Career Resources

How to Overcome Struggles in Family Medicine

In an AAPA Huddle Ask Me session, two experts with years of experience in family medicine answered questions on increasing the number of PAs in the field, the benefits of getting involved in the community, and how to negotiate for better conditions for PAs and their patients.

Practice Partnership and Ownership

Owning a practice or other healthcare business is complex and can present special challenges for PAs. The following information can help you decide whether practice partnership or ownership is right for you.

A Day in the Life of a Rheumatology PA

As a PA practicing in rheumatology, Lindsay Tom, PA-C, treats a wide variety of rheumatology conditions. In this specialty, she helps return quality of life for patients in pain – and her clinical work includes radiology, procedures, and assisting in the infusion suite.

Is Locums work a good option for you?

Practicing in a locum tenens position is a uniquely flexible way to explore a new location, expand your practice, make professional connections, and stay clinically active between longer-term positions.

Finding Your Dream Job

There is no perfect job. Career satisfaction is highly individualized. PAs can find the right job for them by carefully considering variables like work-life balance, compensation, and work setting, and prioritizing the variables that align with their passions, values, and morals.

Prepare for the Ins and Outs of Practicing in Orthopaedic Surgery

AAPA’s latest Huddle “Ask Me” session called on four experts to answer questions about starting a career in orthopaedic surgery, practicing in various subspecialties, and which resources will best prepare PAs for success in this popular surgical specialty.

Three Steps for Bouncing Back from Career Setbacks

Career disappointments and setbacks are parts of the professional journey that will happen to almost every PA at some point—and they can feel devastating. In this article I’d like to explore some ideas and approaches for responding to career setbacks so that you not only rebound but return to your practice with greater zest and confidence.

Professional headshots of two women

PAs in Dermatology Offer Advice for Breaking into the Competitive Specialty

In Huddle’s latest Ask Me session, PAs in dermatology Amber Blair, MMS, PA-C, and Kristin Rygg, MPAS, PA-C, fielded questions from students and practicing PAs looking to enter the dermatology specialty.

Pennsylvania PA has a Passion for Correctional Medicine

LCDR Stephanie Hoover, PA-C, MPAS, has made her career in her hometown of Loretto, Pennsylvania, where she attended a PA program, landed her first Federal Bureau of Prisons job, and currently serves as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service at a Federal Correctional Institution.

A PA examines a patient

A Day in the Life of a PA in Genetics

As a PA practicing in medical genetics, Wesley Patterson, PhD(c), MSPA, PA-C, evaluates and treats patients with suspected or known genetic disorders. His current dissertation work focuses on genetics and genomic education for PAs, mirroring his passion to advocate for the importance of further incorporating genetics into the PA profession.

Professional headshot of a woman

A Day in the Life of a PA in Dermatology

Sara M. Wilchowski, MS, PA-C, never has a typical day practicing in dermatology. She enjoys the variety of her specialty, from conducting full-body cancer exams to navigating tough conversations with patients and their families in order to communicate treatment options.

AOP Guide

Explore a new career direction or specialty with this collection of AAPA and partner resources, salary data, and CME on various practice areas, including Administration, Dermatology, Education, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Internal Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery, Telemedicine, and Urgent Care.

Allyson Hamacher

Tips for New PAs on How to Grow Your Role at Work

Are you a new PA who is ready to grow your role and increase responsibilities at work? Two members of the Early Career PA Commission, Allyson Hamacher, PA-C, and Jack Ward, PA-C, share tips for other early career PAs.

PA on the computer

How PAs Can Take on More Responsibility Without Burning Out

As we advance in our careers, it’s natural to want to take on more responsibility. But there’s a tricky balance – we don’t want our PA practice or our enthusiasm for healthcare to suffer. Follow these four tips to take on more without burning out.

DeTroye laughing while accepting her EOE award alongside two others

How to Find Your Voice at the Leadership Table

Looking for ways to ensure that your voice is heard at the leadership table? Alisha T. DeTroye, MMS, PA-C, DFAAPA, director of PA Services at Wake Forest Baptist Health and president-elect of North Carolina Academy of PAs, shares her tips.