PAs in ENT

[Beezus614]

Hi,

 

I'm graduating in three weeks and have been given a job interview in ENT. I met the ENT physician while on a job rotation, and was not necessarily looking for jobs in this field. I love surgery, but am iffy on this speciality. Can anyone tell me the job description for PA's in ENT? Do you like working in ENT? Average starting salary for this field? Any information would help. Thanks!

[rev ronin]

I shadowed an ENT when I was a Pre-PA (Pssst, you need to update your profile to say you're a PA student... and again once you pass the PANCE), and she said it wasn't her first choice, but it was very solid work. She saw a lot of kids with chronic OM or serous OM, did a whole lot of patient counseling, and cleaned up her fair share of gross ear issues. I have no idea on the salary, but in general, specialists make more than primary care.

[sailordeac]

I would also like to hear from any ENT PAs out there, especially in regard to surgical duties/if you first assist a lot or not. I loved my ENT rotation (the head/neck dissection was pretty interesting) so I'm hoping there's a role on the surgical side for PAs :)

[Beezus614]

Thanks for the info! From what I understand the position consists of inpt consults, first assist, and outpt clinic. The doc also does facial plastics which is a plus. Although I truly love surgery I really wanted to do urgent care for a year or two. Would taking an ent job hurt my chances for employment in urgent care in the future?

 

 

P.S. changing my profile now :)

[rev ronin]

ENT is a reasonably bread-and-butter specialty. Lots of people have ear problems, and lots of them wind up in the ED, so I don't see why taking an ENT job would hurt you for urgent care. As far as I can tell, getting 2 years of PA experience in any specialty makes you a lot more employable in general, not just that specialty.

[entpac]

I am an ENT PA. Have been working in this field for over ten years. My work is primarily out patient clinic based. If you are interested in surgical assisting, you will have more OR time if you work with a large group or major medical center. Most of my surgeon's cases require only the surgeon with the OR staff. Salary is good for this speciality. Procedures are done often, diagnostic laryngoscopy. Although it "might" be difficult to leave the speciality field at this time, I was offered a job as a general surgery PA this past year. Hope this post may help a future ENT PA.

[Dipaolfr]

Hi im a pa working in ent for about two months now. I did my elective in ent during my schooling. Since you have much more experience than i, i was wondering what kind of patient cases you see? And how many patients a day do you see roughly? Currently im in the office only right now seeing mostly vertigo, cerumen impactions, and otitis patients. I like using the flexible nasopharngeal larygoscopy scope but depending on the patient i often still have to get the docs assistance to view the vocal cords if its a more difficult patient. we take photos of the vocal cords but we are getting a video stroboscopy soon which i liked alot at my rotation bc the clarity is better. Any ent books that you recommend?

[Dipaolfr]

I was in the same boat as you two months ago when i graduated and decided to take a job in ENT after doing an elective in it. I find ent to be very interesting since it involves all patient ages and ranges from simple otitis externa to head andneck cancers and thyroid surgeries(the more serious cases being what my supervising physician sees). I know one other pA in ent and she sees patients in the office while some of the surgeons are away/busy in the operating room. Im only office based for now but we hope to have me doing ent hospital consults soon. Salary isnt 6 figures but what he offered me was fair considering i was a new grad. Overall i love ent, but since its a specialty youll have lots more reading and learning to do post-graduation.