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Why should I become a Physician Assistant instead of going ahead and study to be a doctor?

Interested in being in the medical field but not sure which path to head towards. Second guess myself if I can actually make my plans of being in the medical field come true.

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Jennifer’s Answer

There’s no right or wrong answer to this question. It all boils down to you and what your long-term plans are. While both of these professions serve as providers that deliver quality healthcare to patients; PAs aren’t MD/DOs and vice versa. To answer this question you will need to thoroughly research both careers and do some self-searching to determine what your motivations are for seeking a career in medicine & your personality type to determine which would be a better fit for you.

Jennifer recommends the following next steps:

Find MD/DO to shadow or scribe for
Find a PA-C to shadow or scribe for
Read more about the history of the PA profession on the PAEA website
Write down what your long term goals
Be clear on your personality type and motivations for exploring a career and medicine. Use that information to determine which profession would be a better fit for you as well as the lifestyle you want to live.
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Christianah’s Answer

You could actually make your dream of being a medical doctor come to a reality through a clear vision,hardwork, dedication, persistent and interest to develop yourself through reading, observing structural and functionality of human body.
Thank you comment icon Thank you very much for this I really appreciate your words of wisdom. Ariana
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Mary Jane’s Answer

This is a personal decision. The PA route is faster and, therefore, less costly than the MD route. However, MDs typically have higher salaries than PAs so it shouldn't simply be a financial decision. The MDs often have to deal with more paperwork and more of the business side of practice than PAs. Some patients have a bias against midlevels and for MDs, so that can be a consideration for some students. Ultimately, the physician is the leader of the healthcare team and has more responsibility for supervision and oversight of patient care and midlevel professionals like PAs and nurse practitioners. You should learn as much as you can about the education and training for both paths, and about both careers before making a decision so you can pick the career that is the best fit for you.

Mary Jane recommends the following next steps:

Informational interviews with physicians and PAs to learn about the pros/cons and training for each
Shadow a practice with PAs to learn more about the interaction with patients and between the providers
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