The Physician Assistant Insider

In this episode, Paul interviews Bobbie Morici, MSPAS, PA-C, Director of the DeSales University PA Program in Center Valley, PA.  Did you know that clinical practice isn't all you can do as a PA?  How about teaching PA students?  Paul and Bobbie talk about what it's like serving as faculty for a PA program, balancing… Continue reading PAI24: PAs in Academia The post PAI24: PAs in Academia appeared first on Inside PA Training.

Ever wonder how to pay for PA school? Most students work so hard and think so much about actually getting in, that this important detail gets pushed to the back of their minds. Kristin Burton, PA talks with Paul about how she paid of her PA debt in just 16 months. The post PAI23: How to Pay for PA School, Part 2 appeared first on Inside PA Training.

One of the most neglected topics for Pre-PAs is how to actually pay for PA school. The thinking is anyone who gets into PA school is so glad to be there, that the idea of how to pay for it is far down their list of priorities. As a result, most have no idea how. The post PAI22: How to Pay for PA School, Part 1 appeared first on Inside PA Training.

The Physician Assistant Insider's newest episode is out, and it addresses a huge factor in PA school interview success, or lack thereof.  My first guest (ever!), Lisa Walker, PA-C, who has started and run multiple PA programs and interviewed literally thousands of PA hopefuls, joins me to ask you the question: What's Your Story?   Learning how to… Continue reading PAI21: What's Your Story? The post PAI21: What's Your Story? appeared first on Inside PA Training.

Right about now thousands of PA school hopefuls are starting to find out: accepted or rejected.  Sadly, many won't get the nod. Have you been rejected by PA school?  If so, you're not alone.  It can be hard to accept, but it's what you do once you find out that will really determine your future. … Continue reading PAI 20: Rejected by PA Schools! Now What? The post PAI 20: Rejected by PA Schools! Now What? appeared first on Inside PA Training.

You don't need to be an English major to write a good essay, but you do need a good beginning to get the reader engaged and to tell them some important things about you. Most students do a poor job of starting their PA school essays.  In this episode Paul goes over how to write… Continue reading PAI 19: How to open your PA School Application Essay The post PAI 19: How to open your PA School Application Essay appeared first on Inside PA Training.

Enough thinking about it — it's time to act. If you're exploring a career as a PA, it's great to read and listen, but there are plenty of ways to get engaged and actually start DOING.  What better way to learn and show your commitment to the field?  Today Paul talks about how getting involved… Continue reading PAI 18: Get Involved! The post PAI 18: Get Involved! appeared first on Inside PA Training.

If you are interviewing for PA school, you can expect questions on ethics.  Medical ethics is the study of right and wrong in the medical setting, and many students stumble on them and show their weakness.  But with some learning and practice, this can be an area of your interview that sets you apart from… Continue reading PAI 17: Medical Ethics Interview Questions The post PAI 17: Medical Ethics Interview Questions appeared first on Inside PA Training.

If you plan on going into medicine, you need to know right now, that not all of your patients will be appreciative, communicative, reasonable, or even NORMAL. Most patients are great, but there are also plenty of odd, demanding, impatient, inappropriate, or otherwise difficult people who it will be your job to help.  Don't let… Continue reading PAI 16: Difficult Patients The post PAI 16: Difficult Patients appeared first on Inside PA Training.

There comes a time for any practitioner when a patient or problem is beyond you. PAs, just like physicians, are trained to know when that is.  But how do you know?  And what about mistakes and avoiding them?  How does it work when you're new to the PA scope of practice?  To be a good… Continue reading PAI 15: Knowing Your Limits as a PA The post PAI 15: Knowing Your Limits as a PA appeared first on Inside PA Training.

Once you graduate from PA school, the learning isn't over.  Sure, you learn on the job, but there's still official learning to do. To maintain your license and national certification, there are specific requirements.  In this episode we cover what you have to do to maintain your license and cert with continuing medical education (CME).… Continue reading PAI 14: PAs and Continuing Medical Education The post PAI 14: PAs and Continuing Medical Education appeared first on Inside PA Training.

What are the big factors that determine the strength of your application to PA school overall? Probably the most common question we have been asked at Inside PA Training is “What are my chances of getting in?”  Well, you know about vital signs of physical health like blood pressure and pulse, but do you know… Continue reading PAI 13: Application Vital Signs The post PAI 13: Application Vital Signs appeared first on Inside PA Training.

To get into PA school, you will need letters of reference.  How many do you need?  What kinds of people should you seek out to write for you? There are good ways to go about it and bad ways to go about it.  In this episode Paul shares them and gives several tips that will… Continue reading PAI 12: Letters of Reference in PA School Admissions The post PAI 12: Letters of Reference in PA School Admissions appeared first on Inside PA Training.

When you're a PA, what happens when a patient calls you Doctor? Yes, it happens a lot, and it turns out this situation has a lot to say about the profession.  In this episode of the Physician Assistant Insider, Paul shares stories and discusses this issue, including how he handles it. When you're a PA,… Continue reading PAI 11: Don't Call Me Doctor The post PAI 11: Don't Call Me Doctor appeared first on Inside PA Training.

What could be more fun than thinking about what specific specialty in medicine you might want to work in?   Not all physician assistants work in primary care.  Which specialty is for you? Thinking about it now can save you time and heartache down the line — and it's fun!  You don't need to decide until… Continue reading PAI 10: Choosing a Specialty The post PAI 10: Choosing a Specialty appeared first on Inside PA Training.

Today's episode of the Physician Assistant Insider covers shadowing — where you actually follow a physician assistant — or possibly an MD — to learn about what they do. Believe it or not, doing at least some shadowing before you apply to PA school is crucial. Here Paul tells you why, and how to get… Continue reading PAI 09: Shadowing 101 The post PAI 09: Shadowing 101 appeared first on Inside PA Training.

The podcast is back this month to get to the bottom of a question we get all the time: Just what is the relationship like between a PA and his/her supervising physician?  Enjoy. The podcast is back this month to get to the bottom of a question we get all the time: Just what is… Continue reading PAI08: The PA/MD Relationship The post PAI08: The PA/MD Relationship appeared first on Inside PA Training.

Okay, so one of the most popular posts we've ever done was an article called “Applying to Physician Assistant School With a Low Grade.” It addressed a specific problem, such as what to do if you bombed organic chemistry, or maybe you had a semester when all your grades dipped. Even worse, what if your… Continue reading PAI 07: Grade Problems The post PAI 07: Grade Problems appeared first on Inside PA Training.

Today's episode of the podcast covers a frequently asked about topic: what makes good health care experience (HCE) for applying to PA school?Here I go over what to look for in any activity you are planning on participating in for health care experience.  What makes good HCE?  What types of HCE are best?  Which types… Continue reading PAI 06: Health Care Experience – Part I The post PAI 06: Health Care Experience – Part I appeared first on Inside PA Training.

As PA school graduation on June 9th bears down on me, my hospital rotations are in full swing.  With so much to do and so little free time, I decided to podcast about my Emergency Medicine rotation from my commute. What do PAs do in the ER?  What is the personality of Emergency Medicine?  How… Continue reading PAI 05: Emergency Medicine Rotation The post PAI 05: Emergency Medicine Rotation appeared first on Inside PA Training.

In this week's Physician Assistant Insider episode, we cover PA vs NP.  What's the difference between the two?  How are they similar?  If you want to become either one, you need to know this stuff.  Plus, in our reader question of the day segment, we discuss what to do with personal challenges you have experienced… Continue reading PAI 04: PA vs NP The post PAI 04: PA vs NP appeared first on Inside PA Training.

If you want to become a PA, which major should you choose?  Which should you avoid, and why?  How much difference does it really make? If you want to become a PA, which major should you choose?  Which should you avoid, and why?  How much difference does it really make? The post PAI 03: Choosing a Major appeared first on Inside PA Training.

In Episode 2, I address some common misconceptions about physician assistants.  Enjoy! In Episode 2, I address some common misconceptions about physician assistants.  Enjoy! The post PAI 02: Misconceptions about PAs appeared first on Inside PA Training.

The Physician Assistant Insider podcast is finally here!  Some episodes will be audio versions of previously published articles, and some will be completely new material. Episode 1 summary: I introduce the podcast, the blog, and myself.  We then turn to a discussion of an important question: “What a physician assistant?”  Even if you know, you… Continue reading PAI 01: About Inside PA Training The post PAI 01: About Inside PA Training appeared first on Inside PA Training.

Last weekend I got dropped into the middle of medicine.  I spent the day volunteering at a UC Davis student-run clinic called Clinica Tepati.  It was a first for me on many levels, and all I can say is it was totally awesome! What is a student-run clinic? Well, it's exactly what is sounds like. … Continue reading PA Training in a Student-Run Clinic The post PA Training in a Student-Run Clinic appeared first on Inside PA Training.