Key Takeaways:
- Becoming a PA typically requires a combination of education and work experience, including a bachelor’s degree in a related field and two years of PA school.
- PAs perform many of the same tasks as physicians, including diagnosing and treating medical conditions, and are often used to help alleviate the workload of physicians.
- Becoming a PA is a rewarding and fulfilling career choice with strong job prospects in the foreseeable future.
Chad Bryan, a physician assistant (PA) for Advanced Neurology Institute, shares his journey to becoming a healthcare professional in this video. As a child with a cleft palate, he spent a lot of time in the hospital and was inspired by the doctors and other medical professionals who helped him. This experience led him to pursue a career in healthcare and become a PA.
Bryan grew up in Pensacola, Florida, in a military family, and graduated from high school in the area. He then attended the University of South Alabama, where he earned two degrees: a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science and a nursing degree in just three and a half years. After graduation, he applied to both medical and PA schools but was waitlisted for medical school and ultimately chose to pursue a career as a PA.
Bryan attended Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale for his master’s degree in physician assistant studies. After completing his education, he began working as a PA for Advanced Neurology Institute, where he helps diagnose and treat neurological conditions.
Bryan’s story is not uncommon among PA professionals. Many PAs are drawn to the field because of their desire to help others, and their journey often includes a combination of education and work experience. PA programs typically require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as nursing, as well as experience working in healthcare. PA programs generally take around two years to complete and include both classroom and clinical experience.
PAs work under the supervision of physicians and can perform many of the same tasks, such as taking medical histories, performing physical exams, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, and developing treatment plans. PAs are often used to help alleviate the workload of physicians, particularly in areas where there is a shortage of healthcare professionals. In addition to neurology, PAs can work in a variety of specialties, including emergency medicine, primary care, and surgery.
Overall, Bryan’s story highlights the importance of having a passion for helping others and the many paths that can lead to a career in healthcare. Becoming a PA requires a significant amount of education and experience, but for those who are dedicated to the profession, it can be a rewarding and fulfilling career choice. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, the demand for PAs is expected to grow, making it a field with strong job prospects for the foreseeable future.
TRANSCRIPTION:
I had a cleft palate as a child so I had a lot of surgeries and I was in the hospital many many
years so seeing all the doctors and all the interactions I had with them I just kind of
felt like it was a calling for me to help others because I had a lot of people help me.
My name is Chad Bryan and I’m the physician assistant for Advanced Neurology Institute.
Grew up in Pensacola, Florida, military family and I graduated high school there right outside
of Alectorian and went over to Alabama so you can probably hear my accent. University of South
Alabama is where I got two degrees actually, a biomedical science degree which is a bachelor’s
followed by a nursing degree so a bachelor’s in nursing within about three and a half years.
I applied to medical school, applied to PA school, got waitlisted in medical school,
got accepted into PA school so I decided to go that route and then went to Nova Southeastern
and Fort Lauderdale for my master’s degree.
References:
- “Best Physician Assistant Programs – US News Rankings.” https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/physician-assistant-rankings.
- “Become a PA: Getting Your Prerequisites and Certification – AAPA.” https://www.aapa.org/career-central/become-a-pa/.
- “Neurological Disorders | Johns Hopkins Medicine.” https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/neurological-disorders.
