PAs Go Beyond

After 20 years of practicing as a PA in rural medicine, Marie Patterson is focused on filling the gap in access to care while educating and inspiring the next generation of PAs. Speaking from first-hand experience, Patterson and PA student Molly Valentine discuss what fueled their decision to practice rural medicine and the benefits it offers PAs and the patients they serve.

PA Colleen Sloan realized that her background as a registered dietitian meant she could offer a valuable perspective on nutrition and weight to other clinicians. On her podcast, Exam Room Nutrition, she brings on registered dietitians to answer questions that clinicians commonly get about nutrition.

PA Chuck Dowell talks about a typical day as lead PA for an orthopaedic, urgent care-type clinic. He also recommends attending the AAPA/AAOS Musculoskeletal Galaxy Conference—a good fit for PAs in any specialty who are treating orthopaedic injuries.

PA Melissa Volpe was approaching mile 13 of the Richmond Marathon in Virginia when she saw another runner on the ground. She sprinted to the scene and led a group in giving CPR. From this experience, Volpe found a new goal: advocating for widespread CPR training and the use of automated external defibrillators to improve outcomes for people who experience cardiac arrest.

Jessica DeLuise, PA-C, MHS, CCMS, set out to provide her patients with more tools to help prevent hospital readmission or exacerbations of their chronic diseases. Now, she infuses culinary medicine concepts into her Emmy Award winning show, examining how certain foods can impact one’s health.

As an educator and mentor, PA Carl Frizell focuses on creating equitable educational environments so students, faculty, and staff feel safe and have the resources they need to meet their goals. It’s a framework that Frizell also encourages his PA students to consider using in their future clinical environments.