LECOM Bridge Program

[Ridiculopathy]

1 hour ago, primadonna22274 said:

I don't know for sure but I do know the program has become far more competitive as it's still the only one of its kind. I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were more than 5-6 qualified apps for every seat.

I do know that Dr Kauffman who founded the program in Erie has recently moved to the Bradenton campus. I do not know if this portends an extension program at LECOM-B but knowing Dr K, it's hard for me to imagine he wouldn't be pushing for it. I just don't have any inside info (yet...I haven't asked).

I was in the first graduating class of 2014 and just finished residency. Board-certified family doctor, baby!! I have never regretted taking the plunge and I am happier every day that I did it. I was older than you when I went back, 37, but not the oldest in the class. I would have been the age I am anyway whether I did it or not. I talked myself out of it for a decade...if that little voice won't go away, you might as well just do it.

Good luck!

Lisa


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

woohoo u go dr lisa....please encourage him to do a bridge in bradenton!!!!!?

[TTURedRaider]

19 hours ago, Ollivander said:

What's the reasoning behind doing this for those of you that have considered or are planning to do it? Is it the money? As it seems going DO really limits the residencies you'll be competitive for. Also it's much more difficult to match into the more competitive specialties as a DO. 

Money is far down on my list for wanting to go to medical school.  My wife and I are both PAs and combined bring in roughly $320k combined doing urgent care.  So we have more money than we need.  For me, it is about fulfilling my potential.  I crave more knowledge, responsibility and growth as a provider.  I'm also annoyed relatively frequently by the lack of respect given to PAs by the corporate world and tired of being dependent on physicians.  My wife and I are very happy and have what we need but I still have that regret in the back of my mind and we all only have one life here on earth. 

[TTURedRaider]

15 hours ago, PharmD said:

I thought LECOM bridge program required MCAT. I would like to know if there are DO bridge programs without MCAT and which school(s). Thank you.

They will waive the MCAT requirement if you have an AIS score greater than 110.  They have some kind of formula that combines your GPA with either an SAT or ACT and this gives you an AIS score. 

 

Thanks for the encouragement primadonna....and you are right about the increased competition.  Elly Kordick, the APAP coordinator, emailed me saying roughly 60 people now compete annually for the 12 seats.  Praying I am one this cycle!

[EMEDPA]

21 hours ago, Ollivander said:

What's the reasoning behind doing this for those of you that have considered or are planning to do it? Is it the money? As it seems going DO really limits the residencies you'll be competitive for. Also it's much more difficult to match into the more competitive specialties as a DO. 

DO and MD match are merging soon so this is becoming a non-issue.

[EMEDPA]

14 hours ago, primadonna22274 said:

I don't know for sure but I do know the program has become far more competitive as it's still the only one of its kind. I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were more than 5-6 qualified apps for every seat.

I do know that Dr Kauffman who founded the program in Erie has recently moved to the Bradenton campus. I do not know if this portends an extension program at LECOM-B but knowing Dr K, it's hard for me to imagine he wouldn't be pushing for it. I just don't have any inside info (yet...I haven't asked).

I was in the first graduating class of 2014 and just finished residency. Board-certified family doctor, baby!! I have never regretted taking the plunge and I am happier every day that I did it. I was older than you when I went back, 37, but not the oldest in the class. I would have been the age I am anyway whether I did it or not. I talked myself out of it for a decade...if that little voice won't go away, you might as well just do it.

Good luck!

Lisa


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

congrats. so proud of you. still wish I joined you, but doing ok with the DHSc, teaching, and solo coverage of rural EDs.

[Joelseff]

I don't know for sure but I do know the program has become far more competitive as it's still the only one of its kind. I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were more than 5-6 qualified apps for every seat.

I do know that Dr Kauffman who founded the program in Erie has recently moved to the Bradenton campus. I do not know if this portends an extension program at LECOM-B but knowing Dr K, it's hard for me to imagine he wouldn't be pushing for it. I just don't have any inside info (yet...I haven't asked).

I was in the first graduating class of 2014 and just finished residency. Board-certified family doctor, baby!! I have never regretted taking the plunge and I am happier every day that I did it. I was older than you when I went back, 37, but not the oldest in the class. I would have been the age I am anyway whether I did it or not. I talked myself out of it for a decade...if that little voice won't go away, you might as well just do it.

Good luck!

Lisa


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Congrats Lisa!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[PharmD]

7 hours ago, TTURedRaider said:

They will waive the MCAT requirement if you have an AIS score greater than 110.  They have some kind of formula that combines your GPA with either an SAT or ACT and this gives you an AIS score. 

 

Thanks for the encouragement primadonna....and you are right about the increased competition.  Elly Kordick, the APAP coordinator, emailed me saying roughly 60 people now compete annually for the 12 seats.  Praying I am one this cycle!

 For a non-traditional, post baccalaureate student. Would they allow you to take SAT or ACT for the DO bridge program?

[EMEDPA]

my understanding from interactions with Dr K a few years ago was that a good gpa + a good pance or panre score can also be used to waive the mcat requirement. I took the SAT in 1986, so probably not representative of my current academic achievement.

[camoman1234]

13 hours ago, TTURedRaider said:

Money is far down on my list for wanting to go to medical school.  My wife and I are both PAs and combined bring in roughly $320k combined doing urgent care.  So we have more money than we need.  For me, it is about fulfilling my potential.  I crave more knowledge, responsibility and growth as a provider.  I'm also annoyed relatively frequently by the lack of respect given to PAs by the corporate world and tired of being dependent on physicians.  My wife and I are very happy and have what we need but I still have that regret in the back of my mind and we all only have one life here on earth. 

Very honorable that you want to go back, but living life to me is not in more school/studying that will not change my life in anyway. I function 100 percent as my SP does in family medicine. Less money, but only 32 hours per week at best...Good luck to you in your future studies. 

[EMEDPA]

I function the same as the docs at my rural ED, but still get push back from specialists when I have to transfer pts that I would not get if I started my reports, hi this is Dr Emedpa instead of hi, this is emedpa, one of the PAs working the ED today...guys one year out of an md fp residency get instant respect and most of them have no business working in an ED....

[Hckyplyr]

On 8/11/2017 at 3:32 PM, Ollivander said:

What's the reasoning behind doing this for those of you that have considered or are planning to do it? Is it the money? As it seems going DO really limits the residencies you'll be competitive for. Also it's much more difficult to match into the more competitive specialties as a DO. 

https://lecom.edu/content/uploads/2017/03/LECOM-2017-Residency-Match.pdf

Scroll to the bottom page. Since some are talking about LECOM on this thread, I thought I'd attach this years match list. I agree with you that generally matching competitive specialties as a DO will be more difficult, do not be mistaken it still happens, and VERY often. Competitive specialities are hard to match for MDs are well, hence the name "competitive" specialty. As you can see from the attached pdf, there are plenty of students who matched "competitively," like ortho, general surg, anesthesia, urology, neuro surgery, plastics, etc etc. In general, most DO/MD classes will match mostly family medicine, peds, IM, etc. But I do agree the percentage of the primary care areas matched by DO will be higher than MD. 

On 8/12/2017 at 10:43 AM, TTURedRaider said:

Money is far down on my list for wanting to go to medical school.  My wife and I are both PAs and combined bring in roughly $320k combined doing urgent care.  So we have more money than we need.  For me, it is about fulfilling my potential.  I crave more knowledge, responsibility and growth as a provider.  I'm also annoyed relatively frequently by the lack of respect given to PAs by the corporate world and tired of being dependent on physicians.  My wife and I are very happy and have what we need but I still have that regret in the back of my mind and we all only have one life here on earth. 

I can relate with everything you say. I returned to med school after PA, I was 32 as a MSI. No matter how hard things have gotten, I've never regretted my decision once, and I've been a happier person because of my decision. MS3 now, and loving it. I can help/answer any questions you may have, wish you the best. 

[Ollivander]

11 hours ago, Hckyplyr said:

https://lecom.edu/content/uploads/2017/03/LECOM-2017-Residency-Match.pdf

Scroll to the bottom page. Since some are talking about LECOM on this thread, I thought I'd attach this years match list. I agree with you that generally matching competitive specialties as a DO will be more difficult, do not be mistaken it still happens, and VERY often. Competitive specialities are hard to match for MDs are well, hence the name "competitive" specialty. As you can see from the attached pdf, there are plenty of students who matched "competitively," like ortho, general surg, anesthesia, urology, neuro surgery, plastics, etc etc. In general, most DO/MD classes will match mostly family medicine, peds, IM, etc. But I do agree the percentage of the primary care areas matched by DO will be higher than MD. 

It's a little scary to see the numbers for derm, ophthalmology, and orthopedics. Although the first two are expected. I was a little surprised to see as many anesthesiology and radiology matches are there were, so that's encouraging.

[roger777]

PAs with 5 years experience and a CAQ should be allowed to match. People talk about the "physcian shortage" and that is the solution. Double the number of residencies and allow experienced "midlevels" who want to advance enter the mix. 

[primadonna22274]

PAs with 5 years experience and a CAQ should be allowed to match. People talk about the "physcian shortage" and that is the solution. Double the number of residencies and allow experienced "midlevels" who want to advance enter the mix. 

Spoken like somebody who has no understanding of the steps and board certification requirements.
[emoji849]

Nope.

Sorry, try again. I'm all for accelerated training pathways for PAs who wish to become physicians since I am both. Having been through both training and now 3-year residency to become BC, I can tell you the smartest and most self-educating PA has little chance to pass step 1 without that in-depth education we get in M1-2. They're called steps because you can't move on to one without passing the level below. The very last step is board certification.

It's a long and expensive process and emotionally and physically taxing. Look at ACGME requirements and see if there is any pathway for anyone to skip the steps and "match" (there isn't).

Try again.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[camoman1234]

13 hours ago, roger777 said:

PAs with 5 years experience and a CAQ should be allowed to match. People talk about the "physcian shortage" and that is the solution. Double the number of residencies and allow experienced "midlevels" who want to advance enter the mix. 

If you want to become a physician then do not go to PA school. Simple as that. They just need to expand laws to help us not have so many stupid laws on the books...really diabetic shoes...etc. I still want to be in a dependent relationship with our physicians, but I do not think it is fair for the physician to be responsible for OUR actions. Also, you cannot just double the number of residencies as there are many steps to take such as gaining facilities, preceptors, etc...

[Ridiculopathy]

On August 12, 2017 at 7:16 PM, EMEDPA said:

my understanding from interactions with Dr K a few years ago was that a good gpa + a good pance or panre score can also be used to waive the mcat requirement. I took the SAT in 1986, so probably not representative of my current academic achievement.

Woohoo!

[Ridiculopathy]

Dr Lisa and EMed....i always like your posts!!!!   Dr Lisa (sorry dont know ure last name), will u practice OMM?   If i do D.O., i want to be supported by my colleagues in order to continue OMM.   Are there OMM CME courses?  How was Eerie?  Does it really get cold?  Well my southern puppies be able to handle it (my boys rarely see temps below 80; we're in Southeastern Florida)?

[Hckyplyr]

7 hours ago, primadonna22274 said:

 

Spoken like somebody who has no understanding of the steps and board certification requirements.


Nope.

Sorry, try again. I'm all for accelerated training pathways for PAs who wish to become physicians since I am both. Having been through both training and now 3-year residency to become BC, I can tell you the smartest and most self-educating PA has little chance to pass step 1 without that in-depth education we get in M1-2. They're called steps because you can't move on to one without passing the level below. The very last step is board certification.

It's a long and expensive process and emotionally and physically taxing. Look at ACGME requirements and see if there is any pathway for anyone to skip the steps and "match" (there isn't).

Try again.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Where's all the attacks that I received, saying how the Steps will not make you a better provider, you forget everything after them and essentially they are only testing superfluous knowledge not needed for clinical medicine?????

Wondering what your thoughts are on some of the comments I received when my controversial posts were so heavily criticized. In summary from a few standout posts:

-Med school and residency not necessary for primary care. (Physician is overtrained)

-PA in FP for 3-5 years should be granted independent practice rights, or take a PANCE related Step to grant independence

-Steps will not make you a better provider

-PAs with 3-5yrs of experience have same skill set as attendings fresh out of residency

 

The above paraphrased posts were the view of many PAs, not all. Since you've been through both PA and physician training, just wondering your thoughts on the above. Although, if you don't want to answer them considering its a sore subject on this board, I'd sure understand. 

[primadonna22274]

Hockey player:
Proud of you for getting through so far. Remind me, are you M2 or M3? Don't remember...life has moved so fast since I started this journey in 2008-2009.
I haven't had much time the past three years of residency to peruse the PA forums. When I do look, I am chagrined to see that there seems to be a rather vocal representation of the "primary care doesn't need a doctor"
mentality.

Let me tell you about my typical day as a primary care physician.

Take just a half day of clinic. I have 10-12 patients, average age 68, with no less than three and generally 5 or more overlapping and intersecting chronic conditions. Let's just say representatively (off the cuff here):

68 yo F widowed, lives alone
DM2, Hypothyroid on TRT (the only medicine she takes faithfully), BMI 39, dyslipidemia, depression with somatization, caregiver stress, housing and food insecurity, chaotic family members, widowed, isolated, lacks a reliable car, lives in a rural area without public transportation, still periodically supporting her almost 50 yo kids who are sicker than she is due to a combination of lifestyle disease and really crappy luck. Will only see me because she doesn't trust just anybody. Very sweet but can't get through a visit in less than 25 minutes for simple refills.

84 yo F, retired diploma RN, was as high up in the local order of Masons as a woman could get. Had to give up her post after progressive struggles with memory and cognition. Beat breast cancer 5 yr ago and now facing Alzheimer's dementia that she is aware enough to know she has lost anything higher than first grade math or sixth grade reading. Terrified to drive and has given up her license under family pressure after getting lost a few too many times. Knows what she has lost and grieves it. Still lives alone but wonders when she will have to move into a supervised setting.

47 yo M with infantile spastic CP who works as a mental health counselor. Biggest problem is spasticity of lower limbs and progressive difficulty walking. Super nice guy who struggles with mental alertness vs symptom relief.

26 yo F mother with three worthless baby daddies whose picker is broken. Lovely woman. Works damn hard, just enough to not qualify for Medicaid and not enough to afford private health insurance for 3 kids under 8. No family support. Moderate persistent asthma that was well controlled during pregnancy but as no longer pregnant no longer qualifies for state Medicaid and can't afford steroid inhalers. 3 ED visits this month. And oh yeah the 3 yo has had a few visits too for breathing problems. No social support and worse in my residency clinic with no social worker so two babies 2 and 3 yo are severely behind in preventive maintenance and immunizations.

62 yo F with autoimmune hepatitis of uncertain explanation. Doing much better on prednisone and will be starting biologics soon. Thank goodness for the GI specialist who can review all the labs we've done short of liver biopsy and confirm suspected dx of AIH and order Imuran for the patient but doesn't have/take time to explain diagnosis and prognosis of AIH. Patient wants to know if this will kill her.

31 yo M hospital f\u decompensated SHF EF 15%, idiopathic. Also uninsured. Needs incredibly expensive medicine and close followup to have a chance at recovery. Can't afford any of the above. Family is suddenly without income as he is a long-distance trucker. Patient is scared and wife is more scared.

This is my first hour of the day.

Do any of these need a doctor? Perhaps not. But I can breeze through them far more easily after several years of progressive responsibility as a physician resident and now an attending who has seen every permutation of these four scenarios in residency training over the past three years. It doesn't take me much time to exercise these hurdles with facility because I've been immersed in the system for the past few years. I know how their disease pathology interacts with certain medications and can anticipate drug-disease interactions without batting an eye. I don't tease myself that any experienced PA couldn't do this either-I know they could, and I did.

It may be an unpopular view on this board but I don't support independent practice rights for PAs right out of the gate. I do support a tiered system that allows for experienced PAs to advance their role and limit dependence on a supervising physician over time. I don't know what this looks like in real time. I can tell you that I functioned fairly autonomously in outpatient primary care from postgraduate year 3 and beyond as a PA, but when I went to the ED in year 6 I again faced a very steep learning curve and it took about three years before I didn't feel risky starting some critical patients before staffing with an attending physician. I still would not staff an ED solo as an FM physician (and don't believe I haven't been asked, for far too little money and far too much responsibility) even as a BC FM physician because I hate trauma and I feel inadequate there. I can run a hospitalist service and stabilize and transfer critical care quite well. Perhaps you can as well.
But that isn't the question. The question is does the patient need a physician to treat their multisystem disease with no less than 9 drugs (the magic number at which drug-drug interactions are notable) or if this patient would be adequately served by having a PA or NP as their PCP?
I don't think we know the answer to that question. I do believe (biased though it may be) that patients want to have the most highly prepared and qualified HCP attend them and there is no substitute for three plus years of 80+ hr weeks and the immersive training that is physician education in the US.

On that note, I'm going to bed. Night all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[camoman1234]

10 hours ago, primadonna22274 said:

Hockey player:
Proud of you for getting through so far. Remind me, are you M2 or M3? Don't remember...life has moved so fast since I started this journey in 2008-2009.
I haven't had much time the past three years of residency to peruse the PA forums. When I do look, I am chagrined to see that there seems to be a rather vocal representation of the "primary care doesn't need a doctor"
mentality.

Let me tell you about my typical day as a primary care physician.

Take just a half day of clinic. I have 10-12 patients, average age 68, with no less than three and generally 5 or more overlapping and intersecting chronic conditions. Let's just say representatively (off the cuff here):

68 yo F widowed, lives alone
DM2, Hypothyroid on TRT (the only medicine she takes faithfully), BMI 39, dyslipidemia, depression with somatization, caregiver stress, housing and food insecurity, chaotic family members, widowed, isolated, lacks a reliable car, lives in a rural area without public transportation, still periodically supporting her almost 50 yo kids who are sicker than she is due to a combination of lifestyle disease and really crappy luck. Will only see me because she doesn't trust just anybody. Very sweet but can't get through a visit in less than 25 minutes for simple refills.

84 yo F, retired diploma RN, was as high up in the local order of Masons as a woman could get. Had to give up her post after progressive struggles with memory and cognition. Beat breast cancer 5 yr ago and now facing Alzheimer's dementia that she is aware enough to know she has lost anything higher than first grade math or sixth grade reading. Terrified to drive and has given up her license under family pressure after getting lost a few too many times. Knows what she has lost and grieves it. Still lives alone but wonders when she will have to move into a supervised setting.

47 yo M with infantile spastic CP who works as a mental health counselor. Biggest problem is spasticity of lower limbs and progressive difficulty walking. Super nice guy who struggles with mental alertness vs symptom relief.

26 yo F mother with three worthless baby daddies whose picker is broken. Lovely woman. Works damn hard, just enough to not qualify for Medicaid and not enough to afford private health insurance for 3 kids under 8. No family support. Moderate persistent asthma that was well controlled during pregnancy but as no longer pregnant no longer qualifies for state Medicaid and can't afford steroid inhalers. 3 ED visits this month. And oh yeah the 3 yo has had a few visits too for breathing problems. No social support and worse in my residency clinic with no social worker so two babies 2 and 3 yo are severely behind in preventive maintenance and immunizations.

62 yo F with autoimmune hepatitis of uncertain explanation. Doing much better on prednisone and will be starting biologics soon. Thank goodness for the GI specialist who can review all the labs we've done short of liver biopsy and confirm suspected dx of AIH and order Imuran for the patient but doesn't have/take time to explain diagnosis and prognosis of AIH. Patient wants to know if this will kill her.

31 yo M hospital f\u decompensated SHF EF 15%, idiopathic. Also uninsured. Needs incredibly expensive medicine and close followup to have a chance at recovery. Can't afford any of the above. Family is suddenly without income as he is a long-distance trucker. Patient is scared and wife is more scared.

This is my first hour of the day.

Do any of these need a doctor? Perhaps not. But I can breeze through them far more easily after several years of progressive responsibility as a physician resident and now an attending who has seen every permutation of these four scenarios in residency training over the past three years. It doesn't take me much time to exercise these hurdles with facility because I've been immersed in the system for the past few years. I know how their disease pathology interacts with certain medications and can anticipate drug-disease interactions without batting an eye. I don't tease myself that any experienced PA couldn't do this either-I know they could, and I did.

It may be an unpopular view on this board but I don't support independent practice rights for PAs right out of the gate. I do support a tiered system that allows for experienced PAs to advance their role and limit dependence on a supervising physician over time. I don't know what this looks like in real time. I can tell you that I functioned fairly autonomously in outpatient primary care from postgraduate year 3 and beyond as a PA, but when I went to the ED in year 6 I again faced a very steep learning curve and it took about three years before I didn't feel risky starting some critical patients before staffing with an attending physician. I still would not staff an ED solo as an FM physician (and don't believe I haven't been asked, for far too little money and far too much responsibility) even as a BC FM physician because I hate trauma and I feel inadequate there. I can run a hospitalist service and stabilize and transfer critical care quite well. Perhaps you can as well.
But that isn't the question. The question is does the patient need a physician to treat their multisystem disease with no less than 9 drugs (the magic number at which drug-drug interactions are notable) or if this patient would be adequately served by having a PA or NP as their PCP?
I don't think we know the answer to that question. I do believe (biased though it may be) that patients want to have the most highly prepared and qualified HCP attend them and there is no substitute for three plus years of 80+ hr weeks and the immersive training that is physician education in the US.

On that note, I'm going to bed. Night all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The 68 yo female widowed, 26 yo female with 3 baby daddies, and 31 yo male with SHF happened this month to me as well. This kind of lifestyle is common in rural areas. I agree with having the most highly prepared and qualified HCP, which is what I am here for. Most providers will not come out to where I work, plus as a rural health clinic there has to be a PA/NP seeing patients at least 60% of the time the clinic is open so you can have a physician as well, but per law you have to have a PA/NP seeing patients for a set amount of time. As I do agree with your comments, but where is that line of letting a PA be independent and/or the patients not even having access to care if I was not here. The patients would travel at least 20 mins to the nearest town (which has 2 providers) and after than travel 45 mins to get to the next town/hospital. Plus the rural health clinics have different regulations about staffing so you can't get away from having a PA/NP on staff. There is no good answer to this, but I know my opinion is I am NOT a physician and do not want to be (or I would have applied), I want to practice in rural areas and give the best care I can with physician help as I grow in my walk. I am happy we have physicians that were PAs to help advocate for us, but I still think we need that physician to bounce stuff off of when we are stuck (same as the physician as well), team approach is nice. 

[primadonna22274]

I support collaborative practice over the supervision model. I would like to see this evolution in the next decade. I truly believe it's possible.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Acebecker]

As I re-read some of this I am struck with this idea that primadonna mentioned - the "best qualified HCP."

I know I would not want an unqualified HCP to take care of me.  But who is that, really?  How do we define who is unqualified?  If PAs are not the "best qualified" then all of us ought to quit our jobs right now.  If I'm not effectively managing my patient panel, then I have no business doing it at all.  I think this is where all of our hackles go up and we all get pretty defensive about our career choice and the path we took to get here.  Because if you truly believe that I am not competent to manage the same patients you described above, then I don't belong in medicine as a PCP where I am already managing a thousand+ patient panel autonomously.  If you as an MS2/3 whatever or as a PA/MD attending don't think our training is good enough, that brings into sharp focus this overarching question that any practicing PA worth his or her salt would deny.  We have an ethical obligation to deny it because if we don't, then we should not be here.  We took that oath, too.

So, do you think that PAs should quit?  Me either.  If you don't, then we need the independence/autonomy to manage our patients without specialists, insurance companies, DME companies, hospital clinics, etc. pushing against us and inhibiting us at every turn.

If you do think that we are not qualified, then you will get push back, vociferously I might add, because we do believe it and we are doing it. 

I will make note: in this I'm not stating that our training and experience is equivalent to that of MDs/DOs and therefore we should be given the title of MD/DO or should be allowed to match into residencies.  I'm giving an argument in support of independent or recognized autonomy in primary care for PAs who have a certain level of experience.  I would *not* support independent/autonomous PA practice for new graduates or anyone with less than 3 years of practice (I agree with primadonna that immersion in this profession with tiered and progressive amounts of responsibility over a long period of time is what makes us the "best qualified" HCP).

[Hckyplyr]

22 hours ago, primadonna22274 said:

Hockey player:
Proud of you for getting through so far. Remind me, are you M2 or M3? Don't remember...life has moved so fast since I started this journey in 2008-2009.
I haven't had much time the past three years of residency to peruse the PA forums. When I do look, I am chagrined to see that there seems to be a rather vocal representation of the "primary care doesn't need a doctor"
mentality.

 

I'm a MS3. Great post. Thanks for taking the time to go through all of that. 

[medguy]

Is it possible for a PA doing the bridge program to work part time during rotations? Either urgent care or EM.

 

[primadonna22274]

Is it possible for a PA doing the bridge program to work part time during rotations? Either urgent care or EM.
 

Yes, but difficult. I had a hard time finding work the first year at all--Hamot ED never got back to me and St Vincent's ED wanted full time only. Urgent care was scant at the time (I think there was only a MedXpress and I didn't like their concept at all). PA pay was far lower than I was accustomed to as the area is saturated with 22yo who will work for 30/hr. I did teach a physical diagnosis class for the PA program and that provided a small amount of income and I enjoys it. Really I had no business working M1 anyway as that was the most challenging time academically.

I ended up making my first FM rotation into a Saturday job and it was a godsend as I was running out of money by then. Honestly having some regular income allowed me to stay in school at a time when financial hardship was the most difficult. (I was sending half my loan check every semester back home to support my husband and dogs...don't do that...it only leads to resentment and erosion of respect). I worked all through M2 quite regularly and sporadically during M3 when I could, although very difficult on rotations and there is no vacation in the accelerated program.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk