Trying to make this snappy, because let's be real here - PA students have to manage their spare time wisely!
yours truly
College: UC San Diego c/o 2010
Major: B.S. Biochemistry/Cell Biology
Minor: Psychology, Theatre
Why I decided to become a PA: My story is simple. I was always fascinated by medicine ever since I was little, but never felt that a career as a Physician was right for me. My sophomore year of college, a friend was telling me his girlfriend in PA school, something clicked, and I basically had the "PA school and I, we were meant to be soul mates..." feeling. The more I read about the career, the more I thought, "Hey this really suits me." After graduating, getting some experience as an EMT, then spending 6 months in Guatemala on an amazing pre-health cultural immersion/volunteer program sponsored by USC (check it out here: www.somoshermanos.org), here I am at PCOM!
Why I chose PCOM: Because it's awesome. Also because I'm a California girl at heart that loves to globe hop. More on this later. But really, PCOM makes something as grueling and overwhelming as PA school manageable. I really fell for this school during interviews. From the anatomy lab, to the faculty, to the gym (where the Philadelphia 76ers practice and I try to holler when I can haha), to being surrounded by other health profession grad students, to their 7-year maximum accreditation renewal, to Miss Debbie who will yell to you "HAPPY FRIDAYS' EVE!!! And you look absolutely beautiful today!" from across the lobby on Thursday at 8am, this is a great place to begin your PA journey. Really though, I should eventually devote an entire post on this, so I'll save details for later.
Since we're already about 4 months into PA school, there have been a ton of big events that have already occurred. I'll try to address them as much as I can in later posts, but for now, this is where we're at: two-thirds of the way into fall term. Our biggest course right now is History Taking and Physical Examination, aka H&P, aka the first time you palpate a liver/use a tuning fork/see an eardrum/feel awkward asking people about the frequency of their BMs and sexual history....Basically we learn the full techniques of H&P before we dive into Clinical Medicine next quarter. Anyway, since I'm a visual learner, I'm all about photos. Here are some of my top instagrams of H&P thus far:
In lab. Our first day learning how to use the otoscope and perhaps the only time we will ever have the chance to see our own tympanic membranes as they are projected onto the big screen. I'm in the lower right box. On the lower left, that's Brian testing Tyler's gag reflex (for Cranial Nerve IX/X!) and faculty member Paul in the back, chuckling at all of us for finding this amusing.
Getting some musculoskeletal practice in and practicing our tattoo artists skills at the same time. Drawing the palpable landmarks helps visualize exactly what is going on in the joint.
Spending time in the sim lab, where my years of playing Street Fighter and mortal combat FINALLY come in handy. We were able to practice laparoscopic surgery techniques, and do cool things like a cholecystectomy and tubal ligation. Bet you can't beat my high score!
Much more awesome, insider-scoop to come. I promise you this is going to be unlike ANY other PA student blog you've ever read. Stay tuned!!!
Hi Snow!
ReplyDeleteI stumbled on your blog while on the PCOM website. I wanted to ask you- what are your tips with asking PAs to shadow them? Im trying to get a hold of some PAs but I don't know how to go about with it.
Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!
-Doan
Doan! Sorry I didn't notice this until now! Hope it's not too late. If you are asking me how to ask a PA if you can shadow them...well, you just ask. Be polite, straight-forward, concise, explain you are a student and you are interested in seeing what they do on a day-to-day basis, in their field. I think many PAs are more than willing to help someone else along in their path to be a PA. If you are asking me how to FIND PAs to shadow, I think that can be alot tougher.
Delete1. Start by asking anyone you know if they know anyone who knows anyone who knows anyone who knows a PA. I think that's the easiest way to get your foot in the door. If you work in healthcare, see if any PAs in your hospital/practice are willing to take you in.
2. If that doesn't get you any leads, honestly just start calling where ever you can. I found that a lot of practices owned by medical foundations, hospitals, and group practices have too much administrative hierarchy and too many protocols so they don't take in shadowers. I ended up googling "Physician Assistant *my zip code*" and a search result to a local urgent care clinic owned and founded by a single physician popped up. I called the clinic and I only had to get that physician's approval to shadow their PA.
3. Try to find at least one PA to shadow, and if you can't find more than one, shadowing physicians and nurse practitioners are fine. Plus, that will give you a better idea of how each career differs.
4. Wait until Aug 2014 when I graduate and I'll let you shadow me ;)
Good luck!
Hi Snow. Was that you on Sunday Night Football? You're a true Renaissance Woman!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
junior
(415) 652-6337
(yes, the Bay Area!)