Mid 30's with PhD...but ready for career change

[akbreezo]

Hi all,

As the topic indicates I am in my mid 30's and am currently a research professor. After losing funding for my current research project, I have done some serious soul searching and realized that it's time for me to get out of the soft money game.  The PA path is extremely appealing to me for a number of reasons that I'm sure I don't need to outline to anyone here. 

 

Here are the facts:

BS in Zoology (2000), MS in Fisheries (2003) and PhD in Conservation Biology (2008)

Certified Triathlon Coach

GPA (science and general) - 3.8

Mentored graduate students

MCE - zero, but have the ability to shadow a family practice MD and PA and a surgical PA. Also have initiated volunteer process at the local hospital and hospice care center. 

 

I am currently taking A&P I and will take A&P II next semester. Aside from the A&P series I have prereqs required by most programs, but I received my BS in 2000 so have some concerns about my undergrad courses expiring. I'm sure you can understand that retaking all of my undergraduate science courses is not appealing to me, especially since I've been working in the science field and feel that I have never been far removed from any of that material. 

 

Anyway, I am wondering if I am completely out of my mind to think that I would be able to start a program by Fall 2015. If so, what is a reasonably timeline? 

 

Before anyone gets annoyed and tells me to do my research, let me ensure I am in the process of exploring different programs but thought I'd reach out for a bit of advice from the board as well.

Thank you!

[db_pavnp]

Between your above average GPA and career in science, most programs will waive the expiration on coursework.  Some programs may want retakes and I would simply not apply to those programs.  Making you go back to retake sophomore level junk is a waste of everyone's time when you are beyond capable of teaching yourself the pertinent info.

 

You are really going to need health care experience and you have a lot of challenges to overcome in acquiring it.

[akbreezo]

Thanks for the reply and the encouragement regarding my existing science degrees and experience. 

 

I realized that my lack of health care experience is my biggest hurdle at this point. When you say I have a lot of challenges in acquiring it, do you mean with specific respect to my time line or in general? Does shadowing generally count towards HCE hours or not?

[db_pavnp]

Shadowing doesn't count.  You will need paid healthcare experience.  It isn't easy to get.

[akbreezo]

Many programs I have  found list volunteer or paid hours as counting towards HCE. 

[PASASM92]

Many programs (I want to say most) value paid HCE much more than volunteer. I have surmised (via my own research and opinion) that schools like either 1.) new grads that did very well in undergrad that they can mold 2.) if older, with experience (paid). If I were you, I would maybe try and get some PT paid HCE.

 

Where do you live, and which schools are you looking at?

 

I commend you for the career change, it's tough, but very doable and completely worth it.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MassPA-C]

So it is doable- I have a research background (dropped out of my phd program though) and was able to get bare minimum direct patient care hours (I think I had 1200 total) and get into five schools, do well, graduate, and get a job in EM at a top five hospital. There are schools who will value your research background and see it as a plus and not push for the direct patient care but you will have to seek them out. One thing to consider is that by becoming a PA there is very little NIH level research going on that involves PA's. You will have to be willing to leave it behind so to speak and focus on being a PA for now. I do think things will change as more people with research backgrounds prior to PA school enter the PA profession but from my own standpoint I know I am often met with a incredulous "you've submitted IRB's/NIH grants/Published papers/presented at national conferences (other than PA oriented ones obviously)?"  and then a comment like "well we are open to that but we have never had a PA interested before". I am excited to pave the way for the research interested PA's and show that PA's can handle research as well. PM if you want a list of the places I applied.

[akbreezo]

I like in remote Alaska which can be both a benefit and a cost. It's good because I know a wide range of medical professionals very well and most have offered to help or let me shadow. Paid MCE will be more difficult to get, while volunteer will not be.  I'm looking at schools on the East Coast because I have family that lives in New York City. 

I am curious why shadowing does not count towards HCE/MCE hours. Any insights on this? 

I'm realizing that aiming for a fall 2015 matriculation is a pie in the sky dream, so I should more than a year to dial these things in. 

[EMEDPA]

 

I am curious why shadowing does not count towards HCE/MCE hours. Any insights on this? 

I'm realizing that aiming for a fall 2015 matriculation is a pie in the sky dream, so I should more than a year to dial these things in. 

shadowing is watching other people work and requires no responsibility other than showing up. it says nothing about your ability to interact with patients or make decisions for their care.

[akbreezo]

roger that. makes sense. thanks for your patience with my questions everyone. 

[ndpa09]

Depending on the type of volunteer work, SOME schools may value it equal to paid direct patient care. The other issue with that, however, is that you're doing it for free. Are you that financially stable? I mean we are talking 1000+ hours needed.

 

Like others have said, HCE is your biggest problem. If you can find a quality opportunity offering ~1000 hours I think you would be in good shape given your other statistics and experience. Perhaps the best choices may be CNA or phlebotomist (check with programs about this one). They require very little training time but most programs see them as solid HCE. 

 

I think Fall 2015 is a stretch given how much HCE you need. Fall 2016 is very reasonable though if you can get close to that 1000 hour mark with quality direct patient care. 

[winterallsummer]

Many programs accept volunteer only despite what you hear on this forum. Trust me there were many in my program.

 

My advice for you is sincere and is this: make absolute sure this is for you. Becoming a PA because you got burned as a professor or want to get out of the "soft money game" are not the right reasons. I think with your background you will get into several programs and add something unique to the field. But you may find yourself in another five years considering another career change. The job is not glamorous, it's humbling, full of politics and BS and medicine is not all its cracked up to be for a lot of people. So my advice is make absolute sure this is what you want because you love medicine as a PA not as a doc, nurse or admin guy, because it is a huge investment of time and money. I say this not to offens but to try to help. That being said I think you will get to pick from a few schools if you get some shadow and volunteer experience considering your GPA and phd. Best of luck.

[akbreezo]

Many programs accept volunteer only despite what you hear on this forum. Trust me there were many in my program.

 

My advice for you is sincere and is this: make absolute sure this is for you. Becoming a PA because you got burned as a professor or want to get out of the "soft money game" are not the right reasons. I think with your background you will get into several programs and add something unique to the field. But you may find yourself in another five years considering another career change. The job is not glamorous, it's humbling, full of politics and BS and medicine is not all its cracked up to be for a lot of people. So my advice is make absolute sure this is what you want because you love medicine as a PA not as a doc, nurse or admin guy, because it is a huge investment of time and money. I say this not to offens but to try to help. That being said I think you will get to pick from a few schools if you get some shadow and volunteer experience considering your GPA and phd. Best of luck.

Thank you for your candor. I appreciate your honesty and am not in the least offended. Your concerns are completely valid and worth considering. My situation is much more complicated that my simple introductory email described and I agree that wanting to get out of the soft money game is not reason enough to pursue medicine.  I certainly don't want to make the huge investment of time, money and emotion into a PA program only to find out it's not for me. I intend to shadow nurses, a family practice PA, a surgical PA, family practice doc and ER doc as well as volunteer to the extent possible. I'm hoping these experiences will enlighten me as to the right choice for me.  I'd also like as much insight from others as possible. So, I'd ask you (and whoever else wants to reply) what you love and hate about being a PA? Why would you advocate for this profession? Why would you not? 

Thanks again.

[RandomD]

I hold a research PhD (biomedical science) and I am currently finishing up my first year of PA school. I can't speak from experience as a PA-C, but I can tell you about my experience as a PA student coming from a research background. I have been told by several faculty members at a couple of programs that the PhD would make me very competitive if I wanted to go into PA education after a few years of clinical experience. With your teaching background, you could go far in academia. But, as others have pointed out, you have to dedicate yourself to medicine. It is a whole other monster than what we did for a PhD. Not that the PhD was easy (as you know)... just different. If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a PM.

[charlottew]

Coming very late to this topic, but I have a similar background (PhD in molecular biology, with an intervening non-research but science related career). I did not have to repeat my undergrad coursework but did have to take A&P I&II. I did not have paid HCE, but did volunteer at a local ED. Got into PA school (only applied to local schools as I was/am unable to relocate), am about to start a job in critical care. Yes, with the PhD a future in PA education would be very do-able, after a few years of clinical practice. I'm more interested in clinical work, though. 

 

At this point I feel the PhD/science background is most useful for analytical thinking and study skills. Not research. It's my PA education, that I'll use in working as a PA.

 

I wish you all the best! It was a 5 year project for me from deciding to career switch to actually starting the new job, but I feel it was worthwhile.

[Glorious_Ignoramus]

HCE is the first step in figuring out whether or not this is what you want to do.  Treating patients in a clinical setting is nothing like what you see on [media outlet of your choice].  Clinical medicine and administrative bureaucracy is so nuanced that the only way to know if this is for you is to jump in and get your hands dirty by treating patients.