Canadian PA Podcast

Justin Lautenbach is a McMaster-trained PA who has spent over a decade building a multi-specialty career that spans outpatient Orthopedics, chronic pain, and now aesthetic medicine under his own brand, Hamilton Botox. What you'll learn:How to move from a PA student in clinical clerkship to a licensed, practicing PA in Orthopaedic SurgeryWhat milestones are required to co-found and manage an outpatient medical practiceHow to master ultrasound guided injections, procedures through pattern recognition and expert feedbackWhat the physician-directed model looks like for PAs in the business of aesthetic medicineView full episode show notes & resources: ⁠canadianpa.ca/podcast/37⁠Follow Justin:Instagram: @HamiltonBotoxVisit Justin's Website: hamiltonbotox.caEPISODE OUTLINEPA SCHOOL & EARLY CAREER:00:00 Introduction: Meet Justin04:51 Justin's First Job as an Orthopaedic Surgery PABUILDING A PRACTICE09:18 ArthroBiologix: Co-Founding an Outpatient Orthopaedic Practice16:24 Finding PA Mentorship through NetworkingPROCEDURAL MEDICINE & ULTRASOUND17:41 Building Competency in Procedural Medicine & Ultrasound-Guided Injections28:50 Orthopaedics vs. Chronic Pain: Differences in ApproachAESTHETIC MEDICINE34:39 From Botox for Migraines to Aesthetic Medicine39:30 Founding Hamilton Botox: Running a PA-Led, Physician-Directed Aesthetic Business41:06 How PAs Can Get Started in Aesthetic Medicine43:05 Aesthetics: The Business Side of MedicineWORK-LIFE & CAREER SUSTAINABILITY48:26 Managing Multiple Clinical Roles without Burning Out54:36 OrthoPA Network: Building a Community of PAsPA ADVICE & THE FUTURE OF THE PROFESSION56:12 Advice Justin Would Give to His New PA Grad Self58:34 Challenges of Pioneering the PA Profession in New Provinces & TerritoriesFOR PA EMPLOYERS: WORKING WITH PAs1:00:49 The Business Case for Hiring a PA1:06:17 How to Advocate for Your Own Learning1:08:23 Final Notes

Allie Penrose is a graduate of the inaugural Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) cohort at Dalhousie University and part of the first group of Physician Assistants practicing in Nova Scotia. Prior to PA school, she spent six years in specialized clinical roles at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, working in organ and tissue donation and stem cell transplantation. This experience provided direct exposure to high-acuity care, surgical environments, and longitudinal patient interaction, reinforcing her decision to pursue clinical medicine through a non-physician pathway.Before committing to the PA profession, she evaluated multiple healthcare roles including respiratory therapy, occupational therapy, anesthesia assisting, and physiotherapy. In this episode, she outlines her approach to the Dalhousie MPAS application process, including managing a compressed timeline and preparing for the MMI with limited lead time.She also discusses first-year workload and burnout, second-year clinical training, and the realities of entering practice in a province where the PA role is still emerging.View full show notes, resources and transcript:👉 canadianpa.ca/podcast/36IN THIS EPISODE:Part 1: Allie’s Pre-PA Journey00:22 Meet Allie01:28 Discovering the PA profession04:49 Getting healthcare exposure06:51 PA awareness in Nova ScotiaPart 2: Dalhousie PA Admissions08:05 Dalhousie PA Admissions overview14:44 Building strong healthcare experience16:55 Staying organized during PA Apps19:56 MMI interview prep24:13 Does GPA determine competitivenessPart 3: Inside Dalhousie PA School25:46 Inside Dalhousie MPAS31:09 Study strategies that worked32:42 Clerkship as the first PA student34:44 Can you work during PA school35:30 Rural vs urban rotations37:22 Licensing and first PA jobs37:57 How PA school prepared Allie39:16 Explaining the PA role to employersPart 4: Advice for Future Applicants41:44 Advice for Pre-PA students43:33 Study tools and apps45:25 Final thoughtsCONNECT: Instagram@alliepenrose_ @[email protected]@canadianpapodcastRESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONEDRecommended Books for MMI PreparationDalhousie MPAS Admissions InformationNova Scotia PA Pilot ProjectPracticing as a PA: College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS)PA Resource Page: CPSNSCelebrating PAs in Nova Scotia for PA DayLEARN MORE ABOUT PAs IN CANADAFree Canadian PA Admissions Comparison Chart 👉 http://canadianpa.ca/admissionspdfList of PA Programs in Canada 👉 ⁠http://canadianpa.ca/paprograms⁠What is a PA? 👉 http://canadianpa.ca/whatisapaCANADIAN PA COMMUNITYFacebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/canadaprepaDiscord Community 👉 canadianpa.ca/discordJoin the Community 👉 ⁠canadianpa.ca/join