Becoming a PA after a PhD

[Laika]

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I am a doctoral level medical anthropologist with an MPH. My undergraduate degree is in a humanities area. The job market for anthropologists is flooded. I don't have much in the way of clinical experience. But I am terribly unhappy in my profession, teaching reluctant, spoiled undergraduates introductory sociology and anthropology, and have been seriously considering PA school. This summer I am taking two courses, anatomy and physiology. But I don't have other qualifications, and I am worried about my age (mid forties). I've thought about going a postbac premed program in a nearby univeristy. I am also worried about how I can pay for all this.

Is this just a pipe dream? Am I wasting my time and money taking classe this summer? Am I stuck in this dead end, draining, unrewarding job?

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

I felt the same way (taught undergrads history). PA schools tend to be more focused on clinicial experience. a lot of PAs worked in healthcare before. So, I'd definately look into getting some volunteer experience. The different schools REALLY vary on what pre-reqs they want, so you'll need to go to individual school websites. I certainly think it's a reasonable plan to make the switch. There is a website like SDN just for PA's but I forget the URL. Maybe someone else knows?? Anyone?

 

[relentless11]

I think one can do anything if they really wanted to, unless you are a felon or was booted out of school for cheating😉.

Anyway, going to PA school shouldn't be a problem, especially after doing a PhD🙂.

 

[deleted6669]

www.physicianassistant.net
www.aapa.org
www.appap.org

health care experience is an important prereq. to pa school. it would definitely be worth your while to get some. consider emt, medical asst, licensed vocational/practical nurse, resp. therapist, etc

emedpa
p.s. my undergrad was medical anthro

 

[medworm]

Laika, if you have a mortgage, I would not recommend a F/T postbacc. Need that roof over your head without dipping too much into savings.

 

[NY Musicologist]

Laika, I second (or third?) the advice to do some volunteering and/or EMT training, and to postpone enrolling in a post-bacc until you're sure it's what you want to do.

My quasi-original two cents to add to this discussion:

1. Is there any way to improve your current situation or recharge your batteries? For instance, a chance to teach a different course and/or an upper-division one? Might you be eligible for a sabbatical, either to pursue some of your own research or [evil chuckle] to begin a postbacc or PA training? I assume changing institutions outright is not an option, given market tightness...

2. You may not be bothered in the least by issues of status, others' perceptions of your aptitude, etc., but you might want to consider possible reactions to your decision from current and future colleagues. If you're leaving anthro with no intent ever to return to the field, you probably won't care if they think less of you. But if/when you become a PA, how will you handle a doc who cops an attitude of superiority because you're "only" an assistant (whether or not s/he knows that you actually have a PhD)? Along similar lines, how do you feel about losing some autonomy/authority? I know PAs actually do quite a bit, and that academic freedom is often not all it's cracked up to be, but the PA does seem to me to be, in the end, a subordinate position.

In conclusion, I hear you loud and clear about the scarcity of academic jobs and the frustration of teaching students who seemingly don't care to learn. I'm on the fence myself about whether or not to leave my humanities field (music history) and move into medicine. For me, it has been (and still is) critical to make sure that, if I make this leap at this point in my life, I do it with my eyes open and for the right reasons--i.e., with full awareness that there will be frustrations in medicine just as in academia, and that I'm switching out of genuine love for one field rather than out of bad feelings about another. Best wishes to you, and feel free to PM me if you'd like.

Best,
NYM 🙂