Well folks, Its been an incredibly busy 15 months since I started PA school. During that time I learned most of what a doctor learns in 4 years...whether I remember it or not I will find out over the next 10 days. Tomorrow I start finals week and then my didactic summative - AKA "Hell Week" - where we are tested on everything we learned all the way back to the beginning. Its a week of not only written tests but practical skill exams as well. Its tough but I think I'm ready for it and will hopefully do well. However, the bar is set high and our minimum passing grade on everything is no less than 80%.
On December 17 I will be presented with my official white coat at our White Coat ceremony. Its an event that marks the passage of medical students on to the clinical phase of their programs. After that I will get a three week break and then start my clinical rotations. I have 8 rotations with only two days off between them during which I will be taking end of rotation exams. So its like I will be working 12 months straight without a day off. Ironically, its the part that I have been looking forward to as I have worked in clinical settings for over the last 20 years.
So now that I got my ROV fix for the day, its back to studying...
David
Oo-rah
Funny thing is though.... They haven't told us which white coat we're getting... The one doctors wear, or the one with the arms on backwards and extra belts. Hmmmmm...
David
You are going to get the yellow jacket! BDC
Now you need to get used to saying: " I concur" :)
Quote from: 67GTO on December 04, 2011, 09:02:15 PM
Now you need to get used to saying: " I concur" :)
I concur
David
Good for you David. You will be effecting people's lives in a substantial way. :angel:
Just remember: First, do no harm. :police: ;) ;D
Well guys, thanks for all the encouragement! I survived didactic summative week and actually did better than I thought and finished with an A in Didactic summative and 4 of my other 6 classes. I'm still waiting on my surgery and geriatrics grades which are both teetering between and A/B.
Its a funny feeling now not having to have a book in front of me studying. I have a couple days to rest then have the White Coat ceremony this weekend then off to clinical rotations.
yeeeeehhhhhaaaaaaaa!!!!!! ;D
David
Wow, that really is amazing. Good for you David, nice work! :)
Dave , ask anything you want about geriatrics, I'll be 70 next may . I can fill you in!!
Congratulations, hope you find more time to post here, you've been missed. Wish I could answer your questions on geriatrics but I turn into a senile seventy-one next week. BDC
Look out world, I'm approved to care for real people now. I start out with my internal med rotation then on to either pulmonary or thoracic surgery. Still having a tough time deciding between the two.
Here's a pic of me after the ceremony:
(http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l299/xz550rj/391854_2098800648085_1787478606_1391241_1538359947_n.jpg)
David
As my father would say, "Sharp as a tack!" :D
Congratulations, you look good! BDC
8) Top drawer buddy... 8)
So will that be Dr. Yellowjacket from now on then ? ;D
Well done mate.
congrats on that White Coat,, well deserved and hard earned.
one thing though,, i just realised that if you wee to grow a small mustache,, you would be a near dead ringer for Mr.Whipple ! Please ,dont squeeze the patient!
kidding , of course--
Nice looking coat! ;) ;D :D Congratulations!!
Congratulations David
Thanks guys. Nope, no. "Dr.", the traditional term for PA is usually Mr. but you all can still keep calling me David or YJ, LOL.
Interestingly, my aunt called all excited to tell me that she saw me on the news getting coated but I never got to see it, however, a former co-worker told my parents that she found it on youtube, so for those of you that aren't my FB friends, here is a short video of the ceremony....I'm not sure why they picked me as there were some pretty awesome looking girls both before and after me....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt9Ln5CnptQ&feature=share
David
Haha! awesome! :D you could see your grin from a mile away in that video :D
Congratulations dave!
you def looked better than the forty year old outdoorsman :D :D
good job MrDavePAYJ
Congratulations Dr. Yellowjacket! Great job! Your the man!
A belated "THANKS" for all the well wishes! :) :) ;D ;D
I finished my first rotation in Critical Care/Internal Medicine and had a great time during that rotation. I've not been around ROV much lately because I have been doing my Cardiothoracic Surgery rotation and the hours have been crazy but the experience has been awesome.
I started out doing mostly observation/learning and minor surgical procedures then moved on the vein harvesting for bypass surgery and then to First Assistant during bypass surg and valve replacements. I have also had some awesome experiences as a solo 1st assist. I have had a lot of experience too working the camera for "VATS" (minimally invasive video assisted thorascopic surgery) and love doing that.
The funny thing is my preceptor is on my case about being slow when I close the chest and legs but the surgeons laugh and tell him that I have some of the best looking wound closures and should go into plastics. CT surgery is where my heart is though - pun intended. :-)
The irony of what I am doing is somewhat like working on a V-twin TWO valve/cyl with a bouble bbl carb. I've been able to assist in several valve replacements but have yet to do one on my Vision.... ::)
Now, just 9 months to go and I start delivering babies in two weeks.
David
Hi Dave. Just ran across this thread. Kathy and I are very proud for you. You've definitely got the "Doctor" look down pat. Just to think, we knew you way back when. Congratulations and Very Well Done!
Thanks for the update, great to hear of the terrific challenges you have overcome and the interesting work you are doing now, I hope you can enjoy your lovely Vision again this year.
WOW! How time flys!
After 2 1/2 years of Physician Assistant school I have reached a critical point in my journey.... Clinical Summative week. It is all that stands between me and graduation now and while it will be mentaly and physically challenging, I'm up for the task and ready to move on to my last 6 week clinical ratation - Emergency Medicine. Once done with CSE week, I'll be back at the hospital I used to work at, doing my final rotation in the ER. It'll be an intense 6 weeks of learning and working long hours but I am so excited about it and ready...since I've already completed a trauma surgery rotation.
CSE Week begins tomorrow and I have tons of exams to take and the bar is set high. They will only let us complete the program if we score 80% or above on the exams (both written and practical) we are given only one chance to remediate and I hope I won't have to use it.
Hopefully the board review course I took last week will have paid off and prepared me enough. The good thing is the review course gives you an idea of how well you will do on your boards and with my score on the practice board they predicted that I shuould pass with 98% certainty. My base score was well above the mean but all I have to do is pass... the overall score on the boards means nothing.... just pass or fail.
After graduation on December 15th, I'll have a couple weeks to prepare for the boards which I'm taking on January 2nd. Funny thing is, my advisor told me to wait and unwind, but I want to take them while everything form the review and CSE is still fresh on my mind.... plus I need a job. Being unemployed for 2 years has taken its toll on me. Also once I'm licensed, it may still be several months before I can work ans my employer will have to "credential" me with the facilities I'll be working at and the insurance companies I will be billing, so it loks like it might be march or april before I actually see a paycheck...
Anyway, wish me luck... I'm finally in the home stretch!!!
Thanks,
David
(crowd erupts with applause)!!!! ;)
We're all enjoying this for you, David. Congratulations and good luck.
Congrats , David , we are all proud of you!
Go David go... 8) We are
ALL, right behind you brother 8) 8)
8) ....... TIGER ....... 8)
congrats! I am considering PA school as well!
Congrats!!!
Tiger is right David, we are all behind you, you can do it, hang in there!
is "break a leg" appropriate here ? 8)
any of those hospitals or med centers will be damn lucky to have you
working for them. don't forget, you have plenty of good references here
if you need them :)
-Ron
Thanks guys.
One round of major exams down including my "OSLER" which is a mock patient with an unknown problem. You have to go through a full history and exam then come up with the right labs and rads to order (both too much and too little cost you points) and then arrive at the correct diagnosis and prescribe the right treatment. Its timed, video recorded and graded very strictly. Wasn't my best performance but I still did well.
Exams today on labs and radiology.
@calipanda feel free to PM me your contact info if you need to know more about school. I'll be glad to give you as much info as I can.
David
Belated congrats! Sounds like it's progressing well. :) Good luck up to December!
P.S.-If you didn't get the one with the backwards arms I would've protested, just sayin'...
WOOOOHHHHHOOOOO!!!!! I Did it!! I am now a Physician Assistant!!! Graduation is Saturday the 15th. I finished my last week of intense exams after finishing my ER rotation. I'm all done now and have the week of to relax before graduation.
I am scheduled to take my board exam Jan 15th so after that I will be a board certified PA.
This has been such a long time in the making and I have finally reached my goal..... I'm extatic!!!
Right now I have to overcome the "experience required" in order to get a job at either a large cardiology office or multispecialty practice. Wish me luck!
Thank you so much to everyone for all the encouragement over the years. :-)
David
my attaboy goes out to you! good job
PA. Doctor Yellow Jacket sir, hearty cheers and kudos, and just remember that nothing succeeds like success! Keep your Intent focused and follow it. We are all proud of you, and you are a credit to the human race.
SUUUUUUUPERB news my friend, superb 8)
Hard work and dedication pays off, once again... 8) 8)
8) ....... TIGER ....... 8)
Great Job David! It's always nice to hear of a fellow ROV member's success. :D Your family must be so proud of you!
While all tests can be nerve wracking, based on you hard work and results so far, I'm sure you will have no problem with the board certification.
Well done Sir!
Decisions decisions decisions....
Cardiology or Neurosurgery
A special THANK YOU to everyone for all the motivation, kind words and support!
David
Sleep on it! Maybe an idea will happen.
How soon do you need to make the decision? (Is there a wrong decision?)
Hmmmm, do you follow your heart or go with your brain ;D :D :D :D :D :D :D... 8)
I'm sure what ever you choose it will be a good move for you and your family 8)
8) ....... TIGER ....... 8)
Quote from: Tiger on December 15, 2012, 07:00:19 AM
Hmmmm, do you follow your heart or go with your brain ;D :D :D :D :D :D :D... 8)
I'm sure what ever you choose it will be a good move for you and your family 8)
8) ....... TIGER ....... 8)
LOL Tiger!!!
I said the same thing! ;D
David
Congrats David, bummer that the world is ending Friday. BDC
WOOOOOOHHHHHHOOOOOOOO!!!! Just found out today that I passed my PA board exams!!!
Hopefully I will be starting my new job in Neurosurgery in a couple weeks - pending contract negotiations. I am sooooooo excited!!
Thank you so much to everyone for all of the encouragement over the years.... its been a long and tough three years! Now, maybe I can ride YJ more often.
David
Congratulations my friend...well deserved after all your hard work and dedication.
Sit back, smell the roses and enjoy the thoughts of good times ahead ... 8)
8) ....... TIGER ....... 8)
good job! do we get a discount on brain surgery? if not, can you at least find out why we're obsessed with these vision?
Great news David! Congratulations, that really is awesome. ;D ;D Having more time to ride the Vision I mean..... The other news is OK I guess too. :P ;D ;D
Seriously great work brother. I'll bet your family is very proud and thrilled for you. ;)
Another Update....
Well, what they tell you in an interview isn't necessarily what you see in the contract or so it happened to me. I ended up turning down the neurosurgery job - as exciting as it was. While the "base" salary was good, that was all it was. No overtime, no comp time, no bonus, no productivity...nothing but the amount they finally quoted which was less than half of what we talked about.
But... The day before I was to sign my contract, I got a call from a large hospitalist group here in town asking me if I was interested in an interview. I almost turned them down but didn't and I am glad. The offer as well as the contract was much better plus I will be working 10 hour day shifts rather than all day and night and being on call. I will be a pulmonary and critical care hospitalist PA working at one of the local hospitals here...not the one I used to work at but a new and exciting opportunity.
So... my start date is sometime this April pending hospital credentialing so I have some more time off to enjoy...
David
Man, you are on a roll! Would you mind blessing my Vision for the upcoming riding season!? :angel: :laugh: