Adventures of a New PA : Physician Assistant Students

The Final Post

Timothy Loerke — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:44:00 GMT

My journey with ADVANCE began July 7 th 2008 as I wrote about my days leading up to physician assistant school. I was excited, yet nervous, about what I was getting myself into. There were PAs in my life that encouraged me with words of hope and peace....(read more)

Your Life on Paper: Tips for the CV/Résumé

Timothy Loerke — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:52:00 GMT

If you have applied for any job, they always ask for your résumé. Prior to PA school, it may have been a straightforward task to create your file packed with every possible job and accolade to impress. You may have not been in a field where it mattered...(read more)

The Challenges of Shadowing

Timothy Loerke — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:48:00 GMT

Do you remember the time when you were applying to PA school? What was the one thing you really wanted to do but found it more difficult than expected? You looked for PAs to spend the day with so you could better understand what the life of a PA was really...(read more)

Surgical Privileges: A Curse Broken

Timothy Loerke — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:45:00 GMT

Our country is blessed to have medical regulatory boards that serve to protect patients and their providers. Some other parts of the world do not require a license or special privileges. Those countries just want help from anyone willing, and it does...(read more)

Pushed Out of the Nest

Timothy Loerke — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:36:00 GMT

When a PA graduates from school, passes the PANCE and gets a state license, it would seem like starting work would be the immediate next step. This is not the case for every new grad. Some of my classmates are not able to start until August or September...(read more)

The Final Post of My PA-S Journey

Timothy Loerke — Mon, 02 May 2011 13:45:00 GMT

On May 14, 2011, at 3:00 p.m., 40 classmates and I will walk across the stage at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum to complete our PA education at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. For the past 34 months, we have been entrusted with medical pearls...(read more)

Top 10 Things Learned in Surgery

Timothy Loerke — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:32:00 GMT

Surgery was initially my most dreaded rotation because of all the uncertainty about the schedule and the hidden expectations. However, this month proved to be best rotation yet. The trend over the past year of the feared rotation transforming into one...(read more)

General Surgery Week 3: Common Objective, Multiple Methods

Timothy Loerke — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:02:00 GMT

The most common surgery in this month’s rotation has been the laparoscopic cholecystectomy (camera-assisted removal of the gallbladder). I have scrubbed in with three different surgeons to assist on seven lap choles. Even though it was the same surgery,...(read more)

General Surgery Week 2: The Freedom to Prioritize

Timothy Loerke — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:02:00 GMT

The primary responsibility for the physician assistant in a surgical field is to make life better for both the surgeon and the patient. For the PA student on a general surgery rotation, learning this role tends to be tricky. Some students will have all...(read more)

General Surgery Week 1: What Is Surgery to You?

Timothy Loerke — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:32:00 GMT

Deep down inside, I have always wanted to be a ninja. I know it sounds “boyish,” but there is something that has always fascinated me about martial arts. Recently I watched the new Karate Kid (the one with Jayden Smith). The storyline is similar to the...(read more)

Top 10 Things Learned in Orthopedic Surgery

Timothy Loerke — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:25:00 GMT

If you are interested in surgery, and orthopedics is not on the list, you might want to reconsider. This field is packed with fun cases that require mechanical ingenuity, and the PAs are well utilized in the clinic and OR. Here are some of the things...(read more)

Orthopedic Surgery Week 3: Don’t Miss This Lesson

Timothy Loerke — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:14:00 GMT

Have I mentioned this has been the best rotation yet? Even though this month has been packed with so many new things, there are still lessons that seem to repeat themselves. As a senior PA student, I still make “rookie” mistakes. I’m not talking about...(read more)

Orthopedic Surgery Week 2: Sign Me Up!

Timothy Loerke — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:29:00 GMT

Orthopedics has taken me by surprise! Prior to school, I shadowed a physician assistant friend who worked in orthopedics. Unfortunately, I only saw the run-of-the-mill knee and shoulder scopes. This limited exposure turned me off to ortho because it seemed...(read more)

Specialty Surgery: Week 1

Timothy Loerke — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:47:00 GMT

Well, there has been a change to my rotation schedule. I am no longer rotating in pediatric surgery this month, and instead I will be with an orthopedic group in Cleburne, Texas. There are at least one or two cases per day, and we typically have clinic...(read more)

Top 10 Things Learned in Pediatric CT Surgery

Timothy Loerke — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:37:00 GMT

The world of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery is a unique field. Every child is different in the way they present due to an assortment of anatomic variants, or even how they respond to surgical correction. Aside from the immense amounts of medical knowledge...(read more)