Dave DuBose » PA Shadowing

Why You MUST Market Yourself To Get Into PA School

admin — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:19:09 +0000

Future PA,

In this video I share with you why you MUST market yourself the correct way to get into PA School.

Check it out….

What did you think? Please share your comments below.

Dave
“The PA Coach”

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PA School Case Study–How He Got In PA School

admin — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:26:54 +0000

Below is a quick case video I did to give you an idea of what is possible for you. If this guy can get into PA school, then so can YOU! Enjoy!

I hope that you found motivation from that case study. PA school is for you. You have to position yourself to be ready for it.

Click here if you would like my help.

Dave

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Getting Into The Physician Assistant School Of Your Choice: 3 Steps

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 22:33:10 +0000

Hello Future PA!

In this post I wanted to give you a few steps that may help you get into the Physician Assistant School of your choice. Having been on the Admissions Committe for a Top 3 PA School, I have seen just about EVERYTHING! Good, Bad and Ugly.

I will say though, that there is light at the end of the tunnel for the informed applicant. With that being said, here is a list of things that you should do to get your seat in your favorite PA Program:

Step #1: Research The School–I want you to find out as much about this school as possible. Study their website, send for their brochures etc. Learn as much as you can about their mission, type of applicant, etc. Once you know what they are looking for, then you can reverse engineer the process to fit their mold perfectly.

Step #2: Attend the Open House:–I know that this seems like a no-brainer, but I am surprised at the number of students that don’t do this simple step. Here is your chance to get belly to belly with the powers that be. Are you kidding me!? you can potentially meet the Admissions Director, key faculty members, admission committee members, current students,(http://www.HowWeGotInPASchool.com)etc. Don’t miss this easy step.

Step #3: Rise Above the Competition–I need you to exceed the minimum requirements set forth by this PA Program. Exceed their number of Health Care experience hours needed, exceed the GPA and GRE requirments, write the most compelling, heart-touching(honest) essay possible and last but not least, “Rock” the PA School interview. (http://www.PhysicianAssistantSchoolInterview.com)

There is a lot more that goes into the PA application and acceptance process, but if you master the above 3 Steps you will be so much closer to getting into the PA school of your choice.

Helping you get into PA School,

Dave
“The PA Coach”

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PA School…..I QUIT

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:27:01 +0000

I QUIT.

Is that how you feel sometimes? I know I felt that way several
times on my road to PA school.

I remember it like it was yesterday! I called my mentor and told
her in a very bold and confident tone that “I QUIT!”. She held the
phone for a few seconds and said “So just like that, you are going
to give up on a dream that you have worked so hard for?”

“You are going to “punk out” on me that easy huh?” As I held the phone
to my ear amazed that she called me a punk, I was truly embarrassed.

I said ” I don’t know if I can do this”. I just don’t feel that I
can compete with the other, better applicants”. Her next statement
practically changed my life when she said,

“If you believe in your heart that they are truly better than you,
than you have lost. But if you put that same belief in yourself,then
you WILL get in”

From that day forward I chose to believe in ME more than anything or
anyone else, and it is that belief that has shaped my life in everything
that I do.

I went on to apply and get in PA school on the first try!! I was so happy
that she didn’t let me quit or as she would say “punk out”.

Sometimes we need those type of people in our lives that just won’t
let us give up. They force us to believe in ourselves.

Do you believe in yourself??? Well guess what? I believe in you and
I am not going to let you QUIT.

My mentor also took the time to put me in touch with some PA student’s
who were where I wanted to be. She said that if I could imagine myself
there,then I would one day be there.

After speaking with those students, I had a new found confidence. I
thought to myself, “If these folks could get in,then so could I”.

You are in luck because I have done the same for you! I’m about to put
you in touch with 8 current PA students who are where you wanna be.

Click below to see what I mean!

**********************************************************************
http://www.HowWeGotInPAschool.com
********************************************************************

I am so pumped to bring this to you! I hope that this will change
your life as it did mine some 14 years ago.

Helping you get into PA school,

Dave
www.HowWeGotInPASchool.com

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Applying to PA School and Preparing for The Interview

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:35:47 +0000

**Below is a guest blog post from one of my former students, Kristy Fogle, PA-S. Read and Enjoy!

Hello PA school applicants for the 2011 cycle!! Some of you may be new applicants and some may be reapplicants. As many of you know, applying to PA school takes a lot of time and preparation. When gathering references, try and use some from school experience and some from work (preferably healthcare related) experience.

The schools you are applying to can easily look at your grades on the transcript, but they also want to know how you work in groups. Are you a leader? Are you a follower? Are you someone that works well in a team? I say this because a large majority of PA school is working in groups and readying yourself to work as part of the “healthcare team.” You are being primed from day one of PA school for this goal. If possible, it would be great to have someone who has been part of the “healthcare team” write you a reference i.e. PA or MD. This shows the school that someone who works in the healthcare team and learned within the medical model approves of your style of interaction.

I think one of the biggest things that I tried to sell to schools when I was applying is that I am a team player. Meaning, I know when to listen, but I also know when to stand up and lead. This was the underlying theme of my references, application essay, and interview.

The first time that I applied to PA school I did not get in. I wasn’t finished my pre-requisites, but I remember feeling like I lost a lot of confidence. For the second year, I reminded myself that this year is a new year. I continued to gain patient care hours, obtained brand new references (this is very important), and rewrote my essay. My essay had the same general concepts, but this time I discussed how I had amplified my experiences and knowledge. I wanted the programs to see that I had learned and grown in that year and that, now, I was even more ready to be a PA.

Whether you are applying for the first or second time, you want the programs to see that you are competent, a team player (I cannot stress this enough!!), and an empathetic person. Try and write about how your experience makes you a unique applicant that they cannot afford to pass by! No matter what the essay topic is for that particular year, you should try and add these things to your essay. Remember, these schools get tons and tons of applications (mine received 800 last year) so you want to stand out and not be generic. Once you peak their interests with the good grades, references, and essay you will receive an interview and the preparation continues…

Some people think they can go to the interview and, because they have an amazing background, they can just wing it. This couldn’t be further from the truth. You need to prepare. There are many books out there on how to apply and interview for PA school. I read one of them religiously. Research state and federal laws for PAs. Visit your state’s medical board website.

Have the answers to basic questions: “Why do you want to be a PA” “What is your understanding of what a PA does?” “Why would you be an asset to this program?” I also contacted PAs and asked them questions about their profession and how they deal with certain obstacles within the profession. Remember, the more you prepare, the less nervous you will be on interview day. I was still very nervous on interview day, but David DuBose, PA (The PA Coach) gave me some great advice: “Take a deep breath before you answer each question and remember, they are trying to impress you too.” He was right, it wasn’t one sided.

At both of my interviews (which I will write about later in greater length) I felt that my interviewers were doing this. With that said, practice, practice, practice the interview. I had friends and family read me interview questions from a book that I would respond to so that when the big day came, I was more than ready. Most of you have at least a month to prepare and research. This should be plenty of time. Relax and remember: Competent, team member, empathetic!!

Kristy Fogle, PA-S1
Anne Arundel Community College/ Saint Francis University
Class of 2013

***I hope that you enjoyed this post. I am honored to have Kristy write this guest post for us. We will hear more from her in the near future.

Please comment below as well as share on Facebook and Twitter. Thanks

Dave,
“The PA Coach”

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Questions to Ask While Shadowing a Physician Assistant

admin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 02:01:50 +0000

What questions should I ask when I shadow a PA?

* We get this question all the time, and it’s understandable. No one wants to look stupid, and no one wants to kill a networking opportunity before it even gets off the ground. But you won’t learn much if you clam up for fear of putting your foot in your mouth. Remember: you aren’t interviewing – when you shadow, you’re just checking things out. Any sane clinician you’re observing will understand that you probably don’t know much, and will likely remember a time when they were in the same boat.

“Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity.” -Henry Hartman

With Mr. Hartman’s sage words in mind, here are a few questions you can have ready that 1) may lead to good discussion about the PA field, 2) will help you learn about the person you’re following, and 3) won’t make you look like a dumbass. NOTE: these aren’t medical questions. You may learn some medicine when you shadow, but that’s not the purpose; you’re there to investigate the profession.

* “How busy of a day are we expecting today?“ This helps gauge how busy the PA you’re shadowing may be, and it gives you a feeling for how today compares to the “average” day. The “we” is also a nice way to imply that you’re in it together.

* “Where did you go to PA school?“ Invites them to talk about their training, and how it may be similar or different from yours. If they went somewhere you may apply to, you might consider asking for a letter of recommendation at some time in the future (if your time with them goes well. If it doesn’t, don’t ask!)

* “How long have you been working as a PA?“ Again, something it helps to know, and invites them to talk about themselves.

* “What do you like most about your work?“ Gives you things to look forward to…

* “What about your work would you most like to change?“ Helps you see the other side, for a reality check.

* “How much contact do you have with your supervising doc during the course of a typical day?” The answer to this one can vary. Knowing how it works will help you understand the PA field.

* “How many patients do you see in an average day? How does that compare with the physician(s) on staff? Another indicator of the lifestyle you may be signing up for, and how it may differ from that of an MD.

* “How are patients assigned?“ This gets at how they determine which patients will see the PA, and which patients will see the physician.

* “How long did it take you to feel like you knew what you were doing after you finished PA school?“ Don’t worry – this isn’t a pointed question. The reality is, most clinicians don’t feel ready when they graduate, but with time, they do.

If you are shadowing in a primary care setting (pediatrics, internal medicine, family practice):

* “How often do you do procedures?“ Procedures are in-the-office treatments, like suturing, removing toenails, lancing and draining wounds, etc. Some clinics do many (particularly in “urgent care” clinics), and some do few if any. Procedures are a contrast to medicine, where the clinician is mostly prescribing, and not doing a lot of hands-on work.
o If they answer “Often” you can ask, “What are the most common ones?”
o If they answer “Not often,” or “Pretty much never” It’s okay to ask, “Do you like it that way, or do you ever wish there were more of that here?”

If you are shadowing in a specialty setting (dermatology, ophthalmology, etc):

* “How does your daily work and lifestyle compare to that of other specialties?” You are basically asking what is unique about your specialty – how much they are on call, how many hours they work, how good the money is, etc. They’ll either tell you what they love about it, or what drives them crazy about it. Both directions are good conversation.

Helping You Get Into PA School,

Dave
“The PA Coach

*Article courtesy of www.insidepatraining.com

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The 3 Best Ways to Locate a Physician Assistant for Shadowing.

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 01:01:50 +0000

Physician Assistant shadowing is an excellent way to determine if going to PA school is the right direction for you. If you are unsure about the profession or your future role in it, this will become abundantly clear in the interview process and may harm your chances of entering the program of your choice.

The best way to address any ambivalence you may have and also to narrow down what type of practice you wish to participate in is job shadowing. Physician Assistants work in every type of practice imaginable. According to the bureau of Labor statistics, there were 74,800 jobs for Physician Assistants in the US in 2008, this is greater than the actual number of PAs, and many PAs hold more than one position.

The projected growth rate is a phenomenal 39% over the next 10 years. Physician Assistants are very busy people, so despite the number of practicing PAs finding one to shadow may be a challenge, but if possible you should shadow multiple PAs in the various settings in which they work.

A few things to remember as you shadow a PA. Wear comfortable shoes. PAs stand and walk for most of the day. Stay out of the way as best you can, if you are not sure where to stand ask the PA. Dress appropriately, remember you want to blend in and observe, not stand out.

Do not wear perfume or cologne because in many hospitals and clinical settings they are banned due to being a potential allergen. While it is important to ask questions, remember you are following someone as they work and you should hold your questions until an appropriate opportunity arises.

Never ever discuss any patient information with anyone outside of the practice, you must be discreet and there are laws that govern patient confidentiality.

Now that we know what we are looking for and how we should handle ourselves, let’s find an opportunity. The three best places to look are your personal doctor, the local hospital or a local PA chapter or organization.

1. Your Doctor

Your Doctor’s office was probably the first time you were seen by a PA and may be the very place you decided you might want to be a PA. This is a logical first step, since they already know you on some level. Even if the PA agrees to allow you to shadow him/her for a day or more always confirm this is acceptable to those that run the practice.

2. Local hospital

Since the PA works across the spectrum of the medical community another possibility for a shadowing experience is your local hospital. A PA can work in almost every department in the hospital where one might expect to find a physician. A good place to start is to contact the human resources department of the hospital and confirm that this is an accepted practice at their hospital. Many times people in human resources will be able to give you a wealth of information and even give some names of PAs that would be open to allowing you to shadow, but even if they cannot, they may be able to give you access to a staff directory and you can contact the Physician Assistant directly and request the opportunity to shadow them for a day or more. At the hospital you may even find more than one department in which to shadow a PA.

3. Make contact with the local PA chapter or organization

The local PA association is a valuable resource as you prepare to embark on your career. Not only can they put you in touch with a Physician Assistant that might allow you to shadow them for a day or more, but also they can offer you a wealth of information about local practices and job opportunities as you complete your studies. Join your local PA professional organization as soon as they will allow you the privilege.

Good luck in your search to find an opportunity to job shadow a PA. Please don’t take it personally if you are turned down to shadow a particular PA the work really is fast paced and demanding, so some PAs would prefer not to have a student underfoot, but just as many will be delighted in your interest in the profession.

Once you have had a shadowing experience, as a courtesy, please send a thank you note to the PA that allowed you to follow them. It may seem a bit old fashioned, but these little niceties always make a difference and are appreciated by those who go out of their way to help us along our way.

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