About
Why do I want to do this?
My name is Tony C. I am student at one of the nations top Physican Assistant Programs. I decided to blog about my experience in a PA Program at the suggestion of one of my dear friends. Originally I was quite happy to share my experiences and the idea of having a website and enabling others to follow me through school was quite flattering.
The idea about the site has changed a bit in the past few months. With so much potential and inevitably so much to say and explain, the website will be geared to those that are interested in or are considering the career of a physician assistant. It is my goal to direct student and professionals alike in the process of applying and the creation of a solid undestanding as to what physican assistants programs are like and what the career of a physician assistant entails.
I spent 2+ years working in a hospital in an auxillary position as member of the nursing support staff. The nursing staff were those that I worked most closely with and so I starting taking classes to pursue a career in nursing. Classes were going well and the time spent at the hospital was informative and quite useful in class. I enjoyed my job but something about the role of a nurse did not sit well. My decison to purse a career as a PA came when one of our Hospitalist PAs asked if I was interested in shadowing her. I did. I have wanted to be a PA ever since. The level of practice felt right, the ability to prescribe, see patients, and work with a level of autonomy while being part of a medical team or group of physicians was exactly what I wanted. I shadowed PAs in surgery, out in the field, at primary care facilities, in emergency rooms and in underserved clinics.
With the resume that I had amassed and the classes that I needed, I felt like I was a great candidate for a PA Program. But how do you apply? Where was the information about programs, where was the database that broke it all down for me so that I could pick and choose based on location and statement of purpose? I google’d for hours and hours before going to PA school, and couldn’t find anything…
So I have taken the idea for a friendly blog and vowed to make it one hell of a learning tool for those that are interested in information that is easy to find and relevant to the application process and life while in a physician assistant program.
I will be putting together a large group of helpful links, interviews and do’s/don’ts as my two years rush by.
E-mail me at: tonyc@paexperience.com
