Pre Med Career Explorations Club Led by a Physician Associate PA

Pre Med Career Explorations with a PA, You have more options than a Nurse or Doctor!

We will explore health care careers through an imagined interactive case scenario where a pretend patient goes “to the doctor.”  Your learner will discover that good medical care today is a team-based effort, with the most important person being the patient!

During the scenario, the pretend patient will get introductions to different health care professionals and support staff.  We will discuss what that professional does, what schooling and testing may be required, why someone might want to do that job as a career, and what “soft skills” would make that person good at that job. 

Topics: EMTs, Paramedics, X-ray Techs, Scribes, Phlebotomists, Medical Assistants, Physician Associates, types of Nurses, PAs, NPs, and doctors. Different settings where health care professionals work (assisted living facilities, urgent cares, rehab facilities, primary care clinics, etc)   
We will start with an opening question that relates to the scenario of that day.

I encourage learners to keep their cameras on for discussion so the class remains interactive.  

Students have an optional health careers worksheet to fill out regarding the scenario to encourage participation, memorization, and student engagement during class time.   
During the class, we will discuss the organ or organ systems as it related to the health care professional. For example, we might discuss ankle anatomy if we discuss a paramedic helping an child with a twisted ankle off the soccer field.

We may also cover some common problems, diagnoses, procedures, exams, or other activities a professional might do during their week.  Diagnostic equipment and supplies used by health care providers might be discussed such as (thermometer, BP cuff, stethoscope used by a PA or MA for vitals). 
Sometimes, we might look at a picture or video for a few minutes so that the scenario comes to life for the learners. We might discuss the interaction or the image and how it fits into the scenario. Media is used as a launching point for group discussion and to foster understanding.  

Example Topics: 
Case 1: Aidan twists his ankle on the soccer field (Meet a Medical Assistant, X-ray tech, and an Ortho PA anatomy-the ankle).
Case 2: Caroline has a sore throat. Mom takes Caroline to her primary care doctor because she is worried that Caroline may have strep throat. (Meet an LPN, a phlebotomist, and a primary care doctor, anatomy-the mouth and throat)