Any PAs to MDs here?

[critcarePA]

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I am currently a physician assistant. I have been contemplating going back to school to complete my prereqs and then apply to med school.

Are there any PAs here in a similar situation who are either applying to medical school or are currently there?

Would you recommend a post-bacc program or a DIY course?

Any experience or suggestions are appreciated.

 

[wholeheartedly]

Welcome 🙂

I know there are some other PA's around here, and some that have gone MD, and some that thought about it but decided not to. Just a little FYI, it's always a good idea to do a search for things on here before starting a new thread on a topic that might've already been covered. If you go to search on the SDN menu bar then type in "pa to md" in the google search option you get this

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/gts...ums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=869454

Those should get you started, til someone with more info can respond.

 

[rrt]

I know 2 in the Army.

Don't know why people mind posting duplicate topics. I for one DO NOT care. I hate searching (even though I do) and feel every persons questions deserve individual response. If someone doesn't like it... Don't read it, too easy.

Both of them went PA-MD after they were in their 30's. Both say that they did the right thing. They also believed that med school was cake compared to the Army's IPAP program (PA program) and that they went in miles ahead of their peers.

Now, remember, a PA in the Army doesn't make as much as a PA in the civilian side does, so they experienced little loss of money due to the fact that they were in the reserves when they got accepted into MD school. Now that I think about it, one was a DO. For a PA making close to 6 figures, it may be more of an impact going to med school and loosing that income for 4 years. They both received generous stipends from the military and drill pay every month. This in addition to their regular loans/grants/funds. It all really depends on your specific situation.

RRT

 

[wholeheartedly]

I know 2 in the Army.

Don't know why people mind posting duplicate topics. I for one DO NOT care. I hate searching (even though I do) and feel every persons questions deserve individual response.
RRT

I do agree with you that everyone's questions deserve an individual response. I'm not usually a big 'use the search button first fanatic' myself but was trying politely give the OP a helpful hint to a good resource, especially before someone else came in a bit harsher. It was easier to post a link to the useful posts than try to summarize what's available on the topic even if only a few respond to this particular thread. Maybe that didn't work so well, my apologies if that came across harsh. Oh, and I didn't lay out the search format to be condescending or anything. I just wanted to illustrate that SDN's google search is far superior to SDN's regular search option and that SDN's google search is not to be confused with your general menu bar google search. Did that make any sense? I've been awake 24 hrs and it is well past bedtime...

Definitely don't be afraid to ask questions around here CritcarePA 👍

In any case, I think using the search does have quite a few advantages. If there are 10 separate JD to MD threads that each get about 5 responses and they're all separated, you might not realize you have 50 posts with info for you if you don't use the search feature. If people do a search and find the thread they're looking for they can add their own personal spin and questions and get an individualized response there by bumping the thread. If everyone starting out did that you'd have a bunch of responses and scenarios detailed in one consolidated thread which is far more useful and accessible to everyone. It also prevents burnout from the people answering. Just my thoughts. end hijack

 

[MT Headed]

I am currently a physician assistant. I have been contemplating going back to school to complete my prereqs and then apply to med school.

Are there any PAs here in a similar situation who are either applying to medical school or are currently there?

Would you recommend a post-bacc program or a DIY course?

Any experience or suggestions are appreciated.

I'm just curious... how on earth do you answer the question "why medicine?" There would have to be some compelling reason to remove somebody from PA for years just to produce a physician. And lose a PA.

I know more people who have gone the other direction (MD to PA). This seems to be the easiest way to switch specialties if you are sick of your original specialty.

 

[Kj615]

I'm just curious... how on earth do you answer the question "why medicine?" There would have to be some compelling reason to remove somebody from PA for years just to produce a physician. And lose a PA.

I know more people who have gone the other direction (MD to PA). This seems to be the easiest way to switch specialties if you are sick of your original specialty.

Since PA are trained in the medical model; the correct question in that case would be "why MD" ?

 

[Kj615]

I do agree with you that everyone's questions deserve an individual response. I'm not usually a big 'use the search button first fanatic' myself but was trying politely give the OP a helpful hint to a good resource, especially before someone else came in a bit harsher. It was easier to post a link to the useful posts than try to summarize what's available on the topic even if only a few respond to this particular thread. Maybe that didn't work so well, my apologies if that came across harsh. Oh, and I didn't lay out the search format to be condescending or anything. I just wanted to illustrate that SDN's google search is far superior to SDN's regular search option and that SDN's google search is not to be confused with your general menu bar google search. Did that make any sense? I've been awake 24 hrs and it is well past bedtime...

Definitely don't be afraid to ask questions around here CritcarePA 👍

In any case, I think using the search does have quite a few advantages. If there are 10 separate JD to MD threads that each get about 5 responses and they're all separated, you might not realize you have 50 posts with info for you if you don't use the search feature. If people do a search and find the thread they're looking for they can add their own personal spin and questions and get an individualized response there by bumping the thread. If everyone starting out did that you'd have a bunch of responses and scenarios detailed in one consolidated thread which is far more useful and accessible to everyone. It also prevents burnout from the people answering. Just my thoughts. end hijack

...offering an apology was absolutely unnecessary. You did everything right and I do not think you were rude by any means.

 

[UpwardTrend]

Which pre-reqs are you needing? Organic 2 and Physics? Whats your gpa?

 

[militaryman]

I am a PA-C (IPAP graduate) and a first year MD medical student. I never completed a postbac. I worked as a PA for 7 years prior to starting medical school. I just took a few extra courses at my state university in the evenings and worked my schedule around labs. I would not say that I am "breezing" thru medical school even though I was the distinguished honor graduate of my PA program. However I am now married with a young child and working part time as well. Medical school is challenging and would be very challenging if I did not have the background that I have. Medical school is more in depth than PA school. We just completed 2 weeks on cell membrane and nuclear receptors in medical school and in PA school I can recall a lecture or 2 on the subject.

My advice is to make sure you are competitive. Being a PA is a plus on an application but they will not give you an acceptance just because you are a PA.
Good luck!

 

[jdang]

I am currently applying to lecom PA to DO pathway. I had my interview last week and now just waiting for me acceptance/rejection letter.

 

[rrt]

...offering an apology was absolutely unnecessary. You did everything right and I do not think you were rude by any means.

I didn't think he was being rude at all. My post was directed at the act of saying "search first" rather than the poster. I guess like him, I was waiting for the barrage of "that's why there is a search feature" that you normally see in forums. This forum has been pretty good on avoiding that for the most part, and like he, point out places that might be of use to read.

To militaryman,

You know, one of the PA's that I am friends with went through the respiratory therapy program with me. His take on school was that it wasn't hard at all. He went into it thinking, I am getting paid to sit here and study, why not do just that. The other was humbled by PA school, and was put into a culture shock after the first month. He said Anatomy kicked his butt.

Both are now physicians, one going through TCOM and the other through UTHSCSA. The one that breezed through PA school breezed through MD school as well. He is just gifted I think. The other says that the culture shock and long days made PA school harder in his opinion, and that he found he had more free time during medical school.

Both worked very little to supplement during their first year, and their first summer.

RRT

 

[chrissyxf]

I'm a PA now who has applied to (and accepted to!) medical school and will be starting next fall. I'm happy to share my experiences with you about the application process/finishing pre-reqs/handling the interview question you've already guessed they'll ask (why md and why now). feel free to PM me.

 

[deleted6669]

For a PA making close to 6 figures, it may be more of an impact going to med school and loosing that income for 4 years.

RRT

you lose the income for at least 7 yrs( 4 school + 3 residency during which you make min wage).
as a well compensated em pa my opportunity cost for medschool(lost wages+tuition+loans) would be well over 1 million dollars, even for the 3 yr lecom bridge program. I considered it several times and even went so far as going back to take physics, stats, genetics, etc.
my calculated break even would be around the time most physicians retire.
in the end I decided to pursue a doctorate in health sciences and global health instead and keep my day job.
anyone considering pa to physician would be silly not to apply to the bridge at lecom.