PA News Update!!!

Forbes Ranks Physician Assistant Studies as Top Master’s Degree for Long-Term Employment Opportunity

2012-06-11

Majority of PAs are female as the profession grows
Alexandria, VA — Forbes again named physician assistant studies the single best master’s degree for the third year in a row, citing the profession’s favorable outlook for salary and long-term employment.
“The continued recognition from Forbes is a welcome one for our profession because PAs increase access to quality, coordinated healthcare in virtually every medical setting and specialty,” said James Delaney, PA-C, president of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. “Whether we work as administrators, clinicians or educators, there are limitless opportunities for the more than 84,000 certified PAs in transforming our nation’s healthcare.”
To meet the continuous demand for PA services, industry experts estimate that by 2025, there will be 189 PA programs and more than 127,000 PAs in the healthcare workforce. Currently, 6,000 PAs enter the workforce each year after graduating from the 164 programs around the country.
Newly released data from the AAPA 2011 Census shows that the profession, already 61 percent female, is going to continue the trend. Of those PAs entering the workforce annually, 75 percent are female, and data shows that male PAs are retiring at a faster rate.
The average PA education program is 27 months long and is modeled on the medical school curriculum — a combination of classroom and clinical instruction. Admission to PA school is highly competitive. Applicants to PA programs must complete at least two years of college courses in basic and behavioral science as prerequisites, analogous to premedical studies required of medical students. PA education includes instruction in numerous core sciences, as well as more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations.


   For me, this is the incentive to grind out PA school and begin a wonderful career! It's pretty special when your profession is recognized as having the best longevity when it comes to careers, especially by Forbes for 3 yrs in a row.  Again, it makes me even more thirsty to become a PA. The road to becoming one is going to begin 25 days from today! Till then!

" Hardwork & Dedication " - Floyd "Pretty Boy" Mayweather

PA News Update!!!

Study Indicates No Wage Gap Between Female PAs and MDs in Primary Care

2012-07-19

James Potter, senior vice president, advocacy and operations
A new study by two Yale economists indicates that there is little difference in hourly career earnings between female PAs and that of female MDs in primary care. The research entitled, “Are Women Over-investing in Education? Evidence from the Medical Profession” by M. Keith Chen and Judith A. Chevalier was featured in a Forbes.com article by Gergana Koleva and published this month in the Journal of Human Capital. The analysis factored in the economic and time costs of completing medical school and residency training versus a typical two-year physician assistant program, the existing gender gap in post-degree earnings, and the tendency for women physicians to reduce work hours when they have children.

The Yale study argues that unless women physicians plan to work consistently more than 40 hours a week, there was little difference between the hourly career earnings of female physicians and those of female PAs in primary care medicine. In fact, the analysis suggests that the women PAs earn slightly more over the course of their careers.

The study used an economic measure known as net present value (NPV) to determine whether a long-term venture such as a medical career is worth the investment. The career NPV of women becoming a primary care physician was found to be about $1.67 million, whereas the career NPV for women becoming a PA in primary care was about $1.68 million.

The economists found that the career NPV of a male physician was significantly above that of a male PA in primary care medicine. Their analysis reported that the career NPV of a male primary care physician was about $2.3 million, while the career NPV for a male PA in primary care averaged $1.9 million.

         This is a great look for female practicioners! Who would have thunk!? I personally believe that when I get out in 2yrs I want to work super hard while I'm young, as I will be 25 yrs old. I would like to have a hectic work week so I can grab the experience, and the money which will soon come after.

         On a side note, I'm assuming that the female PA's are working a tad harder than the MD's, and what I mean by that is that  they are accumalating more hours per week, as stated by the article. So yes they are making more, but I wish men could say the same!! lol For males the difference between the PA and the MD is around $400,000 in NPV. That's a house, among many other things!

Long Time No Type!

Well, it's finally about to happen! I have moved to my new town of Study. In Ohio by the way, and have completed all of my vaccinations and the physical prior matriculation.  I was able to join my group of classmates on a facebook page that one of them made. I' m super excited to begin.  I know that there shouldn't be a hurry to enter a hurricane, but I'm just ready to grow and start practicing. After all, it's only going to be 2 yrs of school!  I was leaving the student health center after recieving a PPD shot and actually ran into one of the 1st yr PA students who had one thing to say. " It's a Hurricane".  The program assigned me a summer reading project, and was told to read the book called, " Study Without Stress". ( by Eugenia G. Kelman & Kathleen C. Straker )  The author talks about condensing your notes, and having ample time to self - test. Also, it's all about time management. I'm actually getting some use out of the book though, and I would encourage future students to obtain a copy!

I've mostly been super busy furnishing my apartment, and getting my utilities set up. I just put my Internet up today, and have also installed a wireless router coupled with my modem.  It wasn't as hard a set as I thought it would be.  I started looking over some anatomy throughout the day as well.  I thought it was interesting to read over stuff here and there. It's wild how much you can actually remember.  Orientation begins August 15th and school begins the 20 th. INCEPTION!

Until then, I beleive I will enjoy what this town has to offer, and will make sure to attempt some fishing in my spare time. I looked into joining the University gym or Rec. Cntr, but I can't untill school starts unfortunately!  The will be a PA NEWS UPDATE!! Tomorrow a.m! Stay tuned!

" Keep a sense a humor, especially about yourself, it is a power above all measure. "