MD vs PA

[Philomath216]

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I am pretty sure this is not in the right forum topic, but I could not decide where else to put it. I have recently graduated from college and am currently working in order to get some money to pay off my student loans from undergrad. I have been battling with the decision of whether to go back to school to become a PA or just go the whole way and become an MD. I have observed PAs and some have told me that they would go back to be an MD if they could do it again. One PA in particular said that the doctor she is under is more focused on research, so unfortunately he is not the best when it comes to clinical work. He constantly asks her what to do in various situations and even asks her what medications to use. Basically she does the role of the MD.

I do not care about the salary or the initials behind my name. All I want out of my profession is to know that I put all of myself into my job and to do the best job that I can. I want to be able to spend time with my patients.

Part of me is afraid of choosing the MD route, because then I will be the last person that people come to for advice. Although I would think that you could ask other doctors within the team for advice? Also, while I want to do some procedural things, I mainly want to work in the clinic, talking to patients.

It also seems, that PAs have a lot of job opportunities opening up, while an MD might be harder to get (because you have to pick your specialty and can only apply for jobs within your specialty). I am wondering if many residents get offered jobs once they have completed their 4 years of residency?

I already have a very narrowed choice of specialty, so choosing my specialty would not be a difficult task. I just want to make sure I would be able to get a job (and a job somewhere near my hometown would be nice!).

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[bucks2010]

1. One PA in particular said that the doctor she is under is more focused on research, so unfortunately he is not the best when it comes to clinical work. He constantly asks her what to do in various situations and even asks her what medications to use. Basically she does the role of the MD.

2. Part of me is afraid of choosing the MD route, because then I will be the last person that people come to for advice. Although I would think that you could ask other doctors within the team for advice? Also, while I want to do some procedural things, I mainly want to work in the clinic, talking to patients.

3. I am wondering if many residents get offered jobs once they have completed their 4 years of residency?

1. Probably not the best example to use in your determination of PA vs. MD. Whether you're competent to practice or not is your responsibility... I'm sure it's possible for the MD you described to know more, but it's his choice to practice how he does. How you practice is up to you.

2. "Last person on the team"? You may be the last to find out, but depending on how much you delegate to PAs/NPs, you will be making the treatment plant & "in command". The nurses will know something about a pt before you, but you will determine if they need meds, etc. And of course you're able to talk with others about treatment plans - especially the nursing staff (since they spend more time with the pt than you).

3. I'm not aware of any specialty with outright job shortages save for (possibly) cardiothoracic surgery (subspecialty of gen surg). AAMC predicts a shortage of 50,000 physicians or some silly number like that in the next 15-20 years - I wouldn't be too worried about job shortages.