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.

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.

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.

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.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) presents both a significant challenge for patients and an enormous opportunity for providers. Many PAs in other specialties play a role in treating their patients who have CKD. Practicing in nephrology gives clinicians a solid foundation in medicine.

PA Melissa Rodriguez says that obstetrics has been her passion since childhood and caring for women during their pregnancies is the only career she seriously considered. She believes it’s time to augment women’s healthcare and that PAs are the solution.

Although one might think that burnout only occurs in seasoned PA providers, even students can experience burnout. There is hope for the student and early career PA. A national trend toward addressing the mental health of our medical providers includes new assessments and onboarding.

PA Joshua Henderson decided to combine his interest in orthopaedics with his desire to serve his country and started his career with the U.S. Public Health Service, Federal Bureau of Prisons. He serves as a clinical PA at a high-security penitentiary in Florida.

President of APAOG, Melissa Rodriguez, DMSc, PA-C, thinks PAs are a great fit for practicing in obstetrics and gynecology; they are medically trained, compassionate, team-oriented, and are qualified to identify, prevent, and treat most, if not all, causes of maternal mortality.

Pamela Lucas, PA-C, spent 22 years in the Air Force. She made personnel assignments, planned for disasters, and was one of only three healthcare providers at a NATO base. She looks back on her active-duty career and shares what she’s up to now.

What does a week look like for a PA in radiation oncology? Katey Wert, PA-C, has been practicing in the specialty for six years. While difficult at times, given the patient population, she finds the work rewarding and meaningful.

Hayley Arceneaux, PA-C, practices at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, nearly two decades after undergoing treatment there for bone cancer. Now she has officially become the first PA to visit space. Arceneaux served as the medical officer on the world’s first all-civilian space mission, and shares what led to this extraordinary opportunity.

At AAPA, we’re here to support your PA well-being and fight PA burnout by ensuring your emotional, physical, social, workplace, and societal well-being.

Lieutenant Junior Grade German S. Herrera, MPAS, PA-C, USPHS, had a love of science and a desire to help people. The United States Public Health Service – with its scholarship opportunities, benefits, and guaranteed job placement – was a perfect fit for him.