PROFESSIONAL CAREER INTERVIEW

Professional Career Interview

Jesse Aular
Salt Lake Community College
April 2015

PROFESSIONAL CAREER INTERVIEW

Abstract

The following report explores the organizational culture of Physicians

Assistants; from how to achieve it, to the aspects they face in terms of
demand growth and competition along the career. Applicants for the
program must complete a bachelors degree in any field combined with four
years of healthcare experience in order to be granted into the program. The
scientific field and the security this career offers inspire most applicants and
physicians in practice. Work environment encompasses a set of aspects that
provides a professional and structural atmosphere with furnished facilities and
broad agendas. Healthcare providers are encouraged to maintain valid
certifications by completing further education, in order to compete with the
latest advances. A constant transformation in science and healthcare
contributes to a fast growth and high demand of physicians; consequently
constant openings lead to low competition. Depending on the time period of
a point in the career, views from a political spectrum will vary due to the
constant changes in the field that affect the population and intervention
may be required.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER INTERVIEW

Introduction

Among the numerous organizations the healthcare culture is quite unique

and altruistic, compelled by its roots in science and the hard work and
dedication in the practice of service and research. This report examines the
culture of healthcare but primarily evaluates more broadly the role of
Physician Assistants as whole in this organization. The evaluation is based on
an interview face to face with Curtis Andersen, Doctor of Medicine at
Intermountain Healthcare in the department of Family Medicine. This paper
evaluates the different aspects of the Physician Assistant culture, including
communication, work schedules and space, salaries, hierarchy, furthermore
demand growth and competition.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER INTERVIEW

Methodology

Objective
The alluring idea of becoming a Physician Assistant has led to develop
a research in order to evaluate the organizational culture of Physician
Assistants as a role in the healthcare industry.

Contact & Planning

During the planning process of the research a physician assistant was
successfully contacted and an appointment was schedule for the
interview to take place; shortly after there were a few challenges that
led to changes in the methodology. Suitable time to meet with the
Physician Assistant was not longer feasible due to schedule issues;
consequently the interview scheduled with Eliska Mirvald, PA-C was
cancelled and Curtis Andersen M.D. fulfilled the request. The
Interview was conducted in real time at work place during patient
care hours. Other life occurrences also played a role in the developing
of this research as a consequence time became less sufficient. During
the interview topics such as Education, motivation, work environment,
challenges and evolution of this career path were covered.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER INTERVIEW

The following questions were asked with the purpose of uncovering the body
that develops the research.
1. What made you decide that was the right career for you?
2. How did you plan to achieve it?
3. Did you plan on having a backup plan, if so what was it?
4. What did you find to be the hardest thing to overcome during school?
5. What did you find to be the hardest thing to overcome at work?
6. If you were to start over again what would you choose?
7. What do you like the most about your career?
8. What do you dislike the most about your career?
9. What is your biggest fear about your career?
10. Whats a regular bad day in your career?
11. What Feeling (word) best describe your career?
12. How do people communicate at your work place?
13. How do they handle conflict?
14. How are decisions made?
15. How long did it take you to adjust to work environment?
16. Schedules in health care are always crazy. How do you balance that
and your values?
17. What are the most common complaints among your colleagues at the
organization you work with?
18. Whats the dress code like?

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19. Hows is the workspace in regard the performance required?
20. Hows the Hierarchy?
21. Hows the demand for Doctors, furthermore Physician Assistants?
22. Whats the growth of Physicians like?
23. Whats the competition like?

Sources
The research has been planed by gathering information from different
type of sources, including an interview with Doctor of medicine Curtis
Andersen; Graduated form School of medicine Tulane New Orleans.
As well as articles from the Chicago Tribune web based were gathered
to contrast information; consequently the outcome provided a
conclusion that leads to further decisions.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER INTERVIEW

Results
I.

Education
The Physician Assistant career is achieved by obtaining a bachelors
degree in the field of a persons predilection, preferable in the science
field but not required. The next requirement is experience acquired in
healthcare as a minimum of 4 years; following that the last step is
enrollment by acceptance at the Physician Assistant program at any
University that provides the certification in complaisance with the state
laws. The masters program can be achieved in approximately 3
years. Once the masters degree is achieved and the person is
licensed by the state, the accredited person may join workforce.

II.

Motivation
The most common cause of motivations, are the passion for science in
favor of service and inclination for interacting with people. Another
substantial reason is the financial stability earned by most healthcare
providers throughout the nation; appealing to many individuals in the
search of a career. "The profession is one of the hottest careers
around, and it's only getting hotter," said Julie F. Dickens, physician
assistant coordinator for the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Stated Klaiman (1993).

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III.

Work Environment
The environmental culture of healthcare providers encompasses
many different aspects. The followings are some of the aspects
explored:
a. Dress code: It varies depending on the specialty of practice,
some are required to wear scrubs some others formal business
attire.
b. Network: Due to the diversity of practice some work for a
large organization or group as others work for private smaller
institutions.
c. Communication: This vital norm is performed face to face
among colleagues on the daily basis as well as an electronic
network centralized and provided by the organization.
d. Workspace: Most facilities in used for patient care
(nationwide) are fully equipped and more than sufficient to
perform the day to day tasks.
e. Hierarchy: Most organizations whether they are large or local
they are very structured; therefore a protocol is expected to be
followed at all times. Also because of the nature of practice is
autonomous, physicians are not closely supervised on site.
However Physicians Assistants most operate under the license of
a doctor of medicine.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER INTERVIEW

f. Schedule: Depending on the specialty, schedules may vary. It
is very time consuming due to the large amount of paperwork
behind the daily tasks.
IV.

Challenges
Most careers in healthcare are required to further continue education;
consequently state licenses and certifications have an expiration date
in order to control the level of knowledge in practice

V.

Evolution
The evolution of Physicians is quite broad; in order to appreciate the
physicians evolution we must explore a few aspects:
a. Demand: Due to the endless branches in healthcare there
are many specialties. Some are developed in specific areas
leading to create a burden is some sectors of society. Kleiman
states, they are expected to be in increasing demand in
veterans hospitals, rural and inner-city hospitals, community
hospitals,

family

practices

and

health

maintenance

organizations. (1993).
b. Growth: Consequently of the high demand, physicians
rates are increasing tremendously. The University of Utah
interacts with a pool applicant yearly of 1000 students

PROFESSIONAL CAREER INTERVIEW

(approximately) for the Physician Assistant program, and only
40-50 are admitted into the program (Jensen, Personal
communication, 2013). In addition to that Kleiman states,
Many health-care institutions are expanding the role of
physician assistants because they are highly skilled and costeffective. (1993).
c. Competition: Due to the vast advances in science
technology there are numerous new branches that continue
to develop researches, building an ocean of endless
opportunities and very low competition.

VI.

Political Views
Because healthcare is tangled with a constant enlargement of
science and technology the political views are always fluctuating,
whether the approach is positive or negative, the views will always be
perpetually unknown. According to the changes that healthcare is
facing at the moment political groups may intervene.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER INTERVIEW

Discussion of Results
The process for this research has been running a normal course. Although
some cancelation and changes were part of it, it forms part of the nature
of the business. No future contact with Dr. Andersen and Dr. Mirvald is
necessary. The panel of open questions used during the interview was
carefully selected with the intention of opening and uncovering the
different aspects of this life style, such as how to achieve a degree, what
motivations drive a person to become a P.A., what are some
components of competition and social aspects related to this career.
Among many other questions; which led to great discussion of results.

I.

Education
The educational path of Physician Assistants convey a lot of challenges
and planning, but at the same time it provides a lot of freedom by
universities as to the applicants undergrad mainly because universities
encourage students to take ownership of their careers, and the only
way to obtain it is by achieving a bachelor degree with passion; if they
would monopolize the vast demography of applicants into the
program by structuring students to have the same base, there would
be numerous cases of mediocrity in practice. Therefore prospect

PROFESSIONAL CAREER INTERVIEW

students should have strong base in order to be admitted into the
program.

II.

Motivation
For the length of the program in comparison with the traditional
medical school along with the expenses and the large time invested in
residency, Physicians Assistants are very motivated, and not only time
saving works as a motivation but earnings are just as appealing.

III.

Work Environment
Broadly speaking, the culture of Physician Assistants could be very
attractive. If the work ethic is present on regular basis, regardless of the
size of the organization, the environment is very effective in terns of
personal satisfaction. Although there could be uncertainty in terms of
performing under someone elses license and values, the career
provides numerous path and opportunities.
Another variable is the work schedule. However as a result of the many
branches in healthcare there are many ways to overcome schedule
conflicts.

IV.

Challenges
The objection on additional education could easily be represented by
stress; however a well organized lifestyle and the outcome of such
extended education provides more success and achievement that

PROFESSIONAL CAREER INTERVIEW

leads to easily overcome any inconvenient. Also further education
ensures a clear future with lower chances of competition.

V.

Evolution
The transformation of science and technology in regards healthcare
works in favor of Physician Assistants; it provides a long shot of stability,
and endless opportunities due to the high demand and growth.
Tribune Media Services states "As a PA, you could do pediatrics for
five years and then switch."(Physician assistants have plenty career
options, 2012).

VII.

Political Views
Unlike seen before, Political views are holding extreme ideas. As a
consequence the nation is going through a tough time due to their
views. Not surprisingly they would have intervene sooner or later due to
the high costs of healthcare.
Along with their views, physicians also have their opinions, and
eventually the situation will reach maturity and decision will be made
promoting solutions that will led to many other views in the whole
spectrum.

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Conclusion

Healthcare holds a unique assortment of values and beliefs, hosting one of

the greatest attributes among many careers; stability has an empowering
commitment attached to success.
Despite Physician Assistants face many challenges, and uncertainty
becomes a familiar feeling; however the inconveniences of this can always
fade by the endless solutions this career may offer. The mobility and lateral
switches along the way are priceless providing a very unique lifestyle. Not to
mention that many other successful careers are equally challenging if not
even more challenging.
The work environment plays a vital role due to it is the canvas of the career,
with its many variables and exclusive experiences, allows the healthcare
provider to be the artist of a masterpiece as a career.

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References

Kleiman, Carol. (1993, April 18). Physician Assistants Have Good Prognosis.
Chicago Tribune News. September 03, 2013. Web.
Physician assistants have plenty of career options. (2012, November 09).
Chicago Tribune News. September 03, 2013. Web.