SHOULD I PURSUE PA SCHOOL BEFORE MD/DO? PA TO DO BRIDGE

LECOM PA to DO Bridge Program:

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[WillieFordham]

I would say if a PA wants to they their “doctorate” they should consider, medical school. Why work in medicine and have “doctor” in front of your name and not be a medical doctor??

[Mstrongrunning]

Love the video! However, I don’t think it accounts for everyone’s life scenario. Say, if you highly value family and believe in spending time with your children at home (or at least want to), it can make sense on a personal level to do PA school right out of college, have the babies, raise them, then go to Medical School when it is better for your family (more independent children; a more independent husband hahah). And if you financially had PA school paid for, then used that extra hard-earned cash to fulfill your final dream... I still see medical school as an option. On a very personal (and value-based) approach, this is the only way I can see that going to PA school and then Medical school as makes sense.

[palife]

Yea, great advice. This is what I recommend to any pre-pa student, make the decision first, don't go pa then md, just go to md/do. I recommend PA overall mainly because I'm a PA myself.

[Matthewholst]

This is my situation. I went into AT out of undergrad through a master's program and during it discovered I wanna pursue medical school. So I'm the 3rd option where you made a choice and now have to live with making another choice

[BeautiFuFu]

Completely agree! The PA career track requires just as much dedication and effort as the MD/DO track! The competition is crazy intense and requires preparation (prep that can take years!) and rejections are just as real as Med school rejections! If MD/DO is the goal and you have the gpa, mcat score, and amazing references, just go ahead and apply! If you feel iffy about your undergrad GPA look into post Bach. Bridge programs that help boost your gpa (some even help you study for the mcat. SOME OFFER PRIORITY ADMISSIONS TO THEIR PARTNER SCHOOLS!) Don’t think PA is the easier/ faster/cheaper route! More often than not it isn’t! Thanks James for the awesome info about PA to Physician bridge programs, I didn’t know they existed 🤷🏾‍♀️

[marchidalgo]

Love the video, gets you thinking about opportunities after PA school! Would love to see a video on any types of post-PA school programs/opportunities!

One thing: I think the point “PA school is not a stepping stone to MD/DO” should really be emphasized. I shadowed, worked with, and received care from some amazing people who are PAs. To view the profession as a “stepping stone” is honestly disrespectful and narrow minded. Not saying PAs have the same knowledge and training as Physicians, but PA is a rewarding career of its own right and in its own scope, which deserves respect. I believe the bridge programs should be viewed as a career change for PA-Cs who later on realize they want to take on more training and responsibility of care, not as an alternative route to MD/DO school. *off soapbox lol* but again great video

[Trey_Dobbs]

The issue is you are better off financially as a PA regarding lifetime earnings than having to go through both PA and medical school. You will net less in lifetime earnings as a physician who paid off both PA and medical school debt than you will as a PA who just had to pay off PA school. Obviously it's all circumstantial based on your annual salary, what specialty you end up practicing in as both the PA and physician, your other expenses and debt, etc. But unless you end up testing high enough on the USMLE to match into dermatology, ophthalmology, radiology, anesthesia, or surgery you're going to be worse off financially as the physician who had to pay for both PA and medical school debt.


Additionally, it's much, much easier to land a job in whatever specialty you ultimately desire to practice in as a PA. As a MD/DO you must beat out both your classmates and other medical students nationwide for certain specialties and specific residencies. Just because you like being a PA in derm, cardiology, neurology, plastics, radiology or whatever it may be is not a good enough reason to decide to pursue the medical school route because there's a real chance you end up sacrificing all that time just to NOT match into the specialty you wanted. Unless you're aiming for a relatively non-competitive specialty such as primary care, psych, PM&R, pediatrics it's not worth it. Remember that you will be competing against equally brilliant people in medical school for the sought-after specialties.

[OmarAbdulMalikDHEdMPASPACPAPro]

Peace be to you! I talked to some administrators in this program! It's very intense and FLIPPN' EXPENSIVE!😰💸 Almost $70, 000/year! There's another medical school, Oceania college of medicine in which the first 2.5 years are online. It's fully accredited. If you want to do a Doctorate, A.T. Still University has some options. I completed my Doctorate of Health Education in 2012. It was tough😥; good experience, though!😃 Thanks for this video James!👨🏻‍⚕️👍🏾

[MHSMagicLuver]

Of course being a PA student, the ONLY way I can see anyone going through both is if they wanted to be a PA and then later decided they wanted to be a doctor. But.. of course as PA students we know that schools do not want someone who wants to be a doctor or someone who couldn’t get into med school and PA is their backup. They want someone who wants to be a PA. I wanted to be a doctor for less than a semester before I heard about PA. Ever since 2009 I knew this is what i wanted to be.
** edit it’s also time. Why would someone want to spend 2 years in PA school and then 4 years in med school and then internship and residency when they can just do 4 years of med school an then internship and residency. That’s an extra 2 years for no reason at all.

Also if people think PA school is any easier.. I mean I Havnt been to med school of course but I believe from looking at statistics it’s harder to get into PA school (not looking at grades) but because of the lower amount of students PA school takes as well as possibly a higher number of applicants than med school has every year. It’s also a crazy amount of info in 2 year. I’m only in my second semester (about 4 or so more weeks until I’m halfway done with didactic thank goodness) and also we don’t get summers off (at least most PA schools) so once you’re in it you go for the 2-3 years.

Btw I know you know this, this is more for others. I’m very passionate about the PA profession. Now time to study some more for micro before my exam this morning.

[NuggetChicken]

If you are a PA already, but feel the need to go to med school.. Would your experience as a PA aid your application and essentially put you above trad undergrad students, even for allopathic schools? Say if you had a 3.5 GPA in undergrad

[Smartyable]

I always encourage students to become a PA because you take out too many loans to be a doctor. When you’re done, malpractice insurance + debt doesn’t mean you’re living like a rich person. Plus, I’ve seen nurses dress nicer than doctors

[asteriasheria]

I want to be a diagnostic medical sonographer.

[ignite]

Thank you for adding "PHYSICIAN*". I'm a doctor, PhD. M.D.s have usurped the term. Not downing M.D.s, clearly.

[crownedone]

Is psychology a good undergrad major for pa school ?