Professional Research Essay Understanding how to keep your skin healthy and learning about different skin diseases has always been a passion of mine. For many years I have been intrigued by the field of dermatology and have often imagined pursuing a career in this area. Ranked after Neurology and Cardiology, Dermatology is the third most difficult field in which to become a doctor. Since the field is so competitive, I am interested in becoming a medical assistant working in a dermatology clinic. To learn more about the role of the physician assistant with a specialty in dermatology, I conducted my research in the field of dermatology, physician assistants and then focused on PA dermatology. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay To begin my research, I studied the website www.aad.org, which explained general information about dermatology as the science of skin, hair, and nail care. Furthermore, the site provides a detailed description of the dermatologist and his role in the care and treatment of patients with health problems. It refers to over 3,000 diseases that dermatologists try to assist and find ways to improve their appearance. One area of ​​the website revealed that the field is broader than just the dermatologist. Additional information regarding the cosmetic dermatologist, dermatopathologist, and pediatric dermatologist was also reviewed. This shows the reader that there are options to consider when deciding on the field of interest. The next topic discussed on this website was how to become a dermatologist. This section lists the requirements to become a dermatologist, internships and specialization programs. Additionally, the site provided details about dermatology specialization and surgical procedures learned during this process. The last topic covered on this website was about dermatology fellowship. If doctors continue their medical studies after completing specialization, a list of possible areas of specialization in dermatology and information about each area has been provided. The website structure was easy to navigate and contained very useful information. The information was relevant to my interest in pursuing a career in dermatology. Since becoming a dermatologist is beyond my personal goals, I then conducted research on how to become a physician assistant (PA). My online research at www.howtobecomeapa.com covered in depth the definition of PAs and how they support the doctor. Additionally, the site offered comparisons and contrasts between a doctor and a personal assistant, stating facts about each role and the differences in training required. This led me to explore the requirements area on the website where an explanation of the coursework and experience requirements were offered. The course requirements provided general application information through a centralized application system called CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants) and some helpful information about specific course selections. The site informs the reader to ensure they are taking the right course required for their schedule. Additionally, the site offers guidance on experience requirements which may vary from program to program. Some PA programs will not consider an application unless the applicant has extensive clinical experience. The service requirements provided some general recommendations on how to gain visibility by shadowing an AP or working in an environment where the AP is deployed. My hope is to shadow a PA in a clinical setting in the next onefuture. Another tool available on the site is the PA Program Directory which requires access to a portal to access over 100 PA programs across the country. I was able to find out about application deadlines, admission requirements and costs. The cost area was further outlined under the financial aid section which indicated that the average PA student incurs $55,000 in debt during their program. For this reason the site offers extensive information on cash earnings, scholarships, grants, loans and reimbursements. After reviewing the financial aid information, I was able to learn about the certification criteria. This material provides guidance on the national exam, the annual continuing medical education required of all PAs to maintain their license. Once licensed, the AP is advised to join various groups. The Groups section of the site displays the connectivity of all PAs as a community that allows them to connect by American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) parent company or by medical specialty and/or geographic area. After looking at this website, I found that it has great information on how to become a personal assistant. The site also contains a blog and forum, so you can discuss the information presented with others. While the website reviewed above had valuable information on educational requirements, I wanted to do more research on the educational requirements to become a PA. The site refers to the fact that future medical assistants must have formal training approved by the Accreditation Review Commission on Medical Assistant Education (ARC-PA) and must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited school. I really found the review of skills identified for AP helpful. Those listed include: IT skills, technical skills and key skills. Definitions of these skills have also been provided. Information on the curriculum and average program length to complete course work was also reviewed. I was able to review how the focus of classroom teaching in the first year shifts to more clinical applications and rotations as the program progresses. For those interested in pursuing an online education, there are numerous links available that offer course overviews and types of classes that can be taken via distance learning. Some of these courses include: Anatomy and Physiology, History of Art, and Principles of Chemistry. Looking at the online site, http://education-portal.com, I thought it was very helpful and provided some details that were not found on other sites. Reviewing the online courses within the website has given me some new information about possible class options, but at this time I am interested in taking traditional classes to further my knowledge on how to become a personal assistant. Once I concluded my research, I wanted to focus on learning about Dermatology PA. The Society of Dermatology Physician Assistant (SDPA) offers information specific to my field of interest and has a short video that provides the connection between the dermatologist and the PA. The video reveals that an AP offers increased manpower and allows the dermatologist to care for more patients. Explain that the PA is an extension of the doctor and the scope of practice can vary between PAs based on the experience and comfort of the supervising dermatologist. The site shares available resources to promote PA training in the field of dermatology. These include: dermatology journals, dermatology texts, and continuing medical education in dermatology. The website www.dermpa.org explains that the dermatologist will advise and train the PA for.