Explore the PA Profession
Posted By: Kubin
The White Coat: Ceremony, Origins, Meaning, and Controversy
The Origin and Evolution of the White Coat The white coat has become a ubiquitous symbol of medical professionals, but it wasn’t always this way. In fact, black coats were originally used to dissect cadavers by physicians, both because the color black was associated with respect for the dead, and because black made bloodstains less… Continue reading The White Coat: Ceremony, Origins, Meaning, and Controversy
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Posted By: Kubin
My First Patient Experience as a PA Student
My first patient as a PA student? A woman for a pelvic and breast exam. Just to be clear for the men in the reading audience, a pelvic is a gynecological exam. No, I never saw that coming. Or that right after, I would have another first patient, a male genital and rectal exam. My class… Continue reading My First Patient Experience as a PA Student
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Posted By: Kubin
PA Student Interview: Beata
Today I share with you the video interview I did with second year PA student, Beatta. https://www.youtube.com/cards?v=iy691Wdtfsg She has now graduated from UC Davis’ PA program, but before she did, this summer I took a few minutes to talk with her about her experience. Please excuse the technical issues; there’s some distortion of the video… Continue reading PA Student Interview: Beata
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Posted By: Kubin
Paul’s Desk 01: The Fat Man
Today is the start of an article series about what I do. Not about being a PA so much as about me being a PA. (Hey, I can’t be anybody else). Calling it “Paul’s Desk” is an inside joke, because at my clinic, I have no desk. In fact, I have no office! What I… Continue reading Paul’s Desk 01: The Fat Man
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Posted By: Kubin
Physician Assistants Easing the Primary Care Shortage
After logging five decades of high-quality, cost-effective care, physician assistants are gearing up for their time in the spotlight. The stage is set: fewer physicians are entering primary care, older family practice physicians are retiring, and the U.S. population is growing, aging and — thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) —… Continue reading Physician Assistants Easing the Primary Care Shortage
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Posted By: Kubin
Do You Have The Physician Assistant Personality?
Ever wonder if you have the right personality for physician assistant medicine — if the “fit” of PA is right for you? With some help from Holland’s Personal Interest Inventory, you can find out just that. A few weeks after I started PA school at U.C. Davis, I noticed just how much I liked everyone… Continue reading Do You Have The Physician Assistant Personality?
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Posted By: Kubin
Physician Assistant Medicine: 11 Misconceptions
There are plenty of misconceptions about the physician assistant field. If you’ve never met a physician assistant or been treated by one, you’re left to guess what PAs do, and sometimes these guesses — though understandable — are just plain wrong. What follows is a list of the 11 most common misconceptions about physician assistants. … Continue reading Physician Assistant Medicine: 11 Misconceptions
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Posted By: Kubin
Is Medicine For Me?
Dear Paul, I am in an interesting situation. After working in several non-medical areas, I am looking at going back to school to do something different. My problem is I have never worked or volunteered in the medical field and don’t really have a lot of time while supporting my family to go shadow someone. … Continue reading Is Medicine For Me?
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Posted By: Kubin
PA Student Interviews: Josh
It’s time to hear from the ones in the trenches — the physician assistant students. Today I interviewed Josh about his 27 months as a PA student which will soon be ending with his graduation. His strategy for getting into a PA program is very interesting, and proves that there are things that make up… Continue reading PA Student Interviews: Josh
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Posted By: Kubin
New York Times Praises Physician Assistants
Last week’s New York Times included a very positive article about the PA field: The Physician Assistant Will See You, which was both great publicity for PA’s and sign of growing trust in this exploding profession. Like most articles on physician assistants, it included a description of what exactly a PA is and how to… Continue reading New York Times Praises Physician Assistants
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