Club Spotlight: Pre-Physician Assistant Club
In an occasional series, Royal News spotlights clubs from the university’s 100+ student organizations on campus, speaks to members and offers information on how to connect with the clubs.
To suggest a club for a future Royal News article, to share ideas or to inform us of any upcoming club events, please email RoyalNews@scranton.edu or Felicia.Domiano@scranton.edu
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Club: Pre-Physician Assistant Club
Meet: Maria Manno '24, shown, a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and vice president of the Pre-Physician Assistant Club.
Connect: @scranton_prepa
Q: Your most recent event included a guest presenter. Please explain the topics discussed.
"At our most recent meeting, we invited the University’s pre-health advisor, Dr. Gabriela Jakubowska, to give a short presentation focused on how to prepare a competitive application to Physician Assistant schools. She also reviewed a general timeline for the process. We discussed opportunities for patient care experience and tips for those who were choosing to take the GRE. This meeting also gave pre-PA students the opportunity to connect with Dr. J and get to know her as a resource on campus. Information on future meetings will be posted on RoyalSync once they are planned."
Q: What is the Pre-PA club mission?
"The Pre-PA Club serves to offer mentorship to those looking to pursue the Physician Assistant profession in ways that educate them about the career and guides them on how they can utilize their undergraduate years to become a competitive applicant. Officers of the Pre-PA Club serve as resources to club members who ask questions and seek out advice, as the journey is a difficult, but rewarding one. This club also allows for other Pre-PA students to connect and form a community of support and collaboration."
Q: What, in your opinion, are the most exciting events or activities you present as a club?
"While the club has been inactive for a few years, the meetings I am looking forward to most are ones where we have certified physician assistants come in to talk to our members about their job and why they love it. I believe that talks such as these give insight into realistic aspects of the careers while getting members excited about the path they are pursuing."
Q: Why would you recommend someone join?
"I think that this club is beneficial to anyone on a pre-health track. Whether you are set on going to medical school or are struggling to decide between becoming a doctor or a PA, this club is a great resource to learn about why people chose the pre-PA path and to simply learn about another healthcare option. A common question that comes up in all graduate-level interviews is, “Why did you choose [your desired field] over the plethora of other options?” Schools want to see you demonstrate a strong knowledge of the diversity of healthcare positions and confirm that you know why your chosen field will be the best suited for you and your professional goals."
Q: Why did you join the club?
"I joined as a first year to learn more about the PA profession as I was still heavily undecided on whether I wanted to be a doctor or a PA."
Q: When and where does Pre-PA club meet, and how can someone who is interested find out more about it? What topics do you discuss?
"All of our meetings happen on campus and are typically held at 7 p.m. every other Tuesday. We discuss topics related to becoming a competitive applicant and giving insight from personal experiences of the officers, or bring in a guest speaker to offer professional insights about the field. Join us on RoyalSync and follow our Instagram: @scranton_prepa to stay in the loop on our meeting schedule and topics!
