An icon is someone known for their achievements. An icon is someone known for the difference they were able to make in their lifetime. An icon is someone known for the change they inspired. An icon is someone known for casting a shadow of good which others strive to step into. One man who casts such a shadow is Eugene A. Stead; a man who achieved, made a difference, and inspired change. Stead attended both Harvard and Duke’s schools of medicine, and after working for many years as a doctor, saw the desperate need for more physicians in the medical field. Stead sought to decrease the class time and the financial risks of becoming a medical professional, so he created a profession never before seen in the American medical field- the physician’s
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Prior to 1965 educators and doctors alike- namely Eugene A. Stead- recognized a shortage of professions that would act as both an assistant and primary healthcare provider. Thus, “the PA profession was created to improve and expand healthcare,” using a curriculum Stead created based on the one used for fast-tracking doctors during WWII, (The History of the PA Profession). This profession requires a bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in PA sciences, as well as a minimum of three years’ medical work experience. A PA works under the authority of a physician or a doctor, meaning they are less likely to have to deal with lawsuits. The profession itself is very flexible with many fields and many opportunities for both part-time and full-time employment, (Cawley, Roderick, and Pedersen 15). The goal of this program was to create a way for students to enter a higher level medical profession with less schooling, more opportunities, and fewer …show more content…
Metz wrote one of the first books printed in 1968 titled “Just Say for Me” which influences physician’s assistants to this day, (Carter). Earl Metz went on, after completing his residency, to be one of the first PA’s in the American Medical field and now has a series of awards dedicated to his work. Although Metz is seen as being influential, he is nowhere near the icon that Stead grew to be, in fact, Stead himself taught Metz and influenced his book. “Just Say For Me” was a “compilation of his “sayings” which overtime have been lovingly dubbed “Steadisms.” …The 342 sayings give insight into Stead’s philosophy about patient care, education, work and life in general. When [Stead’s] residents…came across a complicated medical case they could not solve” they would turn to these insights for help, (Carter). Others have influenced the medical field through the physician’s assistant, but none have come close to the magnitude of Stead’s influence. None have done so much without first falling into the shadow of Eugene A.
Prior to 1965 educators and doctors alike- namely Eugene A. Stead- recognized a shortage of professions that would act as both an assistant and primary healthcare provider. Thus, “the PA profession was created to improve and expand healthcare,” using a curriculum Stead created based on the one used for fast-tracking doctors during WWII, (The History of the PA Profession). This profession requires a bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in PA sciences, as well as a minimum of three years’ medical work experience. A PA works under the authority of a physician or a doctor, meaning they are less likely to have to deal with lawsuits. The profession itself is very flexible with many fields and many opportunities for both part-time and full-time employment, (Cawley, Roderick, and Pedersen 15). The goal of this program was to create a way for students to enter a higher level medical profession with less schooling, more opportunities, and fewer …show more content…
Metz wrote one of the first books printed in 1968 titled “Just Say for Me” which influences physician’s assistants to this day, (Carter). Earl Metz went on, after completing his residency, to be one of the first PA’s in the American Medical field and now has a series of awards dedicated to his work. Although Metz is seen as being influential, he is nowhere near the icon that Stead grew to be, in fact, Stead himself taught Metz and influenced his book. “Just Say For Me” was a “compilation of his “sayings” which overtime have been lovingly dubbed “Steadisms.” …The 342 sayings give insight into Stead’s philosophy about patient care, education, work and life in general. When [Stead’s] residents…came across a complicated medical case they could not solve” they would turn to these insights for help, (Carter). Others have influenced the medical field through the physician’s assistant, but none have come close to the magnitude of Stead’s influence. None have done so much without first falling into the shadow of Eugene A.