Pursue a Health Profession

You don’t have to be a doctor to practice medicine

Sabrina Chen, MPH, MHS, PA-C10/26/2015

HOW I GOT HERE?

What do people think of when they hear “public health”?

Defining Public Health Science and art of preventing disease,

prolonging life and promoting health and efficiency through organized community effort. (Winslow, 1920)

Fulfilling society’s interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy. (Institute of Medicine, 1988)

Defining Public Health (cont.)

To promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. (CDC Mission Statement)

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. (WHO Definition of Health)

Ten Great Public HealthAchievements of the 20th Century

Immunizations Motor Vehicle Safety Workplace Safety Control of Infectious Diseases Declines in Heart Disease and Stroke Safer and Healthier Foods Healthier Mothers and Babies Family Planning Fluoridation of Drinking Water Tobacco as a Health Hazard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvmXS

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Where do public health professionals work?

Biostatistics and Informatics› Medical and Health Services Manager

Community Health› Health Care Administrator› Health Educator› Community Health Worker

Epidemiologist› Field Investigator› Research Analyst

Environmental Health› Quality Investigator› Environmental Scientist/Engineer

Global Health› Refugee Coordinator› HIV/AIDs Educator› Project Manager

http://www.publichealthonline.org/careers/

What is a Physician Assistant?

PA vs NP vs MDCategory Nurse

(RN, BSN)Nurse

PractitionerPhysician Assistant

Physician(Family

Practice)

Prerequisite Education None

Bachelor Degree in Nursing

& clinical hours

Bachelor Degree

& clinical hoursfor most

Bachelor Degree

Learning Model

Medical-Nursing

Medical-Nursing

Medical-Physician

Medical-Physician

Time in Classroom

Varies greatlyby program. 500 hrs 1000 hrs 2 years

Time in Clinic Varies greatlyby program. 500-700 hrs 2000 hrs 2 years

Total PostHigh School Education

2-4 years 5-9 years 5-7 years 8 years

Category Nurse(RN, BSN)

Nurse Practitioner

Physician Assistant

Physician(Family

Practice)

Residency None

Optional1-2 years

depends on specialty

Optional1-2 years

depends on specialty

3-8 years

Degree or Certificati

on Awarded

Associate or Bachelor Degree

Master's Degree

Planned Transition to Doctorate by

2015

Physician Assistant

Certified (PA-C)

Most also award Master's Degree.

Some now pursuing PHD

Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)

Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.)

Recertification

1000 hours practicing in

area of certification  specialty OR exam every 5

years

1000 professional

practice hours AND ~15 CME credits/year

OR exam every 5 years

100 CME hours every 2 years

Exam every 10 years

MD: 50 hrs of CME/year & ABMS

certification recommended

DO: 120 CME hours every 3 years & ABMS certification

recommended.

Compensation

Becoming a PA• http://www.pastudentessentials.com/• http://www.thepalife.com/pa-versus-md-money/• http://www.thepalife.com/surgeon-speaks-7-reasons-to-

choose-pa-over-md/ • http://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/

articles/2014/08/25/weigh-becoming-a-physician-assistant-instead-of-a-medical-doctor

• http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/physician-assistant-rankings

• http://www.mypatraining.com/physician-assistant-programs-by-state

5 Tips of Getting Into A PA School

Prepare early Get Involved in extracurricular Activities Choose your undergrad classes wisely Work in the summer

› Projects› Medical Missions

Find mentors› Start a LinkedIn account

› https://www.aapa.org/twocolumn.aspx?id=2826

Prerequisites Courses Gen bio with lab* Minimal GPA 3.0 Gen Chem with lab* Human anatomy with lab *

› (comparative anatomy) Human physiology with lab* Organic Chem or Biochemistry Microbiology* Medical Terminology* Abnormal Psychology Mathematics (statistics?)* Genetics/molecular bio/virology/immunology etc

Patient Contacts Minimal 500 hours (1000-4000 hours) Average 2000 hours Type of Jobs

Athletic Trainer Cardiovascular

Perfusionist Medical Corpsman Dental Hygienist Dietician Caregiver ED Technician ED Scribe EMT/Paramedic Exercise Physiologist

(cardiac rehab) Foreign Medical

Graduate – Physician

Home Health Care Aide

Phlebotomist Medical Assistant Medical Health

Tech/MH/MR Medical Research with

Patient Contact Midwife Nurse Nursing Assistant Nutritionist Orderly-Patient

Transport

Orthopedics Technician Physical Therapist Physical Therapist

Assistant/Aide Radiologic Technologist X-Ray Technician Ultrasound Technician By-Pass Technician Respiratory Therapist Surgical Technician/OR

Technician Veterinary Technician

Additional Requirements Nonclinical volunteer hours PA Shadowing Experience GRE Applications: CASPA vs non CASPA

› http://directory.paeaonline.org/ Essay

› http://www.thepalife.com/mistakes/ Interviews

› http://www.thepalife.com/the-top-46-physician-assistant-applicant-interview-questions/

› http://www.paschoolinterviewguide.com/

PA School Surviving Skills Take a refresh course on anatomy (Netter’s Anatomy) Find your study habits Read/Study as much as you can

› UpToDate, Medscape› Board Review books:

First Aid series, StepUp to Medicine, STEP 2 Secrets, Davis’s PA Exam Review, Swanson’s Family Medicine Review

Give yourself breaks Get plenty of sleep Pharmacology: Make flashcards and tables Physical Exams: practice on your friends Change your security status on Facebook http://www2.paeaonline.org/index.php?ht=action/GetDocumentAction/i/127990 http://www.mhprofessional.com/content/media/0071801944_chapter%204.pdf

Clinical Rotations Complete a total of more than 2,000

hours of clinical rotations in:› Family medicine› Internal medicine› Obstetrics and gynecology› Pediatrics› Surgery› Emergency medicine› Psychiatry

Paying for your education National Health Service Corp

Primary care medical, dental and mental/behavioral health clinicians can get up to $50,000 to repay their health profession student loans in exchange for a two-year commitment 

https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/ Indian Health Service National Guard Navy Clinical Health Provider Army Health Professional Scholarship Air Force Health Professional Scholarship AmeriCorp http://

doseofpa.blogspot.com/2014/03/physician-assistant-school-scholarships.html

After PA School

Become NCCPA certified› PANCE

Board review books http://www.physicianassistantexamreview.com/ http://www.nccpa.net/examscontentblueprint

Obtain a state license Maintain your certification

› CME 100hrs/2 yrs › Recertification every 10 years: PANRE

PA Fellowship Programs Acute care surgery Cardiovascular surgery Dermatology Emergency medicine Multispecialty surgery Neurosurgery Pediatric or Neonatology OB/GYN Orthopedic surgery Oncology

http://appap.org/post-graduate-pa-programs/programs/

PAs in the real world

Work schedules› 50 hours work week› Variable shifts

“Know your patient, know your medicine, know your staff, and take ownership.”

National and State Organizations› https://www.aapa.org

Questions?