The PA Playbook

AAPA elections open Don May 18. Meet your candidates. What do you want from your candidate? What does the director at Large do? What do they see as AAPA's priorities? Join PA Playbook as we interview candidates for Director at Large and AAPA president. Best of luck to all the candidates.

In this special episode of PA Playbook, we sit down with special guest Brian Bea as he shares the vision, leadership journey, and passion driving his candidacy for WAPA President-Elect. Hear firsthand why he believes he is the right leader for this pivotal moment, and get inspired by his bold ideas for advancing the PA profession, strengthening advocacy, and shaping the future of PAs across Washington. This is an energizing conversation you won’t want to miss!

Get ready for another inspiring episode of PA Playbook as co-hosts Eileen Ravella and Dr Troy Bender dive into the power of leadership in the PA profession. From defining what truly makes a great leader to uncovering practical ways to step confidently into leadership opportunities, this episode is packed with motivation and actionable insight to help fellow PAs elevate their voice, influence, and impact. Tune in and discover how your next leadership role could start today!

This episode follows the journey of a Susan Ferrero who left the frontlines of clinical care to step into the world of medical case review for attorneys. Through her eyes, listeners get a firsthand look at what it takes to pivot from patient care to analyzing complex medical cases, the challenges of translating clinical experience into legal insight, and the lessons learned along the way. This is a story of career transformation, bridging medicine and law, and finding a new way to make an impact.

Nurse practitioners and Physician Associates have grown up together. What are our common goals? How can we support each other and become more collaborative? Don’t read the Reddit board! Listen to the first of many podcasts as we talk to nurse practitioner leaders and discuss shared goals and values..

Did you ever wish you could start your own practice? Listen up! We talk to Ed Lopez, an entrepreneurial PA, who has started multiple practices. We discuss plans from start to finish.

How do we grow PA leaders. Where do we educate PA leaders? What characteristics ensure success? Yolanda Freeman-Hildreth knows the skills we need for success. After all, she is a PA leader. Join us for this extremely informative episode with someone who is helping lead the way in breaking barriers.

We discuss the current liability risk with PA practice and how to properly handle any potential risks.

Join Troy and Eileen at the 2025 fall WAPA conference! What do PAs want from a conference? What's do they want from state organizations?  Join us and stay tuned for more podcasts to come! 

Follow us! Join Troy Bender DFAAPA DMSc and Eileen Ravella DFAAPA and DMSc candidate for part 2 on how to get into PA school. We talk to pre PA student El Wong and advise him on how to pick a PA program that fits his needs and the tools to strengthen his PA application. 

This podcast explores the evolving role of the PA doctoral degree—why it matters, how it strengthens our profession, and what to consider when applying. From admission insights to program design and long-term career impact, we break down the essentials for PAs ready to take the next step.

"PA Admissions Blueprint: Strategies for Success” is a podcast guiding aspiring physician assistant applicants through the application process. It covers crafting a standout application, building a competitive profile with clinical experience and academics, choosing the right PA program for your goals, and excelling in interviews with practical tips and expert insights.

The PA Playbook, Season 2, Episode 6, is out now, and Eileen and Joshua tackle emergency medicine!  Whether you're a brand-new PA finding your footing or a seasoned pro juggling patient care and precepting, this episode of The PA Playbook is for you! We chat with John Stangl, PA-C, author of From Classroom to Clinician, a savvy and practical book for new grads adjusting to real-world practice.  We also dive into how all PAs can stay grounded in high-stress environments like the ED. Plus, we explore the art and challenge of precepting PA students in emergency medicine. Tune in for tips, tools, and candid talk that’ll make your clinical life smoother, saner, and more rewarding.

In this episode, Joshua and Eileen sit down with Jay O'Neill, a physician associate who works on the Makah reservation in the northwest corner of Washington State, on the Olympic Peninsula. Jay is a championship strongman and caber tosser, and he tells us about the unique contributions PAs make to Native American communities, and the challenges and joys of working with an underserved community.

Want to get into the OR as a PA—but not sure how to start? Feeling the gap between PA school and surgical confidence? Wondering how to switch specialties and keep your life in balance?In this special bonus episode of The PA Playbook, Joshua and Eileen bring you David Bunnell, PA-C— he’s been a cardiothoracic and electrophysiology PA, researcher, educator, father, and a longtime leader in PA advocacy. From his stories about being a paramedic at 18, to harvesting organs, to shaping the future of PA education through game-changing research about building clinical competency, Bunnell brings wisdom, warmth, and real-world experience. He’s lived the balance. Now, he’s ready to lead. He’s helped shape national PA policy. He’s mentored future clinicians. And now, he’s running for AAPA President.From high-stakes surgeries to high-impact leadership, David shares how he’s balanced a demanding career with real life—and how you can build surgical skills, shift specialties, and step confidently into the future of PA practice.With AAPA elections just weeks away, now’s the time to hear from a candidate who’s walked the walk—and has a bold vision for where we go next.

Earthquakes, epidemics and war zones!What’s it really like for a PA working on the frontlines of disaster medicine?In our latest episode, Joshua and Eileen sit down with Eric Holden, a physician assistant who’s delivered care in the chaos of Haiti, Nepal, and Iraq—where medicine meets unpredictability, resilience, and the occasional misplaced grenade (yes, really).From medical supply challenges to navigating security in unstable regions, this episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered what it takes to bring healing to the world’s hardest-hit places.Hit play. Get inspired. Pack your go bag.

This episode discusses the role of PAs in HIV care. Join Joshua and Eileen as they talk with Justin Hooks, NP, about how to get involved in HIV care, challenges of LGBT care access, and the nuances of primary care for people living with HIV.

Ever wondered about how physician assistants practice in Canada? Join Kirsten Luomala, CCPA, DMSc as we talk about the development of the PA profession in Canada, her journey from the Canadian Armed Forces to President of the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants, the challenges of working in the Canadian far north, and even what it takes for an American PA to work in Canada.

In The Puzzle Patients, Eileen and Joshua dive into the challenges of diagnostic uncertainty with seasoned rheumatologist, Amish Dave, MD. Explore the emotional toll of navigating complex cases, the role of social media and misinformation in patient care, best practices when referring to specialists to speed care and diagnosis, and strategies for fostering trust and understanding with patients seeking answers.

For our season finale, we dive into the AAPA’s national efforts to elevate PAs and support their careers, how they fight misconceptions about PAs and advance efforts to transform healthcare across the US. Our guest today is Dr. Jenn Orozco, Chief Medical Officer and Past President of the American Academy of Physician Associates.

In this exciting bonus episode, we’re joined by Washington State Senator Patty Kuderer, a fierce advocate for healthcare reform and a champion for patients and providers alike! As she runs for Washington State Insurance Commissioner, Senator Kuderer dives into the heated debate over prescription drug coverage and the tangled web of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). If you’ve ever been stuck on hold with an insurance company or struggled to get your patients the meds they need, this one’s for you! Join us for a candid, eye-opening conversation that breaks down the frustrating realities physician assistants and patients face every day—and how Senator Kuderer plans to shake things up. Hear her bold ideas for reform and find out what you can do to help cut through the red tape. Don’t miss out on this energetic and insightful episode that could change the way you see healthcare!

Join Eileen and Joshua as they dive into the complexities of mental health care in the United States, and explore the ways in which Medicare policies for mental health services fall short for our most vulnerable patients and people of color. Our featured guest, Tajuana Lordeus, PA-C—a practicing psychiatrist in North Carolina—shares her first hand experiences and valuable insights into the critical role physician assistants play in the field of psychiatry. Don't miss this engaging discussion on the challenges and opportunities for improving mental health care and making it accessible to all.

In this thoughtful episode, we tackle a critical and controversial topic – end of life care.  Join Joshua Lumsden and Eileen Ravella as they delve into palliative care, with special guest, Oncology PA, Dane Thomas.   Confused on the difference between hospice, palliative care and death with dignity?   Struggling with the right approach to advanced care planning conversations?   Curious about the growing specialty of palliative care, and how PAs are making an impact in this important field?   Learn about all this and more!

You may be aware of what physician assistants do in the United States, but what about in other countries?  The Irish PA profession graduated their first class of students less than seven years ago, and we discuss the challenges they experience as they build their profession from the ground up Our guests today are Lisa Alexander, PA-C, Director of the Physician Associate Program at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland, and Kieran Morrissey, a current student in her trail blazing program.

Today, we provide a brief history of minorities and women in medicine in the United States, discuss patient outcomes when they have providers who come from their communities, and highlight one Latina Physician Assistant’s experience working within her community and advocating for diversity in the AAPA.

State by state, collaborative practice laws are passing. But how does this change our practice? We take a closer look at what's happened in three states since their laws were passed. Join hosts, Eileen Ravella, WAPA Immediate Past President of WAPA and Joshua Lumsden, WAPA President Elect, as they talk to Alisa Gifford, OPSA (Oregon) President and Melinda Rawcliffe, ASAPA (Arizona) Immediate Past President.

Washington Academy of Physician Assistants and Oregon Society of Physician Associates held their first joint conference this month! Guests today include Troy Bender, PA-C, director of Northwest University's new physician assistant program, Bridget Albright, PA-C, WAPA secretary, Alisa Gifford, PA-C, OSPA President, Saje Risen-Davis, PA-C, Pacific University Program Director, Andrew Musgrave, PA-S, Pacific University Class President and Mike Oeschner, WAPA and OSPA Program Director for live, on site interviews! Learn about the development of the conference, the legislative successes in the Pacific Northwest, and the first ever student leadership track!

Today, we are featuring three PA students from Washington State and beyond who have been active in leadership as students.    We talk about what this means for the future of our profession, why it is important to support students in leadership, and the state of PA student training in academic programs in the United States. Join Kierra Gipson, PA-C, AAPA Student Academy President, and Agnes Lovell, PA-S Nick Stanton, PA-S, current MEDEX Students.

For Episode #3,, Desmond Watt, PA-C, joins us to discuss the development of virtual medicine, changes in healthcare in the 2020s, the rise of telehealth, and what it means for our future as physician assistants. 

Join Eileen Ravella and Joshua Lumsden, two physician assistants from Washington State, for their second monthly episode of the PA Playbook! This episode discusses the United States rural healhcare crisis and its development over the last 50 years, the closure of hospitals and the unique ways in which physician assistants are bridging the gap in Washington State and beyond! Caylon Haggard, PA-C, NW Business Development Director for Docs Who Care, joins us to discuss his experiences in rural medicine, and how physician assistants can get involved.

This is the PA Playbook, a new monthly podcast hosted by PAs, where we discuss smart strategies for being a physician assistant. Join Eileen Ravella and Joshua Lumsden, two PAs from Washington State, for their first episode, as they talk about laws affecting PA practice, strategies for navigating health care, and issues that affect the wonderful work you do on a daily basis.