Turning Struggles into Support for PA Students Nationwide

In this episode, host Emma Sellers, MS, speaks with Jasmine Cofield, PA-C, DMSc, founder and executive director of the Physician Assistants of Color (ThePAC), about turning personal challenges into a national support network for aspiring PA students. Jasmine shares how ThePAC began as a small GroupMe community after her own academic setbacks in PA school and has since grown into a nonprofit supporting students across the country. The organization provides CASPA guidance, personal statement reviews, mock interviews, events, and an online community—while keeping affordability at the center of its mission and reinvesting back into members through scholarships and programming. The conversation also explores the realities of PA education, including mental preparedness, test anxiety, and the importance of early mental health support. Jasmine reflects on the impact ThePAC has made—helping hundreds of students gain acceptance into PA programs—and the work still ahead to create more accessible pathways into the profession.

This episode is sponsored by Logan University.

The PA Path Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

The purpose of this podcast is to provide news and information on the PA profession and is for informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policy of the University of Arizona.