<p>My son is in a P.A. program right now, but is thinking he might want to go to medical school, instead. I'd really like to see him finish his P.A. degree first. Someone told me that there are some med schools that will count his P.A. coursework/experience towards their progams, cutting off a year or two of classes. Is this correct?</p>
<p>There is no such bridge program from PA to MD although the idea has been discussed. </p>
<p>If he wants to eventually get into med school, he should finish his PA program. Med schools are weary of taking people who drop out of degree programs.</p>
<p>AFAIK, there is currently no such programs. You could try [Googling</a> it…](<a href=“http://lmgtfy.com/?q=PA+to+MD+bridge]Googling”>http://lmgtfy.com/?q=PA+to+MD+bridge).</p>
<p>There have been many discussions concerning this, but they haven’t made it much beyond PAs’ wishful thinking.</p>
<p>Well, it looks like it doesn’t exist at this point. But, by the time my son gets his degree, maybe it will. Thanks.</p>
<p>It probably will never exist, certainly not by the time you son is done. Things like this take years to plan from the start and I haven’t heard of anyone starting. The problem is it isn’t like PAs just learn the first quarter of medical school and then stop. They cover a wide range of topics present through medical school, just perhaps not with the same focus and detail. So it isn’t like they can say well we know they learned these classes so lets just have them start a year later than everyone else. It’s also pretty difficult for medical schools to just insert students into the curriculum.</p>
<p>I see your point!</p>
<p>Son could stop his program with a B.S. degree in P.A. studies, saving him 13 months. That only gives him one year to squeeze in o chem, physics, and one semester of calc (assuming his stats class could count as a semester), along with his regular classes. An MCAT prep class would be of help, too. It looks like that could take up as much time as a 3 credit class.</p>
<p>Any opinions?</p>
<p>NCG’s post #2 applies:
</p>
<p>Son should consider staying as a PA for a while in order to minimize debt before attending medical schools. This will also minimize the effect that having a vocational degree will have on his application.</p>
<p>Why doesn’t he want to be a PA? PA practice offers security, portability and a decent future in today’s medical environment.</p>
<p>I would rather he become a P.A. for all those reasons, plus the fact that it’s half the schooling. His girlfriend’s step dad, a physician, told him it’s like “Batman and Robin”. Do you want to be Robin all of your life? It’s kind of interesting, because I guess it’s perfectly fine that the girlfriend can be “Robin” all of her life.</p>
<p>Just because you don’t want to be Robin all of your life doesn’t mean you can’t be him for a while.</p>
<p>Actually, DC Comics right now is running a storyline where the former Robin has moved on to become the new Batman. :)</p>
<p>There is one new bridge program for PA to MD in the US. Its length is 3 years. Check out LACOM university.They only have 12 seats for now, but I hope that more of these programs will begin to emerge if this one is successful.</p>
<p>Do you mean LECOM? It’s a PA to DO program that’s three years long, but functionally it’s the same thing.</p>
<p>[LECOM</a> - Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine & School of Pharmacy](<a href=“http://www.lecom.edu/index.php/lecom-announces-new-accelerated-physician-assistant-pathway/76/0/1919/18477]LECOM”>http://www.lecom.edu/index.php/lecom-announces-new-accelerated-physician-assistant-pathway/76/0/1919/18477)</p>
<p>As a PA student, I would suggest that he at least graduate and work for a while before deciding whether or not to go back for a MD/DO (LECOM is the only bridge program that exists at the moment). Not only would it minimize debt, but it would also give him a chance to feel out the PA realm. Remember, not only would he have to complete the bridge, but would also have to do a residency, so that’s at least another 6 years post undergrad as opposed to 13 mos.</p>
<p>It also depends on which area he’s interested in practicing - in family medicine/peds, PAs are a lot more like Batman than Robin, to use the analogy from earlier in the thread, and can do much of what MDs do. There are certain specialties where they’re utilized more like an extension of the MD (surgical specialties like ortho, for example). It really all depends on your personality type as to what makes you feel comfortable, in my opinion.</p>
<p>I think LECOM started this program for my son, as his P.A. school is in the same town 
When you add in the residency, you’re looking at a fairly long bridge. Plus then there’s the D.O. vs M.D. debate.</p>