Prospective Physician Assistant students must shadow a PA.
October 31, 2011
It seems as though there is now a requirement for prospective PA students to shadow a practicing PA for 100 hours prior to applying to PA school. My feelings on this are essentially positive. It is a great idea to expose the prospective student to what it is really like to be a PA. I know of a PA or two who have changed professions after starting to practice because they did not like the nature of the job. This shadowing requirement will allow the student to be clear about his or her expectations. However, a 100 hours of shadowing seems a bit unrealistic. I have taken a prospective PA student under my wing to allow him to shadow me. Unfortunately, having someone shadow you can also take time away from your patients and this can become an issue for some employers. In other situations, it seems difficult for anyone applying to PA school to find a hundred random free hours as well a willing PA.
Overall, the shadowing requirement is a great idea, the number of hours as an absolute requirement is not realistic.
Retroviruses responsible for Chronic Fatigue
August 23, 2010
As reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science today, researches have found a family of retroviruses in people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The retrovirus XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia (virus) related virus) is linked to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – a syndrome of varying presentations involving the nervous, immune and endocrine systems. This syndrome unfortunately does not have a diagnostic biomarker or concrete cause. In this study, about 86% of the 37 test subjects tested positive for XMRV. This brings some optimism that antiretrovirals such as the ones used in treating HIV patients can one day be used to treat those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This may be one of the greater developments in treating CFS patients.
Amelia PA Blog 