"PA Admissions Blueprint: Strategies for Success” is a podcast guiding aspiring physician assistant applicants through the application process. It covers crafting a standout application, building a competitive profile with clinical experience and academics, choosing the right PA program for your goals, and excelling in interviews with practical tips and expert insights.

The PA Playbook, Season 2, Episode 6, is out now, and Eileen and Joshua tackle emergency medicine!  Whether you're a brand-new PA finding your footing or a seasoned pro juggling patient care and precepting, this episode of The PA Playbook is for you! We chat with John Stangl, PA-C, author of From Classroom to Clinician, a savvy and practical book for new grads adjusting to real-world practice.  We also dive into how all PAs can stay grounded in high-stress environments like the ED. Plus, we explore the art and challenge of precepting PA students in emergency medicine. Tune in for tips, tools, and candid talk that’ll make your clinical life smoother, saner, and more rewarding.

In this episode, Joshua and Eileen sit down with Jay O'Neill, a physician associate who works on the Makah reservation in the northwest corner of Washington State, on the Olympic Peninsula. Jay is a championship strongman and caber tosser, and he tells us about the unique contributions PAs make to Native American communities, and the challenges and joys of working with an underserved community.

Want to get into the OR as a PA—but not sure how to start? Feeling the gap between PA school and surgical confidence? Wondering how to switch specialties and keep your life in balance?

In this special bonus episode of The PA Playbook, Joshua and Eileen bring you David Bunnell, PA-C— he’s been a cardiothoracic and electrophysiology PA, researcher, educator, father, and a longtime leader in PA advocacy. From his stories about being a paramedic at 18, to harvesting organs, to shaping the future of PA education through game-changing research about building clinical competency, Bunnell brings wisdom, warmth, and real-world experience.

He’s lived the balance. Now, he’s ready to lead. He’s helped shape national PA policy. He’s mentored future clinicians. And now, he’s running for AAPA President.

From high-stakes surgeries to high-impact leadership, David shares how he’s balanced a demanding career with real life—and how you can build surgical skills, shift specialties, and step confidently into the future of PA practice.

With AAPA elections just weeks away, now’s the time to hear from a candidate who’s walked the walk—and has a bold vision for where we go next.

Earthquakes, epidemics and war zones!
What’s it really like for a PA working on the frontlines of disaster medicine?

In our latest episode, Joshua and Eileen sit down with Eric Holden, a physician assistant who’s delivered care in the chaos of Haiti, Nepal, and Iraq—where medicine meets unpredictability, resilience, and the occasional misplaced grenade (yes, really).

From medical supply challenges to navigating security in unstable regions, this episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered what it takes to bring healing to the world’s hardest-hit places.

Hit play. Get inspired. Pack your go bag.

This episode discusses the role of PAs in HIV care. Join Joshua and Eileen as they talk with Justin Hooks, NP, about how to get involved in HIV care, challenges of LGBT care access, and the nuances of primary care for people living with HIV.

Ever wondered about how physician assistants practice in Canada? Join Kirsten Luomala, CCPA, DMSc as we talk about the development of the PA profession in Canada, her journey from the Canadian Armed Forces to President of the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants, the challenges of working in the Canadian far north, and even what it takes for an American PA to work in Canada.

In The Puzzle Patients, Eileen and Joshua dive into the challenges of diagnostic uncertainty with seasoned rheumatologist, Amish Dave, MD. Explore the emotional toll of navigating complex cases, the role of social media and misinformation in patient care, best practices when referring to specialists to speed care and diagnosis, and strategies for fostering trust and understanding with patients seeking answers.

For our season finale, we dive into the AAPA’s national efforts to elevate PAs and support their careers, how they fight misconceptions about PAs and advance efforts to transform healthcare across the US.

Our guest today is Dr. Jenn Orozco, Chief Medical Officer and Past President of the American Academy of Physician Associates.

In this exciting bonus episode, we’re joined by Washington State Senator Patty Kuderer, a fierce advocate for healthcare reform and a champion for patients and providers alike! As she runs for Washington State Insurance Commissioner, Senator Kuderer dives into the heated debate over prescription drug coverage and the tangled web of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). If you’ve ever been stuck on hold with an insurance company or struggled to get your patients the meds they need, this one’s for you!

Join us for a candid, eye-opening conversation that breaks down the frustrating realities physician assistants and patients face every day—and how Senator Kuderer plans to shake things up. Hear her bold ideas for reform and find out what you can do to help cut through the red tape. Don’t miss out on this energetic and insightful episode that could change the way you see healthcare!