Pre-AA Pathways
Claim This Podcastby Tiffany & Adrienne
Podcast Overview
<p>Pre-AA Pathways is a podcast guiding students through the journey to Anesthesiologist Assistant school. Hosted by two non-traditional applicants, each episode breaks down the pre-AA process—from prerequisites and clinical experience to CASAA applications and interviews—so you can navigate the path to AA school with confidence.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/1/2026
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Recent Episodes
June 13, 2026
Episode 8: Pre-AA Perspectives on Shadowing an Anesthesiologist Assistant
<p>In this episode, Tiffany and Adrienne walk through shadowing from two pre-AA perspectives: how they found anesthesia observation hours, where to look, how to frame a request that gets a "yes," and how to show up once you're in the room.</p><p></p><p>IN THIS EPISODE</p><p>00:52 — The shadowing question that shows up constantly in pre-AA spaces</p><p>01:42 — 24 jurisdictions: why this is a structural access gap, not a personal failure</p><p>03:03 — Where to look first: hospitals, volunteer offices, and your state AA board</p><p>03:51 — AA programs that facilitate shadowing + the info-session pro tip</p><p>04:26 — Shadowing other anesthesia providers (MD/DO, CRNA): not a consolation prize</p><p>05:20 — Networking shadowing at the AAAA Conference</p><p>05:53 — The four things to confirm before you send a single email</p><p>06:32 — Building a prep kit so you can reply fast when someone says yes</p><p>08:12 — Read this before day one: Anesthesia Made Easy</p><p>09:57 — No responses for months: what to do next</p><p>10:54 — Teaching hospitals, the Department of Anesthesiology, and matching their language</p><p>12:13 — Why ambulatory surgery centers are underrated</p><p>12:53 — Using LinkedIn the right way</p><p>14:08 — Shadowing vs. clinical experience: the distinction that matters</p><p>17:01 — The 5-part structured request framework</p><p>18:46 — A sample shadowing email, start to finish</p><p>20:50 — The frustrated "please let me shadow" post, said with empathy</p><p>23:05 — The travel reality of a regionalized profession</p><p>25:01 — OR etiquette: don't touch anything blue</p><p>26:31 — Sarah Whitfield's shadowing prep guide on body language</p><p>27:32 — Asking specific questions that get real answers</p><p>28:27 — Why you forget the details within 48 hours, and what to do about it</p><p>29:17 — Contact info, signed forms, and the 24-hour thank-you email</p><p>29:51 — Key takeaways</p><p>31:58 — Next time: volunteering in the pre-AA context</p><p></p><p>RESOURCES MENTIONED</p><p>- Anesthesia Made Easy by Jeff Steiner — a digestible first pass on induction, maintenance, emergence, medications, and monitoring.</p><p>- Sarah Whitfield's Shadowing Prep Guide — practicing CAA at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://AspiringCAA.com" target="_blank">AspiringCAA.com</a>, on shadowing etiquette and body language.</p><p>- AAAA Conference — covered in earlier Pre-AA Pathways episodes; an in-person route to shadowing connections.</p><p>- Episode 7 (All Things Clinical Experience) — the deeper breakdown of shadowing vs. clinical experience vs. patient care experience.</p><p></p><p>CONNECT WITH US</p><p>Sent a shadowing request that went nowhere? Run it against the 5-part framework and DM us what you'd change — we read everything. And tell us the state you're applying from.</p><p>Instagram: @PreAAPathways</p><p>TikTok: @PreAAPathways</p><p>YouTube: @PreAAPathways</p><p>Web: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://preaapathways.com" target="_blank">preaapathways.com</a></p><p></p><p>COMING UP NEXT — EPISODE 9</p><p>Volunteering in the pre-AA context: what it actually looks like, how it's distinct from clinical experience and shadowing, and why programs keep mentioning it.</p><p></p><p>DISCLAIMER</p><p>Both hosts are pre-AA applicants in the current CASAA cycle, not program-accepted CAAs. Nothing in this episode is application advice, admissions guidance, or a guarantee of outcomes. Logistical details should be verified directly with the source. Pre-AA Pathways is not affiliated with CASAA, AAAA, any AA program, or CAAHEP.</p><p></p><p>Pre-AA Pathways — Turning ambition into admission.<br /><br />Music Attribution: QL9LXCGP5Y9BUTTD</p>
June 3, 2026
Episode 7: Pre-AA Perspectives on Getting Clinical Experience
<p>Adrienne and Tiffany break down what it actually takes to build clinical experience from the outside — the real barriers, the most common entry points in pre-AA communities, and what seems to matter once you're building hours.<br /></p><p>In this episode, we cover:</p><p>• Why getting your first clinical role is harder than "just get your hours" suggests</p><p>• The pay cut and scheduling realities that don't get talked about enough</p><p>• Common clinical roles in pre-AA communities</p><p>• Healthcare experience vs. direct patient care — and why the distinction matters</p><p>• What seems to carry weight when building toward AA school</p><p>• How to document your hours before application time<br /></p><p>Chapters</p><p>00:53 — Why clinical experience can be the hardest part of your pre-AA journey</p><p>02:31 — The real cost of gaining clinical experience</p><p>03:17 — Strategic patience & building healthcare experience</p><p>05:16 — Common entry roles introduced & information on Medical Assistant positions</p><p>07:51 — Certified Nursing Assistants and Patient Care Technicians</p><p>10:17 — EMT, paramedic, and OR tech options</p><p>11:15 — Anesthesia Tech positions</p><p>14:05 — The difference between healthcare experience and patient care hours</p><p>16:00 — Shortcuts or stepping stones? Phlebotomy, scribing, volunteering, and their roles</p><p>21:02 — What we think really matters</p><p>24:10 — Tracking, Documenting & Preparing Early</p><p>28:27 — Final takeaways & Closing<br /></p><p>Resources & Links:</p><p>🔗 Learn more at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://preaapathways.com" target="_blank">preaapathways.com</a><br /></p><p>Connect with PreAA Pathways:</p><p>• <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/preaapathways/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></p><p>• <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@preaapathways" target="_blank">TikTok</a></p><p>• <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@PreAAPathways" target="_blank">YouTube</a></p><p>@preaapathways</p><p><br /><i>Adrienne and Tiffany are pre-AA applicants in the 2026 CASAA (Centralized Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistants) cycle. Nothing here is application advice or a guarantee of any outcome. Program requirements change — always verify directly with each program. Not affiliated with CASAA, the AAAA, any AA program, or CAAHEP.</i><br /></p><p><i>Music license code: 6JJQRMA689NY4NTL</i></p>
May 27, 2026
Episode 6: Pre-AA Perspectives on Prerequisites
<p><b>Episode 7 — Pre-AA Perspectives on Prerequisites</b></p><p>Adrienne and Tiffany both started here — pulling up a program page, doing the math on their transcripts, and realizing there was more ground to cover than expected. This episode breaks down what AA program prerequisites actually consist of, where the details get complicated, and how to build a real inventory of where you stand.</p><p></p><p><b>Chapters</b></p><p>00:00 — Intro & disclaimer <br />01:12 — The moment prerequisites got real <br />02:34 — What are AA program prerequisites? <br />03:27 — Why the science foundation matters in the Operating Room <br />04:00 — Recency requirements & course age <br />05:25 — Course level, labs, and what programs are actually evaluating <br />07:08 — The prerequisite nuances that trip people up<br />09:30 — Online prerequisites & transfer credits<br />11:05 — How to build your actual transcript inventory <br />12:17 — Sequencing your plan <br />16:57 — Grades, competitiveness, and the CAA Readiness Index <br />20:48 — Real barriers<br />25:46 — On timelines being longer than planned <br />27:06 — One thing to do after this episode <br />27:36 — Closing</p><p></p><p><b>Resources</b></p><p>🔗 CAA Readiness Index — <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://criscore.org" target="_blank">criscore.org</a> <br />🔗 Adrienne's course & university reviews — <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://slptocaa.com/course-reviews" target="_blank">slptocaa.com/course-reviews</a> <br />🔗 Episode 3: GPA, GRE, MCAT & Competitiveness — <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://preaapathways.riverside.com/e/episode-3-all-things-pre-aa-statistics-gpa-gre-mcat-competitiveness" target="_blank">preaapathways.riverside.com/e/episode-3-all-things-pre-aa-statistics-gpa-gre-mcat-competitiveness</a> </p><p>🔗 Awakened Anesthetists’ — Emily Mycyk interview — <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://buzzsprout.com/1219709/episodes/19165712" target="_blank">buzzsprout.com/1219709/episodes/19165712</a> <br />🔗 Learn more at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://preaapathways.com" target="_blank">preaapathways.com</a></p><p><br /></p><p><i>Adrienne and Tiffany are pre-AA applicants in the 2026 CASAA (Centralized Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistants) cycle. Nothing here is application advice or a guarantee of any outcome. Program requirements change — always verify directly with each program. Not affiliated with CASAA, the AAAA, any AA program, or CAAHEP.</i></p>
9 total episodes available
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- What is Pre-AA Pathways?
<p>Pre-AA Pathways is a podcast guiding students through the journey to Anesthesiologist Assistant school. Hosted by two non-traditional applicants, each episode breaks down the pre-AA process—from prerequisites and clinical experience to CASAA applications and interviews—so you can navigate the path to AA school with confidence.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Information about guest appearances is not available.
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