“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
I am a National Health Service Corps Scholar and a Physician Assistant There are two types of us: Those who do loan repayment. Those who are part of the scholarship program. I was one of the lucky ones who had the privilege of being part of the scholarship program. I received a monthly stipend while […]
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 […]
Physician Assistant New Graduate Sample Resume and Curriculum Vitae
Here is the resume that I used upon graduating from PA School. I am sharing this in hopes of helping others who are trying to decide what to include as part of a resume or curriculum vitae as a new graduate. I have included downloadable Microsoft Word files below. You can download this sample resume for a […]
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. […]
The Future of Physician Assistant Education: Stop Stealing Dreams
Have you heard of Seth Godin’s free education manifesto Stop Stealing Dreams? In this manifesto, he discusses the history of education in America. How it was tailored to create “cogs in an industrial machine” rather than the much-needed linchpin’s necessary to drive future innovations. “School has become an industrialized system, working on a huge scale, […]
To be a Great Physician Assistant Focus on Patients not Numbers
ast night, was a late night in the clinic. It was also a very long day. If you looked at my “numbers” you may wonder why. But nothing bothers me more than converting patients into numbers. It goes against everything I signed up for when I chose to become a physician assistant. In order to do […]
Physician Assistant vs. Nurse Practitioner vs. Medical Doctor
Medical Profession Comparison Chart: Medical Assistant vs. Nurse vs. Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Assistant vs. Family Practice Physician (updated ) *Programs vary, and the following represents averages for each vocation. Category Medical Assistant (MA) Nurse (RN, BSN) Nurse Practitioner (NP) Physician Assistant (PA) Physician (MD) Prerequisite Education None None Bachelor’s Degree in nursing and clinical […]
What it Means to be a Physician Assistant: My Journey to PA-C
For lots of people, medicine is a calling. Is it your calling? In college, all I could think about was providing healthcare to those in need. I am not sure where this desire came from, but I aspired to it from an early age. I remember the excitement I would have when I had the […]
Why Religion and Health Care Shouldn’t Mix–A Contraceptive Conundrum
A good portion of what I do as a family practice Physician Assistant involves counseling women and men about birth control. I have also gone to public schools and counseled junior high school students about puberty and sex. One thing is for certain… the answer to solving America’s health care problems is definitely not placing […]
The PA and Supervising Physician Relationship: 5 Must Haves!
Over my 15 years + as a PA I have had been lucky to work with some incredible physicians. Physicians who get what I do, treat me like a colleague and understand my utility (both to my patients and to the practice). The best working relationships are the same as those that make a great […]
The Best Treatment For Your Patients: Your Time and Attention
Sometimes what your patient really needs is your time and attention. This, of course, is not just true in your medical practice but applies to your life in general. We get so caught up with things that can be measured. We look to our prescriptions pads for the answer. But I will tell you this: […]
Physician Assistant Resume and Curriculum Vitae
When I was applying for my first job as a physician assistant I searched all over to find a good sample of a physician assistant resume, but they are few and far between. So in the name of helping other PAs like yourself here your go. I have used this template to apply for three jobs and […]
My PA School Interview: The Journey of a Lifetime
It seems like just yesterday. Like Gene Kelly in the 1952 classic “Singing in the Rain,” there I stood, rain-drenched, under an iconic cast-iron streetlight, holding a soggy white letter in my hand. The letter that said: “You have been accepted for a PA School Interview.” I was living in Seattle at the time, two […]
How to Study for (and Pass) The Physician Assistant Recertification Exam (PANRE)
Looking for the essential three steps? click here First of all, let me give you a few truisms: You can choose one of two recertification options: You have three options for PANRE preparation: The PANRE Preparation Process Whether you like it or not, the time will come when you have to recertify. And, of course, it’s […]
How to (Really) Get Into the PA School of Your Choice!
verybody’s journey to becoming a PA is a bit different. We all have different lives, different upbringings, different barriers to overcome to reach our goals. We have different paths that have led us to want to become a physician assistant. No single formula will assure you a golden ticket to PA school (I am sorry to […]
Time Explored: Looking Back at 6 Years as a Physician Assistant
It has been six years since I began working as a Physician Assistant. I still can’t believe it. When the NCCPA sent me my first PANRE reminder letter I figured they must have miscalculated. But, it’s true, I have been working six years in the field, I have some new gray hairs to show for it. On this date, we […]
