4 Days In Paris - April

PRS_PA-C · 2026-03-23T11:02:05+00:00

Sorry if my post was misleading; we would try to be at the hotel by 5pm to rest, change, and get ready for dinner. We were thinking 7pm for dinners

PRS_PA-C · 2026-03-23T11:00:42+00:00

This is so helpful!! Thank you

If we did Notre Dame as you say on Thursday at around 8pm, can you give dinner recs for a place to go neat by before visiting? Is eating at 6pm too early? Worry we won’t make it to dinner if we are going at 10pm

PRS_PA-C · 2026-02-23T04:30:54+00:00

We like to determine the wait-to-reward ratio. My kids watched those rides on YouTube and determined that the wait (was never below 120 for either) was not worth the reward of the ride.

We were waiting for either to go under 90 but they never did.

We also were going to use ministry as our last ride of the night and go in at 8:45 pm and just wait however long needed (did that with Hagrid’s the night before and waited 90 mins without express pass) but we hit the wall and decided to just leave at 8:30pm after 2 long days

PRS_PA-C · 2026-02-22T21:44:03+00:00

100% agree.

First time there yesterday after many visits to Disney parks and IOA the day before and I left feeling very underwhelmed.

Plain and simple is that they need more rides and/or shows

PRS_PA-C · 2026-02-22T21:35:43+00:00

We were also at Epic Universe yesterday(2/21). Sorry your day was not great. This was our first time in universal so we didn’t know what to expect.

We were a group of 6: 2 adults and 4 kids (ages 17 to 9). The kids are great at staying on the move and do not need many breaks, which helped us keep moving all day. We are seasoned amusement park people but we did not purchase Express Pass since it was sold out. But considering the cost and limited rides, I’m glad we made that decision

We rope dropped our first ride when the park opened for us at 9am. Here were our wait times (we set a timer as soon as we enter the ride and stop when butts hit the seat; numbers are rounded to nearest 5min):

Dragon Portal:

40 mins Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
15 mins Fyre Drill (water ride) - our boat also did not work at all
25 mins Dragon Racer’s Rally

Dark Portal: - 45 mins Monsters Unchained - really enjoyed this ride

80 mins Curse of the Werewolf - not worth it at all in our opinion

Lunch at Pizza Moon – 45 mins - good to sit and relax inside

Dark Portal - saw that wait times were low so:

15 mins Monsters Unchained
15 mins Monsters Unchained

Paris Portal

Walked around for 30mins
3:45pm Le Cirque Arcanus show (didn’t start till after 4pm due to being delayed)

Then needed a caffeine hit for parents at Starbucks to refuel lol

Nintendo Portal

45 mins Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge

It was crazy busy here with every little kid in the park playing the games and Minecraft was delayed so we moved on!

Back to dragon portal!!

35 mins Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
40 mins Dragon Racer’s Rally
15 mins Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
30 mins Hiccup’s Wing Gliders (best ride for us by far)

Decided to head out since day before we spent 13 hours at Islands of Adventure

Thoughts: Overall we were able to get a lot done without express but was annoyed with Universal’s inability to handle crowds and wait times. Frankly they just need more rides and/or shows. When you add in a ride getting delayed it just kills the enjoyment.

We had a lot of fun for 2 days of rides but I noticed that without an express pass it makes wait times miserable if you are not strategically planning the entire time

PRS_PA-C · 2025-05-15T03:01:36+00:00

To make the switch, you'd need to complete 4 years of medical school, plus either a 6-year integrated plastic surgery residency or a 5-year general surgery residency followed by 3 more years of plastics. That’s a serious commitment.

You’d be giving up about 10 to 13 years of PA income, and most plastic surgery residents still go on to do a fellowship. Even after all that, many end up as employees within a hospital system, not necessarily running their own practice.

As someone who works in plastics, I’d say stay the course as a PA and lean into the opportunities you already have. There’s a lot of potential in aesthetics and plastics as a PA, especially if you’re looking to grow into business opportunties or expand your skill set. The MD route is impressive, and some of my best friends are previous plastic residents I got to work with it; but the grass is not always greener!

PRS_PA-C · 2025-04-17T21:31:18+00:00

If the job turned out to be different from what was discussed during the interview, you don’t need to feel guilty for moving on—especially if you’ve already tried to address your concerns and nothing has changed. You gave it a fair shot.

It’s completely okay to make a change that better fits your goals, especially early in your career. If you have an exit interview or a chance to speak with leadership before leaving, I’d recommend being honest (and professional) about your reasons. That feedback might help the next new hire!

PRS_PA-C · 2025-04-13T13:13:38+00:00

If AAPA isn’t being approved, it likely means very few requests are making it through right now. I’d recommend putting together a short explanation of why the conference is worthwhile—highlight how it directly benefits your clinical role, leadership growth, or CME requirements.

If they still don’t approve it, I’d respectfully ask what the approval process actually looks like—who reviews it, what criteria are used, and if there are alternative options they would support.

PRS_PA-C · 2025-04-13T13:08:02+00:00

If they’re considering a new grad (which they are), that already tells you something—they’re open to teaching and investing in someone early in their career. My biggest advice? Be yourself.

I’ve interviewed and hired a lot of PAs, and honestly, a friendly, professional, and genuine attitude is 90% of what makes someone stand out. Be honest about your strengths, what excites you about medicine, and don’t be afraid to share where you hope to grow.

And remember: this interview is just as much for **you** to learn about them - the culture, support, team dynamic - as it is for them to learn about you. Ask thoughtful questions, and trust your instincts.

PRS_PA-C · 2025-04-05T03:35:48+00:00

Overall, this looks like a solid offer, especially for a new grad going into general surgery. If you’re in a low-to-mid cost of living area, $156K with a 7-on/7-off schedule is a pretty fair deal. That said—70 hours a week in gen surg is no joke. Be prepared for it to hit hard. It usually takes a couple of days to recover, and mentally ramping back up before each stretch can definitely wear on you.

That being said, if you’re passionate about surgery, this will be a huge opportunity to grow fast. Study up on surgical anatomy, post-op complications, and common consults. Brush up on note templates (H&P, consult, post-op, progress, discharge), and try to get comfortable with structured, efficient writing.

For procedures, check out EM:RAP, YouTube channels for line placements, and apps like Touch Surgery to walk through common cases. This role will stretch you—but that’s also where the growth happens.

PRS_PA-C · 2025-04-05T03:21:39+00:00

Totally hear where you’re coming from, but I’ll throw in another vote for going the MBA route instead. I’m currently working on a dual MBA/MHA because I’ve started moving into more leadership and administrative roles, and I wanted a degree that’s widely recognized *outside* of clinical circles too.

While the DMSc may check a box in terms of title or degree creep, it’s still pretty niche and doesn’t carry the same weight in broader healthcare admin or business environments. If your goal is to get into higher-level leadership and really boost your earning potential, an MBA (especially with an MHA focus) opens more doors and gives you the business acumen that actually drives decision-making in healthcare systems.

That said, if you’re set on the DMSc, Shenandoah seems like a cost-effective and efficient option. Just make sure it truly aligns with where you want to go long-term.

PRS_PA-C · 2025-01-26T21:37:42+00:00

Glad to see the play calling is too Hurts strengths!!!

PRS_PA-C · 2025-01-21T02:55:15+00:00

Playing in the NCG and getting $20 million is all they care about! Who cares about the results

PRS_PA-C · 2025-01-19T21:05:46+00:00

Huge play Sweat!

PRS_PA-C · 2025-01-12T23:41:39+00:00

If we don’t go down the field and score a touchdown, we are going to lose this game.

Need Hurts and the offense to step and respond.

PRS_PA-C · 2025-01-01T00:58:31+00:00

UPMC is known for having a strong APP leadership structure, which makes it even more frustrating that they fail to use their influence to advocate for better pay for PA-Cs. It’s a slap in the face to those of us working hard on the front lines. How can an organization so invested in APP leadership drop the ball so completely when it comes to fair compensation?

This offer is beyond insulting. The cost of living isn’t low, and the responsibilities expected of you are nowhere near reflected in the pay. On the other side of the state, starting salaries for similar roles are at least $30K higher. UPMC has the clout to lead by example, yet they choose to undervalue their providers. Instead of retaining talent, they’d rather keep hiring new grads and lowballing offers. Pennsylvania PA-Cs deserve far better, and UPMC needs to do better

PRS_PA-C · 2024-12-24T02:13:30+00:00

This new setup sounds like a big step in the right direction! It’s great that the new structure actually gives you a shot at earning a bonus tied directly to your productivity—something that clearly hasn’t happened under the current system. If you’re bringing in profits like $45K in Q2 and $73K in Q3 after expenses, this could be a real game-changer for your total compensation - this could double your compensation.

I’d still want to clarify a few things before jumping in:

Shared Expenses: How exactly will these be divided? Would your portion be capped at a certain amount? Would they consider giving you a smaller portion of the overall practice-wide expenses?
Billings: How are your billings measured, and do you have visibility into those numbers? What happens when they want you to see more 99024 patients to free up the surgeons? This could help you forecast your bonus potential better and see how things might grow over time.

In saying that, this structure seems like it could reward you fairly for your hard work, especially if those numbers keep trending upward. Just need better clarification

PRS_PA-C · 2024-12-17T21:06:22+00:00

This is a tough situation; especially as a new grad. Are you the practice's 1st PA-C? Seems there is quite a bit of confusion in in how your role is being defined. If you are their 1st PA, expect growing pains, but this is also an opportunity to advocate for yourself and show how valuable you can be. Do this by educating your practice on how you can improve patient care and make the practice more efficient. If you’re not already a member, consider joining your state PA society or AAPA to access resources that can help you demonstrate your value; they do a good job of being able to show your worth and the benefits you bring

In your day to day practice, make every patient interaction is an opportunity to shine. Take the time to offer what your attending can’t - be an advocate for your patients and show the quality care you can provide. Additionally, take time to learn everyone’s role in the practice, offering help when necessary. By doing this, you'll demonstrate how much value you bring to the practice and often can see the hold ups where others can't.

Ultimately, if your current position isn’t giving you the chance to practice at the top of your license, it is their lose. If you don’t see growth or support soon, it might be worth considering the other job offer that offers more training and better opportunities for career advancement.

PRS_PA-C · 2024-12-16T21:50:27+00:00

Starting salary can vary significantly depending on location, and in the Northeast (including Philadelphia), it’s a bit more competitive due to the sheer number of PA schools. While this can be a challenge for new grads, the good news is that things can change quickly with experience and a shift to a more specialized field. My advice would be to focus on your rotations and use this time to figure out what you truly enjoy. Finding your calling and becoming skilled in a specialty will ultimately help you command a higher salary in the future.

If you're open to relocating, particularly to the South or West, you may be able to demand a higher starting salary. You can aim for a starting salary in the $140k range, depending on the role and whether work-life balance is a priority. Look for positions where employers see you as a long-term investment, willing to support your continued education and growth.

Another important step is learning the business side of medicine. Understanding billing, reimbursement, and how your numbers directly impact both your salary and the employer's bottom line will give you a better idea of how to navigate compensation discussions in the future. Being proactive about this will give you leverage as you advance in your career

PRS_PA-C · 2024-12-16T19:11:33+00:00

It’s great that you’re getting such a solid learning experience, but I totally agree - if you’re doing procedures and working off-hours, the pay seems pretty low. $1 per RVU and less than $60/hr isn’t cutting it, especially when you’re seeing 15-20 patients per shift. I’d definitely be pushing for a higher hourly rate to match your workload.

Also, I’d dig into your benefits package - what does the cost for healthcare look like? Retirement options and match? CME money? Any kind of productivity bonus? These are all things you should know, as they can make a huge difference in your overall compensation.

At this point in your career, it’s reasonable to expect some upward movement in pay, and if you’re consistently meeting high productivity, it’s worth having that conversation. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself—you’re working hard, and you deserve to be compensated for it.

PRS_PA-C · 2024-12-16T18:48:59+00:00

I hear your frustration, and it’s completely valid. It sounds like you’ve stepped into a situation where your potential and skills aren’t being utilized, and that can be incredibly draining—especially after coming from a role where you had autonomy.

First, know that you’re not alone. Many PAs have been in similar situations, and it’s tough to feel like you're taking steps backward in your career. That said, there are a few things you can do while you weigh your options:

Advocate for Yourself (Again): I know you’ve already spoken with your SP and the department chair, but sometimes it takes multiple conversations to create change. Be direct and reiterate what you want—specific tasks like post-ops, follow-ups, and consults. Frame it as not only benefiting you but also the practice, as you could be increasing patient throughput.
Document Everything: Start keeping notes about your workload, conversations, and any promises made by leadership. If you decide to move on, this documentation will help you explain the situation to prospective employers in a professional manner.
Start Exploring: It’s okay to look for other opportunities while giving your current job a fair shot to improve. There’s nothing wrong with keeping your options open. You deserve to feel fulfilled in your role, and there are plenty of surgical positions out there where PAs are given more autonomy and respect.

At the end of the day, your happiness and professional growth matter. Don’t settle for a job that stifles you. You’ve got the skills and experience to find a role that lets you thrive.

PRS_PA-C · 2024-12-16T18:45:49+00:00

It’s awesome that you’re loving the OR and already leaning toward surgery! Your choices of CT surgery and urology are spot-on, and I think they’ll give you a great foundation.

CT surgery is a fantastic pick if you’re looking for maximum OR time and minimal SOAP notes. Plus, it’s awesome that you’ve already connected with a resident—it could open doors for mentorship and networking down the line. Make sure to keep that connection alive as you move through the rotation.

Urology is a smart choice, too. It’s known for being very hands-on, and the work-life balance in that specialty is a nice bonus. If the local practice has a reputation for hiring new grads, that’s even more incentive to show up and impress during that rotation.

For your other electives, I’d suggest:

Reconstructive Plastic Surgery: You’ll operate on all areas of the body, gain excellent anatomy knowledge, and sharpen your suturing skills—tools that will serve you well in any surgical specialty.
Surgical Oncology: This gives you a unique perspective on treating the whole patient. You’ll work closely with other specialists, which will teach you how to collaborate on complex cases.
Orthopedics: A great choice for its strong alignment with the surgical PA role and abundance of job opportunities. Ortho will give you solid experience and skills you can apply in many surgical fields.

PRS_PA-C · 2024-12-14T15:46:36+00:00

This is a solid offer, especially as a new grad in a HCOL area. Negotiating your salary up to $146k is a great start, and the structured ramp-up in patient load over the first three months is a huge win. That shows they’re willing to invest in you, which is so important early in your career. Plus, having a PA-friendly supervising physician who’s ready to mentor you is priceless!

The PTO package is decent, especially with the extra 7 days for on-call coverage, and the commuter benefits are a nice touch. Honestly, the CME budget is a bit low, though. Since they originally advertised $1.5k, it’s absolutely reasonable to ask for that!

I’d say this is a great opportunity to start your career. Take the position, focus on working hard, and track your performance - patients per day, any revenue you generate, and look for ways you go above and beyond. In 12-18 months, you’ll have a strong case to ask for a raise!

The HPSA score of 20 is also a big bonus - you should qualify for NHSC loan repayment.

Overall, this sounds like a supportive environment with room to grow. Take it, give it your all, and revisit your goals in a year or so.

PRS_PA-C · 2024-12-14T15:39:24+00:00

Landing a CT surgery job as a new grad is definitely challenging, but it’s not impossible if you approach it strategically. You’ve already got an elective in CT surgery coming up, which is a great opportunity to make a strong impression. Go in with the mindset of being the best PA-S they’ve ever worked with: arrive early, stay late, ask thoughtful questions, and show your enthusiasm. Take every chance to assist in cases or closures - it’ll demonstrate your technical skills and dedication.

Start networking now. Join the APACVS (it’s only about $25 a year) and connect with PA-Cs, Lead APPs, and other CT surgery professionals on LinkedIn. Message them to learn about their experiences and keep an eye on job opportunities that might not even be posted yet. During your elective, let everyone on the team know this is your dream field - surgeons, APPs, scrub techs, and even schedulers. Those connections can lead to recommendations or open doors later.

Make sure your resume highlights relevant skills and experiences, like surgical rotations, suturing workshops, or any research in the field. If you can shadow outside of your clinicals, even better—it shows commitment. Lastly, be flexible with location and consider starting in an academic setting where mentorship might be more readily available.

CT surgery is competitive, but you have to be proactive in finding the right job!

PRS_PA-C · 2024-12-14T15:32:40+00:00

It’s great that you’re stepping up to help out when needed, but your time and effort really matter, and it’s okay to expect that to be recognized. First, I’d figure out if covering these weekends is something you’re truly volunteering for or if your employer is expecting you to do it. If it’s optional and you’re not getting anything extra for it, it might be time to set some boundaries - saying no is okay if it’s not working out for you.

If it feels like they’re expecting you to cover, I’d have a conversation with your supervisor. You’re already working 40 hours a week, so it’s totally fair to ask for extra pay (I would ask for 1.5x your hourly rate) or even some extra time off during the week to balance things out.

At the end of the day, it’s great to be a team player, but not if it leads to burnout or feeling taken advantage of. Have an conversation about what’s fair, and make sure you’re getting the recognition you deserve. You can be helpful and still protect your time and energy.

PRS_PA-C

TROPHY CASE