One of the most popular books ever written on building a business is called The E-Myth Revisited (affiliate link), and here’s what the author, Michael E. Gerber says about the perfect business model: The model will be operated by people with the lowest possible level of skill Because if your model depends on highly skilled […]
My First International Trip to Haiti as a Physician Assistant – Preperation
This post is the first of a series I am excited to be going to do some work in Haiti this October. My whole life I have wanted to do medical work overseas and now I am seeing a dream fulfilled. I will be flying from San Francisco to Washington DC where I will meet up […]
NCCPA Examination Content Blueprint PDF (ECB)
When studying for the PANCE or PANRE let the NCCPA Content Blueprint be your guide! Along with a good review book, the content blueprint allows you to focus your review on the topics that will be covered on the PANCE and PANRE. In my experience, it is best to review the blueprint, find your weak […]
Free 5 Minute Clinical Consult and Epocrates Online Premium
Pfizer for Professionals Pfizer for Professionals: As much as I hate to give my email address over to the pharmaceutical companies this one is worth it. When you create a free professional account you get free access to several amazing resources and even an iPhone app that allows you to access these resources on the go. And yes, it really […]
Most Social Problems Do Not Have a Quick Fix
When Good Intentions Are Not Enough As I prepare for my first medical mission trip to Haiti, I question my intentions. I fear that this trip may turn out to be less about helping (because who can help anybody in a week) and more about fulfilling my desire to experience the “thrill” of international medicine. […]
Is Physician Assistant (PA) School Hard?
Is PA school hard? Here is a question I get asked all the time: Is PA school difficult? Of course, in many ways, it is equally as rigorous as medical school. The didactic part of PA school (your first year) is made up of traditional academic classes. In many ways, it is like studying for […]
Pulmonary System: PANCE and PANRE Examination Content Blueprint
The PANCE and PANRE: Examination Content Blueprint checklist 2017 The PANCE and PANRE Pulmonology Content Blueprint represents 12% of your exam and includes 32 diseases/disorders [genesis_column size=”one-half” position=”first”] Infectious Disorders Acute bronchitis Acute bronchiolitis Acute epiglottitis Croup Influenza Pertussis Pneumonias Bacterial Viral Fungal HIV-related Respiratory syncytial virus infection Tuberculosis Neoplastic Disease Carcinoid tumors Lung cancer Pulmonary nodules […]
Cardiovascular System: PANCE and PANRE Examination Content Blueprint
The PANCE and PANRE: Examination Content Blueprint checklist 2017 The PANCE and PANRE Cardiology Content Blueprint represents 16% of your exam and includes 51 diseases/disorders [genesis_column size=”one-half” position=”first”] Cardiomyopathy Dilated Hypertrophic Restrictive Conduction Disorders Atrial fibrillation/flutter Atrioventricular block Bundle branch block Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia Premature beats Sick sinus syndrome Ventricular tachycardia Ventricular fibrillation Torsades de pointes […]
Free PANRE and PANCE Practice Tests and Exam Questions
I am happy to announce that the free PANCE and PANRE practice exams are finally up and running! There were a few technical hurdles to overcome, but I have worked out most of the kinks with the exam professor software. I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to send me corrections on […]
31 Online Medical Calculators for Physician Assistants
A comprehensive list of medical calculators for the busy Physician Assistant (Just in case you forgot your iPhone) Absolute Neutrophil Count Calculator: A calculator for determining absolute neutrophil count (ANC). Absolute Reticulocyte Count Calculator:A calculator for determining absolute reticulocyte count (ARC). Anion Gap Calculator: A calculator for determining anion gap. Asthma Management Calculator: 12 Years of […]
Why Do You Want to be a Physician Assistant?
Have you spent hours thinking about your answers to why you want to be a PA? Do you have the perfect pre-formulated answer just waiting to deliver; hook, line, and sinker? Or, maybe you are approaching this question as I did: You have a pretty good idea of what you want to say and figure, “the […]
How Clay Aiken and Reality TV Helped Me Ace My PA School Interview
am embarrassed to admit: I am a big fan of reality TV. I don’t watch much TV but when it comes time for a new season of Survivor, So You Think You Can Dance, or dare I say The Bachelor (I can’t believe I just admitted that) I can’t stop myself. I justify this to […]
How to Write the Perfect Physician Assistant School Application Essay
Want to write a PA school essay that gets you an interview? Learn from my mistakes and avoid the common pitfalls that many applicants make. Read my real essays (the one that got me accepted and the one that didn’t) and discover how to create your perfect PA school personal statement.
A Conversation Every Physician Assistant Has Had
If you are a practicing Physician Assistant this will surely make you laugh! How many times have you had this conversation? The Conversation Highlights: What are you doing these days? I have a great girlfriend, Kim and she’s a nurse I met her here at the hospital where I sometimes work as a physician assistant […]
Why my Wife is Happy I am a Physician Assistant and not an MD
“In my life, family will always be my greatest priority. I love my patients like I love life itself, but I love my family even more than life itself.” – Stephen Pasquini PA-C. Years ago, I dreamt of being an MD. Since I was a small child, in fact, to me, this would be the pinnacle […]
How to Go to PA School for Free: The NHSC and Me
The median PA graduating today owes $137,500. I graduated owing nothing — and got a paycheck while I did it. Here’s exactly how the National Health Service Corps works, what it pays in 2026, what it asked of me in return, and the one thing about it I’d want you to know before you apply. […]
Google Glass: Welcome to the World of Augmented Health Care
I love technology. And yes, I love Google. When the two combine the only thing that can make me happier is the thought of how these types of technologies will evolve to bring patient care into the 21’st century. I remember when I started PA school in 2002 it was suggested that we purchase a […]
Save a Patient Save the World: The Crisis Text Line
“He won’t stop raping me, he told me not to tell anyone, he is my dad, are you there?” -Anonymous Teenager hen Nancy Lublin started texting teenagers to help with her social advocacy organization, what she found was shocking — they started texting back about their own problems, from bullying to depression to abuse. So […]
The Best Medical iPhone and iPad Apps for Physicians, PAs, and Medical Students
Medical App Directory for iPhone on iTunes Anesthesiology Anesthesiology i-pocketcards – $3.99 – Designed for both the iPhone and the iPad, this app is a clinical reference guide with a compilation of scores, classification, algorithm and dosage information necessary for the Anesthetics environment. It has received a 4-star rating and several high reviews. Gas Guide: […]
The PANCE and PANRE Preparation Checklist
Let’s break down your PANCE and PANRE preparation in as few steps as possible 1. Download the ‘Examination Content Blueprint’ (ECB) from the NCCPA The ECB lists the diseases that you should focus on and describes which information you should study for each disease. Follow the link below: Break down the ECB into parts that […]
A Better Way to “Cram” for your Next PA School Exam
Study blueprint topics and quizzes integrated with real patient video cases I have partnered with ReelDx™ to give you exclusive access to over 700+ video cases with ultrasound, imaging, and lab data plus 1,000+ topics captured by providers in the ER, exam room, ambulance, and the developing world. These cases are integrated directly into the NCCPA™ […]
Why I love being a PA: My letter to a prospective MD
Dear Pre-Med, This is why I love being a physician assistant: I was pre-med for three years and completed my prerequisites as an undergraduate at the University of Washington in Seattle. I graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree in Zoology. While working at the campus health center as a phlebotomist, I met a physician […]
10 Reasons Why You Should Become a Physician Assistant
Why should you become a physician assistant? Here are ten good reasons why you should choose to be a PA: 1. You get to help people every day and get paid to do it: Honestly, I could stop here. Every day I wake up to go to work I look forward to the work I […]
New Grad PA Résumé and CV: Sample, Template + How to Write Yours
You’ve earned the white coat, survived the didactic year, and the PANCE is behind you (or breathing down your neck). Now every job application wants a résumé that proves you can practice — when your entire PA career so far fits inside a clinical year of rotations. Here is exactly how to write it, with […]
Are Physician Assistants Capable of Deep Clinical Analysis?
Last week I wrote a letter to Wellness FX. They are an intriguing and progressive California based health care start-up offering laboratory diagnostics and online consultations. I wrote them asking if they were considering allied health professionals as part of their healthcare team. This is the letter I received back: Hi Stephen, Thank you for your interest in WellnessFX. At this time, […]
PANRE and PANCE Review: EKG
From the official Physician Assistant Certification and Recertification Exam Review Course. Electrocardiogram/EKG review by the amazing Carol Sadley, Med PA-C. NEW! ECG “Pearls & Pitfalls” Lecture Series Physician Assistant Certification and Recertification Exam Review | PANRE | PANCE by The Physician Assistant Life Suggested Review Books
Healthcare and the Hunger Games – Tributes and Patients
The reality of inequality is actually far worse than depicted in the movies and books. Courtesy of Lionsgate Tributes and Patients In Suzanne Collins wonderful series we are presented with a grim depiction of a future world. A world in which people are selected randomly to become participants in a game: A Hunger Game One in […]
The Globalization of Physician Assistants
As of 2020, the adoption of PAs has spread globally across a variety of health systems and at least fifteen countries have been in various stages of expansion of PA-like medical workers (nonphysician clinicians) that function under the supervision of a doctor. Several titles are in use for this important healthcare cadre including physician assistants, […]
Judge Not, That Ye Be Not Judged
It is extremely easy to judge our patients. Maybe they don’t take their medicines as directed. Maybe they make poor dietary or lifestyle choices. Maybe they don’t parent like we parent, or they make poor decisions that lead to even worse outcomes. As medical providers… actually let me rephrase this, as humans, we need to […]
Physician Assistant vs. Physician Associate: A Rose is a Rose?
Juliet: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” OK, a show of hands. Who would prefer we change the name of our profession? Should it be physician assistant or physician associate? Or something else entirely? The Case for Physician Assistant Patients are already confused by what we do. […]
