UNION COLLEGE
An Inside Track to PA School Courtesy Union College
The perfect track for Students who choose Union your medical career for their undergraduate Union offers several pre-PA degree get prepared to enter tracks—including an accelerinto Union’s high demand ated pre-PA emphasis for bioprogram. For the class of medical science majors that 2021, the program received can have students practicing nearly eight times the number medicine in just six years by of applicants needed to fill the starting the 33-month PA 30 available seats. program after three years of “If a student is interested undergraduate studies. in becoming a PA, then Vietz’ choice of a biomedstudying at Union for their ical science four-year degree undergraduate degree is a focused on human health Union College offers the inside track for fantastic avenue to secure a while making sure she built undergraduates to get into the school’s PA position in the PA program,” in all the PA prerequisite program and prepare for one of the topsaid Michelle Velazquezcourses. This unique degree rated careers in the country. Mesnard, vice president for also allows students to earn Enrollment. “It’s not easy to a minor in a complementary or Michelle Vietz, a students are focusing on get a spot in a PA program.” field such as business or psysecond-year student in becoming PAs for a medical While studying at Union, chology while still finishing Union College’s PA program, career. According to U.S News pre-PA students will acquire in four years. Union turned out to be the and World Report, the profes- an overall understandFor students wanting to perfect choice for her under- sion ranks #1 in America on ing of their role as a PA. prepare for medical work graduate studies too. the 2019 list of “Best Health Undergraduates will learn overseas or in harsh condi“The small class size and Care Jobs” and #3 on the how to interview for PA tions, an international rescue approachable teachers made 2019 list of “Best Jobs.” school, develop their proand relief degree provides a Union stand out from the At Union, those great fessional skills through job variety of emergency medical other schools,” said Vietz, who career prospects are paired shadowing and receive men- training as well as a pre-PA earned a biomedical science with exceptional preparatorship from students and option. Each graduate comdegree at Union. “The program tion. Union posts consisfaculty in the program. pletes emergency medical challenged me to understand tently high first-time pass “Faculty can be intentional technician training, comwhy and how processes work, rates on the national board in advising pre-PA students pletes a five-week summer which laid a solid foundation exams and nearly every and help them know the course in wilderness rescue for graduate school.” graduate has found employ- expectations before applyand survival, and spends Her undergraduate degree ment within six months. ing. It will definitely make a semester learning about at Union also gave Vietz “I want to be a PA because for an easier transition,” global health and providing an inside track into one of of the challenge of solving said Megan Heidtbrink, PA medical care in a developing the top programs in the problems and the connecprogram director. nation in addition to their country, because Union’s PA tion with the patient,” said More than 250 PA prograduate school prerequisites. program now gives special Vietz. “When I did patient grams currently exist in the Union’s business degree preference and mentorship care hours, I was continucountry, with admissions with a science emphasis is to Union College underally amazed by how much a being highly competitive another great option for graduate students. cheerful attitude and smile according to the American students with plans to run can increase trust and some- Association of Physician’s a medical practice. While A top-ranked medical times even help the patient Assistants. Admission to a PA integrating necessary science career at a top school feel better. In a nutshell, the program requires a bachelor’s courses, students also learn With an anticipated higher combination of mental chal- degree and completion of management, finances and than average career growth lenges and interaction with courses in basic and behavleadership skills. rate of 37 percent, more patients provided a good fit.” ioral sciences as prerequisites. Now that she is in the PA
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24 OUTLOOKMAG.ORG MARCH 2020
An inside advantage
