No matter which branch of the military a brave solider serves under, he or she vows the same oath “…to be a guardian of freedom and justice and the American way of life…” (General T. Michael Moseley CSAF-Airman’s Creed, 2007). This vow is subject to the traditional jobs the U.S. military offers, but is not limited to the civilian works offered as well. Civilian occupations range from physician, lawyer, engineer, nurse, etc. The following research paper will feature key information consisting of the job description, education, qualifications, benefits, salary, and job outlook centering around the journey of becoming an U.S. Air Force Physician’s Assistant. Being on the frontline can be dangerous and traumatizing, so those courageous men and …show more content…
Beforehand entering into the Air Force or even a training program, a future solider must obtain a bachelor’s degree, strongly recommended in a basic and behavioral science: Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, or Physiology (The P.A. Life, 2016). An alternate route for the education requirement would be to obtain a Master of Science (MS) in relation to Physician Assistant studies from an accredited institution, which the Air Force pays for, or an associate degree with physician assistant studies relations with any bachelor degree (“Enhancing Quality Healthcare”, 2016). The next step will be graduating from an accredited Physician Assistant program to grasp the knowledge of principles and practices of medical treatments (“Enhancing Quality Healthcare”, 2016). After graduating from the accredited program, a future prospect for the Air Force needs to complete a minimum of six months of experience in Physician Assistant assignments (“Enhancing Quality Healthcare, 2016). There is also the requirement to complete a five week Commissioned Officer training course, which base is the Maxwell Air Force Training Base located in Montgomery, Alabama (“Enhancing Quality Healthcare, 2016). This training program will test the will power, self-determination, and physical strength against many ailments to distant the weak from the strong. The …show more content…
In 2016, Stephen Pasquini wrote “on average a U.S. Air Force Physician Assistant’s salary typically ranges from $89,009-$103,658 a year.” Of course, earnings are based on the experience, rank, time, and promotions of a solider, which is established through an evaluation and assessment by the soldier’s superiors. Stellar performance also plays a huge part in one’s promotion and salary in the military. In addition to the salary, being not only an Air Force healthcare professional, but also a solider deployed overseas can present lasting benefits. In wartime, as well as on humanitarian and peacekeeping missions, one can build an internationally based friendship with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures (Colonel Sutton, 2016). Being provided with health insurance, low percentages on loans, installations, and the opportunity to travel the world on a military aircraft for $25 are all benefits provided to the soldiers as well as their dependents. Retirement after many years of services is the significant portion of a soldier’s benefit. The retirement payments are based, of course, from an individual’s rank and service given to the armed forces. For every two years after the soldier’s retirement, the government pays the soldier 50% of his or her salary before retiring (Colonel Sutton, 2016).
Standing at the starting line of the full marathon I felt anxious and nervous. Not only was I excited to accomplish this goal, but also I was nervous about the difficulty of this task. However, when I crossed the finish line and accomplished this goal, I realized that a new and possibly more difficult goal was about to start. This goal was not only to complete Physician Assistant School but it was to strive to excel in a career as a Physician Assistant in a rural primary care setting. Driven by my intrinsic personal traits of leadership, compassion, and commitment, I am motivated to achieve this goal of excelling in my career as a Physician Assistant.
These programs are usually available at the master's level and often require applicants to have bachelor's degrees and some amount of experience in the healthcare profession to gain admission. Many physician assistants serve as emergency medical technicians, nurses or paramedics before pursuing admission to physician assistant programs. Physician assistant programs generally take 26 months of full-time study to complete. During the first year, students focus on classroom instruction in medical science and clinical preparation. Courses may include pathology, pediatrics, diagnosis, surgical technique, emergency medicine, pharmacology and research methods. Afterward, the curriculum shifts to focus mostly on clinical rotations in various disciplines, such as general surgery, gynecology and behavioral medicine. During these rotations, students gain first-hand experience in patient care under the supervision of licensed physicians. Physician assistants are required to be licensed by the state in which they practice. Along with completion of an accredited training program, the licensing process entails passage of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, evaluates fundamental medical and surgical comprehension (www.nccpa.net). PA’s who pass the PANCE may use the Physician Assistant-Certified (PA-C) designation. Physician assistants must earn 100 continuing education credits every two years. They are also required to pass the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam every six
The physician assistant is a team player in the medical world, working daily with surgeons, physicians, therapists, and many other health care professionals. Similar to the job description of physicians, PAs see patients, take medical histories, preform physical exams, make diagnoses, order and interpret tests, and develop treatment plans (Ludwig). A physician assistant, nowadays, may even perform procedures that were once performed exclusively by physicians. Because every PA must have a supervising physician who oversees their work, it is assumed by many that PAs are “assistants to doctors”, however, that is not the case because a vast majority of PAs work independently. The extent of supervision by a physician varies depending on location and branch of medicine. Although, a physician assistant may carry out much of the same roles as a physician would, the amount of schooling required to become a PA is nearly half as many as that of a physician. Physician assistant programs nationwide require an undergraduate degree in one of many sciences, such as biology, and certain
At Seton Hill, I will be a student of the 5-year physician assistant program. From visiting campus and interviewing with the PA program staff, I am confident that Seton Hill will shape me into a competent and compassionate medical professional. Furthermore, I am confident that my fellow students and I will have an opportunity to make a difference in the community. A main pillar of the physician assistant career is catering the underserved populations. With a simple internet search, anyone can deduce
health care team who, with doctors, provide quality care to patients. In order to do that,
For undergraduate students looking to pursue a career in medicine, medical school can be a daunting financial endeavor. The Health Professions Scholarship Program is a military scholarship offered by the Army, Navy, and Air Force that covers all tuition and fees for one to four years at any accredited medical school or other qualifying professional program. The scholarship also gives the student a stipend for living expenses. In return for the aide, students incur an obligation to the military; students must serve one year of active duty and one year of Inactive Ready Reserve for each year they receive the scholarship. The student will also have to apply
The Army Health System (AHS) is a component of the Military Health System that’s responsible for the operational management of medical support for training, predeployment, deployment, and postdeployment operations. The AHS is comprised of ten medical functions: mission command, medical treatment (organic and area), hospitalization, evacuation, medical logistics, preventative services, veterinary services, dental services, mental health, and medical laboratory services.The missions of health service support (HSS) and force health protection (FHP) are aligned under two Army warfighting functions: sustainment and protection. HSS falls under the sustainment function, and FHP under protection. At the maneuver unit level, medical support is defined by two Roles: Role I, which is unit-level health care and combat medics, and Role II, which
All PA programs in the United States are accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. Before the admission process to a PA school, the typical candidate usually hold a bachelor’s degree with around 45 months of experience in health care. The bachelor years is usually 4 years but there are acceleration programs that have a full 3 year time span. In order to be a competitive candidate for PA school, one should have their core science classes in good terms. Anything below a B does not look well and would bring their GPA down. Maintaining a competitive GPA of 3.5 or above is ideal, but there are other factors that can contribute greatly of getting accepted into PA school than just grades alone. Outside of school experience with communication is greatly encouraged due to the nature of the PA’s job where a great deal of interaction with patients is essential. PA school look at the balance between academic quality and extracurricular activities. After getting accepted into a PA school, the programs run approximately for 2-3 years. Its tuition can range between 30-40 thousands dollar per didactic year. There are many types of financial assistance available, however, to help fund those who have financial difficulties. Financial aid should be considered around the same time as applying to the PA program and the American
At the end of volunteer services I have decided on a major, I am now striving to become a physician’s assistant. In this position, not only do I get to care for patients, but I am presented with the opportunity to change their lives. I will be able to see firsthand the diversity of cultures from around the world.
The steps of education to become a medical assistant is obtaining a Post-secondary degree (offers social/ economic benefits), Associate’s degree (course of study usually 2 years community college, junior college, technical college), and High school diploma (graduation of high school). To attend this job (medical assisting) it takes 2 years at the most. The main degree for this job that is needed is an Associate’s degree. Training starts when you apply for the job and you get called in for training to prepare you for the experience before you actually start the
A physician assistant is a healthcare professional who practices medicine as a part of a healthcare team with collaborating physicians and other providers. Physician Assistants perform services typically performed by a physician. One key task for this job is the ability to examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition. Another key task for this job is the ability to prescribe therapy or medication with physician’s approval. A typical day on the job for a physician assistant would consist of diagnosing medical conditions, examining patients to assess general physical condition, prescribe medications, etc.
I feel that I am a very hard worker. At my job I have now I am given a to-do list every day I come in and I more than likely finish the list and still have time to do other tasks. I don’t dilly dally around and waist time. I don’t like to stand still when I’m at work. I like to get there get everything done and then leave. Being a hard worker makes me also very dependable. My boss and other people can give me a task they can depend on me to get it done and taken care of and not have to worry about following back and making sure I did it right. In high school I was a life guard, this job required me to take a first aid and CPR certification class and recertified every two years after that. This is a very useful skill when it comes to the exercise
...breaking, which help student practice within medicine. Find new ways to improve aircraft and what is needed to take care of personnel and soldier during emergency. From this, it has help to better prepare our future doctor in the area regardless of specialty. Today evacuation of soldier has been performing on bigger aircraft like the C-17, with the need medical treatment need to help. Medevac flights are frequently used more to carry soldier to remote areas with in other country for more treatment. It have been done that the United States Air Force will move soldier out of combat and taken on fixed wing aircraft to medical treatment during wartime. So now I would like to say go by to you and all the military family and hope and wish in some way this will help you on your quest to love and embrace the medevac family. A help improve Medevac Operation for time to come.
My first true introduction to the physician assistant profession came through the office manager, Carolyn. Her daughter, Treka, is a physician assistant and as Carolyn shared the news of her family I became intrigued and started coursework in health sciences. Finding Treka’s stories inspiring, they filled me with determination toward obtaining an education.
Being in the air force is scary enough. You could head out for a fly and be shot from the sky by any enemy aero plane, you never know if you’ll make it out alive. But being an air-force pilot? Is accelerating being in the sky and testing the limits of the craft and yourself. There are certain types of Airforce pilot’s fighters, trainers, bombers, advisers, cargo, first responders, etc.… the list goes on and on but today we are just going to focus on the basic type of pilot. As a pilot in the air force, you are going to plan and prepare missions, lead and train a crew, master all aspects of advance aviation. And learn aircraft skills. You’ll need a minimum education level of a bachelor’s degree. In order to quality for pilots position you