3 Key Takeaways:
- Becoming a physician assistant and enhancing patient care requires dedication to education and the ability to work in collaborative healthcare environments.
- The daily responsibilities of a physician assistant in urology can vary, from assisting in surgery to helping with procedures in the clinic. Adaptability and collaboration are crucial in the fast-paced urology clinic setting.
- The journey to becoming a physician assistant often involves obtaining an undergraduate degree in a relevant field, followed by further education such as a master’s degree and a physician assistant degree. Determination, ambition, and a thirst for education can lead to a fulfilling career in healthcare.
“Becoming a physician assistant is the culmination of dedication to education, a passion for patient care, and a willingness to work in collaborative healthcare environments,” says Lisa Cunningham, an NP-C in Orange City, FL. Working hand-in-hand with other healthcare professionals, assistants navigate the demanding pace of a urology clinic, contributing their expertise where necessary.
A Day in the Life of a Physician Assistant in Urology
In our profession, we are not confined to a single station. “It changes daily and who we work with on a daily basis”, shares Lisa. One day, we could be assisting in surgery; the next, we might be in the clinic helping with procedures. The hustle and bustle of urology clinics, like ours in Orange City necessitates adaptability and collaboration.
The Journey to Becoming a Physician Assistant
Jeanette Lain, a PA-C based in Orange City, FL, kickstarted her career as a medical assistant before ascending the ranks via further education. When faced with the challenge of seeking a raise, she channeled the pushback into motivation: “I remember asking him, I think it’s about time for a raise. I’m doing a lot of things that PAs do already. And he said, I don’t see any letters behind your name.”
That pivotal moment set her on the path to becoming a physician assistant. The journey entailed obtaining an undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry, followed by a master’s degree in public health, and then her physician assistant degree, finally successfully becoming a physician assistant in 2005. Jeanette’s story is a testament to every aspiring “physician assistant” that determination, ambition and a thirst for education can lead to a fulfilling career in healthcare.
In the Field: Specializing as a Physician Assistant
Equipped with a rich educational background, Jeanette found her niche in a sexual medicine clinic handling hormonal regulation in both men and women. This stoked her interest in specialized areas such as erectile dysfunction in men and male hypogonadism, thereby enhancing her capacity to care for her patients.
Advanced Urology Institute: Home to the Best Urologists in Florida
For those considering becoming a physician assistant and those in need of excellent urological care in Florida, look no further than Advanced Urology Institute. With a team of dedicated, experienced, and highly educated urologists, our expansive practice covers different locations, including our clinics in Orange City. We are proud of our physician assistants and their essential role in our team, accentuating the quality of care we provide, and enhancing patient outcomes.
Becoming a physician assistant with a specialization in urology opens up a world of opportunities to serve and heal. Our assistants are living proof of that. At Advanced Urology Institute, we not only augment the quality of care but also contribute to the development of healthcare professionals, shaping the future leaders of urological care in Florida.
References:
- “Low Testosterone (Male Hypogonadism) – Cleveland Clinic.” 2 Sep. 2022, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15603-low-testosterone-male-hypogonadism.
- “5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started My Career in Urology.” 21 Jan. 2020, https://www.thescopeofpractice.com/5-things-i-wish-i-knew-before-i-started-my-career-in-urology/.
- “What it’s like to specialize in urology: Shadowing Dr. Davuluri.” 25 Mar. 2021, https://www.ama-assn.org/medical-students/specialty-profiles/what-it-s-specialize-urology-shadowing-dr-davuluri.
Transcription:
Lisa Cunningham, NP-C (Orange City, FL):
Myself and two PAs, we work in the Orange City and Deland locations under three specific positions. We all work together very well within the group. It changes daily and who we work with on a daily basis.
We go back and forth between working in clinic, assisting in procedures, whether that be at the clinic or in the hospital, we assist in surgery for our inpatients.
Jeanette Lain MHS, PA-C (Orange City, FL):
I started out literally as a medical assistant way back when and worked my way up with education. This was back in Oklahoma and I was working for a urologist at the time and doing a lot of rounding with him in the hospital and assisting him in surgery. And I remember asking him, I think it’s about time for a raise.
I’m doing a lot of things that PAs do already. And he said, I don’t see any letters behind your name. I said, you’re right, there aren’t. So I went back to school. And so I got another undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry through the University of Central Oklahoma. Then I went and got my master’s degree at the University of Oklahoma in public health. And then my PA degree. So finally finished up in 2005 and have been practicing ever since.
In Oklahoma, I was exposed to a sexual medicine clinic and worked in it. And it was very interesting. I like doing hormonal regulation in both men and women. And so because of that, I just kind of progressed into doing erectile dysfunction in men as well as male hypogonadism, low testosterone.
