Ph.D to PA

[Firerose]

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Dear All,
I have just finished my Ph.D and applying to PA program. I got my bacholar and master degree in China, and Ph.D. in phamacology here in USA. Thinking about going to medical school for so long, but finally decided to go PA since my two kids are quite yong and want to give them more time as mum. I am doing my postdoc research now when preparing for application. Meanwhile, doing hospital volunteer every week. I really want to become a family practice PA or oncology PA.
Could any of friends who are family with PA let me know how much chance I have?
Is there anyone who was also deciding between MD and PA? I would like to hear what you think about my decision.
Thank you so much 🙂

 

[mednoob]

if u already have a phd i think applying to pa school would be a piece of cake.

 

[deleted6669]

if u already have a phd i think applying to pa school would be a piece of cake.

actually without any meaningful medical experience they still might not get in or pass. one of the worst students I ever had(who I failed) had a phd in microbiology and no common sense or drive to become a good clinician.
that being said a pharmd includes a clinical yr so that could be counted as experience at many programs. other phd's with a research focus probably wouldn't help much without the clinical focus though....

 

[helpfuldoc2b]

if u already have a phd i think applying to pa school would be a piece of cake.

I would apply to a DO school before going to PA school, no offense to anyone so please dont flame me, but going from a PhD to an assistant in your title is almost a demotion. Go into a DO program, you dont have all these requirements of exerpeince etc... you have a great chance of using both degrees, alot more flexibility with your hours as a doctor for family and salary, please you will feel better being in charge instead of being told what to do by some 28 year old newly minted doctor when you got a PhD and a PA degree and have more education then them. My 2 cents...

 

[deleted6669]

I would apply to a DO school before going to PA school, no offense to anyone so please dont flame me, but going from a PhD to an assistant in your title is almost a demotion. Go into a DO program, you dont have all these requirements of exerpeince etc... you have a great chance of using both degrees, alot more flexibility with your hours as a doctor for family and salary, please you will feel better being in charge instead of being told what to do by some 28 year old newly minted doctor when you got a PhD and a PA degree and have more education then them. My 2 cents...

while I agree with your sentiments regarding going DO (always a good idea) you obviously have no idea about working as a pa. doctors do not "tell us what to do" (unless you take a really crappy job-then you deserve it..)we seek consults when and from whom we want. I can go days without speaking to a physician and then when I do call one it's a subspecialist , not a 28 yr old newbie. we have a few newbie docs at work this week. guess who is orienting and supervising them?(hint: the regular pa staff).

 

[primadonna22274]

Well E, remember that a great number of PA jobs are not nearly as autonomous as yours... 😎
I grow very weary of not being able to call the shots, as it were. Just the other day my supervising doc pulled me aside and told me he did NOT want me "turning people away" or "sending people to the ER" in our urgent care. He firmly believes that EMTALA applies to freestanding urgent cares; I disagree. Let's just say he and I have some philosophical differences and that makes it difficult to kowtow to his whims.
As far as the PhD to PA thing, it happens from time to time. There are plenty of other doctoral-prep people who enter PA programs: veterinarians, DCs, PharmDs, FMGs, psychologists. Remember PA is a very good second or third career for a lot of people who want more patient contact/responsibility without the additional time/money burden of medical school & residency. There are also plenty of people who are comfortable with a restricted scope of practice. IMO that's the critical thing: you have to understand that your practice will be defined by a number of different barriers--the state practice act, your instititution's rules, your supervising physician's estimation of your knowledge base/skills, your own comfort level. The good news is there are as many permutations of PA practice as there are PAs.

 

[deleted6669]

it's not an emtala violation to send a pt from an urgent care to an er as they are going to a higher level of care. it also doesn't apply to urgent care centers as you do not get federal funding for carrying for emergency victims....

 

[primadonna22274]

DUH...but he disagrees with me based on some blurb he read in Medical Economics......... 😡

it's not an emtala violation to send a pt from an urgent care to an er as they are going to a higher level of care. it also doesn't apply to urgent care centers as you do not get federal funding for carrying for emergency victims....

 

[Firerose]

Dear All,
Thanks for all of your voices here. The reason I wants to medicine badly is because I really enjoy patient contact job and help others on a daily base. I volunteer at the chemo suit of our hospital every week and realized what a great thing a healthcare staff and even a unpaid volunteer can do to the patient. However, I do not have such feelings by doing experiments in the lab every day although I published a couple of papers already. Have been thinking about medical school for over a year and judge the pro and con based on my own situation, I think PA will be a best choice for me if I want to keep a pretty good balance of work and family. Raise the kids up and helps the patients with my job. I know many will think (like one of my professor) this is a stepdown decision for me, but i think my knowlege learnt from a formal Ph.D. training can be only a plus and won't be a waste since I studied pharmacology and individulize medicine. I don't mind if who controls, me or the physicians as long as it is for the patient's benefits. If I can work as an oncology PA, I would love to write grants or participate to design for the trials of the new treatment plan.
Thanks for all the helpful advices. I will give a try this year and hopefully get in for next year program. I understand that having a Ph.D. title won't necessarily mean I am smarter than others, and I also know dealing with patients is not "re-search" so treating them won't like do experients.
Please PM me if any of you-seniors have any suggestions.
Thanks again 🙂🙂

 

[PHealthMan]

I think we touched on the extremes of both professions. PA's are not as dependent as we make them out to be on this bored and PhD's are not as free thinking as we presume. Even after a Post doctoral period the researcher must answer to higher ups and those providing the funding.