2 answers
Sam
Student
Mesa, Arizona
12
Questions
Asked
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What is a Pediatric Physician Assistant?
I'm currently in 12th grade wanting to be a Pediatric Doctor (Pediatrician or a Pediatric Physician Assistant)
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2 answers
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
616
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Sam,
Good question! A Pediatric Physician Assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional who works under the supervision of a pediatrician or other doctors to provide medical care to infants, children, and adolescents. PAs are trained to perform many of the same tasks as doctors, including diagnosing illnesses, conducting physical exams, prescribing medications, and developing treatment plans. However, they don't have the same level of training as doctors and generally have a more collaborative role in the medical team.
Key Responsibilities of a Pediatric PA:
- Examine patients and record their medical histories.
- Diagnose illnesses and provide treatment plans.
- Prescribe medications (depending on state regulations).
- Assist in procedures and provide preventive care, like vaccinations.
- Counsel patients and their families on proper health care, including nutrition and illness prevention.
- Collaborate with pediatricians and other healthcare providers.
Steps to Becoming a Pediatric Physician Assistant:
1. Complete a Bachelor's Degree: Most students complete a degree in a science-related field such as biology, chemistry, or health sciences. You’ll also need to complete prerequisite courses for PA programs, like anatomy, physiology, and microbiology.
2. Gain Healthcare Experience: Many PA programs require healthcare experience, such as working as a medical assistant, EMT, or nurse.
3. Attend a Physician Assistant Program: PA programs typically take 2–3 years to complete and include both classroom instruction and clinical rotations.
4. Pass the PANCE: After completing a PA program, you must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) to become licensed.
5. Obtain Certification and Licensure: After passing the PANCE, you’ll need to get certified and licensed to practice in your state.
6. Specialize in Pediatrics: During your PA program or after, you can choose to specialize in pediatrics by doing pediatric rotations or working in pediatric settings.
Pediatric PA vs. Pediatrician:
- Pediatrician: A medical doctor specializing in the care of children, requiring 4 years of medical school and 3–4 years of pediatric residency training.
- Pediatric PA: A healthcare provider who can perform many of the same duties but with a shorter educational path (usually about 6–7 years after high school).
If you're interested in becoming a Pediatrician, you will need to complete medical school, while the PA route is a quicker option with a strong focus on collaborative care. Both careers allow you to work closely with children and their families!
Best wishes!
Good question! A Pediatric Physician Assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional who works under the supervision of a pediatrician or other doctors to provide medical care to infants, children, and adolescents. PAs are trained to perform many of the same tasks as doctors, including diagnosing illnesses, conducting physical exams, prescribing medications, and developing treatment plans. However, they don't have the same level of training as doctors and generally have a more collaborative role in the medical team.
Key Responsibilities of a Pediatric PA:
- Examine patients and record their medical histories.
- Diagnose illnesses and provide treatment plans.
- Prescribe medications (depending on state regulations).
- Assist in procedures and provide preventive care, like vaccinations.
- Counsel patients and their families on proper health care, including nutrition and illness prevention.
- Collaborate with pediatricians and other healthcare providers.
Steps to Becoming a Pediatric Physician Assistant:
1. Complete a Bachelor's Degree: Most students complete a degree in a science-related field such as biology, chemistry, or health sciences. You’ll also need to complete prerequisite courses for PA programs, like anatomy, physiology, and microbiology.
2. Gain Healthcare Experience: Many PA programs require healthcare experience, such as working as a medical assistant, EMT, or nurse.
3. Attend a Physician Assistant Program: PA programs typically take 2–3 years to complete and include both classroom instruction and clinical rotations.
4. Pass the PANCE: After completing a PA program, you must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) to become licensed.
5. Obtain Certification and Licensure: After passing the PANCE, you’ll need to get certified and licensed to practice in your state.
6. Specialize in Pediatrics: During your PA program or after, you can choose to specialize in pediatrics by doing pediatric rotations or working in pediatric settings.
Pediatric PA vs. Pediatrician:
- Pediatrician: A medical doctor specializing in the care of children, requiring 4 years of medical school and 3–4 years of pediatric residency training.
- Pediatric PA: A healthcare provider who can perform many of the same duties but with a shorter educational path (usually about 6–7 years after high school).
If you're interested in becoming a Pediatrician, you will need to complete medical school, while the PA route is a quicker option with a strong focus on collaborative care. Both careers allow you to work closely with children and their families!
Best wishes!
Hwal Lee
DMSc, PA-C
232
Answers
Albany, New York
Updated
Hwal’s Answer
Sam,
PAs practice medicine in every medical specialty and clinical setting, and this includes paediatrics (=paediatric PA). For example, I'm a PA practicing primary care internal medicine. Here's a link to the Society for PAs in Paediatrics:
https://thespap.wildapricot.org/About-us
Here's another link with detailed information including how to become a paediatric PA and what they do:
https://www.physicianassistantedu.org/pediatrics/
Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with.
Good luck!
Hwal
PAs practice medicine in every medical specialty and clinical setting, and this includes paediatrics (=paediatric PA). For example, I'm a PA practicing primary care internal medicine. Here's a link to the Society for PAs in Paediatrics:
https://thespap.wildapricot.org/About-us
Here's another link with detailed information including how to become a paediatric PA and what they do:
https://www.physicianassistantedu.org/pediatrics/
Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with.
Good luck!
Hwal