Why my wife is happy I am a Physician Assistant and not an MD

"In my life family will always be my greatest priority.I love my patients like I love life itself, but I love my family even more than life itself." - Stephen Pasquini PA-C Years ago I dreamt of being an MD. Since I was a small child in fact. To me, this would be the pinnacle of life. Stethoscope around my neck, working in the trenches. Saving lives! This was my childhood dream, as well as my young adult dream, all the way through college. Not even Organic Chemistry could stop me. I just pushed through it, head to the grindstone, determined to reach my goal. Then one year away from finishing all my pre-med training something happened: I met a physician assistant! To me, life has always been more than my job. The reason I created this website is because I love art, photography, and technology. I love kids, the outdoors and my family. I love to surf, to bike and to take my son and daughter for long walks. I like to make shapes out of the clouds, go on long weekend getaways, take my wife out dancing. I love life! If you don't know already being a doctor requires a TON of sacrifices. If you are not prepared to give your life over to medicine, then I want you to take a long deep inward look at yourself and decide if what you want is really MD. Prior to many hours working at the University of Washington Medical Center I thought to be a doctor was fun like Michael J. Fox in the movie "Doc Hollywood" or rugged like the doctors on Mash. I wanted to be like George Clooney in the TV show ER. This is an illusion. Being a Dr. means long hours, late nights on call, missed birthdays, missed anniversary's often second marriages. That last one is the part that is like the movies. Wants vs. Needs I realized that what I wanted most out of life was to help people be healthy. I love the human body, I love anatomy, and I love science. I liked the thought of popping a young child up on the exam room table making a funny face and treating their ear infection. I loved the idea of sewing up a wound, setting a fracture, being there when another human being needed someone to hold onto. Helping someone come to terms with death while helping another come to terms with life. I didn't want MD, I wanted all of the above, to me there was no other way. Finding Balance I have met more doctors who want to be PAs than PAs who want to be doctors. Why? Because there is more to life than medicine. PAs have the unique opportunity to live this. It is not about being lazy; it is not about lack of dedication. PAs tend to be some of the most dedicated and hard-working people I know. PA is the sweet spot! Where life and medicine meet in the middle. I honestly believe you can be better at compassion when you are more grounded. Having a life outside of work justifies life, it makes for a happy person which translates to better patient care. I realized after quite a bit of soul-searching that I never really needed to be a Doctor, but I wanted to feel like one. If you are on this journey to being a health care provider, just know that life exists beyond MD. It is a beautiful life, and it has fulfilled every single one of my dreams of being an excellent health care provider. And every time I pop a small child up on the exam room table and write the script to make their ear feel better, I smile. Then I go home in the evening and give my kids, and my wife, a big hug and a kiss. In my life family will always be my greatest priority. I love my patients like I love life itself, but I love my family even more than life itself. Click To Tweet I don't think I could have found this balance as an MD and I thank my lucky stars that life, or God or whatever directed me to UMDNJ, to PA School, to the job of my dreams. Being a PA is truly where life and medicine have found the perfect balance. I hope you too will give the physician assistant profession consideration as you go about life and pursue a rewarding career in the field of medicine. Warmly, Stephen Pasquini PA-C MD Versus PA Showdown Round 1 Show Me The Money! Before you read this post I want you to take a quick survey. What do you think? Physician Assistant vs. MD Show Me The Money Often the decision between PA and MD is considered a difficult one, but should it be? Today I am posting the first in a series of posts to help [] 82 comments You may also like -Infographic: PA VS MD Understanding the DifferencesPA VS MD Comparison: GPA, MCAT, GRE scores, prerequisite coursework, clinical experience, years of training and time in school, job duties, cost of education, average salary, job satisfaction, divorce and burnout rates all compiled into []A Physician Assistants Guide to Becoming an Epic FailureThe #1 Trait that Determines Long Term Success as a Physician Assistant