one after the other, no slipups, no goofs, everyone pitching in.” The teamwork that was present through the calm nature and composure of the PA in the emergency room, and his ability to listen and work alongside the physician with utmost efficiency, reassured my decision to pursue becoming a Physician Assistant. 

This moment stands out in my memory because it is the moment when the lightbulb went off and something clicked...I wanted to become a Physician Assistant. Shadowing multiple providers was key for me when it came to making my decision and it allowed me to explore multiple areas of the profession! 

What is a Physician Assistant?

A physician assistant practices medicine under the direction of a physician in a wide variety of specialties and setting. 

• take medical histories
• examine and treat patients
• make diagnoses
• prescribe medications
• assist in surgery
• counsel patients
• perform minor procedures

State laws determine the scope of a PA's practice.

Why I chose to pursue the profession of a Physician Assistant: 

• Flexibility
• I love the flexibility that being a PA offers. As a PA, you do not have to specialize in a specific field. This means that you are able to work in multiple fields, if desired, throughout your career. I love this flexibility because it allows me to gain knowledge and experience in different areas of medicine, and it allows me to adapt to personal life changes. 
• Teamwork
• As an athlete, teamwork has been pivotal in my life. When working as a PA, you work alongside an MD. This allows teamwork to ALWAYS be present. You also establish a great relationship with your medical team/staff. To me, teamwork is so important in the medical field as it leads to improved patient care, and our patients are our priority.  
• I shadowed a neurosurgeon PA and I was amazed that the PA was the first person to visit the patient pre and post-surgery. I LOVED this because that means we get to be that reassuring face for them and provide them that pivotal care. 
• Demand
• There is a HIGH demand for mid-level providers throughout the medical field. My love for medicine fuels my desire to meet this demand and serve those in need. 
• According to AAPA: "The demand for PAs increased more than 300 percent from 2011 to 2014, according to the healthcare search firm Merritt Hawkins. As of December 2016, there were more than 115,500 PAs nationwide who interact with patients upwards of 350 million times annually."
• School
• I love school, but the thought of me attending four years of medical school, plus residency, plus fellowship was a little much for me.  
• PA school is generally 2-3 years long with an optional residency in some fields.
• Community 
• The more I follow the PA community, the more I fall in love with the profession. The PA community is so much more than what is within your school or clinic, it is nationwide and it's AWESOME. 

So why did you not choose NP or MD?

• Nurse Practitioner, NP: 
• Timing: I chose not to pursue becoming a NP because I was already a Biology major when I chose to pursue the PA profession. Becoming an NP required me to become a nurse first. I switched my major my junior year of college and that would mean I would have to stay an extra year for nursing school. Unfortunately, I did not have the money to take a 5th year.  
• Flexibility: NPs have to specialize in a field, whereas PAs do not. This aspect of becoming a PA was very intriguing to me and fit with my flexible lifestyle. 
• Doctor, MD: 
• Schooling: As stated up above, the thought of me attending four years of medical school, plus residency, plus fellowship was a little much for me.
• Flexibility: Doctors specialize in one area of medicine. For the same reasons as NP, I was intrigued by the idea of being able to work in multiple fields and continue to build my knowledge in the medical field. 

Every medical profession is so important and valuable to the healthcare field! I am so thankful for the role that each professional plays. I highly encourage you to research different medical professions and find the best fit for you! Becoming a Physician Assistant was the best fit for me, but another field may be the best fit for you 😀