Physician Assistant

Taking the PANCE is the culmination of your PA school journey. Everything you learned comes down to passing this one test before you can FINALLY put your knowledge to work. The odds of you passing the boards are high, especially if you put in the work—the PANCE pass rate was 92% in 2022, so the read more…

While you’ve undoubtedly spent time researching the differences between being a physician assistant and an MD or DO, a commonly overlooked comparison is the difference between the physician assistant vs nurse practitioner professions. Both career paths are categorized as advanced practitioners, have similar timelines to degree completion, and allow for individual patient oversight with diagnostic read more…

As a physician assistant, the ability to effectively communicate with patients is not just a desirable skill—it is an indispensable art that lies at the heart of providing quality healthcare. Beyond the mastery of medical knowledge and technical expertise, the art of communication sets the stage for building trust, fostering collaboration, and ultimately delivering exceptional read more…

Although I have been a certified PA for almost 15 years, I remember those dreaded feelings of anxiety towards EKGs like it was yesterday. Sure, I understood the science, and even read a much-recommended resource on the topic by Dr. Dale Dubin, but putting that knowledge into practice was something else altogether. How did one read more…

As you start to think ahead to your “next steps” after PA school, you may be considering ways to enhance your clinical skills, expand your network, and make yourself a more competitive candidate for your dream job. Remember, your number one priority as a PA student is to focus on your didactic coursework, clinical rotations, read more…

With recent declining PANCE pass rates, it’s more important than ever to ramp up your PANCE prep and guarantee you pass the exam on the first take. To help you study for your exam with additional structure and accountability, the team of PAs behind the Rosh Review PANCE Qbank is now bringing their expertise to read more…

I have written a lot of generalized blog posts on the PA experience, but I have yet to take the time to really explain my career. While I’ve known for some time that I wanted to go into the field of Cardiothoracic Surgery, I did not actually get this position right out of graduate school.  read more…

In April 2019, the NCCPA announced that PANCE pass rates had dropped from 98% to 93% after the release of the newest PANCE Blueprint. After trending upward to 95% in 2020, 2021 saw a decrease to 93%, and new data reports that the 2022 pass rate further dropped to 92%. While a 92% pass rate read more…

Transitioning from the didactic portion of the PA program to clinical year can be a whirlwind. At this time, you will go from sitting in class all day to working a full 40-hour week. Although there is a reduction in the number of exams you may have to take, there is definitely no shortage of read more…

Whether you’re just starting physician assistant school or you’re knuckling through your PA clinical year, surviving PA school can be a tricky chapter of your educational journey. But you don’t have to tackle these challenges alone! If you’re struggling with any of the following obstacles during PA school, a tutor may just be your new read more…

With 300 accredited physician assistant programs (estimated to increase to 326 by 2024) to consider, finding your perfect PA program can be a challenge. While every program has promise and pitfalls, selecting the right fit for you is important to set yourself up for success in your educational journey and ultimately your career.  Graduate education read more…

If you are anything like me, you love the practice of medicine. Do you find yourself eagerly looking for ways to improve your clinical outcomes? How about helping others discover their “aha” moments in learning? Do you enjoy conducting research and determining improvements for global health initiatives? Or maybe just want to further your own educational efforts? read more…

Maybe you’re accepting your first PA job offer or maybe you’ve had experience trying to take charge (and falling short) while negotiating your PA contract. Whatever the case, knowing how to effectively make your case during contract negotiations is an essential skill for any healthcare professional. What Happens Before the Job Offer Gets to You? read more…

First, give yourself a moment of celebration: you’ve made it to the end of your PA program! Now, the fun part begins (that is, depending on your definition of fun): preparing for the PANCE. Maybe you’ve already picked out the perfect PANCE review resources but are struggling to create a study plan with them. Or, read more…

Whether you have one job offer or multiple, the process of finally accepting your first position as a newly certified PA is equally as exciting as it is overwhelming. You’ve worked so hard to make it to this point, and now your career as a health care professional is finally materializing.  However, it’s important to read more…

One of the most exciting yet stressful times in your PA school experience is when you find yourself finishing up clinical rotations. In between preparing for the PANCE, awaiting graduation, and finally looking at job opportunities, it’s important to celebrate your accomplishments yet practically impossible not to feel overwhelmed. So, to alleviate the stress and read more…

On January 3, the first quarter of the PANRE-LA began for many recertifying PAs (myself included). Whether you’re like me, deciding on the best way to prepare for your PANRE-LA quarterly question sets, or you’re in the process of preparing for an upcoming traditional PANRE, you should direct your attention to the 2023 updates made read more…

Was I the only one who thought, “School is finally over!” after finishing PA school? Once I officially became a PA-C, I was under the impression that my learning would only continue as I gained experience in practice. I quickly realized that this profession is all about lifelong learning—for both didactic and clinical knowledge. I read more…

For many pre-PA students, the first step of the application process is deciding your top programs. As you start to explore PA schools, you feel your chest tighten and pulse quicken as you examine the statistics. How do you know if your application is competitive for your top programs? Should you factor in acceptance rates read more…

Over the past three years, programs have transitioned to using more virtual-based learning platforms, either in combination with or in place of face-to-face instruction. As self-directed learning becomes more common, programs are looking for creative ways to use these learning platforms and keep students engaged. Program directors and faculty are asking similar questions: If you read more…