Physician AssistantUCSD

November 19, 2012

About the speakers

Grace Deng

Graduated UCSD 2009 BS in Biochem & Cell Bio

Work experience: EMT x3 years

Volunteer Salk Institute Intern University Health

Champion Facilitator Medical Shadowing in

India

Cindy Yiu

Graduated UCSD 2010 BS in Biochem & Cell Bio

Work experience: ED Medical Scribe x2 years CCE x2.5 years

Volunteer: Scripps Memorial Hospital FIMRC in Costa Rica Mexico Medical Missions

Current PAS-1 at Midwestern University – Glendale

MD vs. PA vs. NPNurse

Practitioner

Nursing model training

Nursing school + 2 yrs NP school

Must be certified in each chosen specialty

Practice independently

Holistic care

Salary: $91k

Physician

Medical model training

4 yrs undergrad + 4 yrs med school + #yrs of residency

Supervisor

May or may not have holistic focus

Salary: $175k

Physician Assistant

Medical model training

4 yrs undergrad + 2-3 yrs PA school

No residency required

Supervised

Holistic care

Salary: $95k

So why did we pick PA?

Flexibility – in both career & personal life

Holistic approach to patient care

Shorter schooling

Worked with PAsEnjoy working within a team of medical providers

Characteristics of a PA

Friendly & easy for patients to talk to

Patience

Critical thinking skills

Ability to self-learn

TEAM PLAYER

Applying to PA school

CASPA opens in April every year.

Get your application in as early as possible.

Latest: Late July.

Take the GRE several months prior to applying.

Have all your information ready

Recommended # of schools: 10-12 schools.

What do you need?3 letters of recommendation.

Professor, MD, PA, nurse, community leader, etc. NO family members.

Academic requirementsDifferent for every school. In general, the following courses are required:

General Biology w/ LabGeneral Chemistry w/ LabPhysiology w/ LabAnatomy w/ LabMicrobiology w/ LabStatistics

WHEN IN DOUBT, TAKE THE CLASS

Questions regarding general requirements?

Let’s take a brief tour of the CASPA…https://portal.caspaonline.org/

InterviewsDifferent types:

Group interview – 2 panelists vs. 3 interviewees1 or 2 panelists vs. 1 intervieweesMMI—Multiple Mini Interviews

Don’t stress out. Have fun!

Be the best version of yourself for 6 hours.

Appear professional.

PREPARE! But don’t over-prepare.

Recommended books:

Day in a life of PA school7:00 am Wake up + Breakfast

8:00 am Exam

9:00 am Lecture

12:00 pm Lunch

1:00 pm Lecture

5:00 pm Work out + shower

6:30 pm Dinner

7:00 pm - ? am Study

My recommendations…Take as many biology/health-science related

classes as possible.

Get as much healthcare experience and exposure

Study habits - find out what works for you & stick to it.

Don’t cram.

Relax & have fun!

UCSD classes prepare you very well for PA school

Trust the system

Which schools did we apply to?

Grace Deng

George Washington U. (D.C.)

Drexel U. (PA)

Arcadia (PA)

Rosalind Franklin U. (IL)

Midwestern U. (IL)

Northwestern U. (IL)

Baylor (TX)

U. of Washington (WA)

Touro (CA)—Joint MPH/PA

Samuel Merrit (CA)

OHSU (OR)

Cindy Yiu

Midwestern U. (AZ)

ATStill (AZ)

USC (CA)

Touro (CA) – Joint MPH/PA

Western (CA)

Baylor (TX)

Emory U. (GA)

Yale U. (CT)

Southwestern Medical Ctr (TX)

Arcadia (PA)

Pacific U. (OR)

Contact InformationGrace Deng

gdeng17@gmail.com

Cindy Yiu

cayiu@live.com

Facebook message me

Thanks all! Good luck with apps!

Hope this was useful!