New PA program - Massachusetts

[spudbunny]

Tufts is launching a new PA program:

http://www.boston.com/Boston/whiteco...YXK/index.html

[sunny2spot]

Good for them. Hopefully more of the more prestigious schools in the area follow suit, although New England is pretty well-saturated with PA-schools already. Speaking from personal experience it's tough for schools to find enough clinical sites and also tough for graduates to find work with so much competition.

[ventana]

People have got to get berkshire medical center in pittsfield ma as a rotation site. Could easily support many students and many jobs there

[EMEDPA]

Berkshire already uses pa's(at least in em, a buddy of mine worked there for a few years)

[kittryn]

People have got to get berkshire medical center in pittsfield ma as a rotation site. Could easily support many students and many jobs there

great idea for rotation site, ventana

[Noreaster]

Although Tufts is a great name, I agree with the above post that New England is beginning to get saturated. One of the worse parts about getting saturated is I think that the states that have become saturated with PAs, drives the salaries down.

[ventana]

Although Tufts is a great name, I agree with the above post that New England is beginning to get saturated. One of the worse parts about getting saturated is I think that the states that have become saturated with PAs, drives the salaries down.

not saturated here

salaries are driven down by new grads that accept $42/hour to be on rotating shifts day nights and all over when they should be at least $50
Also, salaries are low due to a lack of tying salary to production and this is a must for a new grad - but as you get experienced you should demand more.

Western MA is approaching desparate for PA's and there is 2 programs with in 40 miles and a 3rd one opening up in a year or so (BayPath) - the far majority of local PCP's are approaching retirement and there will huge voids in the ability to deliver care. However this might change if a lot of PA's come into this area and function to the max or our training while being appreciated for their services

[sunny2spot]

Do these places have established loan repayment potential? As a new grad from MA (eastern), I can say it's a tough decision to move out to somewhere like these areas without the incentive of loan repayment.

I did get a low-ball offer ($76k) from a family practice just outside of Boston and turned it down when they refused to give any opportunity for renegotiation once I got on my feet and began making them money. I really hope another new grad hasn't come along and accepted that offer as it stands. You're absolutely right, it drives down salaries. But it doesn't leave anything left, really. The over-saturation leaves new grads with the choice of either taking a low offer or moving outside the area, which is what I did.
It's a tough call for people with families, etc.