Any regrets

[shunybuny]

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I am sure you all must get asked this question a thousand times but have any of you regreted becomng a PA instead of a Doc? Are any of you in the process of a career change from PA to Doc?

What made you choose one over the other?

I am in my second year in college and I have several career choices but know I must choose only one and I would really appreciate it if someone could answer my questions.

In general how can I choose a career goal when I am interested in so many (all but one in the healthcare field) any books to read or advice anyone would like to give me?

I am really worried about not not choosing the right career and ending up not liking what I do and that my lack of decision in a career will cause me not to graduate in four years. 🙁

Sorry I didn't mean to get off the subject like that. 😀

 

[shunybuny]

I would just like to thank the 90 or so people who viewed this post for all their help. 🙄

 

[deleted6669]

check out www.physicianassociate.com
there are a few current threads there on this topic

 

[shunybuny]

Thanks emedpa! 😀

 

[Febrifuge]

Today I spent some time shadowing an MD hospitalist. I was impressed at some of the advantages of working shifts + calls, and seeing only inpatients, as opposed to being a physician in private practice. The docs I've shadowed in clinics seem to always have one eye on the business aspect of things, no matter if their group is 8 docs or 250.

In fact, as I consider where to go from here in my career odyssey, I think that I'm starting to consider the 'business-owner' side of being part of a medical practice to be a big hassle. It's nearly ready to go on the list of things I'm not looking for.

So here's a question: would you say that the "mid-level practitioner" status of the PA allows for a great deal of freedom from that whole aspect of practice? I think I just want to see patients... and do mostly primary care. I want to be successful, but I don't want to get stressed about insurance billing and profit magrins.

Would it be totally naive of me to look at PA as an especially good choice for someone with that outlook? Could somebody give me some examples of why being a PA is a better gig than being a physician?

 

[timerick]

I've talked with a couple dozen practicing PA's so far, and I've been amazed that every single one of them has said they are "a happy PA," content with their career.

Eso no obstante, about one fourth of them said that if they had it to do over again, they probably would go to medical school instead.

I have seen posts on the web by some people who have been very frustrated as PA's and are moving into medical school.

Are there any MD's who would go to PA school instead if they had it all to do over again? (Perhaps those who dropped out of residency because it was killing their families?)