The PA Path Podcast

We speak with Dr. Hanifin about his path to becoming a CT surgery and emergency medicine PA and about the Seton Hall University PA Program. Dr. Hanifin shares his thoughts about what makes the experience work well for PA students and how PA students can best prepare for school. He also shares their story about their simulation center and how it supports their students on their educational journey.

We speak with a long time PA ally and educator, Dr. Arta Bakshandeh about the impact of artificial intelligence on clinical care and PA education. We also talk about the incredible work he and his colleagues are providing for their patients and clients through Alignment Healthcare.

We speak with PA Jared Spackman about the University of Utah PA Program and their rich history of leadership in our profession. We also talk about his path to becoming a PA and a leader in both the Utah PA Academy and the Utah PA Licensing Board.

We speak with Dr. Kim Cavanagh who is a nationally recognized leader on assessment. Dr. Cavanagh also leads the Gannon University PA Department. We talk about her path to PA and about her role in building the PAEA suite of assessment products that has positively impacted programs and students in their journey to becoming board certified PAs.

We speak with Dr. Dipu Patel about her role as Vice-Chair for Innovation at the University of Pittsburgh's Department of PA Studies. We also talk about her path to becoming a PA and about her thoughts on digital health and the impact of artificial intelligence on health care.

We speak with PAEA Past-President Kara Caruthers about her path to becoming a PA and about her developing program at the Meharry College of Medicine's Department of PA Sciences. PA Caruthers also shares her personal perspective about the PA profession's recent doctoral summit held this month in Charlotte, NC.

We speak with Dr. McHugo, Chair of the Department of PA Studies at the University of North Dakota about her path to becoming a PA from rural South Dakota. We also learn about their innovative approach to building the primary care workforce for their state and her contributions to leading the PA profession.

We speak with the Director of the Keck Street Medicine program at the University of Southern California about their incredible program caring for those experiencing chronic homelessness in the streets of Los Angeles. We talk about their clinical care, but also the importance of research, service, and teaching others how to build their own street medicine teams and learn how PAs have made a difference in this work internationally.

Steph and I review the themes that arose from our conversations this past season and we look ahead to the future of the podcast with Season 4. 

We speak with Dr. Matt Dane Baker, Interim Provost and long-standing PA leader with Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Baker talks with us about his path to becoming a PA, his military career, and his contributions to leadership as both a national PA leader and leader in higher education. Dr. Baker shares some great insights into success in life as well as his take on the future of the PA profession.