In Practice: Reflections from NPs and PAs

December 14th, 2016

Welcome to the Theatre … the Operating Theatre

Megan Tetlow, PA-C

The OR here in the U.K. is called the theatre, or operating theatre. If you say OR, you’ll likely get a bemused expression, meaning you’re speaking like an actor from Grey’s Anatomy again. One of my supervising physicians here relayed a story to me from a British mentor of his who had practiced in the […]

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November 14th, 2016

Fall Changes in the U.K.

Megan Tetlow, PA-C

Autumn is in full swing here in the U.K., and having lived in beautiful but season-less south Florida for the past several years, I am mildly obsessed. Even in the city, the fall colors are breathtaking. Personally, I have been really enjoying boots, hot tea, and weekend hikes in the countryside (and in the U.K. […]

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September 21st, 2016

An American in Yorkshire: Initial Impressions of the NHS

Megan Tetlow, PA-C

Faster than you can say “cheers,” summer is turning into fall, and I find myself having passed the 2-month mark as a physician assistant working for the National Health Service (NHS) in Yorkshire, England, as part of the National Physician Associate Expansion Program (NPAEP). There have been learning experiences, celebrations, crossed wires, and countless cups […]

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September 14th, 2016

Service Industry

Harrison Reed, PA-C

“You little clown,” A fleck of saliva flew from his mouth with each word. “Are you making a joke?” The back of my neck grew hot as I sweltered under the man’s glare. He had arrived to the airport hours before his scheduled flight dragging his wife and three kids, depleted from a week at Disney […]

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August 25th, 2016

Travel Medicine: An Interview with Derek Hersey, MPAS, PA-C

Bianca Belcher, MPH, PA-C

One of the things that I love most about my profession is its extreme versatility. I’ve been fortunate to meet PAs who are doing interesting things in their careers. As a student, I rotated with Derek Hersey, PA-C for internal medicine, and found his niche of travel medicine extremely interesting. Fast forward a few years, […]

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August 18th, 2016

The Caregiver Conundrum

Charity Maniates, MSPA, MPH, PA-C

My patient’s daughter, Jane, sits tensely on the edge of the wingback chair. Leaning forward slightly, her body, like a jack-in-the-box, stays seated, and she fires the question, “Do you really think my mother is ready to come home? Is this safe?” Rippling beneath her intense body language and direct questioning is a pervasive fear that […]

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August 12th, 2016

Taking a Leap … Across the Pond

Megan Tetlow, PA-C

“Couch” not exam table, “theatre” not operating room, “obs” not vital signs: my first 2 weeks as a physician assistant practicing in England as part of the National Physician Associate Expansion Programme (NPAEP) have been exhilarating, enlightening, and more than a little disorienting. While I haven’t been in the UK long enough to speak with […]

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August 10th, 2016

Playing Victim

Harrison Reed, PA-C

You are sick of hearing it, but we need to talk about this one more time. By the end you might be angry or frustrated; you might even hate me a little. That’s OK. It’s worth it. America’s opioid epidemic is nothing less than a crisis. I could bury you under CDC statistics but I think […]

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July 20th, 2016

The Fringe: Part 4 – Retirement

Bianca Belcher, MPH, PA-C

Retirement contributions are often thought about late in the game. You’re never too young to start contributing to “your future self” but it is difficult to figure out where to start, which type of plan to use, and how much to contribute to your retirement at this stage of your life/career. Here is a brief Q&A […]

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June 29th, 2016

The Specialty Shuffle

Harrison Reed, PA-C

People tell me new things about my profession all the time. Forbes magazine loves to periodically declare it the best career in the country or the world or the universe, depending on the article. I find it hard to believe the people who write about money all day had time to sample every career before […]

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