The PA Path Podcast

In this episode, host Emma Sellers, MS, welcomes Jamie Axelrod, MS, director of disability resources at Northern Arizona University, to discuss disability access and accommodations in PA education. Jamie explains how programs can create accessible learning environments while meeting essential educational and clinical requirements, highlighting common accommodations in the classroom and the individ...

In part two of this conversation, host Emma Sellers, MS, continues her discussion with Lucy Kibe, DrPH, MS, MHS, PA-C, co-founder of AmKeny, a nonprofit organization connecting U.S. physician associates and clinicians with Kenyan clinical officers to support healthcare, education, and community initiatives in Kenya. Joining the conversation are Laye Akinloye, PA-C, Emeritus; Alabi Akinloye, PA; Mi...

In this first installment of a two-part conversation, host Emma Sellers, MS, is joined by Lucy Kibe, DrPH, MS, MHS, PA-C, co-founder of AmKeny, a nonprofit that partners U.S. PAs and other clinicians with Kenyan clinical officers to support patient care, education, and community health initiatives in Kenya. She is joined by Laye Akinloye, PA-C, Emeritus; Alabi Akinloye, PA; Miriam Ha, PA; Gaelen W...

In this episode, host Emma Sellers, MS, speaks with Jasmine Cofield, PA-C, DMSc, founder and executive director of the Physician Assistants of Color (ThePAC), about turning personal challenges into a national support network for aspiring PA students. Jasmine shares how ThePAC began as a small GroupMe community after her own academic setbacks in PA school and has since grown into a nonprofit suppor...

In this episode, host Emma Sellers, MS, sits down with Afsoon Moktar, PhD, MSc, EMBA, BSN, BHS, CT (ASCP), professor in the Physician Assistant Program at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Minh Tran, MPAS, PA-C, an emergency medicine PA at Newton-Wellesley, to explore their experiences in the Future Educator Fellowship. Dr. Moktar reflects on mentoring the next generation...

In this episode, host Emma Sellers, MS, speaks with Denise Rizzolo, PhD, MPH, PA-C, Director of Research and Publication at the Physician Assistant Education Association and managing editor of the Journal of PA Education. Dr. Rizzolo shares her professional journey and explores how PA students and faculty can get involved in research at any stage of their careers. She underscores the importance of...

In this episode, host Emma Sellers, MS, sits down with Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, to reflect on a milestone year for the PA Path podcast. They discuss the show’s growing impact—including more than 50,000 downloads and an expanding international audience—and explore key themes shaping PA education today, such as access, affordability, and technology. The conversation hi...

In this episode, host Emma Sellers, MS, talks with Heather Storm, CSM, ICP-ACC, manager of recruitment and engagement at PAEA. Heather shares how PAEA is expanding awareness of the PA profession through key partnerships, virtual admissions fairs, and national student competitions. She also discusses how COVID-19 accelerated digital recruitment tools—from virtual interviews to online shadowing and...

In this episode, host Emma Sellers, MS, sits down with Dr. Melinda Blazar, EdD, MHS, PA-C, assessment editor in chief at the PA Education Association (PAEA), and Ashley Tucker, MPH, PMP, project manager of assessment services at PAEA, to pull back the curtain on End of Rotation™ exams. They walk listeners through the meticulous process behind developing these high-quality assessments—from item wri...

In this episode, host Emma Sellers, MS, talks with Sean Kramer, MSHS, PA-C, program director and chair at the Samuel Merritt University PA Program in Oakland, CA, and Rachel Rogowski, PA-C, a recent graduate from Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, about their involvement in the PA Student Success Competition. Rachel shares her path to becoming a PA and how the competition inspired her to conn...

In this episode, host Emma Sellers, MS, talks with Tyler Smith, MPH, chief policy officer at the PA Education Association, about the many pathways to financing PA education. Tyler breaks down federal student loan options—including unsubsidized Stafford Loans and Grad PLUS loans—alongside private lending alternatives. He also explores recent changes in PA education funding, key advocacy initiatives...

In this episode, host Emma Sellers, MS, sits down with Kathryn Reed, PA-C, assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh and founder of the National Society of Black Physician Assistants (NSBPA), to explore how virtual shadowing is transforming access to the PA profession. Reed explains how this innovative approach expands opportunities for pre-PA students, especially those facing geographic...

In this episode, host Emma Sellers, MS, chats with Erika Brooks, manager of application services at the PA Education Association (PAEA), about the essential tools and resources available to prospective PA students. Erika breaks down PAEA’s suite of admission services—including the CASPA application and the CASPA Program Directory—and shares how these tools can help applicants find programs that ma...

In this episode, host Emma Sellers, MS, talks with Kristy Goodman, MS, MPH, PA-C, associate director of PA admissions at Southern California University of Health Sciences, and Amy Terstriep, Ph. D., director of pre-professional advising at Purdue University, about the growing issue of ghosting in the PA admissions process. They explore why applicants and institutions alike sometimes go silent, the...

In this episode, host Emma Sellers, MS, sits down with Nathalie Ortiz Pate, Associate Professor and Clinical Coordinator at High Point University, and Demetrius Dunbar, a first-year PA student at Howard University. Together, they share valuable insights for pre-PA students, from navigating the admissions process and managing mental health to finding balance and choosing the right program. They als...

In this episode, Emma Sellers, MS, speaks with Diamond Means, PA-S, a PA student at the University of Pittsburgh, and Chiamaka Nwokeocha, MPH, PA-S, a PA student at Morehouse School of Medicine, to share invaluable advice for pre-PA students. They discuss navigating the interview process, the power of mentorship, and the importance of building a supportive community. Diamond reflects on her journe...

In this episode, Emma Sellers chats with Jessica Scholz, director of client support at Liaison International, to break down the CASPA application process for PA programs. Jessica explains what CASPA is, its benefits, and how to navigate key timelines. The conversation highlights common mistakes to avoid, best practices for managing your application, and the importance of thorough research and prep...

In this episode, Emma Sellers sits down with Kelli Hutchens, Assistant Director at the University of Mississippi, to discuss her work guiding students through the PA admissions process. Kelli shares how she developed a specialized pre-course to help pre-PA and pre-med students prepare for their applications, along with the unique challenges aspiring PAs face, such as varying school requirements, c...

In our season 6 premiere, host Emma Sellers chats with Dr. Sara Fletcher, CEO of the PA Education Association, about the organization’s fresh approach to its goals. Dr. Fletcher explains how recruitment and retention efforts are being unified under the lens of equity, diversity, and inclusion. She shares insights on the critical need for early exposure to healthcare careers, starting as early as e...

In this episode, hosts Kevin Lohenry, PhD, PA-C, and Stephane VanderMeulen, MA, MPAS, PA-C, look back on five incredible seasons of PA Path as they prepare to hand the mic to a new host. They reflect on the podcast’s journey, revisiting key themes like passion for the PA profession, commitment to diversity, and the importance of service, while sharing highlights from their favorite episodes. Kevin...

In this episode, we sit down with Emily Babcock, DHSc, PA-C, Associate Professor and Director of the Creighton University PA Program in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Babcock reflects on her journey from growing up in small-town Wisconsin to becoming a PA and leader in PA education. She shares insights from her career path, including her early passion for medicine, her education at the University of Wiscon...

In our 100th episode, we celebrate a milestone with Melanie “MJ” Ellis, MPAS, PA-C, program director for the University of Arizona's developing PA program. Ellis shares her inspiring 36-year journey in the US Air Force and discusses the launch their new program in August 2026, with accreditation review set for March 2026. Designed with a mission to prioritize person-centered primary care, rural he...

In this episode, we’re joined by Nour Safa, PA-C, Mubashir Ahmed, and Marwha Kayali, three global leaders who have developed the Muslim Association of Physician Associates and Students, now a caucus within the American Academy of Physician Associates. They share the journey of creating this group, inspired by their own paths to becoming PAs and the need for cultural and religious competency in hea...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Betsy Schmidt, program director for the Butler University PA program, about her diverse career in emergency medicine and orthopedic surgery, as well as her role in founding a PA-owned surgical assistance program in Indiana. Schmidt shares insights on the importance of thinking creatively and adapting to the evolving healthcare landscape. She also highlights Butler...

In this episode, Elias Villarreal, Jr., DMSc, PA-C, associate dean and founding program director of the UCSD School of Medicine Atkinson PA Education, shares his inspiring journey from engineering major to physician assistant, driven by a passion for biology and chemistry. He discusses the challenges and successes of launching a PA program from the ground up and highlights the program’s strong com...