Physician Assistants Aim High in Personal and Professional Achievements

“Though not all Stanford PAs possess the physical prowess Amanda demonstrates,” comments Robert Harrington, MD, “they all share in her dedication to excellent patient care at the highest level possible, and constantly strive to do more and better.” Dr. Harrington is chair, Department of Medicine, at Stanford.

In 2017, with Harrington’s support, Stanford established a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.  As the program marks its fifth anniversary, Harrington notes that 72 PAs have graduated from the program since its founding – all of whom passed their national accreditation exams. About 40% of them now work at Stanford, in every discipline and clinical setting.

He adds, “We’re fortunate to have such professionals on our care teams, and I invite the entire Stanford community to thank a PA for their efforts on October 6, National PA Day.”

“Though not all Stanford PAs possess the physical prowess Amanda demonstrates,” comments Robert Harrington, MD, “they all share in her dedication to excellent patient care at the highest level possible, and constantly strive to do more and better.

Rhonda Larsen is associate program director for PA Studies. “When we started this program, we had more than 100 Advanced Practice Provider (APP) job vacancies at Stanford and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospitals. We decided to establish a PA studies program that would create a pipeline of trained physician assistant professionals who could provide bedside care along with the other members of the health care team.”

Larsen joined forces with another PA, Susan Fernandes, who had recently arrived at Stanford from Boston Children’ Hospital. Fernandes is currently program director for the Master of Science in PA Studies, and associate dean for PA education. They wrote a proposal for a PA training program at Stanford designed to fill staffing needs but also to foster understanding by medical students of the PA’s role in care delivery. From its inception, half of the PA coursework takes place at the medical school alongside medical students, in such classes as anatomy, histology, embryology, the practice of medicine, and others.

Carly King, a PA who trained at Stanford and now works in the Stanford Hospital inpatient hematology and oncology unit, notes that this approach helps to forge bonds between the two professions, which enhances care delivery. She often interacts with colleagues with whom she was in class back in her training days, in caring for patients in the hospital.

“We felt Stanford had everything we needed to launch this program,” recalls Larsen. “A fantastic medical school, capital available for investment, and an academic environment that fosters initiative and problem solving.”

“The first class made it through their training during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic!” comments Larsen. “Now, about 2,000 people apply to our program every year. Fewer than 2% are accepted; the national acceptance rate is 30%. We are very selective!” The program spans nine academic quarters, which includes classroom study and clinical rotations – almost three years in total.

Physician assistants are licensed professionals who perform clinical assessments, take medical histories, order tests, diagnose, treat and prescribe. They work in collaboration with physicians, in virtually every medical subspecialty. Some perform certain surgical procedures. Currently there are a total 276 PAs employed at Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.

Stacey recalls a patient who was concerned about potential side effects of a medication, as well as the challenges of finding transportation to her primary care clinic. “Listening with compassion to a patient's concerns and then working with them to find a solution has brought me a lot of fulfillment as a student and future provider. I hope to work with rural or underserved patient communities during my career.” 

Larsen was a dental hygienist before becoming a PA. “I loved my job, but I wanted to be more involved with direct patient care and treatment of disease,” she recalls. She worked as a PA in adult cardiology at Duke University for over 20 years before coming to Stanford.

“Being a PA is a satisfying career choice for people interested in medicine and working with patients in a team setting with a collaborating physician, without the burden of the additional time and money associated with physician training.

People often ask why someone would choose a career as a physician assistant rather than as a physician. “It’s a choice in career options,” Larsen says.  “PA training takes 24-30 months, compared to medical school at four years. We follow the medical model of training and graduate being able to evaluate, diagnosis and treat diseases along with a medical team.”

She points out that “many PAs come to the profession later in life or a few years after having graduated from college. They choose not to put in all the time it takes to attend medical school, complete a residency and perhaps go through fellowship training.  

Larsen adds, “Being a PA is a satisfying career choice for people interested in medicine and working with patients in a team setting with a collaborating physician, without the burden of the additional time and money associated with physician training.”

At Stanford, Stacey notes, she is surrounded by people who are pushing their own boundaries and making incredible contributions. This has helped her achieve her goals both in record-setting pullups and in being a topnotch patient care provider.

Jordin Juker believes her role as a PA provides an opportunity to partner with patients and their families. “I help them navigate the complexities of the health care system,” she says. She graduated from the Stanford PA program in 2020 and now works in the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital pediatric cardiac intensive care unit. “We see a lot of sick children in my unit,” she says. “But I’m very lucky because I work with a wonderful group of colleagues who support each other as we work to do the best for our patients.”

Juker says she loves the autonomy of her job, but also enjoys working closely with a collaborating physician and the multidisciplinary medical team every day. “A good PA is always eager to learn, to advocate for patients and to collaborate with others,” she notes.

Juker and King were both in the first class of 27 students to graduate from the Stanford PA program, in 2020. “That was an exciting time,” King recalls. “I had been aware of the profession and knew it was a rapidly growing field with many opportunities.”  She comments, “I’m a very goal-oriented person and am committed to being a reliable, competent, compassionate part of the health care team. I’m lucky to have found a job where I can express my personal and professional interests at the same time.”

As have many PAs, King came to the profession having had some experience working in health care. “I had always been attracted to health care and medicine,” she says. “My first job was working in a lab at a startup company. My favorite days were those when I got to interact with patients who were part of the research. After a few years I decided to go back to my original goal of working in direct patient care.”

In King’s opinion, “A good PA is considerate, hardworking, a good communicator and a team player. Applying to PA school and passing national accreditation exams is challenging but serves as a good preparation for a demanding and rewarding career.”

According to the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPP), “the PA profession is one of the fastest growing in the country. The demand for PAs increased more than 300% from 2011 to 2014. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the profession will increase 31 percent from 2020 to 2030, significantly faster than the average for all occupations.”

The Stanford PA training program is fulfilling its goal of providing a pipeline of highly skilled professionals to fill this role now and well into the future, with many more October 6 National PA Day celebrations to come.

“In keeping with the theme of National PA Day, PAs go beyond by communicating clearly, collaborating closely and advocating tirelessly. In every health care situation we approach, our Stanford PAs go the extra mile to get results,” Harrington noted.

According to the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPP), “the PA profession is one of the fastest growing in the country. The demand for PAs increased more than 300% from 2011 to 2014. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the profession will increase 31 percent from 2020 to 2030, significantly faster than the average for all occupations.”

Last year the AAPP voted to change the name of the profession to Physician Associate, which is being rolled out now across the country.  Due to legal issues the rollout will take several years to complete.