Neurosurgery PA
Mr. Smith completed his undergrad at the University of Rhode Island with a double major in biology and kinesiology. Then, he took a year off of school and started again with Wingate University in North Carolina. It was here that he attained his Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies. Now he works in Austin Texas as a neurosurgery physician’s assistant at Baylor Scott & White NeuroHealth Institute.
Interview:
What does a typical workday look like?
His typical day starts early at the gym around 5 am, followed by rounds with his patients in the hospital by 7 am. By 9 am he begins clinic. On Thursdays and Fridays, he is in the operating room all day. On clinic days he usually is home by 3 but, on operating room days, it becomes a 10-12 hours work day.
What type of schooling did you need to get into this field?
Typically, becoming a physician assistant in any area can take up to 6-8 years. You would begin with a normal 4-year bachelor's degree and then move on to physician assistant school. Some schools may require clinical hours before applying, but it is always a good idea as it sets you apart from other applicants. As for Smith’s answer, he attended a Physician’s school which typically has a competitive admission process.
How does your role interact with other members of the neurosurgery team?
In his role, Mr. Smith is responsible for ordering images and labs, evaluating patients, and communicating various things between nursing staff and varying doctors. He also must mitigate the plan being told to the attending Neurosurgeon and the medical hospitalist team.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career as a neurosurgery PA?
Mr. Smith highlights that “you know surgery is the right thing for you”! He says that, while in school, students get the opportunity to discover if surgery is a good fit. He enforces that it is not for the faint of heart. Oftentimes, people, who thought surgery was their path, are shocked when they see an open skull and bleeding brain, eventually changing their focus. Additionally, his other advice is to understand the learning curve, stepping into neurosurgery can be daunting. He finishes by reminding you that, once you are passed all the adversity, the job is worth it!
How do you maintain your certification and skills over time?
Fortunately, the majority is handled by the hospital. Smith mentions that the hospital still has you do basic life support training quarterly and, also, provides you with reminders when you require a license update. He also mentioned that every day your skills are being refined and tested so they are always fresh. Mr. Smith gets honest when he comments that he finds it challenging to uphold certain skill sets in other fields of medicine such as: “treating diabetes, heart failure, basic family practice follow up about certain findings like lung nodules etc.”. He concludes that neurosurgery is such a specific skill set and you forget and veer from the “all around” knowledge they teach you in school, “but I wouldn’t change what I do at all- I truly love it”!
