Why PA?

PA wasn't on my radar until after my freshmen year of college.

After a 3-month research internship at an abalone aquaculture facility on the big island in Hawaii, I came back home to Maui feeling crushed. Though the internship was a great opportunity, absolutely none of my heart was in it. 

I didn't want to spend my life studying mollusks or running trial after trial for the same experiment.

I felt disheartened and confused. I loved science but hated what I did that summer. For a short time, I felt really lost in regards to my career objectives.

I reluctantly paid my old family practice a visit for some persistent urinary pain, frequency, and discomfort. My PCP was not in, and I wanted to be seen at the earliest available convenience.

This is the moment I was seen by the first PA I've ever met.
I was immediately intrigued by his role and scope of practice.
He presented himself with a tremendous amount of cultural sensitivity and warmth.

I left the exam room that day feeling strange, curious, and hopeful.

In the following years, I delved into medical research (ovarian cancer cell culture researMedical College of Wisconsin, volunteered at a free clinic, joined my school's Pre-PA club, and got my Ohio CNA certification. I worked in various geriatric environments (assisted living, dementia care, nursing home, etc.). I worked as a scribe in the ED. I worked as a patient care technician for a retail clinic.

And with all that exposure to the world of healthcare, here are my specific reasons for choosing PA.

1. Lateral Mobility: yes, I know. It's a term that gets thrown around a lot. But think about it. This is a career that allows you to be a provider without having to choose a concrete specialty after graduating while planning to spend another 3-7 years finessing it. To me, this kind of flexibility is invaluable. After 5 years in family medicine, I may be able to switch gears over to pediatric surgery -- without the need for further formal education. This doesn't necessarily mean I'll explore every single specialty out there; it just means I don't have to be confined to a specialty I may end up not liking in the future. There is so much room for growth and learning. Life is constantly changing -- we as people are constantly changing. The world around us is so dynamic that I couldn't for the life of me imagine choosing a career that would potentially inhibit growth, learning, or change. In these regards, I think PA is the perfect fit. 
2. Collaborative Medicine (the PA-physician relationship): in many states, PAs are allowed up to 4 physicians at a time. In a lot of cases, a PA may only be allowed 1 supervising physician at a time. It really just depends. All the same, the concept of this relationship is astonishing to me. As mid-level providers, PAs practice with a considerable amount of autonomy while being able to collaborate with and consult a physician. The physicians you work with as a PA are both your mentors AND colleagues, which is another huge selling point for me. I've shadowed several PAs now and can honestly say it's always incredible to see the communication between doctors and PAs in action.
3. Increased Access to Healthcare: mid-level practitioners help to bridge the healthcare gap. Their presence increases accessibility to healthcare by increasing affordability. I'm not trying to be a self-righteous philanthropic braggart by any means, but I mean it 100% when I say that I enjoy my job so much more when I know it's actively changing someone's quality of life for the better. With that in mind, I feel less like a cog in the machine and more of an actual human being.
4. Length of Program: I want to start a family before I'm 28. Most PA programs are 24-30 months long. Although a short program length usually means more information in a much smaller amount of time ("drinking water from a fire hose"), I am more than happy to run with it if it means I can start providing for a family in my 20's. It amazes me that people in school (or other intensive programs) can focus on starting and building a family. Kudos to them, because I know how hard it can be -- and I know for a fact it would personally be rough if I tried to start one before or during PA school. 

Hope this was helpful!