EMS2015 Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Hello all, I am a new PA grad. I have been doing a lot of thinking on my future and where I want my career to be in 20 years. My main interest is in EM. I have loved EM as long as I can remember and worked as an EMT for 3 years before PA school. I have thought about doing a residency since PA school began to quickly get to high level of competency. The more I think of it though the more I think maybe I should go to med school while I still have the chance. My decision to go to PA school may have been shortsighted and I now sometimes feel becoming an EM physician would absolutely make my life complete. It would take me a year to get done the prereqs for a standard school. I have also looked into LECOM's APAP which would be perfect, but I imagine this would be hard to get into as a new grad. I am in my late 20's have a wife and 2 children. Money is not a concern and my family is more than willing to move and adapt to my career and schooling. My question is if I am trying to pursue this should I not do a PA residency in the meantime? Should I do the PA residency and see if it brings me to a level that I feel happy with? Just curious as to what some experienced EM PA's think. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nonlegit Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Interesting situation. I don't have much to say, but good luck. I'm interested to see what some have to say. Hope it works out for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Paula Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Get a job as an EM PA or do the residency. At the same time do the pre-reqs for med school and take the MCAT. Then decide what to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PACdan Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Hello all, I am a new PA grad. I have been doing a lot of thinking on my future and where I want my career to be in 20 years. My main interest is in EM. I have loved EM as long as I can remember and worked as an EMT for 3 years before PA school. I have thought about doing a residency since PA school began to quickly get to high level of competency. The more I think of it though the more I think maybe I should go to med school while I still have the chance. My decision to go to PA school may have been shortsighted and I now sometimes feel becoming an EM physician would absolutely make my life complete. It would take me a year to get done the prereqs for a standard school. I have also looked into LECOM's APAP which would be perfect, but I imagine this would be hard to get into as a new grad. I am in my late 20's have a wife and 2 children. Money is not a concern and my family is more than willing to move and adapt to my career and schooling. My question is if I am trying to pursue this should I not do a PA residency in the meantime? Should I do the PA residency and see if it brings me to a level that I feel happy with? Just curious as to what some experienced EM PA's think. Thanks. You say you're a new grad, how new? Have you even worked as PA-C yet, and if so, for how long? I can understand the PAs that get disenfranchised after working and hitting ceilings after years, but come on, you just finished an end-professional medical degree. It seems like this was something to consider before PA school. I would definitely work as a PA for a few years, or do an EM residency. Otherwise you spent ~3 years and a good sum of money to do very little with your degree. It's human nature to desire the other thing, to imagine that will make one's "life complete" as you say. But the thought tends to be more rewarding than the actual attainment. I would give being a PA a good run first. That is what you spent the last few years training for... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohsnapPA Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 I heard that for LECOM, you don't have to take the MCAT - they can use your SAT or ACT score along with your GPA to evaluate your candidacy too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted March 3, 2015 Moderator Share Posted March 3, 2015 do the em pa residency, get a great job and pursue it for a yr or 2. if not enough for your needs do lecom APAP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick87 Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 You say you're a new grad, how new? Have you even worked as PA-C yet, and if so, for how long? I can understand the PAs that get disenfranchised after working and hitting ceilings after years, but come on, you just finished an end-professional medical degree. It seems like this was something to consider before PA school. I would definitely work as a PA for a few years, or do an EM residency. Otherwise you spent ~3 years and a good sum of money to do very little with your degree. It's human nature to desire the other thing, to imagine that will make one's "life complete" as you say. But the thought tends to be more rewarding than the actual attainment. I would give being a PA a good run first. That is what you spent the last few years training for... I agree with this. OP, how do you know that being a PA won't be fulfilling and that being a physician will? There are plenty of physicians out there that are burnt out and regret going to medical school. So the grass is not always greener on the other side. As a former EMT myself, I can say that I really didn't have any idea what it would be like to actually BE a PA. You can't really know until you actually do it. Sounds like your head is in the clouds. I'd suggest taking at least a year to be a PA and seriously consider this option while doing so. If it still makes sense at that time, then give it a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator LT_Oneal_PAC Posted March 4, 2015 Moderator Share Posted March 4, 2015 Well, telling him to work a while to figure out if likes being a PA or not is a moot point. He has to work either way. I say do a residency if you at all think you want to stay a PA. It looks great either way and makes you look that much better for continuing as a PA or on a medical school application. If you are sure you want medical school, nothing wrong with that, then get a regular job and take classes. I don't think you'll have the time to take undergrad classes while in residency. At least you won't feel like doing the work at the end of the day, IMO. Personally, I would probably do the residency just because it keeps options open, will make you that much more of a stud, and could maximize some moonlighting pay while in med school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMS2015 Posted March 4, 2015 Author Share Posted March 4, 2015 Thanks everyone for the feedback and support. I agree maverick my heads may be in the clouds. Thanks for the grounding. Right now I should try to be the best PA I can be, do the residency which seems like an awesome experience and go from there. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterallsummer Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 I agree with others - be a PA for a year or two then re-weigh your options. Best opportunity for PAs in EM is rural or a few ERs here and there without a ton of residents that will let you intubate, central line, etc. However other places even if you work in the "main ER" the PAs are not doing the intubating - it just depends, every ER is different and some the PAs do handle critical care pts. If you work in the ER for a yr but are driven crazy that you are not handling the truly sick, then would be the time to consider med school. But you may find that you are happy being a PA or an ER w/ enough experience w/ PAs that they will let you handle such pts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
familygal Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I have had recurring thoughts about going back to med school since year one out of PA school. I'm now 6 1/2 years out, in my early 30's, and both my husband and I are paying down our grad school debts. If money and time are on your side, I would recommend you pursue this option now. Yes, you still should be the best PA you can be for now, but you might find that the desire to go back doesn't go away with more training or different jobs. After working for a year or so, take a look at your priorities, question how much better your life would be with another degree/job title, and if these are worth the (not unsubstantial) sacrifices. Sometimes it is easy to look at the other side of the fence, however don't take for granted the great things about being a PA that we have going for us that aren't afforded to docs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted March 5, 2015 Moderator Share Posted March 5, 2015 Sometimes it is easy to look at the other side of the fence, however don't take for granted the great things about being a PA that we have going for us that aren't afforded to docs! other than less debt and fewer years of school what do you see as the advantages? if you say "lateral mobility" I would argue both that this is going away and that an fp doc has about the same lateral mobility. there are positions for fp docs to work in almost all specialties, including as surgical 1st assists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Paula Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Family Gal has a point. Her post made me realize the PA degree/title is worthless and you cannot just find another job in a field of interest unless you have a physician supervisor. Physicians could be utilized in lateral mobility type of positions in some areas of the country (unless board certification is required) and the physician is not BCd. Now I don't really mean the PA degree/title is useless in that we have careers and good jobs and it can be a very fulfilling. I am loving my job. But if you get a PA degree and can't find a job for whatever reason, it is useless, and you have spent lots of money getting a degree that is totally dependent on a physician, physician group, hospital, HMO, etc. Maybe I'm saying this because a small local clinic in my area that has 2 PAs, 1 NP and one physician on staff just went through upheaval when the physician suddenly resigned. The 2 PAs and NP were hamstrung, couldn't work because none of them has a physician supervisor/collaborator. Apparently it is getting worked out and hopefully the PAs and NP can go back to work...the physician may be back (BTW...it's tribal politics). ^^^^^^And that my friend is a whole 'nuther issue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CByersPAC Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Sometimes it is easy to look at the other side of the fence, however don't take for granted the great things about being a PA that we have going for us that aren't afforded to docs! The great things are largely on the front end: less debt, fewer years of school, professional education clinically focused from the beginning, no MCAT. The limitation appears after one's career is established: dependent practice, which limits one's options in terms of where, how and for whom you work. If you have time, support and money now and an interest in medical school, I would recommend going for it. You will never wish you had fewer options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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