Any Physician Assistants on the boards?

[thejoe]

I'm applying to PA school (again) this year and I'm just curious if there are any other gun nut PAs around that I could talk to. I'm always happy to talk to any medical practitioner (so MDs, EMTs, Nurses, NPs please don't feel left out - I'd like to hear from you all, too) but specifically PAs.

joe

[th1npower]

what area would you like to specialize? ...er, cardio, fp, ortho??

[thejoe]

I'm an Athletic Trainer by trade so naturally orthopedics is one area where I can do some good. It depends on how things go when I get to school: if I feel like I have a good handle on the orthopedics and don't need to really go the specialty route, I will probably go with emergency medicine. I think this would diversify me as an individual and make me a really good medical care provider. In the end, though, when I've had all the fun I can have in emed, I'll probably end up in family practice.

You?

joe

PS: where in eye-oh-uh are you located? I've got family in that state.

[th1npower]

i'm stuck in northern iowa for school.. originally from pella, home of pella windows, vermeer manufacturing (they make diggers, trenchers, haybailers, & a machine that can eat an entire house along w/ its contents), & LOTS of tulips.

i'm doing emergency med now, i like the 8 hrs shifts & varied case load. for the most part people are nice & just want to get well again, but too many illegals & welfare/title 19 cases for me to deal w/ daily. it drives me crazy to see coughs, vomiting, colds, bloody noses, etc in the ER in otherwise healthy adults b/c they won't go to a regular doctor.

i was also an athletic trainer & personal trainer prior med school. i thought about ortho, but i'm so burnt out on studying i'm not sure i'd last 5 yrs residency. who knows what i'll do, i have another yr to decide..

[thejoe]

So you're an ER doctor? I'm really interested in getting in to shadow an ER doc in our area just to have some exposure to emergency medicine, but I will have to wait and see what this fall is going to bring me.

My father lives in Ames. He hates how flat it is there, but says that the folks are all nice. Hope you can all steer clear of the tornados headed your way.

Cheers,

joe

By the way, it's great to meet a fellow ATC. We're fairly few and far between. One reason I want to be a PA is because I feel I can at least have my medical opinion respected when I offer it. Did you feel the same before you became an MD?