You may have noticed that the name has changed (only slightly), as has the layout. I figured since I was no longer a PA-Student, it was high time to change the name to reflect my new designation as a Physician Assistant (I still feel weird typing that out, with no -S behind it).
I finished my last official clinical rotation in Ob/Gyn (can I go back yet; I miss it terribly....I truly know it's where I belong), and took the PANCE (waiting for scores to return hopefully this Thursday), and I no longer am occupying my time studying with my stack of review books....I don't know quite what to do.
Licensing paperwork is underway, so as soon as my scores are posted with the board, I should have my CT state license shortly after that. This feels very surreal.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
Graduation!
It finally happened: graduation from PA school. I went from Katherine Swan, PA-Student, to Katherine Swan, MPAS, PA! I no longer have to introduce myself as a student. While I don't feel much different than I did a month ago, when I still WAS a student, apparently something IS. I won't officially have any privileges until I take my certification exam (the PANCE, pronounced like pants), and then, I'll legally be able to practice medicine.
I had a lovely celebration, seeing former teachers, mentors, friends, and family, and relishing the fact that I'll never have to wear the ridiculous academic regalia ever again!
Now, to enjoy this week, before I start my last make-up rotation for the month of June. But, it's ObGyn, which I'm incredibly excited about. No better way to spend my last rotation than in my favorite specialty in medicine, and the one I'm hoping to spend my career practicing in.
I had a lovely celebration, seeing former teachers, mentors, friends, and family, and relishing the fact that I'll never have to wear the ridiculous academic regalia ever again!
Now, to enjoy this week, before I start my last make-up rotation for the month of June. But, it's ObGyn, which I'm incredibly excited about. No better way to spend my last rotation than in my favorite specialty in medicine, and the one I'm hoping to spend my career practicing in.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Playing catch-up.....and forming new beginnings
Well, I'll be the first to admit that I've sorely neglected my blog these past few months, between clinical rotations, getting sick/having surgery 2x in November, and pushing through the last of clinic, taking my 3rd year comprehensive exams, and getting ready for graduation.
Shortly, this blog will turn into my experiences as a newly minted PA....and what it's like to do a PA Surgical Residency. Somewhere in the past 5 months of being absent from the blogosphere, I applied, interviewed, and got accepted to the Yale/Norwalk Surgical Residency program!
After falling in love with surgery during my 2nd year, I'd started researching the possibility of doing a surgical residency. One of our faculty members had completed the Yale residency upon graduation, and loved it....and after speaking with her about her experiences, I decided that the only program I'd apply to would be the Yale program, given its long history, its very organized format incorporating both lecture/didactic curricula (morning lectures, teaching rounds, and intermittent anatomy, surgical technology, pathology, microbiology, and animal surgery sessions at the Yale school of medicine throughout the year), and clinical time into the experiences. Norwalk Hospital does not have MD surgical residents there, so we won't have to compete for OR time when we operate there. The SICU and post-op recovery units are staffed entirely by PAs, both residents and staff PAs, so again, we get the comprehensive experience without being lower on the proverbial totem pole. We rotate through the different surgical services (general, ortho, plastic/reconstructive, neurosurgery, trauma, GU, Ob/GYN, SICU, and cardiothoracic/vascular), and also have 2 months for elective choices. I'm incredibly excited for this opportunity to learn more, greatly improve my experiences and skills in the operating room, and become well-versed in inpatient medical care. I'm also terrified, and have a constant feeling of nervous butterflies, now that the initial excitement of being accepted has turned into reality of moving across the country in 3 months.
For now, I am focusing on presenting my master's project this week, looking forward to seeing family, friends, and old teachers at graduation, and starting my last clinical rotation in June (Ob/Gyn in Denver; back to a month of deliveries, surgeries, and spending time in my favorite clinical setting). I couldn't imagine a more perfect way to finish PA school than with an elective that will truly be amazing! I cannot wait!
Shortly, this blog will turn into my experiences as a newly minted PA....and what it's like to do a PA Surgical Residency. Somewhere in the past 5 months of being absent from the blogosphere, I applied, interviewed, and got accepted to the Yale/Norwalk Surgical Residency program!
After falling in love with surgery during my 2nd year, I'd started researching the possibility of doing a surgical residency. One of our faculty members had completed the Yale residency upon graduation, and loved it....and after speaking with her about her experiences, I decided that the only program I'd apply to would be the Yale program, given its long history, its very organized format incorporating both lecture/didactic curricula (morning lectures, teaching rounds, and intermittent anatomy, surgical technology, pathology, microbiology, and animal surgery sessions at the Yale school of medicine throughout the year), and clinical time into the experiences. Norwalk Hospital does not have MD surgical residents there, so we won't have to compete for OR time when we operate there. The SICU and post-op recovery units are staffed entirely by PAs, both residents and staff PAs, so again, we get the comprehensive experience without being lower on the proverbial totem pole. We rotate through the different surgical services (general, ortho, plastic/reconstructive, neurosurgery, trauma, GU, Ob/GYN, SICU, and cardiothoracic/vascular), and also have 2 months for elective choices. I'm incredibly excited for this opportunity to learn more, greatly improve my experiences and skills in the operating room, and become well-versed in inpatient medical care. I'm also terrified, and have a constant feeling of nervous butterflies, now that the initial excitement of being accepted has turned into reality of moving across the country in 3 months.
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Monday, July 15, 2013
New name, new look, new beginnings
You may have noticed that the name has changed (only slightly), as has the layout. I figured since I was no longer a PA-Student, it was high time to change the name to reflect my new designation as a Physician Assistant (I still feel weird typing that out, with no -S behind it).
I finished my last official clinical rotation in Ob/Gyn (can I go back yet; I miss it terribly....I truly know it's where I belong), and took the PANCE (waiting for scores to return hopefully this Thursday), and I no longer am occupying my time studying with my stack of review books....I don't know quite what to do.
Licensing paperwork is underway, so as soon as my scores are posted with the board, I should have my CT state license shortly after that. This feels very surreal.
I finished my last official clinical rotation in Ob/Gyn (can I go back yet; I miss it terribly....I truly know it's where I belong), and took the PANCE (waiting for scores to return hopefully this Thursday), and I no longer am occupying my time studying with my stack of review books....I don't know quite what to do.
Licensing paperwork is underway, so as soon as my scores are posted with the board, I should have my CT state license shortly after that. This feels very surreal.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Graduation!
It finally happened: graduation from PA school. I went from Katherine Swan, PA-Student, to Katherine Swan, MPAS, PA! I no longer have to introduce myself as a student. While I don't feel much different than I did a month ago, when I still WAS a student, apparently something IS. I won't officially have any privileges until I take my certification exam (the PANCE, pronounced like pants), and then, I'll legally be able to practice medicine.
I had a lovely celebration, seeing former teachers, mentors, friends, and family, and relishing the fact that I'll never have to wear the ridiculous academic regalia ever again!
Now, to enjoy this week, before I start my last make-up rotation for the month of June. But, it's ObGyn, which I'm incredibly excited about. No better way to spend my last rotation than in my favorite specialty in medicine, and the one I'm hoping to spend my career practicing in.
I had a lovely celebration, seeing former teachers, mentors, friends, and family, and relishing the fact that I'll never have to wear the ridiculous academic regalia ever again!
Now, to enjoy this week, before I start my last make-up rotation for the month of June. But, it's ObGyn, which I'm incredibly excited about. No better way to spend my last rotation than in my favorite specialty in medicine, and the one I'm hoping to spend my career practicing in.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Playing catch-up.....and forming new beginnings
Well, I'll be the first to admit that I've sorely neglected my blog these past few months, between clinical rotations, getting sick/having surgery 2x in November, and pushing through the last of clinic, taking my 3rd year comprehensive exams, and getting ready for graduation.
Shortly, this blog will turn into my experiences as a newly minted PA....and what it's like to do a PA Surgical Residency. Somewhere in the past 5 months of being absent from the blogosphere, I applied, interviewed, and got accepted to the Yale/Norwalk Surgical Residency program!
After falling in love with surgery during my 2nd year, I'd started researching the possibility of doing a surgical residency. One of our faculty members had completed the Yale residency upon graduation, and loved it....and after speaking with her about her experiences, I decided that the only program I'd apply to would be the Yale program, given its long history, its very organized format incorporating both lecture/didactic curricula (morning lectures, teaching rounds, and intermittent anatomy, surgical technology, pathology, microbiology, and animal surgery sessions at the Yale school of medicine throughout the year), and clinical time into the experiences. Norwalk Hospital does not have MD surgical residents there, so we won't have to compete for OR time when we operate there. The SICU and post-op recovery units are staffed entirely by PAs, both residents and staff PAs, so again, we get the comprehensive experience without being lower on the proverbial totem pole. We rotate through the different surgical services (general, ortho, plastic/reconstructive, neurosurgery, trauma, GU, Ob/GYN, SICU, and cardiothoracic/vascular), and also have 2 months for elective choices. I'm incredibly excited for this opportunity to learn more, greatly improve my experiences and skills in the operating room, and become well-versed in inpatient medical care. I'm also terrified, and have a constant feeling of nervous butterflies, now that the initial excitement of being accepted has turned into reality of moving across the country in 3 months.
For now, I am focusing on presenting my master's project this week, looking forward to seeing family, friends, and old teachers at graduation, and starting my last clinical rotation in June (Ob/Gyn in Denver; back to a month of deliveries, surgeries, and spending time in my favorite clinical setting). I couldn't imagine a more perfect way to finish PA school than with an elective that will truly be amazing! I cannot wait!
Shortly, this blog will turn into my experiences as a newly minted PA....and what it's like to do a PA Surgical Residency. Somewhere in the past 5 months of being absent from the blogosphere, I applied, interviewed, and got accepted to the Yale/Norwalk Surgical Residency program!
After falling in love with surgery during my 2nd year, I'd started researching the possibility of doing a surgical residency. One of our faculty members had completed the Yale residency upon graduation, and loved it....and after speaking with her about her experiences, I decided that the only program I'd apply to would be the Yale program, given its long history, its very organized format incorporating both lecture/didactic curricula (morning lectures, teaching rounds, and intermittent anatomy, surgical technology, pathology, microbiology, and animal surgery sessions at the Yale school of medicine throughout the year), and clinical time into the experiences. Norwalk Hospital does not have MD surgical residents there, so we won't have to compete for OR time when we operate there. The SICU and post-op recovery units are staffed entirely by PAs, both residents and staff PAs, so again, we get the comprehensive experience without being lower on the proverbial totem pole. We rotate through the different surgical services (general, ortho, plastic/reconstructive, neurosurgery, trauma, GU, Ob/GYN, SICU, and cardiothoracic/vascular), and also have 2 months for elective choices. I'm incredibly excited for this opportunity to learn more, greatly improve my experiences and skills in the operating room, and become well-versed in inpatient medical care. I'm also terrified, and have a constant feeling of nervous butterflies, now that the initial excitement of being accepted has turned into reality of moving across the country in 3 months.
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