JPAE Podcast

In this episode, Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, editor-in-chief of the Journal of PA Education, and co-host Carey Barry, MHS, PA-C, chair and associate clinical professor at Northeastern University, welcome Dr. Vanessa Bester, Director of the School of Health at Augsburg University, and Dr. Carolyn Bradley-Guidry, associate dean for student affairs and engagement at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Together, they discuss their impactful JPAE article, “What Works? Fostering Inclusivity in Physician Assistant/Associate Education.” The conversation explores their research findings and the ROAD (Retention, Outreach, Alignment, Diversity) framework, which offers actionable strategies for building inclusive PA programs. Highlights include their methodology—featuring interviews with high-performing PA programs—and practical approaches like holistic admissions, pathway initiatives, and continuous improvement in diversity efforts. 

Show notes

JPAE article: What Works? Fostering Inclusivity in Physician Assistant/Associate Education: The Retention, Outreach, Alignment, and Diversity (ROAD) Framework

Join Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, editor-in-chief for the Journal of PA Education, and co-host Carey Barry, MHS, PA-C, chair and associate clinical professor in the Department of Medical Sciences at Northeastern University, as they chat with Kandi Pitchford, director of outcomes, assessment and capstone at South College; Casey Geiser, PA-C, PA with Hartford Hospital; and Lauren Souza, PA-C, PA with Southern Maine Health Care, about their recent article in JPAE titled "Assessing Student-Reported Perceptions of Prerequisite Usefulness in Preparation for Didactic Physician Assistant Education." Their research explores the perceived disconnect between prerequisite courses and their practical value in PA training. They discuss how popular prerequisites like anatomy and physiology are viewed favorably, while courses like organic chemistry are seen as less useful. This conversation suggests the need for a standardized list of prerequisites that better aligns with PA program demands.

Show notes

JPAE article: Assessing Student-Reported Perceptions of Prerequisite Usefulness in Preparation for Didactic Physician Assistant Education

Join Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, editor-in-chief for the Journal of PA Education, and co-host Carey Barry, MHS, PA-C, chair and associate clinical professor in the Department of Medical Sciences at Northeastern University, as they chat with Nick Hudak, PhD, MPA, MSEd, PA-C, associate professor in family medicine and community health at Duke University about his recent article in JPAE titled "Predictors of Physician Assistant Student Mistreatment Reporting." Hudak shares key insights from his research, as well as his experiences as a peer reviewer and associate editor for the journal. The conversation explores how factors like policy communication, program characteristics, and student demographics impact mistreatment reporting. Notably, the seriousness of the mistreatment and student age emerged as significant predictors of reporting behavior. This episode emphasizes the need for continued research and the creation of supportive environments to help address mistreatment in educational settings, underscoring the role of well-developed policy frameworks and reporting systems.

Show notes

JPAE article: Predictors of Physician Assistant Student Mistreatment Reporting

Join Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, editor-in-chief for the Journal of PA Education, and co-host Carey Barry, MHS, PA-C, chair and associate clinical professor in the Department of Medical Sciences at Northeastern University, as they chats with April Stouder, EdD, MHS, PA-C, Associate Program Director of the Duke University Physician Assistant Program about her recent article in JPAE titled "Burnout, Personal, and Occupational Factors as Predictors of Physician Assistant Faculty Intent to Leave After the COVID-19 Pandemic." The conversation highlights key factors affecting faculty intent to leave, such as workplace climate and culture, and the importance of institutional support. Dr. Stouder also emphasizes the role of validated research instruments in her study and shares insights into her methodical approach. The episode underscores the critical need for better support systems to retain qualified PA educators.

Show notes

JPAE article: Burnout, Personal, and Occupational Factors as Predictors of Physician Assistant Faculty Intent to Leave After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Join Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, editor-in-chief for the Journal of PA Education as he chats with Dr. Brenda Quincy, a professor in the Doctor of Medical Science-Bridge Program at Butler University, and Dr. Cody Sasek, an associate professor and the program director of the Doctor of Medical Science-Bridge Program at Butler University. In this episode, they delve into the benefits and challenges of pursuing a Doctor of Medical Science (DMS) degree, touching on issues like social desirability bias, the financial burden, and gaps in understanding about doctoral education. They also highlight the importance of collaboration in PA education research, emphasizing the role of educational experts in shaping literature reviews and study design.

This episode is sponsored by PCS.

Show notes

JPAE article:  Physician Assistant Student Perceptions of the Benefits of and Barriers to a Doctor of Medical Science Degree

The JPAE Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

Join Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, editor-in-chief for the Journal of PA Education as he chats with Nick Hudak, PhD, MPA, MSEd, PA-C, associate professor in family medicine and community health at Duke University, and William Schweinle, PhD, a professor in Physician Assistant Studies at the University of South Dakota. They discuss common problems and pitfalls in research submissions to JPAE, delving into the importance of proper sampling, multiple hypothesis testing, and validation in survey research. The conversation addresses concerns about over-surveying the American population and the need for stratified random sampling. They emphasize the importance of involving a statistician early in the process and the need for more contextualized information within the current literature, encouraging authors to provide valuable insights into their research findings, including the "so what" factor.

The JPAE Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

Join Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, editor-in-chief for the Journal of PA Education, and co-host Carey Barry, MHS, PA-C, chair and associate clinical professor in the Department of Medical Sciences at Northeastern University, as they chat with Quinnette Jones, associate professor in family medicine and community health at Duke University, and Joanne Rolls, MPAS, MEHP, PA-C, an associate professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine, Division of Physician Assistant Studies, as they discuss their recent article in JPAE titled "An Analysis of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Curricula Inclusion: A National Study of Physician Assistant Programs" Tune in as they delve into the importance of inclusive education, knowledgeable faculty members, and adapting language and terminology to serve LGBTQ+ individuals.

This episode is sponsored by Rosh Review. 

Show notes

JPAE article: An Analysis of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Curricula Inclusion: A National Study of Physician Assistant Programs

Join Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, editor-in-chief for the Journal of PA Education, and co-host Carey Barry, MHS, PA-C, chair and associate clinical professor in the Department of Medical Sciences at Northeastern University, as they chat with Tami Ritsema PhD, MPH, PA-C, Dr. Howard Straker, and Jordan Herring with the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University as they discuss their recent article in JPAE titled "Black and Hispanic Representation Declined After Increased Degree Requirements for Physician Assistants." Tune in as they delve into the study's origins, assembling a diverse team, the theoretical framework guiding their research, navigating data challenges, and a comprehensive analysis of their findings.

Show notes

JPAE article: Black and Hispanic Representation Declined After Increased Degree Requirements for Physician Assistants

The JPAE Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

Tami Ritsema PhD, MPH, PA-C is an Associate Professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program.  She is also a Reader in Physician Associate Education at the St. George's, University of London PA Programme.  She is a workforce researcher with interests in the development of the PA profession outside the US and the trends in the diversity of the PA profession in the US.  She currently serves as the Chair of the Grants and Scholarships Review Committee for PAEA.

Dr. Howard Straker is an associate professor of PA Studies in the School of Medicine and Health Science and Prevention & Community Health in the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University. He is a past president of PAEA.

Jordan Herring is a PhD Candidate in the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration and a Program Associate with the Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity at George Washington University. His research focuses on health workforce diversity, health care access, and Medicaid policy. He holds an M.S. and B.S. in economics.

Join Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, editor-in-chief for the Journal of PA Education, and co-host Carey Barry, MHS, PA-C, chair and associate clinical professor in the Department of Medical Sciences at Northeastern University, as they chat with Karen Gordes, PT, DScPT, PhD, Program Director, Health Professions Education at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, about her research on hybrid learning among health professions programs. The three explore her inspiration for the research, the collaborative efforts of her interprofessional team in shaping the article, the quest for a precise definition of hybrid learning, the intricacies of data mining and online research, and the enlightening interview process involving study participants.

Show notes

JPAE article: Characteristics of Hybrid Learning Among Health Professions Programs: A Mixed-Methods Study

The JPAE Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

Join hosts Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, editor-in-chief of the Journal of PA Education, and Carey Barry, MHS, PA-C, chair and associate clinical professor in the Department of Medical Sciences at Northeastern University, as they engage in an insightful conversation with Amy Perrott, Course Director of the Physician Associate Programme at St George's University of London and Health Education England, and Brogan Guest, course director for the Advanced Clinical Practice Programme at St George's University of London and Health Education England. Delve into the intricacies of the PA profession in the UK and explore their recent JPAE article, "Increasing Knowledge in the Requesting of Clinical Investigations." The discussion covers the study's background, design, hypothesis, qualitative aspects, and explores the potential implications of the findings for future practice. Tune in for a comprehensive exploration of the evolving landscape of the Physician Associate profession and its impact on clinical investigations.

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

Show notes

JPAE article: Increasing Knowledge in the Requesting of Clinical Investigations

The JPAE Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.