Studying, Studying, oh yeah and more studying in PA school

I have said this before but it shouldn't be any surprise that you study a lot in pa school. After two years you are expected to be a primary clinician so yeah you better know your stuff = a lot of studying.

I just wanted to give a quick update on what my life is like right now. The UC Davis pa program is a unique program where they give you the amount of information that you will need to know for a test and ultimately you are left on you own to figure out the information. We have an extensive book list and available resources to help us but ultimately it is the individual student that must find a specific studying technique and system to be prepared come test day. We are a distant learning education where we go to school for a few lectures every few weeks and then we return to our communities and break out the books and study, study, study. As we progress in the program we will have clinical experiences in our own communities and rotate in different medical arenas in our home communities to ultimately provide us with good contacts, experiences, and stability to become a primary care health provider in our own community. Everyone has there own opinion about the format but that is not the point.... The point I am trying to make is that I have been relentlessly studying material, watching videos, researching topics from sun up to sun set, taking a few minutes every now and then to make sure my family knows that I am still alive.

So anyway the books are piled high, note cards are being made, the computer is warm and exhausted but the brilliant thing is that I am learning and understanding medicine, disease and health care.

White Coat Ceremony - Physician Assistant

The white coat ceremony for the class graduating in 2013.... Yes I survived the first semester of pa school and was allowed to receive the white coat and continue my education. For those that don't know the history of the white coat, well research it, there is a unique and interesting history of the practitioners white coat. It began not too long ago in the era when individuals began to realize the importance of cleanliness in health care. One can also view their white coat and remember the oath and commitment to quality health care and keeping patient information confidential and starting with a clean slate every time you open the door to see a new patient....

I remember when I first started to research the role of a PA and I saw pictures of a group of students in Georgia receiving their white coats and its hard to believe that I am now an individual in this type of picture. It was a terribly difficult journey to arrive and realize my goal but I am so completely and overwhelmingly happy that I chose this path. There were some great words spoken during the ceremony and I have forgotten most of them, ( I think that I should keep a notepad with me to remember the many great words and feelings I receive as I often forget them), but one indiviudal mentioned that with the white coat you are now looked at as someone that knows everything.....mistakes will be made and a lot is asked of you.....The best thing to do is to keep putting the white coat on and TRY YOUR BEST. Good luck to everyone on their journey to receiving entrance into school and obtaining a white coat. Read my ebook (only $2 on scribt.com- link is on blog) any I will answer any individual questions that you may have.