Pre-OT now considering PA?

[Shazzy1228]

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Hi guys,
So here is my story. I started out college as a pre-med student(bio major). I switched my major to neuroscience and totally fell in love with neuro. I also started volunteering in a substance abuse research lab. I realized that I enjoyed research a lot. I liked solving problems and creating new ideas. I especially was interested in neurodegenerative diseases( I still am!). I found that, as a clinician, I really wanted to be hands-on and spend more time with a patient. After shadowing several physicians, I didn't see the hands-on interaction I was looking for. I found about OT and it just clicked. I switched my track. The work I did in the lab was published and I was super excited! I am now back in a lab with a similar project that is interesting, but I was beginning to realize something rather odd. Most OTs don't engage in research. When they do, its seems to be spinal cord injury or pediatric-focused. I really wanted my research interest to fall in line with my clinical interest. I see promise in pharmacologic treatments to slow down the progression or ease symptoms of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. I also see promise in finding out which particular genes hint towards this diseases later on in life. I don't see most OT's being interested in that.
My current project is almost over and I will be moving to a translational lab with a focus on Alzheimer's(hooray!). The PI happens to be an MD. From my conversations with him, his background as a physician has actually helped in his research because he draws inspiration from his medical training and years as a practicing doc. Translational medicine, as a whole, makes sense to me now.
For those of you who are PA's: do you get to spend more time with your patients than your supervising MD? How many of you are PA/PhD's? Do you partner up with a physician scientists on their projects?
Thanks in advance you guys.

 

[MyNameWasUsed]

If you want to go into research go PhD. PA is a mid level provider that focuses on patient care. I've never really heard of PAs doing research and quite frankly I don't think it makes sense. You don't go into the PA profession to do research.

 

[deleted6669]

If you want to go into research go PhD. PA is a mid level provider that focuses on patient care. I've never really heard of PAs doing research and quite frankly I don't think it makes sense. You don't go into the PA profession to do research.

a growing number of PAs are getting doctorates and doing research. Agree that PA without the doctorate doesn't make much sense if research is a primary career desire. wake forest has a dual PA/PhD track.
do a search for Rod Hooker, PA, PhD as he is the most prolific PA researcher with hundreds of first author studies done.

 

[Shazzy1228]

If you want to go into research go PhD. PA is a mid level provider that focuses on patient care. I've never really heard of PAs doing research and quite frankly I don't think it makes sense. You don't go into the PA profession to do research.

I probably didn't make it clear. I want to do both research AND clinical work. I want the two to compliment each other. In other words, be able to spend time with patients while also making time to engage in research....clinician-scientist. And no I do not want to get just a PhD. That is completely unwise right now. In my lab, we have a post-doc who has been in his position for FIVE YEARS. Five years as a post-doc is insane. We also have a pharmacist who is pursuing his PhD. He already has a PharmD. This is why a lot of students are picking a dual clinical degree that is "bread and butter".
Does it make sense now? I wouldn't just be involved in patient care. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[MyNameWasUsed]

You'll need a PhD at the minimum in order to achieve the research portion of your aspirations. I mean I guess you can do research with a masters degree, but if you want to be head of a lab or senior scientist, you'll need a PhD.

A post-doc that last 5 years is not anything abnormal. Post-docs are analogous to MD residencies. You'll have to do a post-doc regardless if you're a PA or not if you're pursuing a PhD. My point is it's gonna take the a while no matter what lol.