Entering the medical field can be quite daunting, especially when it comes to deciding on your major within the first or second year of college. With the heavy course load, long study hours, and years of additional education in preparation for the workforce, careers in healthcare are not for the faint of heart. There are also countless specialties to choose from, which can be overwhelming. However, I think this allows for variety and individuality when choosing a career that you can fall in love with.
It is also completely normal to not know exactly what path you want to pursue. By the end of my freshman year, I had switched my major three times while I was deciding between going to medical school, physician assistant (PA) school, and nursing school. For anyone going through the same dilemma, or if you just want to know a little bit about becoming a PA, I interviewed PA-C, Allison Justice, on her experience in the field. Justice is also a professor at Florida State University and the advisor of the FSU Pre-PA club, just to name a few of her titles. If you’re interested in learning more about Justice, her countless certifications, degrees, and leadership positions can be found in the FSU faculty directory.
Her Campus (HC): When choosing your career, what factors drew you to become a PA-C?
Allison Justice (AJ): I learned about the PA profession when I joined the military in the early 2000s. Very quickly, I was drawn to the profession because of how personable and intelligent the PAs were, but also how like-minded they were to me. There were many factors that drew me into the profession, but the culture of the PA profession was one of them. They were obtainable, tangible, and always supportive of my academic and life goals.
HC: How many years in total did it take to earn all your degrees and certifications?
AJ: Everyone’s path is different, and mine was perhaps longer, but necessary, to be successful as a Physician Assistant and person. It took 12 years in total; within 27 months of graduating high school, I earned my Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies and started practicing medicine. During this 12-year time frame, I joined the Florida Army National Guard as a Combat Medic, lifeguarded at Jacksonville Beach and honorably retired after 8 years of service, earned my Paramedic Certificate and worked in the field in various locations, earned my Associate’s Degree in Emergency Medical Services with high honors, became a Flight Medic and deployed twice to Iraq, supported my unit as a Platoon Sergeant and Flight Instructor, earned my Bachelor’s degree in Biology with Honors and University Honors, performed numerous hours of service work in various capacities, and shadowed Physician Assistants and other medical providers. This is what was required for me to be successful in PA school and as a medical provider. Everyone’s path is different, and some may have a shorter route to get to their dream career.
HC: Do you feel that this was an appropriate amount of education as opposed to other medical career paths?
AJ: I knew I wanted to learn medicine and serve patients to the best of my ability. I knew PAs could operate in the same capacities as physicians with time and training. If we look at the medical school curriculum and compare this to PA schools, it’s quite impressive how similar they are — except PA school is like drinking from a firehose. Both schools are very challenging and require dedication to succeed. I would go through PA school again, but I’d also consider going to medical school, especially since I think the FSU Medical School is awesome! It’s based on an individual’s experience and priorities.
HC: When working in medical settings, did you feel that you had somewhat similar opportunities to a doctor of medicine (MD), or did you ever wish that you had the autonomy and independence of a physician?
AJ: In my first practice, I started seeing and treating patients one week after I graduated PA school. Within three months, I worked in an office solo, but my mentor was a phone call away. In a way, I practiced autonomously. When I had a question, I called and was able to navigate through patient care. Never was I too proud to call because it was never about me; it was about the patient. I couldn’t have asked for a better practice to start my career because this shaped my personal practice and empowered me. It seems that I have had similar opportunities as MD/DOs. The only opportunity I’d welcome is having an increased number of post-graduate programs and residencies for PAs. Having the ability to attend more residency programs with the MD/DOs would be a welcome opportunity because PAs are trained as generalists and often do not have the breadth that MD/DOs have after residency training. More often, PAs learn specialty work from on-the-job training.
HC: Outside of work and the classroom, you have extensive involvement in national associations and organizations. How would you say your work-life balance is? Would this amount of involvement outside your career be attainable for others in this profession too?
AJ: A work-life balance is what you create. I am involved in the Florida Academy of PAs (FAPA), the only organization in the state of Florida that supports all PAs in Florida. The reasons I volunteer are numerous, but my why is going to be different from other people’s. I’ve made volunteering with FAPA a priority, and I feel that I’ve made a positive impact which makes the sacrifices worth it. The level of involvement in FAPA and even the national level is completely attainable. If you are driven, have a passion for the profession, and are willing to sacrifice a little time each week, there is no limit to what you can do for your profession.
Whether you’re researching careers, trying to pick a major, or just want to know a little bit about the PA profession, I hope this article gave you some insight into the field of medicine. The personal experiences that many medical professionals share, such as Allison Justice, are truly what helped guide me in my search for the perfect career, and can hopefully do the same for you!
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