Recommended PA Books
Here you’ll find almost every book and tool I have found useful and resources recommended to me by PA colleagues and students!
An important disclosure: These links are Amazon Associate links, which means if you choose to make a purchase through the link I will earn a commission which helps me support my activity on Canadian PA. You are more than welcome to purchase the books at your local bookstore, or just go directly amazon.ca to search the book titles and purchase that way. Using the links below comes at no additional cost to you – however I do recommend these books because they are helpful and useful. Do not spend money on these books if you do not feel they would be helpful in achieving your goals.
Medical Equipment for PA School
Medical Equipment
At most you require a stethoscope. Take advantage of student discounts that may be available through your school. The 3M Littman is the standard purchased by my class of PAs and from what I’ve seen from subsequent PA classes. Other equipment like a blood pressure cuff, ophthalmoscope and otoscope are available to borrow from the program to practice, and you are not required to buy them. However if you would like your own set, what is listed above is what I’ve seen used at Canadian practices.
Scrubs
All hospitals that you do rotations at will have scrubs available. You can also choose to purchase your own pair (not uncommon for hospital staff). The selection above were based on ratings, fit and cut.
Books for the Didactic 1st Year of PA School
These are books that are helpful for your 1st year of PA school, where you learn the medical foundation and acquire basic clinical skills.
Test Review Books
- Essential Med Notes (a.k.a. Toronto Notes) – key points of common conditions in different areas of medicine, structured for test review & quick reference during rotations. Includes Relevant Anatomy, Pathophys, Signs and Symptoms, Investigations & Treatment for each condition. With helpful diagrams, organized by area of medicine. When approaching a new topic in class, I would usually start with reading a textbook, then use Toronto Notes to reinforce key points what I learned.
Anatomy & Physiology
- Tortora’s Principles of Anatomy & Physiology – A favourite of the McMaster MD program & undergraduate anatomy courses. Visual anatomy & physiology with basic principles covering multiple organ systems. I used this in undergrad and throughout PA school.
- Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy
- Costanzo’s Physiology – Overview of the principles behind physiologic processes covering multiple organ systems that you use throughout didactic year.
- The Anatomy Coloring Book
Respirology
Endocrinology
Renal/Nephrology
Books for 2nd Year Clinical Clerkship
Based on resources most commonly used by Canadian PA students and medical students during clinical clerkship rotations.
PA Certification Exam, Study Resources
- Comprehensive Review for PANCE & PANRE (with AAPA, PAEA)
- Davis’s PA Exam Review
- Lange Q&A PA Exam Flash Cards
Resources used by Canadian PAs to study for the exam
Drugs
- RxFiles Drug Comparison Chart – A handy flip chart that organized medications by category and in tables. Based on Canadian names & prices.
- Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopeia – Organized by Category, with dosages based on indication and side effects. Great flip through pocket book for clinical rotations & observerships.
Family Medicine
MUM’s Health Series (Orange Books – Canadian)
Dermatology
Psychiatry
- Interview Guide For Evaluating DSM-5 Psychiatric Disorders & the Mental Status Examination – Pocket sized book you can carry around with you on rotations, with strategic interview questions & review guide to help you through your psych rotation based on DSM 5 criteria.
Emergency Medicine
Internal Medicine
- Case Files: Internal Medicine
- Harrison’s Manual of Medicine
- Pocket Medicine: The Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Internal Medicine
- Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics
- Compendium of Therapeutic Choices – comprehensive, good for anyone considering Internal Medicine as a career
Surgery
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Neurosurgery
- “Handbook of Neurosurgery” by Greenburg (this is very comprehensive and best reserved for people interested in pursuing neurosurgery as a career)
- “Neurosurgery for Basic Surgical Trainees” by W.A.Leibenberg & R.D. Johnson helpful
- “High-Yield Neuroanatomy” by Lippincott, Willians & Wilkins
- “Internal Medicine Residency Training Program Resident Survival Guide” (“the red book”). This is always helpful for inpatient management for overall medical management
- “Toronto Notes” (neurosurgery section)
Recommendations from Tracy Watson, Neurosurgery PA.
Social Media & Tech Tools
Blogging Platforms
Blogging & Marketing
- How to Start a Blog 101
- Creative Market – If you opt for a self-hosted WordPress website, here are professional themes to customize your site
Twitter Schedulers
- Hootsuite – Use these to schedule our your social media posts!
- BufferApp
- Tweet Deck