Thread: Carribean med graduate-PA

I'm a carribbean medical graduate, didn't match for a couple years and tired of trying and waiting, so now I'm in PA school. Is there anyone out there in my situation that was able to match in FM after working as an FM PA?

I want to practice in FM, either as an MD or PA. I'm wondering if the experience as a PA in FM will help get in residency in FM.

Egyptiangawd: I am a med student trying to revert to PA. I am very interested in staying in the medical field but feel I just don't have it in me to become a doctor. What advice would you give for me to pursue a PA degree? The deadlines for the programs suck! I have to wait a year to get into 2012 class! Anyway any help you can give or anyone else here would be great! Good luck to you guys!!

may i ask what made u leave PA for MD. Im currently preppin for STEP 1 now and sometimes i wish i went to PA school instead of med school. Can u please tell me what drives/attracts u to med school. Thanks

may i ask what made u leave PA for MD. Im currently preppin for STEP 1 now and sometimes i wish i went to PA school instead of med school. Can u please tell me what drives/attracts u to med school. Thanks

Originally Posted by kpvivo

Im Just going to Med School now
I have been a PA for 4 years Now trying to be MD
No story here to tell

I think keep going for the residency, you can do!!!

Since you are a recent grad why do you think you failed to match? Did you have low board scores or failures? Did you mess up the interviews? Just curious.

Agreed, even surgical assist PAs can make 120-130K, what's wrong with that....you can also teach in PA schools as a MD,PA, no problem....as long as you are a licensed PA....

Originally Posted by leadsled

Wow! This is very interesting! MD to PA. Best wishes in getting a residency. It appears that the further you are from your MD graduation date the more difficult it is to obtain a residency. Hopefully, you get employed as a PA at a large university hospital with numerous residency programs and make the political connections necessary to secure a "pre match" contract. I have a friend who went into Derm as a PA and he made $130 K last year. Not too shabby! Best Regards!

I would hate to go to all the effort required for medical school, and find out that I couldn't match.

Originally Posted by CaribPA

I'm a carribbean medical graduate, didn't match for a couple years and tired of trying and waiting, so now I'm in PA school. Is there anyone out there in my situation that was able to match in FM after working as an FM PA?

I want to practice in FM, either as an MD or PA. I'm wondering if the experience as a PA in FM will help get in residency in FM.

I, myself, am a FMG tyring to get into PA school hoping to use that as a stepping stone to get into a residency training program. To make myself a better residency candidate, I've done medical research(I have a paper pending approval for publication in a medical journal), worked as an assistant for an IM Primary Care consultant for 3 years(under his full supervision, I made rounds in the medical floor, ICU, ER & clinics; it was a great experience!!), & passed my Step 3 USMLE. Despite all this, I've had no success in matching to any residency program:-( I've now decided to try to apply to a PA program but find it very difficult to find one. As you mentioned previously, it can be very difficult for a FMG. Could you tell me what PA program you entered?

Originally Posted by CaribPA

I'm a carribbean medical graduate, didn't match for a couple years and tired of trying and waiting, so now I'm in PA school. Is there anyone out there in my situation that was able to match in FM after working as an FM PA?

I want to practice in FM, either as an MD or PA. I'm wondering if the experience as a PA in FM will help get in residency in FM.

Could you please tell me the PA program you entered into? I'm in the same situation you're in but i'm having trouble finding the right PA program.

There are many FMG's who work as PA's in Texas. usually the reason is that they have not completed/passed USMLE. if I were them i would become a monk for several months, take a Kaplan review and PASS! Why waste time going to PA school? You will be the work-horse for a licensed MD who will be making 2-3X what you do. MD's prefer to hire PA's over FNP's because they know they cannot leave, start their own practice and compete with them.

Originally Posted by docmobile

There are many FMG's who work as PA's in Texas. usually the reason is that they have not completed/passed USMLE. if I were them i would become a monk for several months, take a Kaplan review and PASS! Why waste time going to PA school? You will be the work-horse for a licensed MD who will be making 2-3X what you do. MD's prefer to hire PA's over FNP's because they know they cannot leave, start their own practice and compete with them.

Are you saying Texas has a FMG to PA license route? Please reply with a link to that program. I know the PA powers that be use to allow FMG's to challenge the PA exam but that was done away with many years ago!