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Physician Assistant (Associate) profession!

"The best investment you can make is an investment in yourself. The more you learn, the more you'll earn."

Warren Buffett 

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Becoming a PA and Growing Beyond the Bedside

  • The Path
  • Clinical Experiences

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Things I wish I knew as a PA Student

  • PA school will push you harder than you think - but you ARE capable of much more than you realize!
  • Your mindset matters more than your GPA after acceptance.
  • The profession gives you flexibility: Clinical, Administrative, Education, Quality, Leadership and Tech pathways.

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How to choose the right program:

  • Fit > Ranking
    • Learning style
    • Class culture
    • Faculty support
    • Location and cost
    • Clinical rotation quality
    • Use of technology

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How to make application stronger!

  • Admission committees look for future clinicians, not perfect checkboxes.
  • Clinical experience that actually matters.
    • Goals isn’t to rack up hours but to understand patient care.
  • Shadowing quality > quantity.
    • Focus on how PAs communicate, how they handle uncertainty, workflow and time management
  • Personal statement:
    • Admission committees want to know your story, not your resume
    • Focus on defining moment, and show empathy
    • Why PA, not just why healthcare
    • Why this profession? Why now? What makes you resilient?
  • Show growth, not perfection.

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What makes a great PA besides medical knowledge

  • Skills to master:
    • Communication!
    • Professionalism and reliability
    • Time Management
    • Adaptability
    • Continuous learning mindset

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Questions to ask when choosing a program:

  • What is the total cost beyond tuition?
  • Who arranges clinical rotations, and what travel costs should I anticipate?
  • What support exists if I struggle academically?
  • Where can I review accreditation status and student outcomes?

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Admissions Requirements

Degree, GPA and GRE

  • Baccalaureate Degree
  • GPA
    • 3.0 overall & science
  • GRE

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Patient Care Experience

  • 1000 hours

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Letters of Recommendation

  • Three letters required

Prerequisites

  • Statistics
  • Microbiology/Lab
  • Anatomy & Physiology/Lab (2)
  • Organic Chemistry/Lab
  • Organic II or Biochemistry
  • Medical Terminology

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Admissions Data

 

Class of 2023

Class of 2024

Class of 2025

Class of 2026

Class of 2027

Overall GPA:

(Average)

(Range)

 

3.72

3.42 – 3.98

 

3.81

3.38 – 4.00

 

3.85

3.04 – 4.00

 

3.89

3.56 – 4.00

 

3.87

3.45 – 4.00

Science GPA:

(Average)

(Range)

 

3.67

3.33 – 3.98

 

3.67

3.33 – 3.98

 

3.82

3.09 – 4.00

 

3.87

3.45 – 4.00

 

3.86

3.32 – 4.00

GRE Verbal

(Average Score)

(Range)

 

155

148 – 164

 

155

147 – 168

 

156

142 – 167

 

157

147 – 165

 

157

143 – 169

GRE Quantitative

(Average Score)

(Range)

 

155

153 – 167

 

157

148 – 168

 

158

155 – 169

 

159

152 – 168

 

158

151 – 164

GRE Writing

(Average Score)

(Range)

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4.0

3.5 – 5.0

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4.0

3.5 – 5.5

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4.0

3.5 – 5.5

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4.5

2.5 – 6.0

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4.2

3.0 – 5.0

Health Care Experience:

2,197

2,727

2,141

2,033

2,558

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Application Process:

  • Application deadline August 1
  • Degree and prerequisites MUST be completed by the end of fall (December) prior to matriculation
  • Interviews start in late September through end of October

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Patient care, Shadowing and Volunteering

  • What should I choose?

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Student Clinical Pre-Professional Observation:

  • Encouraged!!
  • Obtain up to 40 hours shadowing any PA in any setting!
  • Contact Nora Watson PA-C early at Nora.Watson@moffitt.org or Nicole Aguilera at Nicole.Aguilera@moffitt.org.
  • Moffitt’s HR Dept will require paperwork prior to your start date.

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What experience helped you understand the PA role, and why did it fit you?

  • Your next 90 days!

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CASPA Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them!

  • https://youtu.be/bxgXMlI3fCA

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"If I had five minutes to chop down a tree, �I’d spend the first three sharpening my axe.”  ��Abraham Lincoln

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Thank you!

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Hardik Thakkar MSPAS, PA-C

Quality APP Advisor/Director of APP Education

Assistant Professor, USFMCOM

Moffitt Cancer Center

Hardik.Thakkar@moffitt.org

Instagram: hardikthakkar.pa

LinkedIn: Hardik Thakkar

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