MY PA JOURNEY

Doni Walker-Jackson PA-C, MMS, MPH, MBA

2

Healthcare experience�- CNA for 6 weeks�- Homehealth/medication aide for people with disabilities�- backup plan was EMT

6

Applied to 10+ schools

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Interviews

• St Louis University
• Arcadia University (offered a seat in Oct and withdrew my application from other schools)
• Midwestern University in Arizona

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Recommendations for Applying to PA school

• Research the schools
• Don’t want to just go anywhere – make sure it is a good fit for you.
• Look at the PANCE pass rates.
• Do you want to experience a cadaver lab?
• International rotations?
• Any elective rotations?

APPLICATION

• Don’t use names in your personal statement – consider initials, or if you use names, make sure you state it is not the real patient name – be very careful about HIPAA.
• Be authentic and honest but we don’t need to know every personal detail – make sure others read your responses and give you feedback
• Make sure the application is complete and free of errors
• Consider repeating a course if you earned a C
• It is a great experience to take more than one difficult science class at a time
• Submit your application as early as possible

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INTERVIEWING

• Practice questions
• Be authentic
• Don’t use others’ stories – we can tell if it is too rehearsed or doesn’t seem real

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KEYS TO SUCCESS

- Study, Study, Study

• It’s best not to plan major life events during PA school (not the best time to have a baby, get married, take extravagant trips, etc)
• Critical Thinking is required
• Be prepared to have to drive 1 hour one way to get to a rotation site
• PA school is not easy, life as a PA is even more difficult
• The world is SMALL – especially in medicine. Make a good impression, be a team player, always have a positive attitude

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Valentin Abe PhD – Caribbean Harvest

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THANK YOU

Doni Walker-Jackson

dwalkerjackson@yahoo.com

doni381@ufl.edu