| Cool Careers - Physician's Assistant By: Jennifer Biscuti If you ask anybody what kind of job they want in an ideal world, they will most likely give you a few require- ments: nice salary, flexible hours, responsibility, enough time to have a family or social life and lastly, to really love what they do. There are few careers like this that actually exist and one is a physician assistant. Physician assistant or PA, is a field that usually falls under the shadow of physicians, surgeons, nurses and physical therapists. It is, however, very different than other careers in medicine and offers more freedom for those who choose to practice. According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), PAs are licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a physician, whether in person or via telecommunication and may diagnose illness, prescribe medication, perform examinations and procedures and obtain medical history. The job of a PA is very much like a physician, except a PA is not on call and requires less schooling than an MD. This makes PA an ideal choice for those who want to have both a career and family. Though PAs do require supervision from a physician, it is usually not on-site or direct. The educational requirements to become a PA are less intense than that of an MD, which is good news for us students! Obviously, one must be interested in biology and the sciences. According to the AAPA, there are 141 accredited PA programs in the US. Unlike a four year medical school, PA training is usually two or three years. Most schools offer graduate programs to obtain a masters degree in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS.) Some schools even offer five or six-year programs to obtain your bachelors and MPAS at the same time. “What I love about the program is that it gives you hands-on experience. I’m not learning anything I won’t use. It’s efficient,” said on student. The professor have all had careers as PAs or in a related field. This way, they’re experienced in the practice and not just the study. “You can really tell they love what they do. Professors can’t say enough about their former careers as PAs and their experiences. They bring it all to the table, and that really helps us as students. They’re so passionate and it rubs off on students." The great thing about a PA is the chance for flexibility and mobility. PAs have the opportunity to practice any medical or surgical specialty, as well as the freedom to bounce between specialties throughout their career. For example, if a PA starts out practicing dermatology, he or she can switch over to cardiovascular surgery later in the career. PAs also have the option as to where they want to practice. While most do their work in physicians’ offices or hospitals, they also have the chance to work in public health clinics, schools, prisons, and nursing homes. If that doesn’t sound like an exciting, challenging and rewarding job already, then perhaps the salary will win you over! In 2008, according to the AAPA, the average income for a PA working a minimum 32-hour week was $89, 987. Physician assistants in dermatology or surgery specialties exceed $100,000 per year. In 2006, Money Magazine rated the PA profession as the “fifth best job in America” based on salary, job prospects and growth potential. The physician assistant profession is one that has seen great growth in the past five years and will continue to see great growth due to its exceptional and unique opportunities! |
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