Katie, Cardiology PA-C and Faculty at Chapman University - Q&A

Brief Introduction (degrees/certifications, specialty, education history, etc.): 

My name is Katie Cornella. I have been working at Orange County Heart Institute as a cardiology P.A. for nearly 5 years. I work both inpatient and outpatient medicine and see patients at St Joseph Hospital in Orange. I am also part time faculty at Chapman University PA program where I teach cardiology and preceptor PA students for their clinical rotations. I work as a clinical consultant for various medical companies primarily in the role of education and research and design, and I have published various medical papers. I have a B.S. from Cal Poly SLO in biology with a concentration in anatomy and physiology and my M.P.A.S and M.M.S. (Masters in P.A. Sciences and Medical Studies) from Chapman University which was where I completed my Physician Assistant program. 

Q1: What tips/experiences would you recommend to pre-pa students to help them become successful applicants and PAs?

Getting into PA school is much more challenging than it looks. I would shadow various PA’s in different specialties and make sure this is 100% what you want to do with your future because it is a grueling path, and requires extreme focus and dedication to succeed. 

Unfortunately, I see a lot of amazing PA candidates who have not been accepted 3 years in a row due to grades. The number one set back I observe with students struggling to get accepted into PA schools is GPA. I would recommend a goal GPA of 3.5 or higher and do everything you can to keep your science GPA and overall GPA high. It is very challenging to get your GPA up after graduation. It is also crucial to get good grades in all of your science courses, more than one C is concerning and will certainly stand out on your application. If you are struggling with grades, I would put all work and other experience on hold and focus on grades. You can gain work experience after graduation. 

My next piece of advice would be for when applying to PA school, have your application 100% ready to go by April prior to the application cycle opening. PA schools operate on a rolling basis, the sooner you apply, the higher chance of getting an interview. If you have not put 110% into your application, essay and work experience, then I would wait until the following year to apply. Do not apply simply just to apply. Your essay should show your creativity and passion with zero errors. Your letters of recommendation should be from people who you have worked closely with in the medical or academic field and who have high regards for you. 

Q2: What stands out about Chapman’s PA program?

Chapman has outstanding faculty who are passionate about providing exceptional patient care, and having all of their students excel both in the program and after graduation as a PA. The faculty will go far out of their way to help students succeed both in the program and post graduation. I felt that this program encouraged group learning which minimized the competitive environment and promoted a team based approach. 

Q3: What are some of the pros and cons of your position/specialty?

I love that I have the ability to see patients in both the clinic and hospital, do procedures with local anesthetic, and assist with more complex surgeries to keep my surgical skills up. I work with outstanding cardiologists who have invested so much time and energy into training me so I can confidently practice medicine. My group values hard work and vacation which promotes a balanced lifestyle. 

Being a PA I overall feel that I have a good quality of life. I am grateful that I do not work nights or weekends which I feel leads to burn out much quicker. That being said, I have worked many 12 hour days, and work can be unpredictable as you do not know when the ER will be flooded with very sick cardiac patients. 

Q4: Can you describe your experience as an assistant professor/preceptor for Chapman’s PA program?

• How did you become an assistant professor? Was there any additional schooling you had to complete for this?

The students at Chapman actually requested that I come teach EKGs the year after I graduated. That lecture went so well that they requested I come back that year for a follow up review lecture, and eventually Chapman offered me a part time faculty position the following year. At Chapman University, my M.P.A.S. is sufficient for teaching. 

I love teaching and working with the students. They keep me on my toes and force me to stay up to date with all of the new literature and excellent questions they ask. In order to teach you have to really understand the topic inside and out, so I feel like there is no better way to stay on top of learning than teaching.  

I also feel like I have so much potential for changing health care outcomes by educating the next generation of frontline health care providers. The students are truly incredible and brilliant and it is so rewarding to see them thrive in the medical community after graduation. 

Q5: What was the transition like in your first few years working as a freshly graduated PA?

Being a new graduate PA can be very intimidating and it is very important to find preceptors who are willing to train you, as well as a friendly work environment. I was very lucky to have a few exceptional cardiologists who took me under their wings and were 100% there for me to answer my lists of questions and teach me up to date research based medicine. I was the first PA in my group, and first cardiology PA in my hospital. The most challenging part was overcoming the staff who did not understand my role and scope of practice as a PA. This was a challenging 2 year battle. 

Q6: Do you feel like your career has a good work-life balance?

Overall I do feel I have a good work life balance. It is not the best in the world, but for medicine it is quite good. I have several friends who have a better quality in terms of getting more vacation or shorter work weeks, but I love my specialty and patients so I would not give that up. I ski about 30 days a year, surf on weekends, and ride my horse a few days a week, so I definitely get to enjoy life!

Q7: If you could start over, what would you do differently in terms of applying to PA school?

Fortunately, I can say that there is nothing I would change in terms of applying to PA school. I was grateful to have great guidance from my mother who was a college counselor and was able to help set me up for success. I was planning on going to medical school before I got very ill in college. I had already taken the MCAT, completed all of my medical school prerequisites, and participated in 2 years of marine physiology research. I had taken several graduate level science classes and my curriculum was advanced beyond the average PA school applicant. I had also worked as a medical scribe and medical assistant throughout 3 years in college. Therefore, I was able to apply directly out of college for PA school. I had my applications and GRE completed by April prior to applications, submitted within a few days of applications opening, and had my first interview by early August. I ended up starting PA school 6 months after graduation.

That being said, this is not the common pathway for PA school. And there is no rush. I recommend at least a 1-2 gap year to gain experience in the medical field, and make sure your application is pristine. 

Q8: On average how many hours did you spend studying/reviewing as a PA, and was this always the case?

I had nearly zero social life in PA school outside of my PA friends. During PA school you can expect to study 7 days a week with almost no breaks, depending on what program you go to. I was in classes all day, and studying all night. I emphasized exercising about 4-5 days a week and often I was studying while on the treadmill or listening to lectures while doing a core workout. This was the case for everyone in my class. 

Q9: Have you always wanted to be a PA? What factors came into play that made you decide “PA is for me”?

I always wanted to be a medical doctor. Once I became very ill in college my personal doctors recommended I pick a lower stress alternative to medical school and residency, so I PA school to be a great alternative. In hindsight, I am very grateful this opportunity arose and I couldn't be more happy as a PA. I can practice medicine quite independently and I feel that I fulfill all my medical goals as a PA. There is nothing better than avoiding call and nights, getting sleep every night, and being able to participate in all of my desired social activities and hobbies.