All Things PA Education (paeapodcast)

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Olivia Ziegler, PA, chief experience office at the PA Education Association. The two discuss the growth and development of PAEA's Assessment Program and how it drives success for our profession.

This episode is supported by Southern Illinois University Medicine Doctor of Medical Science Degree.

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Kendall Mealy, MPA, chief people officer at PAEA. They dive into strategies for creating a positive work environment and offering opportunities for growth and development. Kendall emphasizes the critical role of learning and development as a core business function and the necessity of integrating talent development into every organization's strategy. 

This episode is supported by Southern Illinois University Medicine Doctor of Medical Science Degree.

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, Dipu Patel, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, president of the PA Education Association, sits down with Angelique Redmond, BBA, PMP, Assistant Director of Clinical Education at the George Washington University PA Program. Together, they shine a spotlight on the essential, yet often underrecognized role of administrative professionals in PA education. Angelique shares her personal journey, her passion for integrating health profession learners into health systems science, and the inspiration behind launching the Administrative Professional Special Interest Group (SIG) within PAEA. The conversation explores how administrative professionals shape student experiences, influence program decisions, and continue to adapt and lead as technology transforms the field.

This episode is sponsored by Massey & Associates Consulting Solutions.

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Michael Roscoe, PhD, PA-C, adjunct didactic faculty with both the entry-level and doctoral PA programs at the University of Lynchburg. Together, they discuss program assessment and the holistic, multi-source evaluation of competencies in PA education.

This episode is sponsored by PA Excel. For more information, visit them online at paexcel.com.   

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, interviews Vanessa Cobarrubias, PA-C, a member of the White House Fellowship Board and former White House Fellow at the Office of the First Lady/Department of Health & Human Services. They discuss the challenges within the PA profession, highlighting the need for advocacy, better working conditions, and the promotion of professional growth. Vanessa shares her personal journey with dyslexia, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in PA education. She suggests alternative learning models and effective teaching strategies to support individuals with dyslexia.  

This episode is sponsored by Lincoln Memorial University School of Medical Sciences. For more information about the doctor of medical science program, visit https://www.lmunet.edu/school-of-medical-sciences/dms/. For more information on the medical education major curriculum, visit https://www.lmunet.edu/school-of-medical-sciences/dms/medical-education-major-curriculum.

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, sits down with Dipu Patel, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, and president of PAEA. Patel shares her journey to PAEA leadership, her passion for amplifying member voices, and how AI and digital health are shaping the future of PA education. She also discusses her newly published book, featuring insights from PA students, and the vital role of special interest groups in fostering collaboration and innovation. The conversation explores the power of community, technology, and forward-thinking strategies to navigate the evolving landscape of PA education.

This episode is supported by the University of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences’ Doctor of Medical Science program.

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Casey Johnson, PhD, senior director of assessment services and psychometrician at the PA Education Association. Together, they embark on a journey deep into the realm of assessment, exploring its pivotal role in evaluating student performance. Delve into the nuances of assessment methodologies, uncovering the distinctions between exams like the PANCE and the PACKRAT®, and gain insights into the meticulous process of crafting high-quality assessment items. 

This episode is sponsored by PA Excel. For more information, visit them online at paexcel.com.   

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

The PA Education Association presents All Things PA Education hosted by Dr. Sara Fletcher, a podcast featuring leading experts in PA education discussing trends, philosophies, programs, and issues directly impacting our profession. Check out the trailer for season one!

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Jonathan M. Bowser, MS, PA-C, program director and associate dean of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Colorado. The two discuss Bowser's experience leading a major curriculum change.

This episode is sponsored by PA Excel. For more information, visit them online at paexcel.com.   

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Emma Sellers, MS, chief equity, diversity, and inclusion officer at PAEA. The two discuss opportunities for PAs and higher education in the EDI space.

  This episode is sponsored by PA Excel. For more information, visit them online at paexcel.com.   

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, speaks with Stephane P. VanderMeulen, MPAS, MA, PA-C, Program Director of the PA Program at Creighton University, and Rachel Vaca-Lubischer, MSW, MPA, Program Evaluation Analyst at Creighton University. Together, they discuss their groundbreaking project to develop a dynamic dashboard designed to streamline and optimize data management for a new PA program. The conversation dives into the inspiration behind the dashboard, born out of the complexities of managing large volumes of data during accreditation processes. Stephane and Rachel share how they combined technological expertise, data visualization techniques, and teamwork to transition from manual efforts to an efficient, user-friendly solution that enhances data accessibility and supports faculty decision-making. They also offer valuable advice on starting early, defining clear goals, and applying data visualization principles to make information more actionable and impactful. 

This episode is sponsored by PA Excel. For more information, visit them online at paexcel.com. 

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Dr. Howard Straker, PA-C, MPH, director of the Physician Assistant/MPH Program at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and Dr. Nicole Burwell, PA-C, department chair and program director of the North Carolina A&T Physician Assistant Program. The three discuss the pros and cons of an entry level doctorate degree and its impact on the future of the profession.

This episode is sponsored by PA Excel. For more information, visit them online at paexcel.com.

Show notes

Dr. Howard Straker has more than 30 years of PA educational and clinical experience, and is an assistant professor in the Physician Assistant Program. Straker serves as director of the Physician Assistant MPH Program, coordinating the joint degree curriculum across the Physician Assistant Program and four departments within the Milken Institute School of Public Health. He teaches in both the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and the Department of Prevention & Community Health. Straker’s interests are in the preparation of practitioners to work in underserved communities, diversity and inclusion, health professions workforce, and blended learning pedagogy. 

Dr. Nicole B. Burwell, PA-C, is the founding director of the Physician Assistant Studies master's program and chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and the John R. and Kathy R. Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences. She is a well-known figure in the PA field, currently serving as president-elect for PAEA. She is formerly director of the pre-clerkship for the Stanford University M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies program and director of clinical education for The George Washington University PA program.

This episode of All Thing PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, talks with Robert Furter, PhD, MBA, Senior Director of Research & DataOps, and Principal Psychometrician at PAEA, about the vital role of data in PA education. Furter emphasizes intentional data collection and analysis, distinguishing between meaningful signals and noise. He outlines PAEA’s efforts to enhance data visualization, aiming to introduce dynamic dashboards by 2025. Additionally, Furter stresses the importance of robust, accessible data sets for program evaluation and quality improvement, advocating for a multidisciplinary approach and ensuring research validity.

This episode is sponsored by PA Excel. For more information, visit them online at paexcel.com. 

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In our inaugural episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Dr. Sharon Luke, PA-C, executive director of the Accreditation Review Commission on the Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The two discuss notable changes in the accreditation landscape, meeting the challenges of accreditation, alleviating stress on program directors, and accessing leadership.

This episode is sponsored by Sentinel U. For more information, visit them online at sentinelu.com.

Show notes

Sharon Luke, Ed.D., PA-C, is the Executive Director of the Accreditation Review Commission on the Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). She has a long history in the PA profession, serving as clinical PA provider, a PA educator and preceptor, as well as an accreditation site visitor. Inspired by learning first-hand the role that accreditation can play on the quality of education delivered in PA programs, she served two terms as a commissioner of ARC-PA.

Following graduation from PA school, Dr. Luke worked in a private Ob/Gyn practice, while also serving as a clinical preceptor for PA students. She moved from that practice to work at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Department of Palliative Medicine. and in the same year, became a part-time faculty member in the PA program from which she graduated in Ohio. A few years later, she transitioned to becoming the Director of that PA program. She later served as founding PA program director for another program in Ohio. In all, her director role spanned 12 years in those programs.

In 2016, Dr. Luke became the Executive Director of the ARC-PA, the sole accrediting body for PA education in the United States. Her continuous goal is to work with the commissioners and satisfy the mission of ARC-PA by protecting the interests and the public via accreditation process and the assurance of quality education in PA programs.

This episode is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, Dipu Patel, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, president of the PA Education Association, sits down with Elijah Salzer, DMSc, PA-C, NYSAFE, C-EFM, CAQ-OBGYN, clinical professor at Pace University, and Justine Herndon, PA-C, assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic. As leaders of the Sexual and Gender Minority LGBTQ+ Health Special Interest Group (SIG), they discuss the gaps in LGBTQ+ health education, the need for inclusive curriculum integration, and strategies for addressing bias and fostering culturally competent care. They highlight the importance of ongoing education and open conversations to improve patient outcomes and advance PA training.

This episode is supported by the University of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences’ Doctor of Medical Science program.

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Dr. Laura Gonzalez, vice president of healthcare innovation at Sentinel U. Together, they delve into the advantages of simulation in healthcare education and its role in effectively preparing learners for clinical practice. Discover key considerations for planning successful simulations, the importance of standardization, and strategies for enhancing learning outcomes. 

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Bill Finerfrock, co-founder of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, and Colonel William John Gill, current president of the Research and Education Foundation for the National Association of Rural Health Clinics. The three discuss crucial topics such as federal advocacy, pathways to involvement in the PA profession, the rich history of rural health clinics, the genesis of NARHC, and offer valuable advice to PA students keen on pursuing rural practice.

This episode is sponsored by Aquifer. 

All Things PA Education is sponsored by Butler University Doctor of Medical Science Programs.