The document discusses the career of a physician assistant. It provides a brief history of the profession starting in the 1960s to address a shortage of primary care physicians. The duties of a PA are described, including examining patients, diagnosing illnesses, prescribing medication, and assisting in surgery. Strong projected job growth of 38% by 2022 is explained by an increasing and aging population demanding more healthcare services. The salary range for PAs is outlined, with a median of $90,930 annually. Education requirements including a master's degree from an accredited program are also summarized.

1. Research on a Career
PowerPoint: Physician
Assistant
Ainsley Wingard

2. Introduction
I have been interested in pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant since my
senior year in high school. I was introduced to the profession while shadowing at
a local medical center and loved how the Physician Assistant was able to work on
a team with other health care providers. My interest in the career has continued
to grow throughout the past 3 years through shadowing and summer internships. I
am extremely passionate about helping others and providing patients with the
best care possible.
The following slides include information about the Physician Assistant career,
skills and qualities related to the profession, as well as information about
graduate school.

3. History of the Physician Assistant (PA)
Profession
 The PA profession was created to improve and expand healthcare.
 In the mid-1960s, physicians and educators recognized there was a shortage of
primary care physicians.
 Eugene A. Stead Jr., MD, of the Duke University Medical Center, put together the
first class of PAs in 1965. The first students were four Navy Hospital Corpsmen who
had received considerable medical training during their military service. Stead
based the curriculum of the PA program on his knowledge of the fast-track training
of doctors during World War II.
 The PA profession gained federal acceptance and backing as early as the 1970s as a
creative solution to physician shortages.
("History." AAPA.)

4. Job Description
 Physician assistants practice medicine on a team under the supervision of
physicians and surgeons.
 PAs are trained to examine patients, diagnose injuries and illnesses, and
provide treatment.
 They practice and prescribe medication in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia and all U.S. territories, with the exception of Puerto Rico.
(Bureau of Labor Statistics)

5. What can a PA do?
 Take medical history
 Conduct physical exams
 Diagnose and treat illnesses
 Order and interpret tests
 Develop treatment plans
 Counsel on preventive care
 Assist in surgery
 Write prescriptions
 Make rounds in hospitals and nursing homes
(“History” AAPA)

6. Growth Potential
 Employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 38 percent from 2012
to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations.
 Demand for healthcare services will increase because of the growing and
aging population.
 PAs are expected to have a larger role in giving routine care because they are
more cost effective than physicians.
(Bureau of Labor Statistics)

7. Salary Range
 The median annual wage for physician assistants was $90,930 in May 2012.
 The lowest 10 percent earned less than $62,430, and the top 10 percent earned
more than $124,770.
 In May 2012, the median annual wages for physician assistants in the top five
industries in which these assistants worked were as follows:
 Hospitals; state, local, and private $93,660
 Outpatient care centers 93,520
 Offices of health practitioners 90,150
 Educational services; state, local, and private 88,890
 Government 86,870
(Bureau of Labor Statistics)

8. O*Net Profile of a Physician Assistant
 Social —working with, communicating with, and teaching people.
 Investigative —working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of
thinking. Can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
 Realistic —frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on
problems and solutions.
(Summary Report for Physician Assistants)

9. Interpretation of O*Net Results
 My O*Net interest profiler indicated that my highest score was investigative at 39
while my second highest was social at 27. This matches perfectly with the score of
a Physician Assistant.
 I am very logical and enjoy a challenge which would make me a great PA. I like
solving problems and working with data which PAs do a lot. I am very curious about
new treatments which is very important in the ever changing world of medicine.
Last summer I worked in a research laboratory and investigated a new treatment
for overactive bladder. I really enjoyed the challenge of developing a new way to
help improve the lives of patients.
 I scored high in the social category as well because I am a helper. By volunteering
at a free clinic I have been able to utilize empathy and empower others to help
make behavior changes to improve their heath such as smoking cessation.
 I like collaborating with others which is very important when working on a team
with other health care providers. I am an effective communicator and enjoyed
working on a research team with others and collaborating on our project.

10. Education Requirements
 Physician assistants typically need a master’s degree from an accredited
educational program.
 Most programs take at least 2 years of full-time postgraduate study.
 Most applicants to physician assistant education programs already have a
bachelor’s degree and some healthcare-related work experience. All states require
physician assistants to be licensed.
 Admission to PA school is very competitive and most applicants have some health
related work experience.
 The only current PA program in the South Carolina is the Medical University of
South Carolina in Charleston.
(Bureau of Labor Statistics)

11. Physician Assistant Program at the
Medical University of SC
 The MUSC Physician Assistant Program awards a Master’s of Science in Physician Assistant
Studies (MSPAS) degree.
 MUSC is an academic teaching hospital and the PAS Program benefits from the vast resources
available.
 Students participate in human cadaver dissection during the anatomy course as well as have
the opportunity to participate in interprofessional activities and simulation activities in the
state-of-the art simulation lab.
 Prior academic work based on Prerequisite GPA, Cumulative GPA, and Science-Math GPA
 A minimum 3.0 GPA is required in all 3 areas. A Bachelor’s degree is not required for admission
to the Program.
 Applicants should aim for a 50th percentile score or higher in each section of the GRE to
ensure that they are competitive.
(“Admissions”).

12. Physician Assistant Program at Elon
University
 The Elon Physician Assistant Program awards a Master’s of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
(MSPAS) degree.
 Students will immerse themselves in a curriculum structured around active learning strategies
through collaborative work with Elon's faculty, scholars and practitioners in the field. Students
emerge in a little more than two years as graduates prepared to employ the most current knowledge
to care for patients' physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs.
 The Elon PA program participates in the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).
 Minimum GPA of 3.2 for undergraduate work (3.63 average)
 Minimum Overall Science GPA of 3.0 for undergraduate work (3.53 average)
 Preference will be given to candidates who score above 1000 (or 297 on the revised GRE taken after
7/31/11) for a composite Verbal and Quantitative score. A score of 3.0 or above is preferred for the
Analytical Writing score. (Average: 156 Verbal, 155 Quantitative, 4.0 Writing)
(“Admissions Information”)

13. Prerequisite Courses
 Anatomy with Laboratory- 4 semester hours
 Physiology - 3 semester hours
 General Chemistry with Laboratory- 4 semester hours
 Additional Chemistry course with Laboratory– 4 semester hours
 Additional Upper Level Science Courses: two semesters (a minimum of 6 semester hours) of
upper level courses focused on deepening an understanding of human anatomy, physiology
and pathophysiology. Examples include, but are not limited, to biochemistry, cell and
molecular biology, exercise physiology, genetics, immunology, microbiology and organic
chemistry.
 Additional Upper Level Courses: two semesters (a minimum of 6 semester hours) of upper
level courses focused on deepening an understanding of the human condition. Examples
include, but are not limited, to courses taken within the disciplines of anthropology, ethics,
psychology, public health, sociology or religion.
 I currently meet all of the requirements for admission to PA School.
(“Admissions Information”)

14. Conclusion
 After researching the Physician Assistant profession I am very confident in my
decision to pursue this career. I am extremely motivated to continue to obtain
healthcare experience through my Emergency Medical Responder certification
as well as excel in my courses to obtain admission to a PA program. Medicine
is constantly evolving and I am excited about new treatment discoveries to be
made. I am excited for the opportunity to help fill the gap due to the
shortage of primary care physicians. I hope to one day be an excellent care
provider like the PA who inspired me to pursue this profession while I was
shadowing at the medical center in high school.

15. Sources
 "Admissions." Admissions. Medical University of SC, n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.
<http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/chp/pa/admissions/index.htm>.
 "Admissions Information." Apply. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.elon.edu/e-web/academics/pa/apply.xhtml>.
 "History." AAPA. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.
<https://www.aapa.org/threeColumnLanding.aspx?id=429>.
 "Summary Report for Physician Assistants." 29-1071.00 - Physician Assistants. O Net
Online, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2015. <http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-
1071.00>.
 “Physician Assistant" U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.
<http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-2>.