mrsmojorisin Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 I really want to become a derm pa, but what if I cant get into this specialty? Every dermatologist I have seen has used nurses and not pa's also so I wonder if it is harder to get a job even if you "get in". I honestly just want to be a derm PA, and if i cant then I dont want to be a PA at all. If I cant then I would want to just become a dermotologist but I hear there is no guarantee of getting into derm as an MD either? I would be devastated going through PA or Med school dreaming of becoming a derm PA and then being forced to go into another specialty. Any advice is much appreciated:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marktheshark89 Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 I really want to become a derm pa, but what if I cant get into this specialty? Every dermatologist I have seen has used nurses and not pa's also so I wonder if it is harder to get a job even if you "get in". I honestly just want to be a derm PA, and if i cant then I dont want to be a PA at all. If I cant then I would want to just become a dermotologist but I hear there is no guarantee of getting into derm as an MD either? I would be devastated going through PA or Med school dreaming of becoming a derm PA and then being forced to go into another specialty. Any advice is much appreciated:) Well, Derm is one of the most difficult specialties to get into whether you are a PA or MD. If you don't think you would be happy in any other area of medicine, then I think you really need to reconsider your career path since you could be setting yourself up for failure given how difficult it is to get into derm. Just my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just_me Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 Well what makes you so certain that after school and rotations that this is all you want to do? After talking to a few derm PAs, they say its hard to get in because no one likes to go anywhere. Anywho, with anything in life its not good to pigeonhole yourself, you should always have an alternate option just incase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andersenpa Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 First you need to ask yourself 1. why you want to be a PA 2. why you want to do derm exclusively Because it sounds like you are setting yourself up for a good chance of failure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acebecker Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 Agree with the above. To be honest, I've never heard of anyone who would consider such a time investment into medical training with such a narrow focus right off the bat. You realize you won't be learning solely derm in PA or med school, right? I would not have that approach to PA school or med school - you're not a very good candidate for a PA program if that's your sole focus. Just my opinion. YMMV. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 A guest speaker in one of my classes said: "Derm PA's drive a lamborghini. All others drive a Honda civic." I hope money is not the reason you want to be a derm PA? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCMA79 Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 OP, Becoming a PA would not be a good fit for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vet-up Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 Save a spot for someone who really wants to b a PA. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Duper Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 I say go for it. I'm in the same boat. I only want to work with pediatric critical care dermatology, only ages 7-9, and only for emergencies that involves the skin of the legs and medial deltoid region. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 I say go for it. I'm in the same boat. I only want to work with pediatric critical care dermatology, only ages 7-9, and only for emergencies that involves the skin of the legs and medial deltoid region. I wish there was a "like" button like on facebook :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acebecker Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 I say go for it. I'm in the same boat. I only want to work with pediatric critical care dermatology, only ages 7-9, and only for emergencies that involves the skin of the legs and medial deltoid region. Admittedly this took me a moment - I though, "For sure, this person is friggin' crazy." Then I realized you're joking. I'm a little slow on the uptake sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contrarian Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 I want to work in Emergency Orthopedics and only want to work on the Hyoid Bone... have NO interest in the other 205. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 I want to work in Emergency Orthopedics and only want to work on the Hyoid Bone... have NO interest in the other 205. Well it is unique with it's free floating status..... i think doing left footed podiatry might be a kick in the pants...I never have been all right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Duper Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Well it is unique with it's free floating status..... i think doing left footed podiatry might be a kick in the pants...I never have been all right. Maybe we should team up. Right foot podiatry is a hobby of mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will352ns Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 I want to be an ENT Trauma specialist....left nare only. Too late? Derm is good, but as a PA you are trained to be a generalist. If that is all you really want to do, then sure.....Dermatologist thought the same, they had to go through med school just like you will have to go through PA school. Difference is they got to do a residency, you will most likely not. That said, I think there is one Derm post Masters training site for PA's. Just don't be too alarmed when you find yourself with a generalist certification and not able to find many opportunities for the very specific work you want to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futurePAS Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Pretty sure this is a troll, so stop feeding it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted January 2, 2013 Moderator Share Posted January 2, 2013 I want to work in Emergency Orthopedics and only want to work on the Hyoid Bone... have NO interest in the other 205. I always knew you were a hyoidist...now at least you finally admit it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surgblumm Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Happy are they that dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to make them become true. do you want to wait until you are 55 or might you become trained in family practice, EM , Opthmology and other subspecialties that might make you a match for a Dermatologist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myironlung Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 it's difficult finding a derm PA position right out of school and also just in general. Personally I wouldn't want to go through with PA school with your current mindset, however I don't think there's anything wrong with just wanting to do one specialty or bust. Others here have seemed to come down on this attitude but it's your life and your money. You can desire a certain profession for whatever reason as long as you get the job done at the end of the day. If wanting to be a PA is purely financial for you, then that's also fine, because who is anyone else to pass judgement. Good luck with you decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OpSite Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 I'd say all the same things as other posters, but, in addition, if you really are serious and have your heart set in being in derm, go WORK in a derm clinic in some capacity and get to know the doc really well. Derm is about who you know more than what you know. Even if that dermatologist isn't interested in being your sp, he/she, likely, has friends. Surround yourself with the world in which you want to live. We need PAs in every walk of medicine. Who is anyone to say that being a Derm PA is any less of a PA than an ED PA or an OB PA or a Psych PA?? Just because a person chooses a certain path, doesn't discount their value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andersenpa Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 I really want to become a derm pa, but what if I cant get into this specialty? Every dermatologist I have seen has used nurses and not pa's also so I wonder if it is harder to get a job even if you "get in". I honestly just want to be a derm PA, and if i cant then I dont want to be a PA at all. If I cant then I would want to just become a dermotologist but I hear there is no guarantee of getting into derm as an MD either? I would be devastated going through PA or Med school dreaming of becoming a derm PA and then being forced to go into another specialty. Any advice is much appreciated:) Why is it that you were talking about "psych school" not even a month ago, if you are so committed to "derm or nothing"? http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/forums/showthread.php/37689-Anyone-wish-they-d-become-a-psychologist?p=369114&viewfull=1#post369114 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MokahFitChick Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 I am not a PA now or even a PA-S but I would think to narrow it down to one specialty or nothing makes me feel you wouldn't want to be a PA at all. For me being a derm PA would be ideal because I have been a licensed esthetician for over 6 years, but I will happily take whatever specialty that I am needed in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWestenhofer Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 A guest speaker in one of my classes said:"Derm PA's drive a lamborghini. All others drive a Honda civic." I'm a derm PA and I certainly do not drive an expensive car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldpastudent Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 I had seen a derm pa website quite a while back. I just googled "dermatology physician assistant association" and found it, "dermpa.org." You should check it out and start networking. Also, if you know of a derm MD, talk with him/her. They may need an awakening to PA's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfahgurl Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 A guest speaker in one of my classes said:"Derm PA's drive a lamborghini. All others drive a Honda civic." I'm a derm PA and I certainly do not drive an expensive car. I'm also a Derm PA and honestly drive a Honda Civic :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.