From International Student to Physician Assistant

From International Student to Physician Assistant

Updated: 07/08/2016

You may be an international medical graduate (IMG), a caribbean medical student, or a student from a foreign country (outside the United States) wanting to attend physician assistant (PA) school. While it may seem daunting at first, do not be frightened by the lengthy application process or by the worrisome anecdotal stories you may read about online.

You will need to prepare your materials before throwing an application together. Many international students and international medical graduates see medical school residency matching as a barrier to becoming a licensed provider in the United States, which is why they choose to become physician assistants.

10 Most Helpful Study Tips for Physician Assistant Students

10 Most Helpful Study Tips for First Year PA Students

The way you studied in undergrad may not always be the most effective or efficient way of studying while in PA school, as I have learned. As you begin your journey, or if you are already well on your way, you might find a few of these study tips helpful to increase the breadth of knowledge you are able to digest.

Anytime I get bogged down in the amount of material we are required to know for an exam, or how uneventful a lecturer may make your Friday morning at 8:00 AM, I just remember that I am learning this information to help save someone’s life one day. We can never forget that. What may seem unimportant or like “useless” information will probably be the most important thing you’ll learn your entire career and it could potentially mean the difference between life and death for a patient. The day that you decide that it is acceptable to receive poor grades in a course “as long as you pass” is the day you have failed your profession.

Shadowing for Physician Assistant School

Shadowing for Physician Assistant School

It’s only normal for a student to be curious about who to shadow for admission into physician assistant school. You might have questions such as the following listed below. Well, I’m here to answer them to the best of my knowledge.While some may disagree with my answers, this is just my opinion and if you wish, you can check out PhysicianAssistantForum.com for more information.

• Is it acceptable to shadow a MD/DO or Nurse Practitioner instead of a PA?
• Yes. While you may shadow a physician or nurse practitioner, it is recommended by many programs that you shadow a physician assistant as well. Shadowing these other providers gives you knowledge and experience of their roles in healthcare, but you should know the differences between them and a physician assistant.You can really shadow anyone in healthcare. I've heard of people shadowing physicians, nurse practitioners, paramedics, etc.
• Do programs prefer shadowing of a physician assistant?
• By and large, yes! At all costs, shadow a PA, even if it is for only 3-5 days.
• What types of clinical settings are appropriate for shadowing?
• In my own experience, the physician assistant I shadowed gave me some good advice. She suggested shadowing her in clinic and hospital (surgery) settings. Ultimately, it gave me a very broader understanding of the role of a PA in various settings, as well as learning the differences between outpatient and inpatient services. This is important for your own understanding as well and shadowing in all settings will make it easier to talk about during your interviews.
• How long should I shadow for?