Expert Insights from Program Leaders

Season 5

April 1, 2025

Lessons from PA Students

In this episode, Emma Sellers, MS, speaks with Diamond Means, PA-S, a PA student at the University of Pittsburgh, and Chiamaka Nwokeocha, MPH, PA-S, a PA student at Morehouse School of Medicine, to share invaluable advice for...

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 17, 2024

Season 5: Episode 102 - Reflecting on the Journey

In this episode, hosts Kevin Lohenry, PhD, PA-C, and Stephane VanderMeulen, MA, MPAS, PA-C, look back on five incredible seasons of PA Path as they prepare to hand the mic to a new host. They reflect on the podcast’s journey,...

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 3, 2024

Season 5: Episode 101 - Journey of Service and Leadership in PA Educa…

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Emily Babcock, DHSc, PA-C, Associate Professor and Director of the Creighton University PA Program in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Babcock reflects on her journey from growing up in small-town W...

Listen to the Episode
Nov. 19, 2024

Season 5: Episode 100 - Building an Innovative PA Program

In our 100th episode, we celebrate a milestone with Melanie “MJ” Ellis, MPAS, PA-C, program director for the University of Arizona's developing PA program. Ellis shares her inspiring 36-year journey in the US Air Force and di...

Listen to the Episode
Nov. 5, 2024

Season 5: Episode 99 - Building Community and Empowering Muslim PAs

In this episode, we’re joined by Nour Safa, PA-C, Mubashir Ahmed, and Marwha Kayali, three global leaders who have developed the Muslim Association of Physician Associates and Students, now a caucus within the American Academ...

Listen to the Episode
Oct. 15, 2024

Season 5: Episode 98 - Breaking Boundaries and Embracing Creativity

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Betsy Schmidt, program director for the Butler University PA program, about her diverse career in emergency medicine and orthopedic surgery, as well as her role in founding a PA-owned surgica...

Listen to the Episode
Oct. 1, 2024

Season 5: Episode 97 - Building a PA Program and the Power of Storyte…

In this episode, Elias Villarreal, Jr., DMSc, PA-C, associate dean and founding program director of the UCSD School of Medicine Atkinson PA Education. He shares his inspiring journey from engineering major to physician assist...

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 17, 2024

Season 5: Episode 96 - Tackling the PA Faculty Shortage with Practica…

In this episode, we chat with Emily WhiteHorse, PhD, PA-C, founder of The PA Faculty Development Academy, about her latest book, Becoming a PA Educator: A Practical Guide for Physician Assistant/Associate Faculty . Dr. WhiteH...

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 3, 2024

Season 5: Episode 95 - Navigating Change in the PA Profession

In this episode, we talk with Lisa Gables, CEO of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA). Lisa shares her path into the PA profession and AAPA's mission to advocate for and educate over 178,000 PAs. She also disc...

Listen to the Episode
Aug. 20, 2024

Season 5: Episode 94 - Key Factors When Choosing the Right PA Program

In this special episode, our hosts Kevin Lohenry, PhD, PA-C and Stephane Vandermeulen, MA, MPAS, PA-C, discuss key considerations for selecting the right PA program. They highlight the importance of aligning your personal val...

Listen to the Episode
Aug. 6, 2024

Season 5: Episode 93 - Embracing Genetic Education in the PA Professi…

In this episode, we chat with Constance Goldgar, MS, PA-C, a professor at the University of Utah Physician Assistant Program. Constance shares her inspiring journey into the PA profession, highlighting the significance of lea...

Listen to the Episode
July 16, 2024

Season 5: Episode 92 - The Impact of Personal Experiences and Mentors…

In this episode, we speak with Kristopher Maday, MS, PA-C, DFAAPA, program director and associate professor for University of Tennessee Health Science Center Physician Assistant Program. Kristopher shares his journey to becom...

Listen to the Episode
July 2, 2024

Season 5: Episode 91 - Bridging Combat and Classroom

In this episode, we speak with Edward Williams, DMSc, M.Ed., PA-C, chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He shares his unique journey from combat medic to p...

Listen to the Episode
June 18, 2024

Season 5: Episode 90 - Rural Healthcare & Interprofessional Education

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Curt Stilp, associate dean of the College of Medical Science and program director to the George Fox University PA program. He shares his journey into the PA profession, and discusses the imp...

Listen to the Episode
June 4, 2024

Season 5: Episode 89 - Launching a Program & Leadership Development

In this episode, we speak with Chandra Lynch, chair of the PA program at Baldwin Wallace University. She shares her journey into the PA profession, drawing from her experience in family practice to excel in PA education. From...

Listen to the Episode
May 21, 2024

Season 5: Episode 88 - PAs in Women's Health & Giving Back to the Com…

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Susan White, program director for the Boston University School of Medicine, PA Program, and Aliza Stern, MMSc, PA-C, assistant professor of dermatology, for the Boston University School of M...

Listen to the Episode
May 7, 2024

Season 5: Episode 87 - Exploring Doctorate Opportunities

In this episode, we speak with Don Diemer, DHSc, PA-C, program director for the Southern Illinois University PA program. From his experiences in the Air Force to his current role at SIU, Dr. Diemer provides valuable insights ...

Listen to the Episode
April 16, 2024

Season 5: Episode 86 - Graduate Studies and Rural Healthcare

In this episode, we speak with Carrie Hall, PA-C, program director for the Rocky Mountain College PA program in Billings, Montana, and Cody Halverson, admissions director at Rocky Mountain College. They share their inspiring ...

Listen to the Episode
April 2, 2024

Season 5: Episode 85 -Charting a Successful PA Course

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Gerard Marciano, Director of Physician Assistant Program at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. Dr. Marciano shares his remarkable journey into the PA profession and reflects on the e...

Listen to the Episode
March 19, 2024

Season 5: Episode 84 -Collaboration and Breaking Barriers

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Beth Buyea, clinical associate professor at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Buyea shares her personal journey into the PA profession and sheds light on the ...

Listen to the Episode
March 5, 2024

Season 5: Episode 83 - Shaping Tomorrow's PAs

In this episode, we speak with Dana Villmore, PhD, PA-C, assistant clinical professor and chair of admissions for the University of New England PA Program in Portland, Maine. Explore Dr. Villmore's personal journey into the P...

Listen to the Episode
Feb. 20, 2024

Season 5: Episode 82 - Empowering Communities and Elevating Healthcare

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Vanessa Bester, PA-C, PA program director at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We discuss her fascinating journey into the PA profession, fueled by a deep commitment to serving ...

Listen to the Episode
Feb. 6, 2024

Season 5: Episode 81 - A Journey from Clinical Science to PA Education

In this episode, we speak with Jasmina Cheeseman, PA-C, assistant professor of physician assistant studies at Franklin College in Franklin, IN. We discuss her transition from clinical laboratory science to the PA profession, ...

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 19, 2023

Season 5: Episode 79 - Exploring Formal Educational Training and Empo…

In this episode, we speak with Brittany Booth, DMSc, PA-C, department head and program director for LSUHSC-New Orleans. We discuss her path to becoming a PA and her formal education training, her philosophy on teaching adult ...

Listen to the Episode