Medical
Careers
NICOLE SCHNEIDER, MSPAS, PA-C
OCTOBER 28, 2015
A short list of medical careers
▪ Physician (doctor)
▪ Physician Assistant
▪ Nurse Practitioner
▪ Registered Nurse
▪ Nurse’s Aide (CNA)
▪ Ultrasound Technician
▪ X-Ray Technician
▪ Emergency Medical Technician
▪ Paramedic
• Respiratory
Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• Occupational
Therapist
• Surgical Tech
• Phlebotomist
More Choices…
▪ Family Practice
▪ Internal Medicine
▪ Pediatrics
▪ Obstetrics/Gynecology
▪ Neurology
▪ Cardiology
▪ ENT
▪ Pulmonology
▪ Gastroenterology
Urology
Nephrology
Dermatology
Endocrinology
Psychiatry
Surgery (General, Orthopedic,
Vascular, Cardiothoracic, Pediatric)
• Oncology
• Hematology
• Emergency Medicine
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Physician Assistants
▪ The profession was started in 1965 at Duke University by
Dr. Eugene Stead
▪ Dr. Stead recognized the skills that Vietnam War veterans
obtained as medics on the battlefield and the need for
primary care providers in the USA.
▪ 4 Navy Corpsmen were the first PA graduates
▪ Since 1965, over 200 programs have been created in the US,
totaling to more than 100,000 licensed PAs in the country.
▪ Forbes Magazine ranked MSPAS as the #1 Masters’ degree in
2014
What can a PA do?
▪ The PA profession is designed to work in collaboration with a
physician to provide medical care.
▪ All PAs have a supervising physician
▪ The supervising physician does not have to be in the same
building as the PA
▪ PAs can see patients, order tests, diagnose and treat illnesses,
prescribe medications, and assist in surgery.
▪ Work in all types of settings- hospitals, outpatient offices, nursing
homes, emergency rooms
▪ PAs are not certified to perform surgery on their own or open their
own practice.
Path to becoming a PA
▪ There are 2 paths to becoming a PA
▪ 1. Attend a university which offers guaranteed admission into the PA
program following obtaining a Bachelors’ degree.
▪ Ex: Quinnipiac (6 year program)
▪ Ex: DeSales (5 year program)
▪ Must maintain a certain GPA to maintain seat in PA program (but no GRE!)
▪ 2. After completing a Bachelors’ degree, then apply to PA schools.
▪ Ex: Yale
▪ Must take GRE (Graduate Record Exam) before applying
▪ Programs vary in length from 24-36 months
▪ Both require prerequisite courses such as Biology, Chemistry, Psychology,
Statistics, and Anatomy
▪ Programs are often set up as one year of classroom learning and one year of
clinical rotations
Clinical Rotations
▪ Required for certification as a PA
▪ Must include Family Practice, Psychiatry, OB/GYN, Surgery,
Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Emergency Medicine
▪ There are often elective rotations as well
Nurse Practitioners (NP, APRN)
▪ Nurse practitioners complete additional education (Masters’
degree) beyond nursing school.
▪ Often 2 year programs
▪ Most programs are focused on a specialty- pediatrics, women’s
health, acute care, psychiatry, family medicine etc.
▪ Can prescribe medication, order and interpret lab results, diagnose
illnesses, and treat illnesses
▪ Can practice autonomously (on their own) or under the
supervision of a physician.
▪ Can work in all of the same settings as a PA besides surgery
Physicians (M.D., D.O.)
▪ Must attend a 4 year Medical School followed by a residency in
their chosen field.
▪ Both M.Ds and D.Os are licensed physicians.
▪ D.Os receive additional education in medical school about the
muscles and bones (musculoskeletal system) and are taught
about osteopathic manipulative treatment.
Physician Assistants and Insurance
▪ Some misconceptions about PAs are do not generate as
much revenue and because of insurance rules, a PA can
not see new patients.
▪ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▪ “A practice employing a PA pays less in overhead costs for that PA compared to a
physician, while having a healthcare provider on board who can provide most of the
same services.” (https://www.aapa.org/employing-a-pa/#sthash.os7HkMV8.dpuf, 2015)
▪ PAs will generate 85% of what a doctor would generate
▪ But, it is possible for a visit conducted by a PA to generate 100% of maximum revenue if a
physician sees the patient after the PA and writes a note
▪ PAs can see new patients
▪ Will again only generate 85% of what a physician would generate
▪ But, every insurance plan is different and has different rules about PAs
What can I do now if I want to go into medicine?
▪ Get good grades in High School
▪ Can observe different jobs as a volunteer in the medical field
▪ Check local hospitals and nursing homes websites
▪ A good way you can see if you can be okay with blood, smells
▪ Try to see surgeries and observe in the ER
▪ Ask medical professionals you meet about their jobs + education
▪ Check out different medical professions’ websites
▪ Take a CPR/ First Aide class
▪ Becoming a lifeguard is a great way to become CPR certified
▪ Look into EMT and CNA courses (must be 16 to be an EMT)
Some Medical Quotes 
Medical Spanish
▪ Spanish
▪ English
▪ Me llamo Nicole. Soy un estudiante con el/ la
medico/a
▪ My name is Nicole. I am a student with the
doctor.
▪ El/la asociado/a medico
▪ Physician assistant
▪ El/la enfermero/a
▪ Nurse
▪ Como te sientes?
▪ How do you feel?
▪ Donde esta tu dolor?
▪ Where is your pain?
▪ Le puedo escuchar a los pulmones/ el
corazon?
▪ Can I listen to your lungs/ heart?
▪ Ahora, voy a examiner su estomago
▪
Habla ingles?
▪
Voy a llamar un interprete de espanol
▪ Now, I am going to examine your stomach
▪ Do you speak English?
▪ I am going to call a Spanish interpreter
Works Cited
▪ Google Images
▪ http://directory.paeaonline.org/programs?utf8=%E2%9C%93&state=&degree=Masters&caspa=&
gre=&health_xp=&bach_required=&min_gpa=&start_month=
▪ http://www.aanp.org/all-about-nps/what-is-an-np
▪ http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-dos/what-is-a-do/Pages/default.aspx
▪ http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/education-careers/becoming-physician/frequently-askedquestions.page?
▪ https://www.aapa.org/what-is-a-pa/
▪ http://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2015/04/22/physician-assistants-write-value-basedcare-prescription/
▪ http://www.forbes.com/pictures/fjle45gfkg/no-1-best-masters-degree-for-jobs-physiciansassistant-studies/
▪ http://www.pahx.org/stead-jr-eugene