And the answer is . . .
You will have to take the quiz below to find out!
"Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past."
I wish the title of this blog post were an attention grabbing exaggeration, but sadly it is true, I scored a 3 out of 25 on my PA history quiz.
Statistically speaking I would have done better had I let my cat pick the answers.
The truth is, even after 13 years in the PA profession and over three years writing content for this blog, I know very little about the history of my profession.
- Which nationally syndicated cartoon comic strip featured a physician assistant as a leading character?
- What year was the first national certifying examination for PAs administered?
- Which First Lady attended and spoke at an AAPA Annual Conference while her husband was still in office?
Know your PA history and Ace your PA school interview
Want another reason to know your PA history?
When you are preparing for your PA school interview, you must make it a point to have a solid understanding of our profession. It will help you answer questions about why you want to be a PA. You will be able to explain what this means, not just from a personal perspective but a historical one.
How do we as PAs address the many professional challenges ahead? We look to the past and learn from it.
Know your history, and you will be hard wired to impress!
Below is a compilation of five quizzes offered by the Physician Assistant History Society. I have gathered these 25 questions into an interactive quiz that you can take below.
A serious thank you for the amazing work of the PA History Society for celebrating our profession and creating the quiz content.
I encourage you to take time and follow the links embedded in the exam, go down the "rabbit hole," read about and understand every element of our history. It will give you confidence, not only during your PA school interview but as you make a life and career for yourself as a physician assistant.
Now go ahead and see if you can beat my score.
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT HISTORY EXAM
How much do you know about the PA profession
Question 1 |
A | New Jersey |
B | Mississippi |
C | Montana |
D | Louisiana |
Question 2 |
A | Dr. Hu Myers |
B | Dr. Eugene A. Stead, Jr. |
C | Dr. Richard Smith |
D | Dr. Charles Hudson |
Question 3 |
A | J. Jeffrey Heinrich |
B | Alfred Sadler |
C | William Stanhope |
D | Reginald Carter |
Question 4 |
A | Life Saver Then - Care Giver Now |
B | God Loves a Grunt |
C | Angels and Brothers |
D | Corpsman Up |
Question 5 |
A | Working as a nurse's aid in a long-term care facility |
B | Doing janitorial work |
C | Washing a car windshield at a gas station |
D | Grilling hamburgers at a fast-food restaurant |
Question 6 |
A | Cathy |
B | Mary Worth |
C | Gasoline Alley |
D | Beetle Bailey |
Question 7 |
A | Montefiore Medical Center |
B | Norwalk Hospital/Yale University |
C | Howard University Hospital |
D | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center |
Question 8 |
A | Physician's Assistants: Partners in Health Care |
B | The Physician's Assistant: Today and Tomorrow |
C | The Physician Assistant: Innovation in the Division of Medical Labor |
D | Physician Assistant: Their Contribution to Health Care |
Question 9 |
A | 1968 |
B | 1973 |
C | 1975 |
D | 1978 |
Question 10 |
A | 1972 in Durham, NC |
B | 1972 in Washington, DC |
C | 1973 in Wichita Falls, TX |
D | 1973 in New Orleans, LA |
Question 11 |
A | American College of Physician's Assistants |
B | American Association of Physician's Assistants |
C | American Academy of Physician's Associates |
D | American Academy of Physician's Assistants
|
Question 12 |
A | Hillary Clinton |
B | Barbara Bush |
C | Nancy Reagan |
D | Rosalynn Carter |
Question 13 |
A | Sherri Stuart Hint: 1991 Sherri Stuart became the second woman to head the Academy. |
B | Judith Willis |
C | Sherrie Borden Hint: Sherri Borden held the office between 1996-1997 |
D | Clara Vanderbilt Hint: Clara Vanderbilt was first woman to serve as vice president of the organization between 1975-76. |
Question 14 |
A | 1975 |
B | 1980 |
C | 1985 |
D | 1990 |
Question 15 |
A | Duke University, Durham, NC |
B | University of Colorado, Denver, CO Hint: In 1974, the Child Health Associate Program based at the University of Colorado became the first program to offer graduates a master's degree. |
C | Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, WV |
D | University of Washington, Seattle, WA |
Question 16 |
A | The Young Lawyers |
B | The Storefront Lawyers |
C | The Bold Ones |
D | Marcus Welby, MD |
Question 17 |
A | Physicians’ Associates Education Research Foundation (PAERF) |
B | American Registry of Physicians’ Associates (ARPA) |
C | National Registry of Physician’s Associates (NRPA) |
D | American Board of Physician Associates (ABPA) |
Question 18 |
A | Steve Turnipseed |
B | Joyce Nichols |
C | Prentiss Harrison |
D | Henry Treadwell |
Question 19 |
A | University of Alabama/Birmingham |
B | Weill Cornell Medical College/New York |
C | The State University of New Jersey/Rutgers |
D | Emory University/Atlanta |
Question 20 |
A | Federal Economy Act of 1970 |
B | Comprehensive Health Manpower Training Act of 1971 |
C | Health Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1963 |
D | Higher Education Act of 1972 |
Question 21 |
A | Med-ical Ex-tenders |
B | Med-icine Ex-tension |
C | Med-ical Ex-terns |
D | M-edically Ed-ucated Ex-tenders |
Biography:
Question 22 |
A | Chicago, IL |
B | Durham, NC |
C | Washington, DC |
D | Atlanta, GA |
Question 23 |
A | California |
B | North Carolina |
C | West Virginia |
D | Washington |
Question 24 |
A | David L Glazer |
B | Lawrence M. (Mac) Detmer |
C | Donald W. Fisher |
D | William D. Stanhope |
Biography:
Question 25 |
A | Ruth Webb |
B | Brenda Jasper |
C | Peggy Valentine |
D | Joyce Nichols |
Biography:
← |
List |
→ |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
End |
So how did you fare? Post your score in the comments section below, and I will send the first three commenters a FREE copy of our new ebook "How to Write Your PA School Personal Statement"... A $15 value!
If you want to learn all about the PA profession (which you should, especially if you have an upcoming PA school interview), make sure to spend some time at the Physician Assistant History Society Website, take in some PA History video at PAFLIX or purchase The Physician Assistant: An Illustrated History on Amazon. It will blow the socks of the admissions committee if you show up with this one under your arm! This may be the best $15 you ever spend 🙂
Check out The Physician Assistant: An Illustrated History
Have a beautiful day!
Stephen Pasquini PA-C
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Bellene (Billie) Racowsky says
I got a 60% which isn’t too good since I lived thru most of that history. Fun to take and read the answers – thanks for taking the time to do this.
Billie
Shadai says
Im 22 and was intrested in making PA my major i decided to take the quiz with basically no knowledge of it and scored a 61%
Sana says
I got 13/25! But I gotta say, I guessed some of them! Thanks for the posting the quiz!
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Way to go… graded on the curve that definitely counts as an A+! 🙂
Naia says
48%!! Got some more to study!
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Naia, I think you still did better than most 🙂
Irina says
I got 8 correct out of 25. Need to improve a lot ?
Chelita says
I got 4 right
Raquel says
6 correct at 53%. Since I am still in my BSHS, I have a little time to study 🙂
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Not bad at all!!! I think the founders would be proud ?
Alex says
I’m the 5th comment, 60 %.
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Alex, 60% on the curve gives you an A++ ! Unfortunately, a couple other commenters beat you to the ebook, but I will do this again so stay tuned.. Thanks for taking the time to take the test and post your score!!
– Stephen
Sarah says
I got 80% 🙂 still could be better!
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Sarah, if the PA History society sees your score you just may get a job offer… Way to go! Unfortunately a couple other commenters beat you to the ebook, but I will do this again so stay tuned.. Thanks for taking the time to take the test and post your score!!
– Stephen
John O says
Just 20%
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Great job John! Thanks for taking the time to take the quiz and post your score. Since I grade on a curve 20% is still a B+ 🙂 Way to go! I just sent over a copy of your free ebook to your email address, take care and have a great day!
– Stephen
Sam R says
I got a 62% ! I definitely need to brush up on my PA history..
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Great job Sam! Thanks for taking the time to take the quiz and post your score. A 66% is going be hard to beat, I think you join the ranks of official PA historian 🙂 I just sent over a copy of your free ebook to your email address, take care and way to go!
– Stephen
Maddie J says
I scored a 44%…. Looks like I need to brush up on my PA history!
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Great job Maddie! Thanks for taking the time to take the quiz and post your score. I think a 44% is exceptional! I just sent over a copy of your free ebook to your email address, take care and have a great day.
– Stephen