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PA Professional Experiences

Reconnecting with my PA roots

Joellen Camileri Gordon, PA-C April 26, 2012

A medical mission trip allows this PA to reconnect with what motivated her to join the profession in the first place.

A Day in the Life: LTJG Ari Doucette, PA-C, MPAS

LTJG Ari Doucette, PA-C, MPAS April 11, 2012

While in Afghanistan, a Navy PA provides medical care for military personnel, prisoner of war detainees, and local citizens, while exposing British health care providers to the PA profession.

How medication shortages affect day-to-day clinician decisions

David Bunnell, MSHS, PA-C March 27, 2012

Drug shortages have affected clinicians in all specialties, not just cardiothoracic surgery. The author examines how the crisis has impacted the everyday decisions of PAs.

The question I wish people would ask about cardiothoracic surgery

David Bunnell, MSHS, PA-C March 15, 2012

When PAs or PA students are thinking about getting into cardiothoracic surgery, there is one important and telling question that rarely gets asked.

When is a PA not a PA?

Jim Anderson, PA-C, ATC March 01, 2012

The author, who works as a PA in IT services, relates the deeper questions raised by a colleague's comment one day: "Oh that's interesting, when did you stop being a PA?"

PA: a postmodern acronym devised to denote a select group of highly-trained, top-notch health care professionals groomed to provide state-of-the-art compassionate care in collaboration with practicing physicians, upholding the vision to restore the practice of medicine to its prior place of unselfish service to humankind.

My life as a joiner

Jim Anderson, PA-C, ATC January 30, 2012

Why should you join AAPA? Well, the author argues, membership and participation in your national professional organization is essential to preserve and promote the PA profession.

Is trauma care really free of bias?

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group January 26, 2012

Many health care providers believe trauma care is free of health disparities. But is subconscious bias actually influencing care based on race?

Physician assistants—The first generation

James F. Cawley, MPH, PA-C January 17, 2012

The first PAs trained during the 1970s are now making retirement choices. Instead of dropping out of the medical workforce at 65, some are choosing to remain, though not necessarily maintaining the same activity level or doing the same kind of work.

The case of the mentoring spirit

Dawn Colomb-Lippa, MHS, PA-C October 17, 2011

The commitment to mentor is well worth the time invested. To those of you who are already in the game of mentoring, you know what I am talking about. If you have thought about it but have yet to take the leap, now's the time.

A Day in the Life: Jessica M. Rodriquez, MS, PA-C

Jessica M. Rodriquez, MS, PA-C June 10, 2011

An emergency medicine PA relates the typical flow of patients and variety of procedures she performs on a daily basis.

A Day in the Life: Nanette Laufik, PA-C

Nanette Laufik, PA-C February 15, 2011

A PA living in Australia as part of a trial to introduce PAs to remote areas in Queensland describes a busy day at her health center and the unique aspects of health care in the country.

Short cuts

Alexandra Godfrey, MS, PA-C January 19, 2011

A patient's dramatic amputation injury causes the author to reflect on the dangers of taking shortcuts, for clinicians as well as patients.

Inside the AAPA Policy Manual—January 2011

Jim Anderson, PA-C, ATC January 18, 2011

The Standing Rules section of the AAPA Policy Manual provides guidance to the House of Delegates officers in running the complex operation that is the AAPA House of Delegates.

The speed of change

Stephen H. Hanson, MPA, PA-C January 13, 2011

The speed of change in recent years for the PA profession has taken my breath away. I have simply been astounded at how quickly positive change has come in numerous areas that affect PAs' ability to serve their patients and communities.

A Day in the Life: Nicole Larson, MPAS, PA-C

Nicole Larson, MPAS, PA-C October 19, 2010

A PA who practices in thoracic surgery describes a busy day in the hospital and the clinic.

The best job in the world

Stephen H. Hanson, MPA, PA-C September 27, 2010

My personal PA experience has been very diverse, and it took me more than 27 years to find my "dream job," as a surgical PA in a burn unit. I'm grateful each and every day for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the patients I serve.

Front porch reflections

Brian T. Maurer, PA-C September 20, 2010

My daughter told me about the visit to her ENT doctor earlier that day, about all of the tests that had been done, tests ranging from audiological exams to tympanograms to an intranasal endoscopy. Everything had come back normal. She still had the ringing in her right ear, but less so now. The physician brought up the possibility of Meniere's syndrome. What did I think? Might she have it?

Why do we choose to become PAs?

Richard Dehn, MPA, PA-C, DFAAPA September 07, 2010

The questions of who chooses to become a PA and why has always been of interest to me. While on the surface this appears to be a basic and, some might consider somewhat banal question, I've always believed that it to be a fundamentally enlightening interview question that sometimes provides me a brief glimpse into our profession's future.

The art and science of defensive medicine

Denise Rizzolo, PA-C, PhD November 10, 2009

The art and science of medicine that serves patients' best interest is defended against the overwhelming need to avoid malpractice lawsuits.

From the AAPA: PAs for a Healthy America: Vote 2008

October 01, 2008

AAPA launched an advocacy initiative—PAs for a Healthy America: Vote 2008—at the 2008 annual conference in San Antonio and continues to stress the importance of political action in this election season.

Do dogs like bones? A time for physician assistant action

Bill Leinweber October 01, 2008

Health care futurist Joe Flower posed this question about our canine friends' affinity for bones at the AAPA's Leadership Summit this past summer. As nearly everyone in the audience nodded Yes in response to the question, Flower abruptly reminded us that in fact, dogs like steak but are willing to settle for the bones.

A day in the life: Renee Wittenmyer, PA-C

Renee Wittenmyer, PA-C October 01, 2008

The Indiana Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center (IHTC) was started 10 years ago by two hematologists who dreamed of a comprehensive clinic that could meet the needs of patients with benign hematologic conditions. They began hiring PAs in the spring of 2004 to help them manage the complex medical care their patients required.

The practice of medicine: Moving beyond the science

Brian T. Maurer, PA-C October 01, 2008

Nearly 3 decades ago, when I first stepped out into the field of clinical practice, the science of medicine was top priority.Like most PA students from that era, I spent the greater part of 2 years struggling to learn human anatomy and physiology, physical diagnosis, pathophysiology of disease, laboratory medicine, diagnostic radiology, and pharmacologic treatment.

A Day in the Life: Katie Iverson, PA-C, MPAS and Amber Sheeley, PA-C, MPAS

Katie Iverson, PA-C, MPAS, Amber Sheeley, PA-C, MPAS February 01, 2007

This past fall, we had the opportunity to run medical clinics in the poor colonias of Mazatlan, Mexico.

A Day in the Life: James M.Taft, PA-C

October 01, 2006

I always thought I would practice ER or family medicine after I graduated. I never envisioned the combination of clinical practice and research in neurology that currently fills my days.

You just can't trust the histories

Dale Beaird Glover, PA-C September 01, 2006

It isn't like the Free World. Getting the truth out of patients is like going round and round with the questions, peeling a rotten onion.

A Day in the Life: Pedro Gonzalez, PA-C

August 01, 2006

The PA profession was foreign to me, growing up as I did in the streets of East Los Angeles. In those days I would have never guessed the enormous possibilities in this great career.

The white coat: Reflections from a second-year PA student

Anthony M. Pellegrino July 01, 2006

The white coat ceremony was conceived in part as a vehicle to help "establish a psychological contract for the practice of medicine" that emphasized compassionate care and proficiency. When the white coat is presented to an entering class, it is a "gift of faith, confidence, and compassion."

A Day in the Life: Jared R. Pennington, PA-C, MHS

June 01, 2006

I began my career as a PA in 2004, and my first job was in emergency medicine. I stayed for about 6 months, until I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in surgery.