Students

William Eisenhart, PA-S, had his master’s degree and a comfortable job. But on Sept. 11, 2001, he felt compelled to enlist in the military. Now, inspired by the professional medics he served with, he is enrolled in PA school and juggling his many commitments.

Three current PA students, who are also single parents, share how they balance their school and home lives, how they prioritize their children’s and their own education, and how COVID-19 has impacted their routines this year.

As a child of the ‘80s, Kristopher Maday, MS, PA-C, DFAAPA, grew up loving martial arts movies. Now, as a PA program director, the words of one of martial arts’ best teachers, Bruce Lee, resonate differently. Maday shares his favorite Lee quotes, and how they impact his own teaching philosophy.

Combating today’s opioid epidemic is not just about treating addiction. Prevention is the first step in ensuring patient safety and reducing our nation’s overdose death rate. The PA Foundation provides online resources to prevent prescription opioid misuse.

Student Academy President-elect Mariah Leroux, PA-S, finds inspiration in medicine, family, and serving her community. She shares her personal journey to the PA profession, her path to leadership, and her passion for diversity and representation.

In the second part of a series on memory and learning, PA educator Kristopher Maday, MS, PA-C, DFAAPA, discusses cognition and cognitive load, and the important part they play in how you recall information from your long-term memory.

AAPA's new Student Academy President Katie Ganser is inspired by PA students’ emergence as leaders amid the COVID-19 crisis: volunteering, marching, advocating within individual PA programs, and using student passion for patient care to push the profession forward.