The Physician Associate Podcast

Thanks for listening to the Physician Associate Podcast. It's been 3 years now since I launched the podcast, and I'm really proud to have gone over 100 episodes and 50,000 downloads! Thanks for all of your kind messages about the show. If you have time, please leave a review on your podcasts app about the show to help spread the word, so that more people can find out about the Physician As...

In this episode, I was invited as a guest to speak on another podcast - a series called the illuminating Primary Care Podcast - run by MenloPark, who are a primary care recruitment company. We discuss all aspects of the PA role, from qualifying through to working as part of a PCN and what the future looks like in general practice for PAs. Your can find out more about Menlo Park Recruitment on thei...

In this episode we talk with Nick Pollard, co-author of ‘Eating Disorders: An Oxford Specialist Handbook’. Combining evidence-based knowledge with personal experience (having supported his own daughter in her recovery from an eating disorder) Nick provides knowledge and skills that will help all Physician Associates to recognise, manage, and support specialist treatment for these devastating illne...

For #PAweek2023, I was hosted on the General Practice Podcast by Ben Gowland. Ben was the inspiration for me setting up the PA podcast, and he's been very supportive in helping behind the scenes. It was lovely to speak to Ben about the current issues facing the PA profession, and how things might develop in the future. You can connect with the Physician Associate Podcast Twitter - @PApodcastUK...

In this episode, I hear from Dr Nabeel Arshad who is a GP at The Brooke Surgery. We discuss how the surgery is innovating primary care services, and the part that physician associates have played in their success. Hear more about how Physician Associates help The Brooke Surgery provide Unlimited Access 24/7, 365 to their patients. You can connect with the Physician Associate Podcast Twitter - @PAp...

In this episode, I chat with Dr James Gray - who is a GP and experienced Clinical Educator, with particular interests in leading the training of Physician Associates at the University of Sheffield We discuss topics such as training medical and PA students, how PAs are growing in the north of England and collecting research into physician associates. You can connect with the Physician Associate Pod...

In this episode we hear from Natasha Warner about her community work on violence reduction and the work Natasha has been doing outside of her clinical role with an organisation called YourStance. To find out more you can visit Yourstance.org or contact Natasha via her email. Since the recording of the podcast, the signup method to Yourstance has slightly changed, if you would like to signup please...

In this episode, we hear from Ben Wilkinson, a physician associate in acute medicine with a personal interest in research. We discuss the importance of healthcare education accessibility, as well as novel findings specific to physician associate students - and how these might be applied in the context of workforce crises. Ben also outlines his experience of adapting a post-graduate dissertation fo...

In this episode, we hear from Sabina Patel, a final year PA student and National student representative to the FPA on why she changed careers from companion diagnostics to a physician associate degree. We also talk about some of the help available to students during the current cost of living crisis as well as common questions to the FPA. If you'd like to find out more, Sabina can be contacted...

In this episode, James Catton talks to PA Ria Agarwal about her research into supporting physician associates in difficulty. There are a number of different factors that can cause a PA to face difficulty in their career; money worries, relationships, complicated home lives and caring commitments to name just a few. There are a few tell-tale signs of how to spot this in a PA, and Ria shares her adv...

Orthopedics focuses on treating the musculoskeletal system (muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons). Join James Catton, as we uncover the remarkable journey of Jonathan, a trailblazing PA in orthopedics. This episode takes listeners on a captivating exploration of Jonathan Ogidi's life and career. From his early aspirations to his current role as a physician associate in orthopedics, g...

In this special edition, to celebrate the 100th episode of the physician associate, I asked my friends, colleagues and listeners of the podcast to send me some lovely voice messages

In this episode of the podcast, James Catton talks to physician associate Alex Maiello, who is the PA development manager at Hywel Dda University Health Board. Alex has created a bespoke Physician Associate Training Programme for PAs in primary care. We discuss the role of physician associates in primary care, the benefits of the two-year training program, and Alex's experience of working as a...

In this episode, we discuss the role of physician assistants (PAs) in Canada with Kevin Dickson. Kevin is a Canadian PA in Emergency Medicine in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He is also the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants PA chapter president for New Brunswick. We talk about Kevin's experience of working in Canada. We discuss the benefits of PAs in the healthcare system, such as their a...

Physician associates are able to work in many different specialities across the breadth of medicine and surgery. Hear from Naju Ibrahim who is a Physician Associate in Vascular and General Surgery; Naju tells us all about her career so far, the types of patients she looks after and how she hopes her role as a PA might evolve in the future. You can find out more about the Vascular Society on their...

Are you a PA who wants to make more money? Tracy Bingaman is a physician assistant, who teaches PAs to make more money. Tracy is very honest with sharing her experience as a PA and getting burnt out at work. Tracy now spends her time helping others PAs achieve "work optional" financial independence. Tracy also hosts a fantastic podcast called 'The PA Is In' which you should defin...

In this episode of the podcast, we dive into the fascinating world of renal medicine with Izzie, a Physician Associate who brings her unique perspective to nephrology. With years of experience and a passion for patient care, Izzie sheds light on the role of a Physician Associate in managing complex renal conditions. From diagnosing and treating kidney diseases to collaborating with the multidiscip...

A trade union is a group of employees who join together to maintain and improve their conditions of employment. The typical activities of trade unions include providing assistance and services to their members, collectively bargaining for better pay and conditions for all workers, working to improve the quality of public services, political campaigning and industrial action. Nearly seven million p...

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (the Academy) is the membership body for the UK and Ireland’s 24 medical royal colleges and faculties. It sets the standards for the way doctors are educated, trained and monitored throughout their careers. The Academy also plays a leading role in clinical quality, public health and works closely with organisations such as the NHS, the General Medical Council...

Last week, there were lots of headlines about the Medical Doctor Degree Apprenticeship. I wanted to find out more about this apprenticeship, and how it might help grow the future medical workforce and attract and recruit from a wider pool of people in the local community.  The Apprenticeship gives individuals, who for a multitude of reasons may have been unable to attend university full time, a ne...

I was lucky to chat with Mohammed Hussain who is the programme Lead for Physician Associate studies at University of Bradford and a very experienced Physician Associate in Primary Care. We talk all about what it is like to work in physician associate education and how academia can be a good pathway for PAs to develop their own career.   You can connect with the Physician Associate Podcast Twitter...

In this episode, I wanted to find out more about how Physician Associates work in different part of the United Kingdom. For this episode, all about PAs in Northern Ireland, I'm joined by Professor Louise Dubras - the Foundation Dean of the School of Medicine at Ulster University and PA Dan Meehan who is the Course Director for Physician Associate Studies Ulster. We're also joined by Dr Gar...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to be joined by Dr Paul Silverston. Paul was the Director of Primary Care Education at The Postgraduate Medical Institute, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford and Senior Lecturer in Clinical Assessment and Minor Illness Teaching at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. Paul is currently Visiting Professor of Primary Care at University of Suffolk and a Visiting P...

In this episode, we hear from Donya Mighty regarding her journey as a physician associate studying to become a doctor. Donya is currently a third year graduate entry medical student at the University of Warwick. We discuss her experiences as a mother studying medicine, how to fund a medicine degree as a graduate and her perspectives on differences in course content between MSc/PGDip Physician Asso...

In this episode I spoke with the UK’s first PA in hospice medicine, Jovy Giles, about tough workplace experiences, going after your goals and getting into the heart of why palliative medicine feels like the ‘medicine we are supposed to do‘.  In the words of Prof Baroness Ilora Finlay arguing for the Health & Care Social Bill change before palliative care was finally recognised as a UK citizens...