Life Changes

Hello again. Welcome back to this way of communicating. (Not instagram or TikTok :p ). It is amazing how social media has changed in 10 years. Who blogs now right? Millennials do!

This marks 10 years of me Eden being a physician assistant, Class of 2014. I have had my left hip replaced, 2 children, one during COVID-19 (strangest time ever). Lost my appendix and have been through a total of 4 physician assistant jobs, rural hospitalist PA, bone marrow transplant PA, chronic care PA and now... a rheumatology PA.

 

 

Class of 2014

PA feels

I am going to be honest about how I felt about being a PA over the years. As a new grad I was excited and thrilled to be in medicine and to learn anything and everything. My first job in a rural community really utilized my scope as a PA. I felt challenged, supported and had the perfect balance of autonomy which is what you strive to find in a PA position. As a PA you depend on your physicians in how they utilize and support you. When limitations are placed and there are restricted opportunities for growth even after trying to pursue change, I become jaded about being a PA. I haven’t posted anything in years and haven’t been involved in the program. I thought, if I am not happy as a PA, how am I supposed to inspire and teach future PAs.

Considering Med School

I had a strong urge to return to medical school. These thoughts would come at least twice a year starting around my 4^th year as a PA. With the support of my husband I dived into what was needed to be done. Lots!! It would take 2-3 years to get in. I envisioned my life and what I would be going through. 4 years of medical school plus minimum 2 years residency (knowing myself I would choose internal medicine, * 5 years minimum). 

1.       Cost – (Our salary is public: p) STEP 6 about $130, 000 gross + benefits x 6 years minimum lost.

2.       Time / Lifestyle – I just landed a Monday to Friday job with no call, evenings and weekends. This balance allows me to be fully present in my kid's lives, and I am grateful for it.

3.       Energy – I am soo tired (2 kids will do that to you :P) and I feel old, creaky bones and another hip replacement around the corner. You work in the day then go home to “work” with your children. Sometimes work is your break especially from weekends. :p

4.       Passion – I love medicine, and I love helping patients. I get to do both as a PA.

I asked female physicians with young families their opinions and anyone who can give me advice. In the end it is truly your decision to make. I decided not to go down that path. My main reason is the time that would take away from my family and the stress. I don’t want to feel stressed that I need to study when I am with my kids. I took another look at why I want to go to medical school.

Is it ego? just wanting to know I can get into medical school. Maybe

Is it wanting to be a doctor to do more?

Then I thought, I can do more as a PA I just need to find the right place and advocate for the profession. I am passionate about medicine, and I always have been. It is an honour of being able to practice it.

I have to shout out my fellow PA classmate who is entering his first year of medical school this year! I am so happy for you and maybe a bit jealous: p

Congrats Kod! He is famous on the U of M medicine website

baby PAs 2012

Where do I go from here

I am optimistic about my future and that of our profession. It takes a few years practising as a PA before you have a sense of what you want and I'm hopeful that my PA colleagues and I can raise awareness and advocate for the professional relationships with physicians we hope to have. I am interested in more than just being content. I want to be engaged, challenged and given a certain autonomy in my decisions and process. This takes patience to find the right position and time to build the expertise and trust with supervising physicians.

Since my new position my jadedness is fading. There is good support and the future vision on how they want to utilize a PA is exciting. I also want to try teaching and see if I would like to pursue more of it. I want to help current and future PAs feel seen, appreciated and happy that they have chosen this profession. 

MPAS Class of 2026

This is the largest class I have seen - 30! We were a mere 12 students 10 years ago. It was quite impactful to see this. The speeches were inspiring and brought me back to when I was a student and grateful to be accepted into the program. I absorbed the students' excitement and it revived some part of me I lost.