Hey everyone! We hope this post meets you well. MedInspirit is back with this week’s blog and we are excited to share several exciting and informative opportunities in relation to the career of a Physician Assistant as well as an upcoming interview.
The knowledge acquired in high school is extremely influential and integral when determining our success in a specific career field. Since being a PA requires one to be well aware of several different areas of medicine, it is advised that students take challenging courses in the upper-grade levels in order to prepare them well. Such challenging courses include advanced placement courses in biology, anatomy, chemistry, and math courses that are not required in the curriculum. Communication is also a key asset to have as a Physician Assistant since a PA is usually the principal healthcare provider for patients, and practice with oral skills through English or public speaking classes can be helpful. In addition, learning foreign languages is also useful because, in today’s diverse world, PAs are advised to be more aware of the best way to understand their patients.
Early experience with any career field is important: this will allow you to decide if you are truly passionate about this field. Experts recommend all high school students interested in medical fields to become involved in their school and community. Within school, students should aim to become a part of and participate in medical organizations, such as HOSA or Science Bowl. Within the community, students should aim to volunteer at hospitals, nursing homes, fundraisers, and events for medical causes. All of these activities will allow you to become aware of the healthcare field and gain experience, while also being an impressive addition to your college resume. These volunteer opportunities are widespread in all countries, especially the United States. For example, Cedars-Sinai is a wonderful organization located in California which hosts a summer volunteer program for high school students interested in medicine, especially in becoming a PA. Volunteers are given the choice of either patient care assignments or administrative assignments. Daily duties include answering phone calls, delivering amenities, perform data entry and filing, assist with meal trays, and run errands for the staff. If you are having difficulty finding volunteer programs in your area, contact the hospitals in your community to inquire about possible internship or service opportunities. Although the pandemic has limited many opportunities, we recommend that you reach out to these organizations and discover the alternatives that they’ve made for their volunteer programs. Thinking out of the box is also a great initiative: starting your own fundraisers, organizing webinars, or even starting a blog about the roles of Physician Assistants is a way to make an impact.
One of the most important parts of your journey to becoming a Physician Assitant is choosing the best university for you. Some colleges known for their PA programs include Duke University, University of Iowa, Baylor College of Medicine, University of Utah, Emory University, George Washington University, University of Wisconsin, and Stanford University. There are several specialized courses that can be taken once you are admitted to any of these universities that will ensure your success as a pursuer of the PA career.
While extracurriculars are important, one of the best ways to gain true experience regarding any career field is by listening to the advice of someone who has that experience. One of MedInspirit’s goals is to welcome an expert of the month’s profession to our platform for an interview. This month, Lisa Cocco, a PA in Speciality Care at Mercy Health will be speaking with us. Lisa has earned her master’s degree from the University of Detroit Mercy, and she is clinically interested in internal medicine, infectious disease, chronic disease management, health screening, and preventive care. Please make sure to keep an eye out for the upcoming interview so you can take advantage of the wonderful advice Lisa has to offer.
Becoming a PA is a tedious yet wonderful career path to choose because it allows you to master a variety of different medical skills, communicate with many people, and enables you to significantly support the lives of other people. MedInspirit is here to provide you with the best opportunities and resources so that you can turn your dreams into reality. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions!
Stay safe,
Asmita Ahuja- Vice President
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