Why Most PAs Keep Quiet
Editor's Note: Below is a blog post from Jeff Trimble, PA-C, on the subject of PA specialty certification. Check back each Monday for a new post, and please feel free to leave comments. If you would like to contribute a blog entry, e-mail assistant editor Heather Simons at hsimons@advanceweb.com. Thanks.
I have been a PA for 20 years--I graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1989. My class of PAs was trained in primary care, and that was fine with us. I did receive my extra gold label for surgery and primary care at that time, but it offered very little when applying for and landing my first job.
I have truly seen changes in the PA profession since that time. ADVANCE editor Michael Gerchufsky wondered in his Webcast ("The PA Voice in Specialty Certification" - 8/13/09) why older PAs have failed to comment on the changes to our profession. It's because we have not been forced to yet.
We want to practice our profession and live our lives without interruption. Until that is threatened or no longer possible, we will continue to be silent. The current health care debate in Washington has brought us out in a very strong way, but the current changes in the profession itself have made little impact on us.
That is why we remain silent. When it hits us in the face, then we will speak out. It seems the academics can do what they want to with the profession as long as we--the silent majority--are not impacted.
I realize it might be too late at that point. ADVANCE helps us by keeping us informed, as you have on this issue. Thank you for that, but don't be surprised by our lack of response.
Jeff Trimble, PA-C
Atlanta, Ga