Joint Effort PAs

Send us Fan Mail We get it, the elbow can be intimidating. Lateral pain isn't always tennis elbow. Medial pain isn't always golfer's elbow. Numb fingers, snapping tendons, unstable ligaments, arthritis, stiffness, loose bodies, nerve compression—the differential diagnosis gets surprisingly long, surprisingly fast. In this episode, Hannah and Beth break down one of orthopedics'...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we're diving into the "scarlet letters" that can follow healthcare professionals. A youthful social media post. A misdemeanor from years ago. A board investigation. A license suspension that's since been reinstated. A termination. A messy divorce that's public. A career detour you wish you could erase. How much should our past matter? We e...

Send us Fan Mail Why does it sometimes feel like nobody listens when you're calm—but suddenly everyone pays attention once you're angry, overwhelmed, or at your breaking point? For many women in medicine, authority can feel like an impossible balancing act. Be too accommodating and your concerns get overlooked. Speak up too forcefully and you're labeled "difficult." Somewh...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, we're taking a trip to the room where it happens and exploring what one Broadway phenomenon can teach us about life in medicine. From My Shot and early-career ambition to Wait For It and learning that not every opportunity needs to be chased, we break down the themes from Hamilton that hit a little differently when you're an orthopedic PA. We tal...

Send us Fan Mail Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: the diagnosis everyone has heard of, but nobody can seem to explain in less than 30 seconds. This week, we're tackling one of the most frustrating conditions in orthopedics. Why does PFPS seem to affect everyone from runners to weekend warriors? Why do patients expect a quick fix when the answer is usually "it depends"? And why is it so...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Joint Effort PAs, where this week we ask the important question Is the grass actually greener somewhere else... or are we just looking at it from a distance and ignoring the weeds? In this episode, we're serving up some unfiltered Wednesday musings after one of those weeks. We talk about the "grass is greener" phenomenon. From clinic frustrations and...

Send us Fan Mail Are you the golden retriever PA? The procedure goblin? The apex predator? Or the one one minor inconvenience away from overload? 👀 This week we’re spinning the wheel of PA archetypes and calling out every ortho personality type we’ve worked with (and maybe which ones we are). From the over-explainers and boundary kings/queens to the “Dr. PA” vs “MA PA” dichotomy… no one is safe....

Send us Fan Mail What happens when artificial intelligence enters the ortho world? In this episode of Joint Effort PAs, we dive into the rapidly growing role of AI in orthopedics and medicine — from clinic documentation, imaging interpretation, and patient education to surgical planning, content creation, workflow efficiency, and the slightly terrifying possibility of robots coming for our jobs. S...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Joint Effort PAs, we’re diving into the complicated relationship healthcare providers have with time off, productivity, and the constant pressure to “do more.” Why does taking PTO somehow feel more stressful than just going to work? Why is medicine filled with people competing in the Productivity Olympics? And at what point does being “driven” turn into burnout...

Send us Fan Mail Some injuries you can watch, rehab, and recheck… and then there are the ones you absolutely cannot afford to miss . This week on Joint Effort PAs , we’re breaking down the big tendon injuries that should immediately be on your radar —because missing them can mean permanent dysfunction, tough recoveries, and unhappy patients 👀 We’re covering: 💥 Distal biceps ruptures  💥 Achilles...

Send us Fan Mail Just a little weekly life update from your favorite ortho chaos coordinators.  In this episode, we’re recapping how things have been growing on the podcast (👀 we see you guys), and outside of it! We’re also getting into our own professional goals—where we want to grow, what we’re working toward behind the scenes, and the opportunities we’re starting to explore. Because turns out…...

Send us Fan Mail Running late? Groundbreaking. We know. In this episode, we’re diving into the real reasons your PA is behind. Between double-booked schedules, “quick” visits that turn into anything but, insurance hoops, add-on patients, and trying to actually give time to the person in front of us… yeah, things stack up. Fast. We talk about the pressure to move quicker, see more, do more—and some...

Send us Fan Mail " Why doesn’t this feel as exciting as it used to?” In this episode of Joint Effort PAs , we’re getting real about something not talked about enough— losing the fire in your career. The feeling of stagnation, going through the motions, and wondering if this is just what practice becomes after a few years. We dive into what this actually looks like day-to-day—less excitement,...

Send us Fan Mail You know that feeling when a case just hits … and suddenly you’re thinking about it all the time? Yeah—this episode is about those procedures 😅 In this episode of Joint Effort PAs , Beth and Hannah dive into their current ortho crushes —the procedures they’ve been working on with their surgeons that have them fully invested, slightly obsessed, and maybe talking about them a littl...

Send us Fan Mail March is Athletic Training Month, and we’re highlighting one of the most essential—and often underrecognized—members of the orthopedic care team: the certified athletic trainer (ATC). In this episode, we sit down with an ATC to break down their role across settings—from sidelines to clinic settings. We discuss injury evaluation, acute management, rehabilitation, and how ATCs work...

Send us Fan Mail Bracket busters, buzzer beaters… and a lot of orthopedic injuries. In this episode of Joint Effort PAs , we break down the most common injuries seen during basketball season and March Madness—from the classic ankle sprain to the biggest season ending injuries we've all seen. We dive into how these happen, how they are managed, and thoughts from the ortho PA perspective. Wheth...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Joint Effort PAs , we’re talking about the cases that keep orthopedic providers up at night—starting with the big one: joint infections . From septic joints to postoperative infections -we break down the clinical red flags that make your stomach drop and the decision points that matter most. We also talk through the real-life scenarios that every ortho PA eventu...

Send us Fan Mail 6 years ago, the world stopped—and so did elective orthopedics. In this episode of Joint Effort PAs , we take a look back at the early days of the COVID shutdown and how it changed life inside an outpatient orthopedic practice. From empty OR schedules and canceled surgeries to the sudden rise of telemedicine, we talk about what it was like when one of the busiest specialties in me...

Send us Fan Mail We’ve heard it all. “Typing causes carpal tunnel.”  “Steroid injections destroy your joints.”  “PA school is the easy route.”  “Lifting weights ruins your knees.” In this episode, we’re opening the files and breaking down what’s actually true — and what needs to be retired permanently. Expect evidence, real clinic stories, and a little myth-busting energy. Because ortho deserves b...

Send us Fan Mail In orthopedics, high standards are the norm. We pride ourselves on being efficient, reliable, and unshakeable. But what happens when that drive quietly turns into self-sacrifice?  In this episode of Joint Effort PAs , we unpack the unspoken martyr complex that so many high-performing orthopedic PAs carry. The pressure to never complain. The instinct to fix everything ourselves. Th...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the Ortho PA Game Show 🎙️🦴 In this episode, we put each other in the hot seat with rapid-fire “this or that,” would-you-rather scenarios, and the ultimate ortho pet peeve questions. From clinic vs OR debates to what irritates us more (no supplies in the room or an unprepared scrub tech?), we’re picking sides and explaining why. It’s competitive. It’s honest. It’s sligh...

Send us Fan Mail Physician Assistants in orthopedics carry significant responsibility for patient care—from clinic evaluations to the operating room and postoperative recovery. Yet many PAs experience burnout not from the work itself, but from feeling unheard at an administrative level. In this episode, we discuss the frustration of being trusted with outcomes while facing pushback and lack of adv...

Send us Fan Mail We’re recapping our week in orthopedics and diving into the conversations and curiosities that naturally came up along the way — from clinic cases and patient questions to career reflections, tangents, and the real-life stuff that exists outside the exam room. Think of this as a “rounds-style” debrief with a human twist: unscripted, honest, and conversational. If you like behind-t...

Send us Fan Mail It's time to level up! We're pushing the boundaries this year in every way possible, scheduling, volume, our sanity, etc. We are also plunging into the world of regenerative medicine. This week, join us as we brush the surface level of how we are working to offer non traditional methods to augment our orthopedic care plans, taking things to the next level! 

Send us Fan Mail PA school will teach you a lot… including what not to tolerate while dating . We’re breaking down what dating really looks like during PA school. We cover: Dating classmates (pros, cons, and hard no’s ) Dating outside of medicine When dating becomes a distraction vs a support Time constraints, burnout, and emotional availability If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Do I even have time...