The PA Is In | Tracy Bingaman | Physician Assistant/Physician Associate/PA-C/PA-S/PA Student

January 1st can feel loud.

Your social media feed fills up with highlight reels, perfect vacations, big announcements, ambitious income goals, and declarations about how this is the year everything changes. Even when it’s well-intentioned, that constant stream can quietly send the message that you need to be different — more disciplined, more productive, more transformed — to be worthy of the year ahead.

In this New Year’s Day episode of The PA Is In, Tracy offers something kinder and steadier.

This conversation is a reminder that a new year doesn’t require a new version of you. You can be both a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time — and that truth is especially important for clinicians who are already giving so much of themselves at work and at home.

Tracy walks listeners through a simple reflection exercise designed to help you slow down, take stock, and give yourself credit for what you showed up for over the past year. Instead of focusing on what needs fixing, this episode invites you to recognize your strengths, acknowledge the progress you’ve already made, and notice the growth that may have happened quietly and imperfectly.

From there, the focus shifts gently forward. Rather than setting massive resolutions or trying to overhaul your entire life, you’ll be encouraged to choose just one to three areas you want to work on in the coming year — without timelines, pressure, or all-or-nothing thinking. This is about intention, not urgency, and progress that’s sustainable rather than performative.

This episode is a soft place to land if January feels overwhelming, competitive, or emotionally noisy. It’s a reminder that real change rarely happens on January 1st. It happens on random Tuesdays, after honest conversations, through small and often unglamorous decisions, and by offering yourself the same compassion you give to your patients and colleagues.

If you’re craving a calmer, more grounded start to the year — one that honors who you already are while allowing space for growth — this episode is for you.

New year. Same you. And that’s exactly where real change begins.

SPONSORS:

ADVANCED PRACTICE PLANNING, LLC: advancedpracticeplanning.com/fi

SERMO https://app.sermo.com:443/?sermoref=39d97a2c-f699-4f8b-b2f9-1eb131e18c75&utm_campaign=tell-a-friend 

Keywords: New Year for clinicians, healthcare burnout recovery, PA career coaching, physician assistant podcast, clinician mindset, strengths-based reflection, healthcare boundaries, work life balance for clinicians, intentional goal setting, burnout prevention, career clarity for PAs, healthcare self compassion, sustainable medical careers, New Year reflection exercise, clinician growth mindset 

CONNECT 

⁠FREE 30-MINUTE COACHING CONSULT⁠ ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/gen-call⁠ ⁠ 

⁠1-ON-1 NEGOTIATION CONSULT ⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/negotiate⁠⁠

CONNECT WITH TRACY 🤝

⁠LINKEDIN ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybingaman/⁠⁠

⁠INSTAGRAM ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrstracybingaman/⁠⁠

WEBSITE⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tracybingaman.com⁠

🎁 Bonus Freebie: Grab your free guide with 48 healthcare-specific side hustle ideas at 👉 tracybingaman.com/gig

Breaking up is hard — and breaking up with your financial advisor after 10+ years? Still hard.

In this episode, Tracy shares a deeply personal (and wildly uncomfortable) story about ending a long-standing relationship with her financial advisor — why it stopped feeling right, how she navigated the guilt and fear, and what ultimately helped her reclaim agency over her money.

What started as a financial decision quickly revealed powerful parallels to clinical medicine, career decisions, and the ways clinicians stay too long in professional relationships that quietly stop serving them.

This episode is about trusting your gut, demanding transparency, and remembering that you get to decide who walks alongside you — in your finances, your career, and your life.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What finally made Tracy realize her advisor relationship wasn’t working anymore
• Why “just trust me” is not education — in medicine or money
• How using ChatGPT helped remove the emotional labor of writing a hard email
• The striking parallels between financial advising and clinical burnout
• What good financial advisory support should actually look like
• Why understanding fiduciary responsibility matters more than most people realize
• How reclaiming agency in your finances mirrors reclaiming agency in your career

Key takeaways:

• You deserve to understand how your advisor is paid
• Transparency is non-negotiable
• Your advisor should be a teacher and partner
• Your intuition is data — listen to it
• You are allowed to outgrow long-standing relationships

Alignment matters more than familiarity
SPONSORS:

ADVANCED PRACTICE PLANNING, LLC: advancedpracticeplanning.com/fi

CM&F INSURANCE 
www.cmfgroup.com/ThePAIsIn

🎧 Listen now and ask yourself: Where am I staying out of comfort instead of alignment?

Keywords: financial advisor breakup, switching financial advisors, fiduciary financial advisor, how financial advisors get paid, fee only vs commission advisor, clinician finances, money for physician assistants, trusting your gut in finances, financial education for clinicians, reclaiming agency, burnout and finances, financial planning for PAs, advanced practice provider wealth building, transparency in investing, choosing a financial advisor

CONNECT 

⁠FREE 30-MINUTE COACHING CONSULT⁠ ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/gen-call⁠ ⁠ 

⁠1-ON-1 NEGOTIATION CONSULT ⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/negotiate⁠⁠

CONNECT WITH TRACY 🤝

⁠LINKEDIN ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybingaman/⁠⁠

⁠INSTAGRAM ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrstracybingaman/⁠⁠

WEBSITE⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tracybingaman.com⁠

🎁 Bonus Freebie: Grab your free guide with 48 healthcare-specific side hustle ideas at 👉 tracybingaman.com/gig

Dave Mittman is back—and we’re talking about what’s next for the PA profession. After 50 years in advocacy and leadership (including serving as AAPA President), Dave breaks down why the “experiment worked,” why PA modernization is the real conversation (not “scope creep”), and what changes are already reshaping our day-to-day practice.

We dig into full practice and practice-level decision-making, title change momentum, why self-governance matters (hello, PA boards), and how interstate compacts could transform telemedicine and multi-state work. We also get practical: how you introduce yourself, how your clinic markets you, why your referrals should come back to you, and why the white coat conversation isn’t about vanity—it’s about clarity and credibility.

If you’ve ever felt like the profession is evolving faster than your workplace policies… this episode is your roadmap.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why PA “modernization” is bigger than one policy change—and why it’s happening now

• The shift from legislation-driven rules to practice-level determination of scope and competence

• Why “scope creep” is a distraction (and what PAs are actually asking for)

• How title change impacts public understanding—and why waiting for laws may be unnecessary

• What interstate compacts could unlock for telemedicine, specialty care, and access

• The professionalism pieces that matter: intros, signage, marketing, referrals, and perception

• Why advocacy can’t be “someone else’s job” anymoreSPONSORS: 

CM&F INSURANCE 

www.cmfgroup.com/ThePAIsIn Keywords: PA modernization, physician associate, physician assistant profession future, full practice authority PAs, PA title change, PA board of medicine, PA self-governance, practice-level scope of practice, interstate compact for PAs, PA licensure compact, PA telemedicine multi-state, scope creep AMA, administrative burden PAs, PA advocacy, professional identity in healthcare, PA white coat patient perception, DMSC for PAs, PA doctorate, PA specialty competency, CAQ, PA leadership

Work–life balance isn’t a destination — it’s a feeling.

And according to executive life coach Rebecca Olson, that feeling is available to you even in the chaos of practicing medicine and parenting young kids. In this powerful, paradigm-shifting conversation, we unpack why so many clinicians feel overwhelmed, what’s actually happening inside your nervous system, and how to reclaim presence in the moments that matter most.Rebecca works with ambitious working parents — especially women — who want to go all in on their careers without sacrificing the relationships and values that matter most. Her approach blends mindset, emotional regulation, intentional decision-making, and practical tools you can implement immediately.

Inside this episode, we dig into:

✨ What “balance” really is (and why it’s not a time-management problem)

✨ Why your nervous system is running the show (and how to calm it in 30–120 seconds)

✨ The transition that makes or breaks your evenings as a working parent

✨ How to build boundaries that actually hold (even when it feels uncomfortable)

✨ Redefining success after becoming a parent

REBECCA OLSON COACHING https://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ 

DAILY KICKSTART RESOURCE https://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/daily-kickstart

SPONSORS: 

CM&F INSURANCE 

www.cmfgroup.com/ThePAIsIn

Keywords: work-life balance, clinician burnout, nervous system regulation, emotional regulation tools, boundaries for clinicians, working parent mindset, Rebecca Olson coaching, PA wellness, presence practices, redefining success

This week on The PA Is In, we’re going behind the scenes of my experience with the PANRE-LA, the NCCPA’s longitudinal recertification exam. After recertifying the “old-school” way eight years ago — one long test, one long day, one giant burst of stress — I decided to try something totally different this cycle.

In this episode, I’m sharing why I chose the PANRE-LA, how the experience compares to the traditional PANRE, and what it’s actually like to be four quarters into the eight-quarter process. If you’re approaching your own recertification window — or just curious about how the PANRE-LA works — this is your honest, unfiltered look at the inside of the process.

Inside this episode:

• The biggest differences between the PANRE and the PANRE-LA (and why the 10-year cycle matters)

• Why I originally said no way to the PANRE-LA

• What changed my mind as a practicing PA, parent of five, and business owner

• My real-time lessons learned after completing four quarters

• How to avoid unnecessary stress and set yourself up for success

• Why this exam format better reflects modern clinical practice

• Quarterly deadlines you need to know: March 10, June 10, Sept 10, Dec 10
  

I’m sharing exactly how I schedule my questions, how I use (and don’t overuse) reference materials, what I’ve learned from the questions I missed, and why pacing makes the biggest difference in this process.

Whether you’re a fan of the all-at-once testing experience or you want something more flexible, I hope this episode gives you clarity, peace, and a sense of what’s possible for your own recertification season.

If you’ve taken — or are considering — the PANRE-LA, come tell me about your experience on LinkedIn or Instagram. I’d genuinely love to hear.

SPONSORS

⁠CM&F INSURANCE ⁠

⁠www.cmfgroup.com/ThePAIsIn⁠ 

PANRE-LA review, PANRE-LA vs PANRE, PA recertification, NCCPA longitudinal exam, physician associate recertification, PA boards update, PANRE study tips, PANRE-LA experience, PA career sustainability, PA exam schedule, PANRE-LA deadlines, PA learning assessment, PA board requirements, how to prepare for PANRE-LA, PA continuing certification, NCCPA PANRE-LA tips, PA exam strategies, longitudinal assessment for PAs

This Thanksgiving, take a deep breath with me. 🍂 In this reflective episode of The PA Is In, I’m sharing a story about a quiet morning, a warm cup of apple cinnamon tea, and a moment of awe that stopped me in my tracks.

We’ll unpack what awe really is — how it helps us regulate stress, reduce inflammation, and reconnect to the world around us — and how awe naturally flows into gratitude.

You’ll hear about the A.W.E. Method (Attention, Wait, Exhale) from the book The Power of Awe, and learn how gratitude literally rewires your brain to recognize joy faster than fear.

If you’re feeling tired, busy, or stretched thin, this episode is your permission slip to pause. To notice something beautiful. To exhale. And to let awe lead you to gratitude this season.

In this episode:

• A real-life story about slowing down and creating space for awe

• The science behind awe and its effects on stress and inflammation

• How gratitude reshapes your brain for empathy and resilience

• Simple ways to cultivate awe and gratitude in everyday life
  

Resources Mentioned:

• The Power of Awe by Jake Eagle & Michael Amster https://amzn.to/47mUVe3 

• UC Berkeley (2018) Study on Awe & Inflammation https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25603133/

• USC (2017) Study on Gratitude & the Brain https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00599/full
  

Listen now and take one small, sacred moment for awe this Thanksgiving.

SPONSORS

CM&F INSURANCE 

www.cmfgroup.com/ThePAIsIn 

ADVANCED PRACTICE PLANNING⁠ ⁠https://www.advancedpracticeplanning.com/⁠ 

CONNECT 

⁠FREE 30-MINUTE COACHING CONSULT⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/gen-call⁠ ⁠⁠ 

⁠1-ON-1 NEGOTIATION CONSULT⁠ ⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/negotiate⁠⁠⁠

CONNECT WITH TRACY 🤝

⁠LINKEDIN⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybingaman/⁠⁠⁠

⁠INSTAGRAM⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrstracybingaman/⁠⁠⁠

WEBSITE⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tracybingaman.com⁠⁠

🎁 Bonus Freebie: Grab your free guide with 48 healthcare-specific side hustle ideas at 👉⁠ ⁠⁠tracybingaman.com/gig⁠

Keywords: awe and gratitude, awe method, power of awe, thanksgiving reflection, pa podcast, healthcare burnout recovery, stress relief for clinicians, gratitude and neuroscience, mindfulness for PAs, PA career sustainability, the PA Is In podcast

Even on the best days in medicine, it can feel like there just aren’t enough hours to get everything done. Between charting, follow-ups, messages, and the endless stream of “urgent” things… it’s easy to lose your rhythm.

In this episode, Tracy shares her favorite touchstones—small, intentional habits and micro-moments that help clinicians stay grounded, focused, and calm even in the middle of chaos.

You’ll hear about the origin of the term “touchstone” (yes, it comes from testing the purity of gold!) and learn how to apply that metaphor to your day as a way to test your focus, presence, and peace.

From morning momentum to mid-day resets and evening recovery, Tracy walks through simple, actionable ways to bring rhythm back to your clinical days—so you can feel less scattered and more steady, even when the day goes sideways.

✨ You’ll learn:

• The science and symbolism behind touchstones

• Simple ways to build morning momentum that lasts

• How to use handwashing, breathing, and movement as energy resets

• Systems for charting, batching, and time-blocking that reduce overwhelm

• Why boundaries are essential for focus and sustainability

• How to create transition rituals to leave work at work
  

🎯 Try this: Choose one new touchstone this week—something to help you re-center during your day—and notice how it changes your energy and focus.

💡 Take the Clinician Career Sustainability Quiz: Feeling pulled in every direction? Take my free quiz to see where you land on the spectrum between burnout and sustainability. 👉 tracybingaman.com/sustainability

SPONSORS

CM&F INSURANCE 

www.cmfgroup.com/ThePAIsIn 

ADVANCED PRACTICE PLANNING⁠ ⁠https://www.advancedpracticeplanning.com/⁠ 

CONNECT 

⁠FREE 30-MINUTE COACHING CONSULT⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/gen-call⁠ ⁠⁠ 

⁠1-ON-1 NEGOTIATION CONSULT⁠ ⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/negotiate⁠⁠⁠

CONNECT WITH TRACY 🤝

⁠LINKEDIN⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybingaman/⁠⁠⁠

⁠INSTAGRAM⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrstracybingaman/⁠⁠⁠

WEBSITE⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tracybingaman.com⁠⁠

🎁 Bonus Freebie: Grab your free guide with 48 healthcare-specific side hustle ideas at 👉⁠ ⁠⁠tracybingaman.com/gig⁠

Keywords: PA burnout recovery, clinician touchstones, stay grounded at work, PA mindfulness habits, productivity tips for healthcare providers, sustainable medicine, clinician stress management, morning routine for PAs, charting efficiency tips, how to leave work on time as a PA, daily rhythm for healthcare workers, Tracy Bingaman podcast

“It’s not if you get sued; it’s when.” That’s what one of my preceptors told me when I was in PA school. I was floored. Now that I’ve been practicing as a PA for over a decade, I’ve seen colleagues be named in lawsuits and better understand the liabilities I face in my job. 

This is why it’s imperative for PAs to have medical malpractice insurance. As the PA profession is modernizing, PAs have more exposure to patients, which is excellent to be able to care for more people but also opens up a greater possibility of being sued. 

My guest today is Will Sullivan, the executive vice president of CM&F group, a leading malpractice insurance company that has been serving PAs and other healthcare professionals for decades. In today’s episode, Will explains the nuances of different types of malpractice policies and how your premium can be determined. We also discuss whether or not you can rely solely on your employer-sponsored malpractice policy or whether you should purchase your own. 

As Will says in today’s episode, your license is your biggest asset as a healthcare provider. Learn how you can best protect it. 

SPONSORS 🏆

CM&F GROUP: www.cmfgroup.com/ThePAIsIn

ADVANCED PRACTICE PLANNING, LLC: advancedpracticeplanning.com/fi

COACHING 🎓

THE PART-TIME PATHWAY

⁠https://www.tracybingaman.com/pathway

⁠FREE 30-MINUTE COACHING CONSULT⁠ ⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/gen-call⁠  

⁠1-ON-1 NEGOTIATION CONSULT https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/negotiate

⁠

CONNECT WITH TRACY 🤝

⁠LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybingaman/⁠

⁠INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/mrstracybingaman/⁠

WEBSITE⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.tracybingaman.com

SUPPORT THIS PODCAST 👍

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepaisin/support

Think negotiation is just about salary? Think again.In this episode, Tracy shares real-world examples of creative things clinicians have successfully negotiated — from travel stipends and flex days to protected charting time and customized schedules.

You’ll learn how to think outside the paycheck, advocate for your quality of life, and finally stop waiting for permission to ask for what you need.

By the end, you’ll know: ✅ What’s possible to ask for (and how to do it) ✅ How to frame your negotiation so it benefits you and your employer ✅ Why “no” isn’t failure — it’s data

Action Step:Write down three things — beyond pay — that would make your job more sustainable, fulfilling, or flexible.

Download the PA Negotiation Roadmap: tracybingaman.com/roadmapThis free guide walks you step-by-step through your next negotiation.

Because once you realize what’s possible… you’ll never go back to settling for less.

SPONSORS

CM&F INSURANCE 

www.cmfgroup.com/ThePAIsIn 

ADVANCED PRACTICE PLANNING⁠ ⁠https://www.advancedpracticeplanning.com/⁠ 

CONNECT 

⁠FREE 30-MINUTE COACHING CONSULT⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/gen-call⁠ ⁠⁠ 

⁠1-ON-1 NEGOTIATION CONSULT⁠ ⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/negotiate⁠⁠⁠

CONNECT WITH TRACY 🤝

⁠LINKEDIN⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybingaman/⁠⁠⁠

⁠INSTAGRAM⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrstracybingaman/⁠⁠⁠

WEBSITE⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tracybingaman.com⁠⁠

🎁 Bonus Freebie: Grab your free guide with 48 healthcare-specific side hustle ideas at 👉⁠ ⁠⁠tracybingaman.com/gig⁠

Keywords: PA salary negotiation, physician associate compensation, healthcare negotiation tips, creative compensation packages, work-life balance for PAs, clinician burnout prevention, part-time PA jobs, negotiation roadmap, non-monetary benefits, flexible scheduling for PAs

This is the final episode in our Back to Basics Money series. We’re wrapping up the series with a Q&A covering the top questions sent in by listeners. 

Thank you for joining us in this Back to Basics series. Feel free to go back and relisten to any episodes that you want to dig a little deeper into or that might pertain to a new stage of life you’re in. 

If you have any more questions beyond the ones we discuss in this episode, please reach out to us at themoneypa [@] gmail.com. If you have any other money topics you’d like us to cover in the future, let us know those, too!

Sarah is a personal finance nerd who learned about finances and investing from an early age from her father and grandfather, who both spent their careers in the corporate finance world. As an adult, Sarah immersed herself in the personal finance and FIRE spheres, learning from top experts. Sarah is my personal go-to for all financial questions, and she’s here to share her knowledge with all of you!

SPONSORS 🏆

ADVANCED PRACTICE PLANNING, LLC: advancedpracticeplanning.com/fi

CONNECT WITH SARAH 👫

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarah-miller-pa-va/

RESOURCES 📚

Previous episodes in Back to Basics Money Series: 

283: Back to Basics: Meet Sarah

287: Back to Basics: What Actually IS Investing?

290: Back to Basics: Traditional versus Roth - What’s the Difference?

293: Back to Basics: The Best Investments for Long-Term Success

296: Back to Basics: How Much Money Do I Need to Retire?

311: Back to Basics: Short-, Medium-, and Long-Term Savings Goals

335: Back to Basics: Investing for Your Kids

339: Back to Basics: How to Protect Your Wealth

341: Back to Basics: Do You Really Need a Financial Advisor?

COACHING 🎓

THE PART-TIME PATHWAY

⁠https://www.tracybingaman.com/pathway

⁠FREE 30-MINUTE COACHING CONSULT⁠ ⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/gen-call⁠  

⁠1-ON-1 NEGOTIATION CONSULT https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/negotiate⁠

CONNECT WITH TRACY 🤝

⁠LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybingaman/⁠

⁠INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/mrstracybingaman/⁠

WEBSITE⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.tracybingaman.com

SUPPORT THIS PODCAST 👍

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepaisin/support