Any PAs gone into teaching?

**queenofhearts** · 07-09-2012, 02:11 PM

Any practicing PAs that have an interest to eventually teach in a PA program or be an educator of sorts in a hospital, etc?

I know as a RN this is possible, how possible is it as a PA?

**shawnmclane** · 07-09-2012, 02:37 PM

I'm not sure what the requirements are, but most of my PA school faculty are PAs.

**redonems80** · 07-09-2012, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by queenofhearts

Any practicing PAs that have an interest to eventually teach in a PA program or be an educator of sorts in a hospital, etc?

I know as a RN this is possible, how possible is it as a PA?

They generally want a few years of experience under your belt. The lowest I have seen in our faculty has been 3 years and the average is more like 10-15 years. Some like to see a masters degree in something (Public Health, Clinical HS, or Academic) Prior teaching experience is always a plus, even if it is not healthcare related.

Some programs even have a special masters bridge program that focuses on academics. My school has 4 tracks you can choose from and one of them is Academic Medicine.

**deborah212** · 07-09-2012, 07:20 PM

Teaching in a PA program is my ideal job and what I'm ultimately working towards. I'm personally looking to have about 5ish years of experience before doing this.

**andersenpa** · 07-09-2012, 07:47 PM

I take students regularly and have a teaching appointment at UW
If you want to be FT faculty it will severely hinder your clinical work so you have to be "all in"
Precepting/guest lecturing is easier to work into a clinical schedule and highly rewarding

**EMEDPA** · 07-09-2012, 08:42 PM

Some programs also allow folks to be adjunct faculty who lead a single section of a single class: for example a pbl group or PE practical section. the pa does not need to lecture at all, just lead a section and answer queastions regarding subject material. this is my preferred method of teaching: small groups(10 or less) with a single clinical focus or goal each week like learning about causes of resp. distress or how to do a shoulder exam.

**ajnelson** · 07-09-2012, 11:31 PM

I work with some PAs that teach some classes at community colleges as well (anatomy, physiology, pathophys).

**NoClinic4Me** · 07-10-2012, 11:55 AM

The best way to get into academics is the get your feet wet slowly. Precepting students is how I got started. I did that for quite a few years and found out that I liked it as much as actually taking care of patients. Now I get to do both. Guest lecturing is another way as well as helping out in group activities at PA programs. We have several part time faculty who function in this capacity. They come in to help us with OSCE's, PE labs, a lecture here and there, etc. Those are the people we would start with when we are looking for full time faculty. We are all PA's at our program (9) except for one MD as the medical director.
The overwhelming theme of my recommendation is to get involved with a PA program and stay involved. Get experience teaching any way you can, precepting being the easiest (and probably most needed) of any of them.
Good luck,
Pat

**MISSISSIPPI!** · 09-12-2012, 01:20 PM

I have been a PA educator for 13 years. I guess you could say that I like it. Our program has 4 PAs, an MD and a PhD on the core faculty. We also use of ton of physician lecturers from the Univ. of Miss. Medical School faculty. So you get to teach the things you like and we contract the rest out. Faculty members get one day per week for clinical practice. Moonlighting is another option once you've been here awhile. Previous teaching experience helps but is not required. (By the way we are looking for a new faculty member to join our team.)

Our students are organized into faculty coached learning teams. Each team has a mock exam room and a faculty coach. It is my opinion that this is really the only way to ensure quality in such a fast-paced program. So, as faculty members, we work pretty closely with about six students from each class. We do a lot of team-based learning, simulations, labs and OSCEs.

Teaching is not for everyone. But I personally enjoy the quality of life that comes from working with my colleagues in an academic setting. I enjoy it when a student comes into my office excited that they just performed their first lumbar puncture, or scrubbed on a thoracic aneurysm or any number of other exciting first time experiences. I am always humbled and amazed by some of the personal challenges that our students face in addition to the rigorous coursework.

There is such a variety of things that must happen to make a good program work I don't think I will ever get bored.

Robert J. Philpot Jr. PhD, PA-C
Associate Professor and Chairman
Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Mississippi College
601-407-8109http://www.mc.edu/academics/departments/pa/

"It's all fun and games until the flying monkeys show up!"

**kidnid** · 02-25-2013, 09:45 AM

I am interested in Part-time teaching too!! ..... i have 4 yrs exp, anybody in IL teaching ?? PA faculty??

**aerten** · 02-25-2013, 07:17 PM

Do PA schools generally hire graduates of their own program to become faculty? Or is there a preference for PAs who were educated elsewhere? I've heard that if you want to get into teaching at the college or graduate level, the general trend is toward "cross-pollination" vs "home-grown" faculty... but I'm wondering if this is any different in PA programs.

**banwvd** · 02-27-2013, 06:32 PM

If you don't mind me asking, what is your PhD in? I am currently a high school science teacher transitioning to being a PA. I do not hate teaching itself by any means, but I would like to teach at a higher level. Medicine has also been a passion of mine (I currently teach a health professions program for hs students, they get cpr certified, learn how to take vitals, etc.) but I don't want the MD stress, schooling, and cost. I recently discovered PA in the past 2 years and have been working toward that goal with the academic side of PA being my ultimate goal, as it would combine my two passions. What is your schedule like as a PA educator? Do you get paid less or more? And how did you originally get into academic medicine?
Thanks!

**banwvd** · 02-27-2013, 06:33 PM

@MISSISSIPPI! If you don't mind me asking, what is your PhD in? I am currently a high school science teacher transitioning to being a PA. I do not hate teaching itself by any means, but I would like to teach at a higher level. Medicine has also been a passion of mine (I currently teach a health professions program for hs students, they get cpr certified, learn how to take vitals, etc.) but I don't want the MD stress, schooling, and cost. I recently discovered PA in the past 2 years and have been working toward that goal with the academic side of PA being my ultimate goal, as it would combine my two passions. What is your schedule like as a PA educator? Do you get paid less or more? And how did you originally get into academic medicine?
Thanks!