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You are here: Home / Pre-Physician Assistant / Physician Assistant Programs and Research / The Future of Physician Assistant Education: Stop Stealing Dreams

The Future of Physician Assistant Education: Stop Stealing Dreams

March 10, 2012 By Stephen Pasquini PA-C 13 Comments

godi1Have 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, that has significant byproducts, including the destruction of many of the attitudes and emotions we’d like to build our culture around."

"In order to efficiently jam as much testable data into a generation of kids, we push to make those children compliant, competitive zombies."

At times I fear the education of doctors and PAs has headed in a similar direction.

While attending conferences or reading through required CME I fear we have become cogs in a pharmaceutical machine.

One trick ponies taught to think pill first, everything else a distant second.

If we want to create great PAs of the future it starts with giving our current generation of students the tools they need to overcome the cognitive dissonance that resonates in today's medical field.

The one that sees an obese, diabetic patient with hypertension as the perfect candidate for Metformin and a new script for Lipitor. Rather than a perfect case for the intense lifestyle interventions and hard work necessary to actually improve long term health. 

I am afraid many in today's generation have allowed themselves to be limited by fear.

Industrial, scaled-up, measurable structure means that fear must be used to keep the masses in line. There’s no other way to get hundreds or thousands of kids to comply, to process that many bodies, en masse, without simultaneous coordination.

A Physician Assistant Education of the Future:

Now students have access to more than just the medical textbooks and the best advertising big pharma has to offer.

We can break the cycle of prescriptions and compliance.

With this comes empowerment and better health care for our patients.

Also, a greater responsibility.

To be advocates for our patients, pioneers of new innovations that offer integrated approaches to health care solutions.

Not passive observers to a health care industry plagued by misinformation, a pharmaceutical focused approach to patient health at a cost to our patients that is truly non-sustainable.

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About Stephen Pasquini PA-C

Stephen has been a family practice PA since 2004 and is the creator of The PA Life and Smarty PANCE Board Review websites. A National Health Service Corps Scholar and a graduate of The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (Rutgers) PA Program and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Stephen's goal is to provide one-of-a-kind online resources for those interested in or practicing in the PA profession, to promote better access to healthcare for all, and foster universal recognition/awareness of the PA profession. Read more about Stephen.

Previous Post: « To be a Great Physician Assistant Focus on Patients not Numbers
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jaclyn says

    February 23, 2014 at 5:24 pm

    I’m exploring making a career change to become a PA, and feel lucky to have stumbled across your blog! Great article.

    Reply
    • Stephen says

      February 26, 2014 at 11:38 pm

      Thank’s Jaclyn!

      Reply
  2. Christi says

    October 12, 2012 at 4:29 pm

    Stephen,

    I’m with you. I’ve been a PA for ten years and agree that healthcare is a social issue the free market can not fix. I’m not gonna bother arguing my point, even though you two have been polite about your differences. Ana seems to be paraphrasing a website she relates to rather than forming an objective opinion only years in the field can form. She seems passionate about what she believes in which can translate into a passion to take care of her patients in the future!

    Christi

    P.S. stumbled on yr website looking for resume advise 🙂 and I enjoyed having universal healthcare as a young adult in Canada so I’m a little biased.

    Reply
  3. Ana says

    June 27, 2012 at 1:35 pm

    Great article. You articulated a very serious problem with our current healthcare model. I am particularly interested in preventive medicine. How much did your PA training focus on nutrition, exercise, and other lifestyle interventions? Are you ever pressured,by either the supervising physician or patients, to prescribe medications when you know that lifestyle interventions are what is truly needed? With the growing problems of diabetes, Alzheimers, and obesity in this country, it is disheartening to see the focus on pharmaceuticals.

    Reply
    • Stephen says

      June 28, 2012 at 12:12 am

      Hi Ana,

      I had very little training on nutrition, exercise, and other lifestyle interventions. Something that didn’t really occur to me until about year 6 into my practice.

      I am sure you have heard Einsteins definition of insanity:

      “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

      After many years of countless prescriptions for Zocor or Paxil and complaints of “non compliant patients” I realized something critical. It wasn’t the patients, but it was my approach. Thus began a paradigm shift, one that was focused on intense lifestyle changes first, with medicines a distant second. 2 years later I found most of my patients were achieving their A1C goals, off most of their meds, feeling better, and many had lost a significant amount of weight (if necessary).

      My approach towards diet and exercise was mostly self taught and revolves around my own obsession with such topics.

      It is a shame that this is not the focus in medical school, and I have become more suspect over the years… many conferences later, and believe that much of med school education and what we learn afterwards is dominated by a pharmaceutical “incentivised” health system.

      As medical professionals I believe we want what is best for our patients, if we understood such topics more thoroughly we would implement them better, regardless of it’s time intensiveness, Every good practitioner I know wants what is best for their patients.

      Doctors have never pressured me to prescribe, although many doctors I know appear to be unaware of an alternative.

      Reply
      • Ana says

        June 28, 2012 at 11:19 am

        Thank you for your insight. I’ve read two books that address how the ‘official’ guidelines and treatment plans for diabetes and obesity, major health problems facing our country, have been largely determined by big pharma to the detriment of patients. I think that these books should be required reading for every healthcare professional (every American for that matter).

        Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It by Gary Taubes

        Sugar Nation: The Hidden Truth Behind America’s Deadliest Habit and the Simple Way to Beat It by Jeff O’Connell

        I will be applying to PA school next year and this information has really changed how I hope to practice medicine. With the new healthcare act, I am concerned that we are moving even further away from quality care for patients.

        Reply
        • Stephen says

          June 29, 2012 at 8:02 am

          It’s funny you say that, as both “Why we get fat” and “Good calories bad calories” are also on my “must read list”. I read both books last year after finishing Atkins Diabetic solution…. Also a wonderful book!

          I am curious why you think the new health care act is a step away from progress. I am aware of it’s many flaws but I feel this is just the progression toward universal healthcare. I guess time will tell.

          Thanks for your thoughtful comments

          Reply
          • Ana says

            June 29, 2012 at 10:03 am

            You are right about this being a progression toward a universal healthcare system, but I do not see that as a good thing for Americans as far as patient care and access are concerned. Obamacare will only increase third-party interference in the doctor-patient relationship, increase costs, and reduce the quality of care. Insurance is not the solution but rather the root of the problem.

            The healthcare crisis has been a 100 years in the making and we certainly are reaching a tipping point. We need reform, but the changes being pushed now are only going to make matters worse for all Americans.

            These are some of the articles that have informed my understanding of the healthcare crisis and its origins. I hope you will be able to read a few of them and let me know what you think.

            “Government Medical ‘Insurance'” by Murray Rothbard
            http://mises.org/daily/6099/Government-Medical-Insurance

            What Soviet Medicine Teaches Us
            http://mises.org/daily/3650

            “What’s Really Wrong with the Healthcare Industry” by Vijay Boyapati
            http://mises.org/daily/4434

            For more on the subject, here is a really extensive reading list.

            http://mises.org/daily/3737#IDComment391571204

            Reply
            • Stephen says

              June 30, 2012 at 7:44 am

              I am confused then as to what you think is the solution… Universal healthcare to me is as much about policy as it is about morality. I agree fully that healthcare insurance will continue to drive up costs. Medicine works best as a “Social Business” one that we have not seen in the United States. I have paid witness to good families demolished by illness and cost, to me there is no excuse for this and there never will be.

              As it stands there is a bubble in America where a hardworking, law abiding citizen who falls victim to tragedy out of their control can lose the shirt off their back. Not to mention with the cost of health insurance premiums those who have access to care do not use it. This is something that the new health care policy fails to correct. Yet, we see to it that things like lifetime maximums have been abolished.. A Doctor I work with fell victim to this. Two years into her son’s treatment for Leukemia her insurance dried up (the same “insurance” I have)…. Good thing she was a Dr. For many of my other patients they are not so lucky, they go without treatment.

              Doing nothing at all is not the solution.

              I personally think there is a large need for pay for service medical clinics staffed by Physician Assistants. We could do day to day care and urgent care for a fixed price… say $60. The health insurance would be there to cover “the bad stuff”. And for this I am not sure how we would control price as we continue to make advancements. Part of it is controlling the lawsuits, and what companies are allowed to charge, also a focus on public health i.e. everyone should be made to read “Why we get fat”.

              What is your idea of a good model for solving the American Healthcare Crisis? Do you think it would have been best that we voted out Romney care? It seems we as healthcare practitioners should be partially to blame as it is our great apathy that has led in part to the crisis don’t you think?

              By the way, some thought provoking articles… Thank you for sharing them with me!

              Stephen

              Reply
              • Ana says

                June 30, 2012 at 9:09 am

                I agree that no American deserves to lose everything due to a sudden illness. The only way to minimize this problem is to drive down costs and I believe a free market system can do this. The US once had a healthcare system that was the envy of the world, we had the finest doctors and hospitals, patients received high-quality, affordable medical care, and privately funded charities provided health services for the poor. This guy does a decent job explaining the exact steps we need to take to return to model of care. It’s really exciting once you imagine the possibilities. http://libertyfeed.tumblr.com/post/26114440069/the-freedom-solution-to-healthcare

                The Affordable healthcare act has many flaws but there is one part that I am strongly opposed to: the Individual mandate. Say for instance, I wanted to provide potable water to everyone in the developing world that currently lacks access. Would a logical first step be for me to tax or fine the individuals that lack clean water? Of course not. That would be absurd, yet this is exactly what the individual mandate does. It levies a tax or penalty on those without life insurance. Not only will forcing people to buy health insurance not fix the current system, it is wrong and unconstitutional (under the commerce clause).

                I know when I mention the free market, some of my friends imagine chaos and people dying in the streets but it would actually function something like what you suggested….costs would go down enough that most people could afford to pay for routine care out of pocket and only use insurance for the ‘bad stuff’. We have to introduce price mechanisms back into the healthcare system. Right now, both patients and doctors are blind to the real costs through no fault of their own. There is simply no incentive to drive down costs when a third party foots the bill. In reality, we all end up paying more. This news report shows how Whole Foods uses personal health savings accounts to drive costs down (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WnS96NVlMI).

                I do hope that the healthcare act is repealed. Americans know the system is broken, so any reform seems like good reform. Unfortunately, the healthcare act will have negative effects on the entire economy and only increase the number of poor and unemployed.

                Thank you for taking the time to consider my perspective. I’m enjoying our discussion!

              • Stephen says

                June 30, 2012 at 2:48 pm

                I don’t even know where to begin, which is a sign that I too am enjoying this conversation. You are working out parts of my brain that have needed to do some lifting.

                Just to let you know I don’t agree with these aspects of the Liberty Feed article you sent me:

                1. Eliminate all medical licensing: What next eliminate licensing commercial pilots? Because my airplane trip to the East Coast a few months ago was quite expensive.
                2. Repeal all laws requiring healthcare to those who cannot pay. The savings will be passed onto patients… Yes dead ones!
                3. Eliminate coverage for the elderly, poor and children because of staff and paperwork. Why not just eliminate the paperwork instead? Single payer eliminates 40% of the billing costs, most of which is incurred because of the fact there are so many payers.

                What I do agree with:
                1. Eliminate pain and suffering as a way for LAWYERS to extract wealth from from another party in a civil lawsuit. But here the problem is often not the patient.

                A lot of this seems to be more a social problem then a healthcare problem. What we need to do is eliminate poverty and then I agree your plan may work.

                I grew up in Stockton California (you may have heard about us on the news recently) 19% of families there are unemployed, and what kind of job prospects are out there for them? Many people right now don’t have enough money to pay for groceries not to mention housing, electricity, or a tank of gas. How are they going to afford treatment for their 2 year old who is born with Cerebral Palsy? I ask you to look at this family and tell them to ask their friends for money or go to a local church so they can afford a wheelchair. And again the rich get the most benefits, the best medical devices and the best care. I have never had a patient who has had Lasix, or braces for that matter.

                What kind of society is this?

                Again the healthcare problem is in part a social problem.

                Also you seem to assume that the “free market” actually cares about people… Repeal the laws requiring healthcare providers to provide healthcare to those who cannot pay…? The fact that this law even “needs” to exist is proof positive that the free market is actually the “ME” market.

                Just look at the current state of affairs we are in. This is what happens when free markets are left to run without checks and balances… Greed.

                If we create cash for service clinics that compete with an insurance market costs will come down. Technology allows me to do things for a quarter of the price I could just 3 years ago and it will continue to get better. But again medicine should be a Social Business, traded on a Social Market, that is not allowed to make profit of of peoples suffering.

                We cannot eliminate protections, people will die and people will get hurt. We are just too far down the rabbit hole to do what you are suggesting. I understand it, in part I agree with it. But the human cost goes beyond what I am comfortable with. To deny a human cost with the plan you are suggesting is living in an alternative reality.

                I assume that you care about people that is why you are going into the healthcare field, so I know you are a good person.

                You and I essentially want the same thing. So why don’t we work to create the kind of system we want to see?

                Complaining about government and repealing laws won’t help. If you want a free market system create it, there is nothing stopping you. As you said the system under insurance is way overpriced and this leaves a big opening for those like yourself and I who have the skills to step up, create a cheap health solution and make the world a better place along the way!

                Stephen

              • Ana says

                June 30, 2012 at 5:53 pm

                Phew, this is getting tiring. First some clarifications on where I stand on the three points.

                1) There are many ways to demonstrate competency. I am arguing against the AMA’s essential monopoly on licensing. There could be other mechanisms that could protect patients. Licensing does not protect patients. It hurts them by limiting the supply of doctors and raising costs.

                “A recent example of the AMA’s use of licensure was their attempt — ostensibly for “patient safety,” — to regulate Walmart’s creation of low-cost retail clinics by preventing the clinics from operating using only nurse practioners.[10] The practioners would have only been providing very basic medical services, such as administering needles and prescribing drugs, which Van Ruth et al. conclude carries no extra risk to patients.[11]
                It is precisely the sort of clinics operated by Walmart that allow consumers — and especially the poorest in society — access to basic, affordable healthcare. By regulating these clinics and reducing the supply of doctors and providers, the AMA has caused higher prices for American consumers of healthcare.”

                2) Many hospitals would choose to provide care regardless of ability to pay and I believe this should be voluntary, not done by force.

                3) With so many dependents, government provided healthcare would have to be phased out over time. I am not for destroying these programs overnight.

                Stephen, as you said, this is truly a social problem as much as it is a healthcare problem. What do you see as the role of government in healthcare? What do you think the role of government is in general? I’ve pretty much exposed my views as libertarian with all my links to the Mises Institute 🙂

                The reason I am critical of some government policies is because they have real and long term consequences on all of us, from the safety of the cars we drive to the purchasing power of the dollar. Poor families cannot afford food, housing, or fuel, much less healthcare. Monetary policy and increasing inflation are decided by the Federal reserve and our government. These policies directly effect the growing numbers of impoverished in this country. We cannot ignore this if we seek to change things for the better. More people need to understand the causes of our nation’s problems as our economic circumstances worsen, so that we don’t offer more of the same as the solution.

                The free market has been wrongly blamed for all of our ills. Unfortunately, we do not have nor have we had a truly free market. A free market consists of free people making decisions that allows them to better their lives by providing services or goods to others. Force and coercion are not part of a free market system.

                If I wanted to go out now and feed the homeless, did you know I could be fined several hundred dollars in several US cities for not having applied for a costly permit? Is that compassion? Does that protect homeless people? Regulations and laws only protect those with the money and power to lobby for them in the first place. Rewarding greed through government has gotten us into this mess. Only a free market can maximize creative energies, reward those that provide services, punish those that harm consumers, and ultimately, increase the living standards for ALL people. Consumers choose the winners in a free market system. Right now, we have a corporate-fascists system whereby a small elite leach off the public through the government.

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Awesome editing service! Everything was detailed, and I could tell that my editor really cared about helping me produce a great personal statement.

Ashanna, Pre-PA

I just wanted to let you know I was accepted to Mercy College’s PA Program last night! To say I’m ecstatic is an understatement! I wanted to thank you once again for all of your help with my essays and my interview. You helped me so much with everything and I couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you for everything.

Anna Mantikas, PA-S

Sarah was beyond excellent. Her timelines and efficiency provided me with enough time to revise and meet with her again before our final draft. Her comments and edits were extremely effective. I hope to be receiving an interview and will be using this service (requesting Sarah) for a mock interview if that happens!

Kaitlyn, Pre-PA

Beth, my editor with The PA Life, truly made my essay feel impactful and, most importantly, expressed what I have to contribute to the PA profession. The one-on-one editing session we had was the most beneficial advice I have ever received, and her ability to work with my essay and make it so powerful was incredible. She is a professor, and her teaching methods were so easy to follow and guided me through how to write such a meaningful essay. I finally feel like an immense weight has been lifted off my shoulders after having her help me with the writing process and how to make what I have written even more high impact. I am forever grateful for this service. It has provided me with Beth, the sweetest and most insightful editor ever, a woman I admire and will be an essential factor in my journey to attending PA school. I currently feel confident in my abilities to receive an interview after working with her.

Sophia, Pre-PA

Sarah Schultz is such a gifted and talented writer. She is super sweet and is a joy to work with. I could not have asked for a better editor. She was able to articulate all of my ideas and thoughts seamlessly and effortlessly. Although challenging at times, her suggestions and edits were very insightful and necessary into creating a spectacular essay. I am extremely pleased with the outcome. It is now a true work of art. I am so grateful to Sarah for offering her time to helping individuals like myself to write the best possible personal statement. I would not have been able to write such a cohesive and smooth flowing essay without her help. Thank you so much!! I would unhesitatingly recommend The PA Life Essay Collaborative and Sarah Schultz.

Patrick, PRE-PA

My editor was amazing! She took everything I asked and did editing that was above and beyond. She was also great at communicating and taking my comments/opinions into consideration. 10/10 would recommend!

Ravee, Pre-PA

Thank you so much for editing my essay and for your kind words. Your edits have definitely made it a stronger PS and I am proud to have it as a part of my application. Thank you for alleviating my stress on arguably the most nerve-wracking part of the CASPA app. You are incredibly talented and well-spoken, and any person that has you edit their essays is incredibly lucky! I will let you know if I have any questions, but I think each one of your edits are meaningful and super clear. I appreciate you shortening it and making it flow better. Thank you again!!!

Karina Kapani, Pre-PA

I am so happy to have gone through this editing process! I did not think you would take so much time to not only give me great feedback but also to edit and revise my paper like you did. I am so happy with my new revised paper and will definitely tell my friends!

Eric, Pre-PA

Sarah was amazing to work with. I love that she is able to take what I am trying to say and form concise sentences that flow together so effortlessly. Every time I read a paragraph that she ‘cleans’ up for me, my immediate response is “WOAH!”. Simply put, she was a pleasure to work with and I would recommend The PA Life personal statement editing service with her to anyone!

Jamee, Pre-PA

Thank you for taking the time to edit my paper! The feedback was constructive and very helpful. I liked how you highlighted all the strong points in my essay. It made me feel reassured that my essay was heading in the right direction. I also liked how you told me exactly what I needed to add to make it stronger.

Juliana, Pre-PA

Carly did a great job helping my personal statement flow from paragraph to paragraph. She truly helped me show throughout the essay why I wanted to become a PA. What I really appreciated was she explained why each change was made; comments and reasons which not only helped with this one time essay but for all my future essays as well. Definitely was worth it!

Kathleen, Pre-PA

Sue Edmondson was instrumental to my understanding of the entrance essay I was trying to write as well as very honest and positive. I loved her writing technique and her instructive points were very easy to understand. Most definitely will recommend as well as keep her in my contacts for possible future essay revision/help. Thank you.

Vladimira, Pre-PA

Sue did a wonderful job. I know this is an extremely busy time of year as CASPA is accepting applications and Sue was great about responding to my initial submission and getting back to me. She provided thoughtful feedback and quality editing. Fingers crossed for an acceptance to PA school!

Jo Lynn, Pre-PA

The ease, frequency, and promptness of communication were some of the best aspects of this service. I found the review and revisions to be very thoughtful and explained in a way where I knew exactly how to apply them to my essay. I would 100% recommend the PA Life PS review to any applicant, and especially enjoyed working with Carly. I am hopeful my personal statement will gain the attention of PA programs I am applying to.

Charlie, Pre-PA

Thanks to the PA life and Deanna I was accepted to ECU PA program this cycle. I’m starting my program next fall. I have been part of the PA life community and a member of the leadership team at the virtual pre-PA club with Deanna and others. I’m preparing a video presentation about how to become a PA for IMG. I’m a nontraditional app and abnormally normal applicant 😆. The video will be posted on the IMG space of the community. I’m so happy to share my experience and help pre-PA like me.

Shynar Johnson, PA-S

Carly was helpful and gave insightful comments while helping me to create more impact within my sentences. I feel confident and at ease knowing that my supplemental application has been reviewed in a thorough manner. Thank you for all your help!

Mina, Pre-PA

Sarah did such a great job editing my personal statement! She was receptive to my concerns and had awesome ideas to make my essay stand out. I am very happy with how it turned out and I am excited to submit it. Thank you!!

Hannah, Pre-PA

Your service was able to help me figure out exactly what I needed to include, what did not belong and helped me display my experiences the best way possible to form a great essay. Carly was able to help me create my best essay by just editing the order and grammar without changing much of any of my written work. I am very happy with how my essay turned out. Definitely worth the money, thank you for all your help!

Nicolas, Pre-PA

My editor was quick and responsive with her emails. Her explanations on how to improve my personal statement were detailed and organized. I’m very glad I chose The PA Life to help me with my personal statement and point me in the right direction. Thank you very much!

Phillip, Pre-PA

Thank you so much for making the personal statement process less stressful! Although I had been planning and brainstorming for months, the process of writing my journey in 5,000 characters was just daunting and overwhelming. Thank you so much for your kindness, flexibility, and your patience that helped me through this process. I appreciate how you listened and incorporated my feedback to make my personal statement a work of art that is truly representative of ME! I would highly recommend your services to any aspiring PA students who feel lost or overwhelmed by the process. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Cintia, Pre-PA

This was my third time applying to PA school and I wanted it to be my last so I figured getting help with the essay would make a difference in my application. Paying for the one on one service was the best idea I’ve had to date. Sarah was great in that she literally combined three different essays I had written into one phenomenal essay! I literally have no idea how she did it. Sarah helped me focus all of my thoughts and experience down into one concise, yet personal essay. I truly think this will help me get into PA school!

Anna M. PRE-PA

Sue did an exemplary job at editing my personal statement. Her service was particularly useful once my essay was ready for fine polishing and trimming down – she really pulled the fat off leaving the meat of my personal statement remaining. I would recommend this service to others.

Sarah, Pre-PA

I just wanted to reach out to you and let you know that I got accepted into PA School and wanted to thank you so much for all of your help throughout this journey. I truly could not have done it without your help! Thank you again so much.

Emily Sharpe, Pre-PA

Mr. Pasquini was very patient, accommodating and direct in his editing/advice. He was honest, in a way that I needed due to the importance of the letter. I even picked up a few tips to enhance my writing from our meetings. Great experience and will definitely recommend him to others!

Alana P. Pre-PA

I am extremely pleased with this service. It is exactly the kind of constructive criticism I was hoping to receive. I had my essay reviewed by “myparesources” and was not very satisfied with their general comments. Sue put a lot of time and effort and gave me concrete examples of how to change my essay for the better. I WILL recommend this service over all others. Thank you so much!

Joe, Pre-PA

I am amazed by what Deanna was able to do in helping me get my supplemental essays in shape. I had hit a serious roadblock and she was able, and in an incredibly quick manner, help me remove those blocks. I am very grateful!

Lily, Pre-PA

This was the most amazing experience! I felt so confident about my topic and essay after our meeting. Duke got back to me quickly and worked around my crazy schedule. The editing of the essay was professional and gave me insight I could not have received any other way. I only applied to one school because it is really the one I would like to go to the most and I got an interview!!! Thank you so much for all of your help!

Kathryn R, PA-S

I just wanted to let you know that I was accepted in the UW MEDEX program at my home campus in Anchorage, AK. After the long journey I’ve had, I finally was accepted to my top choice! It still seems surreal and I couldn’t be more excited! Thank you so much for the help and insight you gave me. I truly believe it helped prepare me and not be as nervous. I will definitely recommend you to anyone I know who is applying in the future.

Melanie, PA-S

I had such a great time working with Carly. She is very prompt, understanding, and reliable. She made my personal statement very easy to read and helped me convey my words the way I intended it. I’m couldn’t be happier with my final essay and I really appreciated Carly’s effort to edit and re-edit until we were pleased with the result. I’m so glad that I worked with Carly and I thank her for what she did with my PS!!!

Zulhumar, Pre-PA

Sarah was absolutely incredible to work with! My initial draft conveyed all the ideas that I wanted it to, but I wasn’t sure that it flowed well or was memorable. Sarah did a great job with helping me make my introduction stand out and also helped me immensely with the overall structure of my essay. My personal statement had initially been a source of stress but I am so happy with my final draft and extremely grateful to Sarah for her thoughtful insights!

Tina, Pre-PA

I submitted my application this morning so I am not able to answer if I received an interview yet but I am THRILLED that I found this service. Sarah has been such a blessing working on my personal statement with me. She took my ideas and mediocre paper and turned it into a beautifully written story about my life. She helped me write exactly what I wanted to say and guided me with how to say it. I would recommend, without reservation, this service to anyone who is applying to PA school. I am one hundred times more confident about applying knowing my personal statement is exactly where it needs to be. Instead of feeling stressed and overwhelmed when I submitted my application this morning, I had complete peace. Thank you, for being a shining light full of kindness to applicants like myself.

Savannah, Pre-PA

Carly was extremely prompt and helpful! She helped edit my personal statement into something that I am extremely confident applying with!

Danielle, Pre-PA

Duke went above and beyond to help me. I so appreciate his help and would recommend this service to anyone!

Jessica H. Pre-PA

Susan did a fantastic job of editing my essay! She guided me and gave me suggestions for strengthening certain sections and equally took out weak parts. After I followed her recommendations, I really felt like I had an essay where every sentence mattered and reflected who I was. Thank you so much Susan for your help. I feel that I have a stronger essay because of your honest feedback and your help!

Amanda, Pre-PA

An amazing experience. Glad to have worked with Duke. He did his best, and it was very enjoyable.

Anand T. Pre-PA

I really appreciated Carly’s attentiveness to my writing style and working to keep my message and content but working it in a way that reads easier. I appreciate her turnaround time, as well as priority deadlines for programs, are quickly approaching!

Jacob, Pre-PA

I got in!! I got into PA school and I can’t thank you enough for your hand in helping me with this process. I received 7 interviews out of 12 applications, I was waitlisted at Jefferson, Salus, and Chatham. And I was accepted at Drexel and Stony Brook. I will be starting PA school in June! Thank you so very much!!

Natalie, Pre-PA

Sarah was super helpful and flexible in my schedule. Her editing really turned my essay around, and made me a much more confident applicant! I am so glad I utilized this service. I will keep you updated on my results for this round 🙂

Mollie, Pre-PA

Carly is absolutely amazing, and I would recommend her to everyone. She was very helpful and supportive with her edits and why she recommended certain changes. She is amazing, and she helped me tell my story.

Peter, Pre-PA

Sarah was a joy to work with! She was extremely helpful and patient with any questions I had for her! 10/10 recommend using this service!

Lori, Pre-PA

Sarah is absolutely amazing and really helped transform my essay into the best version it could have possibly been!

Shannon B. Pre-PA

Sue Edmondson was VERY thorough in her editing of my essay, as well as the promptness of her responses to me. She not only took the time to edit the grammar of my essay but helped me remove a large portion of it to focus on the important aspects of it and draw in more details. Overall, a fantastic service!

Megan Hunstad, Pre-PA

I am so impressed by Carly’s editing, advice, and insight. It was incredibly thorough and helpful. I wish I would have done this sooner. I had three interviews this cycle and three waitlists. I believe I would have gotten more interviews this past cycle if I would have done the essay edit last year. As a waitlisted applicant preparing for another application cycle, I submitted my essay to two other services at the same time and The PA Life gave the most helpful, detailed, and professional edit.

Jenn, Pre-PA

Lisa Tepper reviewed my personal statement and her edits were incredibly helpful. By asking me many specific questions and responding to my answers, she helped me add much-needed context to my personal stories that I didn’t even realize was missing. And she made a few subtle suggestions in my conclusion that really tied the essay altogether. I am very pleased with how my essay turned out and it is such a relief to turn in a statement that I am proud of.Thank you so much.

Kaitlin Emmerling, Pre-PA

This was a very quick service and the attention to detail and response time was amazing. I thank you for having a service like this and am so happy I decided to go with the PA Life!!

Rachel, Pre-PA

I can not speak highly enough of Sarah. She was extremely helpful and easy to work with. I think she did an especially admirable job packaging the message I was trying to get across in my essay in a concise format that flows smoothly. Thank you again!

Ian, Pre-PA

I used the personal statement editing service with Deanna Matzen (April/May 2021) and the mock interview service with Mary Jones (June 2021). Both were exceptional to work with and helped me to achieve my goal. I applied to three schools and received interview invites from all three (I’m a first-time applicant). I was waitlisted at one in June and later accepted in November, received early acceptance to my top choice in November (UTSW), and I chose to decline my third interview scheduled in December. Thank you for your services!

Rachelle, Pre-PA

I was so glad that I chose to have Duke look over my essay, he turned it from long, rambling, and scattered to a much more concise, well written essay. I really feel as though it represents me well! Duke always responded quickly and I felt as though I got a lot of value for the money. Thank you!

Jennifer B. Pre-PA

My editor with The PA Life was amazing! I am so thankful for her attention to detail and wonderful editing skills. I am thrilled with how my personal statement turned out and can’t thank you enough for all of your help.

Olivia, Pre-PA

Thank you for all of your help with my essay. You used my content, but refined it and made it more relatable. I believe due to your help I gained three interviews this cycle! I was accepted to two of the three schools and I will be going to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston this May. Again, thank you for all of your help, it has definitely changed my life.

Lauren Clewley, PA-S

I just wanted to give you an update! So far I have had two interviews and been accepted to both! I have three more interviews scheduled as of right now, and still waiting to hear from a handful of schools. Thank you so much for all of your help with my essay!

Jennifer Bidwell, PA-S

Wanted to let you know how this application season was going for me so far.

I’ve had two interviews, still have at least three more scheduled, and I received my first acceptance last week.

Thank you again for your help!

M.S, Pre-PA

I just wanted to share that I got into USC! Woohoo!!! They just called me to share the good news. I’m feeling pretty shocked since that interview did not go as well in my head. I can’t believe I got into school during my first round of applications. This would not have been possible without you, and I really appreciate all the support you gave me throughout this process. ?

Tiffany, PA-S

My editor with The PA Life was amazing! I will definitely suggest these services to anyone else applying to PA school. Thank you for everything!

Margarita, Pre-PA

I’ve been telling everybody that I come into contact with about the incredible value of your service and that I directly attribute your editing as a reason I got into two schools this academic cycle and received 8 invitations to interview. All the best! Read more at http://www.thepaessay.com

Jeremy Cohen Pre-PA

I read my personal statement again today and got the chills. I am so happy with it and just wanted to thank you for all your help with my PA school essay!

Mikaela, Pre-PA

I am very pleased with the services provided! I received an email almost immediately upon submitting my essay for review, and within 24 hours my essay review was completed. I would definitely recommend this service to any PA school applicant before they submit their essay to CASPA! Thank you for your help!

Hannah Watson, Pre-PA

Sue was great! She edited my essay in a short time frame and the comments and feedback were very informative. She helped link all of my main ideas and gave great advice regarding appropriate information for the essay. I highly recommend this service.

Michelle, Pre-PA

My editor was Beth, and she blew my expectations out of the water. She got back to me within 24 hours of submitting my request for edits and helped me so much with the edits she made. If I receive an interview, I am excited to use PA Life to help me with mock interviews.

Haley, Pre-PA

I am so thankful that this editing service exists. The personal statement is incredibly important which is why I was so nervous about it. It took me two weeks to even get started because I was so nervous about writing the wrong thing. After Carly helped me with my essay, I am now so much more confident in it. Her edits were very thorough and showed that she had a really good understanding of what is important for a PA personal statement. Her email detailing her overall impression of my essay also showed she understood every single point I was trying to make and what kind of feeling I was trying to give to people reading my essay. This has been the most reassuring thing.

Angela, Pre-PA

A couple of months ago you worked with me on improving my personal statement. I wanted to reach out and let you know that it worked out! I got 5 interviews and so far have been accepted to 2. I am so so thankful for all your help as I don’t think it would have worked out without your amazing editing skills. Thank you for all you do! Not just me but for all the applicants you helped get accepted this year!

Matthew B. PA-S

My experience with the PA Life personal statement collaborative was simply remarkable. My editor did an outstanding job making sure that my personal statement reflected my BEST work and addressed all of my concerns regarding the essay and other questions I had about my application. I can’t thank you enough for all the help I received during this process. Thank you!

Erika, Pre-PA

Carly did a fantastic job helping my personal statement create fluid and concise writing to help convey my experience! I highly recommend using this service even if you think your statement is solid because they will help make it better than you could have imagined! Thank you for everything.

Kelsey, Pre-PA

This was just what my essay needed. I am confident that I have answered all the questions without sounding too “braggy”.

Kelsey, Pre-PA

I am mind-blown by my editor Carly’s work. My original essay is like an ill-fitting suit. She hemmed and adjusted it in all the right places and now it looks perfect. I don’t think I’m a bad writer, but I don’t write often and I have spent the past 10 years of my life focused on health sciences. I may have never been able to do this on my own. Thank you thank you, I consider this essay service a bargain.

Rebecca, Pre-PA

This service was invaluable – I felt decent about my essay, but it’s remarkably better. I appreciate the level of detail and courtesy even with my discounted rate. You guys are too great!

Taylor Hamstra, Pre-PA

I wanted to share exciting news with you – I got accepted to UT Health San Antonio’s Physician Assistant program!!! I am so thankful for ALL of your work and talent that was put into my personal statement and supplemental essays. I could not have gotten through this process without you. I extend a thank you from my mother, Tammy, as well. We were so blessed to be paired with you. Your hard work and dedication to helping me as a Pre-PA student-led to success during the application process. I hope 2021 is treating you well and you have a blessed year!

Aubrey, PA-S

Very detail-oriented and took the time to explain the process, so our expectations were on the same page. Excellent editing and feedback on the content. Helpful comments on how I could maximize limited character count to make the most impact on the reader. I very much would recommend this service!

Esmeralda, Pre-PA

Hi, I am beyond words to express how I feel, I got accepted, contingent on background check which I think is a formality. I want to say boldly that I am going to be a PA, thanks to you. You will be always blessed for the wonderful service you provide.  You were very kind and worked beyond what I thought could be offered. Thanks again!

Pavithra, Pre-PA

I just want to let you know I received multiple interview invitations and got my first acceptance a few weeks ago! I am still preparing for more interviews, but at this point, I am pretty certain I will be going to Midwestern University, and I think so much of my success with applications is because of your help with my personal statement. Because of this, I wanted to reach out and say THANK YOU! I really appreciate your support and I would definitely recommend this service to anyone applying to PA school 🙂

Alli Cowan, Pre-PA

Just found your site today while trying to update my resume. Also, I have to recertify next year so your tests are great for a refresher course. I was in a specialty area of medicine so I now realize how much I forgot in the past 5 years. Thank you very much and I will pass on to other PAs.

Pattie Solomon PA-CNorTh Miami Florida

I was very pleased working with Duke on my personal statement. I’m currently in the middle of applying to PA school, so I haven’t heard back from the programs. I’m looking forward to the experience though.

John R. Pre-PA

Holy cow! I wanted to let you know I have been accepted to PA school.  I will be attending the Franklin Pierce Physician Assistant Program, Class of 2019 in West Lebanon, NH. I cannot thank you enough for being part of my journey.

If you are reading this you might have been like me skeptical and trying to find a way to write a stellar essay for your PA application.  I want to share with you my exceptional experience using this service.  First, do yourself a favor and BUY the eBook, “How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement.”  I read it twice. Once before I started my essay draft and then again during.  I cannot stress how helpful the book was in clearly stating what the Admissions Directors are looking for in an application essay.  Next, the book reviews how to formulate a proper essay with clear instructions, easy reminders of the writing process, and excellent examples of good and bad writing choices.  After several drafts of my essay, I made an appointment to work with Duke Pasquini, one of the authors of the guide, through the internet and via phone to help with editing and my length issue.  Duke’s professional experience and kind and straight forward demeanor allowed me to create a winning essay that was an authentic representation of me.  Not only did I receive an interview from my top choice of PA school I was accepted a week later into their Physician Assistant Program, Class of 2019.  Thank you, “PA Life” for being a part of my journey.

Michele Williams, PA-S

It’s very clear that Deanna, my editor, put a good amount of time and thought into this. She FAR exceeded my expectations, even providing me with two different possible drafts (my original copy was 1500 characters too long). After paying for two separate editing services, I was initially disappointed to find that the first had not provided anywhere close to the level of feedback/review/editing that I had hoped for. I thought I was on my own again with my personal statement and did not have high hopes for any additional edits at the time that I’d received the review from Deanna, of thePAlife. The first service I’d used provided reviews that were neither thoughtful, in-depth, nor helpful, but Deanna’s edits were each of those! My hopes had been shot down by the first service but were immediately uplifted after I received Deanna’s edits. Her feedback was timely, thorough, thoughtful, critical, and even supportive! She provided an exceptional service, and I would highly recommend her to anyone

Cierra, Pre-PA

About a year ago you helped edit my personal statement to get into PA school! I just wanted to let you know that I got interviews and was accepted to all the schools I applied to! I have decided to attend UAB in the fall! Thank you again for all your help!

Lauren Smith, PA-S

Having my essay edited proved extremely helpful. I was having trouble connecting my thoughts, and the edit helped so much. I haven’t found out about acceptance yet. I’m just now about to submit my application!

Amber, Pre-PA

I worked with Duke to edit and complete my essay. It was a terrific experience that I would recommend to everyone! Duke has an amazing ability to help you move things around and change it a little, while still making it feel like 100% your own work. We talked out every change we made, and we both conceded to each other in different places. He made extra time for me when I got stressed out about the deadline, and worked with me for a while each time we sat down. I paid $199 for this service, and I think that was the best bargain I ever got! I have been invited back to submit supplemental applications to some schools, and I will keep the team updated about my interviews. Thanks Duke!!!

Carly Bransky, Pre-PA

I just wanted to let you know I got accepted to Yale!!!! I’m so pumped. I can’t wait to talk more in-depth with you about my experience. For now I just wanted to say thank you!!!! You really were SO helpful.

James Hennessy, PA-S

Great feedback and turn around time. Utilizing this feature gave me even more confidence that I was trying my best to be the top candidate.

Kristopher, Pre-PA

Deanna was so amazing! She was really thorough and strengthened my essay in one edit! I feel so confident submitting my essay and I have high hopes for interviews! Thank you for providing these services to those of us with stories that need help being told. I would definitely recommend this service to everyone who wants to apply to PA school!

Valeria, Pre-PA

The editor I was assigned, Ms. Matzen, was incredibly friendly, courteous, and professional. This was easily the best experience I’ve had with any guidance or essay editing program.

Andrew, Pre-PA

Deanna was amazing! She really went above and beyond the single-edit that I could afford. I consider myself a pretty good writer, but she helped me focus and ground my story without sacrificing the overall creativity of the original piece. All I can say is wow! If there ever was something worth the money, this service is it!

John S. Pre-PA

Sue did a wonderful job. I know this is an extremely busy time of year as CASPA is accepting applications and Sue was great about responding to my initial submission and getting back to me. She provided thoughtful feedback and quality editing. Fingers crossed for an acceptance to PA school!

Jo Lynn, Pre-PA

Sarah Morris Schultz was my PA statement editor and she was absolutely fabulous! She helped to shave my original 4-page long, winding PA statement down to a 2 page impactful, poignant, moving statement that lead me to get accepted to a Doctor of Medical Science program in Physician Assistant Studies. She has such a gift for writing and knowing how to say things in just the right way and use the right words! One of the DMS PA program committee members started off my video conference online interview by stating that my PA statement was the best he ever read, not “one of the best” but THE BEST statement. My heart leapt. My PA statement years ago had caused me NOT to get accepted to the school that I had hoped. I did get accepted to a good PA school, got my degree, and started practicing in this field that I love. However, this time I decided to humble myself and get help writing a good statement. Praise God, it paid off. I am so grateful for the PA Life service and fee for the one-on-one service is worth every penny! I recommend everyone get Sarah Morris Schultz. She’s the bomb.com! I love you, Sarah 🙂

Sonja D. PA-S

So far, I’ve received 3 interview invites from Chapman, Drexel, and Tufts!!! I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to Sarah for polishing my PS, supplemental essays and giving me lots of awesome tips for my upcoming interviews!!!

Audrey, Pre-PA

I’m not sure if you remember me but you helped me a couple of months ago on my PA personal statement. Just wanted to let you know — I got accepted into University of Pacific’s PA program! I’m overjoyed!

Thank you so much for all your help and encouragement! I really appreciate it.

Jennifer MurphyPRE-PA

Duke really pushed me to write from the heart and explore my true reasons for applying to PA school.  I was very pleased with the outcome.  I haven’t yet received an interview, but my fingers are crossed!

Emily P. Pre-PA

I absolutely loved working with Sarah! She provided the best feedback to my personal statement, while also being sensitive to the details regarding personal family trauma. At the end of our sessions, I always felt confident in the statement and knew that Sarah would help me best articulate into words what I wanted to say. My statement now is something I can be completely confident in, and know that Sarah has been able to help me achieve a statement that prospective schools will pay attention to. Thank you, Sarah (and The PA Life) for everything!

Elizabeth, Pre-PA

Deanna gave me excellent feedback on my personal statement, and I couldn’t be more grateful. She was very articulate and gave examples for me to work with on the rewrite. What I struggled with most was the organization of my writing, and Deanna helped me structure my paper so that it was easy to read. I would 100% recommend this service to a friend applying to PA school. Thank you so much!

Daniela, Pre-PA

Very helpful. I needed help figuring out what to cut and Sue was great at showing me what could go without sacrificing what I was trying to convey.

Dave, Pre-PA

Working with Sarah was a wonderful experience. She was prompt, attentive, and incredibly supportive throughout the process. Sarah never deviated from the authenticity of my essay. Even after she made vast changes, the essay still felt true to what I wanted to express. Thank you, Sarah! I would recommend this service to anyone applying to PA school.

Ashley, Pre-PA

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Testimonials

I really needed help with my personal statement. I wrote many copies and finally sent my favorite to the PA life to get some assistance editing. I thought I would have a hard time with the constructive criticism because I spent so much time already on my writing, but the editors were great in suggesting edits and why as well as complimenting appropriately. I’m very proud of my end product and am excited to send it to PA schools. I haven’t finalized my application yet but will definitely let the PA life know if and when I get an interview (or hopefully 2)! 🙂
Bailey B. Pre-PA
I just wanted to share that I got into USC! Woohoo!!! They just called me to share the good news. I’m feeling pretty shocked since that interview did not go as well in my head. I can’t believe I got into school during my first round of applications. This would not have been possible without you, and I really appreciate all the support you gave me throughout this process. ?
Tiffany, PA-S
I absolutely loved working with Sarah! She provided the best feedback to my personal statement, while also being sensitive to the details regarding personal family trauma. At the end of our sessions, I always felt confident in the statement and knew that Sarah would help me best articulate into words what I wanted to say. My statement now is something I can be completely confident in, and know that Sarah has been able to help me achieve a statement that prospective schools will pay attention to. Thank you, Sarah (and The PA Life) for everything!
Elizabeth, Pre-PA
I wanted to share exciting news with you – I got accepted to UT Health San Antonio’s Physician Assistant program!!! I am so thankful for ALL of your work and talent that was put into my personal statement and supplemental essays. I could not have gotten through this process without you. I extend a thank you from my mother, Tammy, as well. We were so blessed to be paired with you. Your hard work and dedication to helping me as a Pre-PA student-led to success during the application process. I hope 2021 is treating you well and you have a blessed year!
Aubrey, PA-S
Duke helped me with my essay and he was great! He really helped me fine tune my essay so it’s ready for submission and answered all of the question I had about small details in my essay. He was also great about responding to emails in a timely manner. I definitely recommend this personal statement review service to anyone who’s applying to PA school…even if it’s just as a final read-through before submitting it on their application.
Tyler J. Pre-PA
This was an extremely helpful process! I still have work to do on my essay but Sue was very helpful by giving me criticism I needed to hear from an unbiased source as well as being very fast responding! I think this will help me moving forward and having a strong application!
Morgan Rial, Pre-PA
Sarah was beyond amazing, she was always on time with my essay edits, took the time needed to really listen to what I had to say. Sarah pretty much transformed my essay form caveman style to an easy, awesome flow good content easy and fun to read essay. I am very thankful for her collaboration, I could not have done anything that resembles her quality of work. Thanks a million!!!!
Jerry C, Pre-PA
I was so glad that I chose to have Duke look over my essay, he turned it from long, rambling, and scattered to a much more concise, well written essay. I really feel as though it represents me well! Duke always responded quickly and I felt as though I got a lot of value for the money. Thank you!
Jennifer B. Pre-PA
I took my boards for the 7 th time on Monday. I work in pediatrics for the past 20 years. I used your site and a review book to prepare. I think your site is fantastic and a bargain . I just found out I passed. Thank you!
Mark Leinwand, PA-C
Sarah is an excellent Interviewer. She encourages her interviewee all along and calms them down. She guided me every step of the way and gave me on the spot feedback. They were very helpful. She taught me to be empathetic and showed me the steps in very helpful and practical ways. She gave me awesome links, which have helped me prepare even more. I am building confidence. I am 100% satisfied with the PA Life mock interview service.
Ram Sundar Aryal, Pre-PA

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101 PA School Admission Essays

Admissions Directors Know What They Want. Shouldn't You? You’re slaving away at your personal statement, but can’t help wondering if anyone will read past the first line. A troubling thought, isn’t…

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How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement

What Makes This Book Unique? We have worked with 1000’s of applicants through our Personal Statement and Essay Collaborative and have interviewed PA school faculty and Admissions Directors from 12…

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