All Things PA Education – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, talks with Robert Furter, PhD, MBA, Senior Director of Research & DataOps, and Principal Psychometrician at PAEA, about the vital role of data in PA education. Furter emphasizes intentional data collection and analysis, distinguishing between meaningful signals and noise. He outlines PAEA’s efforts to enhance data visualization, aiming to introduce dynamic dashboards by 2025. Additionally, Furter stresses the importance of robust, accessible data sets for program evaluation and quality improvement, advocating for a multidisciplinary approach and ensuring research validity.

This episode is sponsored by PA Excel. For more information, visit them online at paexcel.com. 

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, interviews Vanessa Cobarrubias, PA-C, a member of the White House Fellowship Board and former White House Fellow at the Office of the First Lady/Department of Health & Human Services. They discuss the challenges within the PA profession, highlighting the need for advocacy, better working conditions, and the promotion of professional growth. Vanessa shares her personal journey with dyslexia, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in PA education. She suggests alternative learning models and effective teaching strategies to support individuals with dyslexia.  

This episode is sponsored by Lincoln Memorial University School of Medical Sciences. For more information about the doctor of medical science program, visit https://www.lmunet.edu/school-of-medical-sciences/dms/. For more information on the medical education major curriculum, visit https://www.lmunet.edu/school-of-medical-sciences/dms/medical-education-major-curriculum.

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Dr. Howard Straker, PA-C, MPH, director of the Physician Assistant/MPH Program at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and Dr. Nicole Burwell, PA-C, department chair and program director of the North Carolina A&T Physician Assistant Program. The three discuss the pros and cons of an entry level doctorate degree and its impact on the future of the profession.

This episode is sponsored by PA Excel. For more information, visit them online at paexcel.com.

Show notes

Dr. Howard Straker has more than 30 years of PA educational and clinical experience, and is an assistant professor in the Physician Assistant Program. Straker serves as director of the Physician Assistant MPH Program, coordinating the joint degree curriculum across the Physician Assistant Program and four departments within the Milken Institute School of Public Health. He teaches in both the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and the Department of Prevention & Community Health. Straker’s interests are in the preparation of practitioners to work in underserved communities, diversity and inclusion, health professions workforce, and blended learning pedagogy. 

Dr. Nicole B. Burwell, PA-C, is the founding director of the Physician Assistant Studies master's program and chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and the John R. and Kathy R. Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences. She is a well-known figure in the PA field, currently serving as president-elect for PAEA. She is formerly director of the pre-clerkship for the Stanford University M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies program and director of clinical education for The George Washington University PA program.

This episode of All Thing PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In our inaugural episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Dr. Sharon Luke, PA-C, executive director of the Accreditation Review Commission on the Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The two discuss notable changes in the accreditation landscape, meeting the challenges of accreditation, alleviating stress on program directors, and accessing leadership.

This episode is sponsored by Sentinel U. For more information, visit them online at sentinelu.com.

Show notes

Sharon Luke, Ed.D., PA-C, is the Executive Director of the Accreditation Review Commission on the Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). She has a long history in the PA profession, serving as clinical PA provider, a PA educator and preceptor, as well as an accreditation site visitor. Inspired by learning first-hand the role that accreditation can play on the quality of education delivered in PA programs, she served two terms as a commissioner of ARC-PA.

Following graduation from PA school, Dr. Luke worked in a private Ob/Gyn practice, while also serving as a clinical preceptor for PA students. She moved from that practice to work at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Department of Palliative Medicine. and in the same year, became a part-time faculty member in the PA program from which she graduated in Ohio. A few years later, she transitioned to becoming the Director of that PA program. She later served as founding PA program director for another program in Ohio. In all, her director role spanned 12 years in those programs.

In 2016, Dr. Luke became the Executive Director of the ARC-PA, the sole accrediting body for PA education in the United States. Her continuous goal is to work with the commissioners and satisfy the mission of ARC-PA by protecting the interests and the public via accreditation process and the assurance of quality education in PA programs.

This episode is produced by Association Briefings.

The PA Education Association presents All Things PA Education hosted by Dr. Sara Fletcher, a podcast featuring leading experts in PA education discussing trends, philosophies, programs, and issues directly impacting our profession. Check out the trailer for season one!

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Kendall Mealy, MPA, chief people officer at PAEA. They dive into strategies for creating a positive work environment and offering opportunities for growth and development. Kendall emphasizes the critical role of learning and development as a core business function and the necessity of integrating talent development into every organization's strategy. 

This episode is supported by Southern Illinois University Medicine Doctor of Medical Science Degree.

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Michael Roscoe, PhD, PA-C, adjunct didactic faculty with both the entry-level and doctoral PA programs at the University of Lynchburg. Together, they discuss program assessment and the holistic, multi-source evaluation of competencies in PA education.

This episode is sponsored by PA Excel. For more information, visit them online at paexcel.com.   

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Casey Johnson, PhD, senior director of assessment services and psychometrician at the PA Education Association. Together, they embark on a journey deep into the realm of assessment, exploring its pivotal role in evaluating student performance. Delve into the nuances of assessment methodologies, uncovering the distinctions between exams like the PANCE and the PACKRAT®, and gain insights into the meticulous process of crafting high-quality assessment items. 

This episode is sponsored by PA Excel. For more information, visit them online at paexcel.com.   

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Dr. Laura Gonzalez, vice president of healthcare innovation at Sentinel U. Together, they delve into the advantages of simulation in healthcare education and its role in effectively preparing learners for clinical practice. Discover key considerations for planning successful simulations, the importance of standardization, and strategies for enhancing learning outcomes. 

All Things PA Education is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, chats with Bill Finerfrock, co-founder of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, and Colonel William John Gill, current president of the Research and Education Foundation for the National Association of Rural Health Clinics. The three discuss crucial topics such as federal advocacy, pathways to involvement in the PA profession, the rich history of rural health clinics, the genesis of NARHC, and offer valuable advice to PA students keen on pursuing rural practice.

This episode is sponsored by Aquifer. 

All Things PA Education is sponsored by Butler University Doctor of Medical Science Programs.