Physician Associates do extraordinary things every day, and as a profession, we have truly talented people providing fantastic patient care. Every day, I read discussions on all aspects of the PA profession, from people developing new “Lead PA” roles, performing procedures, and advertising for new job opportunities, to the more complex questions of governance and supervision. I see this as a way in which PAs across the UK find their place amongst the complex web of the NHS workforce and push the boundaries of who we are and what we do.
All these fantastic ideas need a home where everyone around the UK and abroad can be encouraged by the work PAs are doing. This is a place to share your thoughts and ideas.
So, welcome to The PA+PER, where we highlight your achievements and the phenomenal work PAs are doing all around the country. I hope this magazine helps you find inspiration from each other to keep improving, keep innovating and fundamentally keep flying the flag of the Physician Associate profession.
With The PA+PER, we hope to bring the PA community together and build a platform to let others know what we are capable of doing.
I won’t bore you with too much inspirational talk. Instead, let me introduce you to some great articles here today, from a PAs SpaceX adventure to the great team in Stowhealth and their fantastic group of Physician Associates. A special thanks to our contributors today, especially James Catton, who, without his drive, this magazine would still just be an idea on a napkin!
Finally, we are looking for PA+PER ambassadors to contribute to our articles, so if you have a great idea or a fantastic story to tell – get in contact, we want to hear from you!
Yours sincerely Alexander
Alexander Reynolds PA-R, Editor-in-chief
With all the hard work and accomplishments going without notice, it's time we had a platform to celebrate these milestones and showcase them all nationally.
This magazine will welcome stories from all Physician Associates, even those globally, as you will see from Hayley’s unique and inspiring SpaceX story.
I am the guest editor for this edition, and if you'd like to be a part of the next issue, email in, and we'll get you involved in the process.
I hope you enjoy this edition. It will be the first of many, and if you have any special requests, feel free to reach out to the team and me. We kick off this issue with a story about my practice Stowhealth and the strong PA team we have assembled...
Yours sincerely James
James Catton, Guest Editor
Our PAs have helped us to maintain high levels of patient care at Stowhealth, despite the pressures of high demand through the last few years. I’m always so impressed with their knowledge, skills and dedication, and love working with Physician Associates in our team.
Dr Lauren Mercer – GP Partner at Stowhealth
Top – L-R: Sara, James, Theo, Henry Bottom – L-R: Lisa, Dr Lauren Mercer
Stowhealth provides a range of primary medical services in central Stowmarket – a market town in Suffolk, England. For those unfamiliar with this part of the world, it sits in between Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich.
My practice is a member of the Suffolk Primary Care super-partnership (SPC) of nine local practices, providing services to approximately 90,000 patients. Stowhealth is a prime example of a practice fully embracing the PA profession, evidenced in our five-strong line-up.
Dr Lauren Mercer, GP Partner at Stowhealth, understands how we’re playing a vital role in an ever-growing NHS. Lauren says:
Stowhealth have always valued having a mix of professionals and skills in our team, from paramedics, physios, pharmacists, nurse practitioners and PAs – they’ve all been hugely important to the way we run the practice. We employed our first physician associate in 2018 and have grown our team of PAs.
I was the first physician associate to start working at Stowhealth in 2018; at that time, I had just qualified, and there was only one PA working in the whole county of Suffolk.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted a job in primary care or hospital medicine, so I did both. I worked two days a week in Stowhealth and two days a week in a local hospital’s acute medical unit. After four years, I decided to pursue my career in primary care with Stowhealth. And here, I’ve had the honour of witnessing the PA team grow. I take particular pleasure in welcoming PA students to our surgery for their placements.
Our newest team member joined us as a student while enrolled in the programme at the University of East Anglia.
In the interim, between finishing nationals and receiving his results, we were able to give him a second placement with us to give him even more primary care experience. Theo has come a long way in his first year at Stowhealth, moving from minor illness clinics to working with the full spectrum of primary care presentations.
If you have a story you would like to share, contact the editorial team on : EDITOR@PA-PER.CO.UK
Lisa worked as an ODP in the British Army and the NHS before becoming a physician associate.
Lisa joined us with prior experience working as a PA in primary care and now enjoys the flexibility of working patterns that Stowhealth offers – a combination of two days in the surgery and one day working remotely from home. Lisa has also recently completed a course in minor surgery and serves as our practice’s resuscitation lead.
Beloved by patients and colleagues alike, Henry combines his training as a physiotherapist with his expertise as a Physician Associate to care for his patients.
Henry has developed several specialities within the surgery, including being the lead for treating patients with hypertension, doing home visits and expanding his scope of practice with joint injections. Henry is currently finishing the Royal College of Physicians’ Diploma in Geriatric Medicine.
Sara visited our surgery for her final elective placement in her PA programme and fell in love with it so much that she decided to accept her first employment offer from us.
Sara has taken on additional responsibility to ensure that people with learning disabilities receive the best care possible by taking on the lead in our annual reviews. Sara just finished a month of working remotely for our practice in Stowmarket, whilst she was located more than 200 miles away in Manchester. Another example of how innovative procedures can help to accommodate PAs.
The show is aimed at sharing exciting news and projects related to Physician Associates in the UK and across the globe. Episodes cover all sorts of topics, such as GMC regulation or prescribing rights, to interviews with PAs in different specialities, and topics like PA education and burnout/wellbeing.
The show is hosted, produced, and edited by PA James Catton. It is available on all podcasts apps and comes out weekly on Mondays. Just search ‘physician associate podcast’ wherever you get your podcasts.
NHS England launched the
The initiative offers finance to GP practices in England to hire additional people in specific roles, to widen the primary care workforce. The ARRS provides funding to GP practices to cover the salary costs of employing these additional staff members. The programme intends to lessen GPs’ workloads, increase access to primary care services, and give patients more coordinated treatment.
ARRS is probably one of the major reasons why there has been an increase in the number of jobs for Physician Associates in primary care recently. Whilst it has driven demand to employ Physician Associates, not all PA jobs are equal under the scheme.
Some PAs are employed to work in multiple surgeries, basing themselves in a different surgery across the primary care network every day, causing some confusion about how the PA can meet their full potential to provide continuity of care for their patients.
There is also uncertainty around the funding for the ARRS roles after 2023/24 financial year, which has started to generate concern about what might happen to the PAs employed on these ARRS jobs.
It remains to be seen what will be announced beyond 2024 in terms of workforce support funding for primary care and how this might affect the Physician Associate profession.
The Department of Health and Social Care has closed its consultation on the draft legislation to regulate Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates.
The proposed legislation sets out the powers and duties that the GMC will have concerning AAs and PAs.
This consultation sought views on the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates order (AAPAO) that will give the General Medical Council (GMC) the necessary powers and duties to regulate AAs and PAs in the UK.
The public consultation on Physician Associate regulation has now closed, and the Department for
Health and Social Care and other bodies will be analysing the responses The AAPAO legislation will then be presented to the Westminster parliament and devolved legislatures in the four countries of the UK; sometime in the second half of 2023 after the replies to the consultation have been analysed and published.
Whilst securing parliamentary time might be challenging, once the legislation is approved, the GMC will then conduct its own consultation on their rules, policies, and instructions required to implement the legislation to bring PAs and AAs under regulation. Though it’s never easy to predict how long legislative processes will take, things are moving forward, and the GMC are still optimistic that the required legal procedures can be finished before the end of 2024.
ARRS funding covers all of these different professions:
Clinical pharmacists
Pharmacy technicians
First contact physiotherapists
Dietitians
Podiatrists
Occupational therapists
Community paramedics
Nursing associates and trainee NAs
Social prescribing link workers
Link workers
Care co-ordinators
Health and wellbeing coaches
And of course, Physician Associates
ccording to GMC guidance on delegation and referral, doctors can delegate tasks to non‑doctors.
Physician Associates work under the ’delegation clause’ and therefore PAs are responsible for their own actions and omissions and are responsible to their supervising doctor. Therefore, there needs to be appropriate supervision arrangements in place.
To practise in the UK, Physician Associates need professional indemnity insurance. The employer normally foots the bill for this coverage. The titles of the schemes vary between primary care and secondary care, as well as across the UK’s four
nations. Yet, all PAs working for NHS organisations should be protected by their country’s state-backed indemnification programme.
Private indemnity goes beyond the basics, to provide extra coverage for Physician Associates, but comes at an extra cost.
PAs are highly advised to purchase their own professional negligence insurance from one of the medical defence companies, which would give them access to “non-claims” advantages including support at coroners’ inquests and assistance with disciplinary actions.
The yearly PA census suggests that in primary care, the employer frequently bears the expense of PA indemnity.
“I often get asked by fellow colleagues how I managed to switch from my full-time salaried job to a locum position. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I knew I wanted to experience different environments in other GP surgeries and gain more flexibility in my work schedule.
That’s when I discovered LocumPA, a company that provides a platform for healthcare professionals to locum across multiple GP surgeries, which is ideal for me as I’m based in London. Since joining LocumPA, I have gained invaluable experience working with different patients and staff members, which has helped me to diversify my clinical skills and improve my networking abilities.
I was initially concerned about job security and the trade-off for holiday time, but I’ve been impressed with the volume of opportunities that LocumPA offers. In fact, they even have an option to lease an NHS-Secure laptop to open up the option to work from home. If you’re looking for new opportunities, I highly recommend the locum route to anyone looking to diversify their clinical experience. —
We spotlight a few individuals in each edition, sharing their success and highlighting some real hidden gems! Take Ria, for example, who has created a website with crucial CPD resources. The regional team even has a WhatsApp group and mentorship opportunities for local PAs who need a helping hand.
In Plymouth, Molly has returned to where her journey first started. Molly completed her PA qualification in 2017 from Plymouth University School of Medicine and Dentistry.
It is often said that career development may be challenging for Physician Associates due to the lack of post-graduate training programmes, but Molly is an excellent example of how we can advance as PAs. Molly began her journey from ear-piercing in a well known high street retailer to now being a Senior PA in ENT. Molly’s main areas of interest are paediatric ENT plus Head and Neck Cancer. Molly says the range of her job is extensive, including oncology, surgery, paediatrics, and care for the elderly, as well as dealing with a lot of snot. Molly works in various settings, including in-person clinics, operating rooms, and micro-suction.
Molly has completed her basic surgical skills qualification and is doing grommet insertion and tonsillectomy procedures. Molly has even written clinical guidelines for her department, teaming up with microbiology colleagues to write a pathway for the management of supraglottitis. Molly says, ‘I absolutely enjoy having a different day every day in ENT.
A qualified PA since 2013, Ria has particular interests in the clinical supervision of Physician Associates, PAs experiencing difficulty at work, and the role of PAs in the primary care team.
Check out Ria’s website for access to great resources, useful links, event details and you can even sign-up to WhatsApp Group.
Ria works in primary care and accepted a leadership post at the faculty for advanced clinical practice in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw in September.
Ria said: “Having been in one practice now for some years, I have good rapport and continuity with many patients; it is fantastic to know I have the skill set to help in this way.” We all know that, with the proper training and support in place, Physician Associates can be essential in relieving a proportion of the clinical burden on GPs and their wider staff. Ria believes PAs can make a difference in productivity, but offering PAs the right support is vital. Ria has also developed a unique website which shares CPD from previously recorded ambassador conferences. This platform aims to collate other leads’ work within the region. You will also find CPD for other HCPs that PAs may find helpful. You can learn more about these topics in Ria’s PA podcast episode.
Aimee has a special interest in reproductive and sexual health and has decided to pursue further training in intrauterine techniques.
Aimee said: “I was introduced to a fabulous sexual and reproductive health consultant (Dr Massey) who was keen to teach me, despite never having worked with PAs before. We worked out any kinks in the process that could have arisen from attempting something that had never been done before. The College of Sexual and Reproductive Health graciously permitted me to take the online exam and finish the coil fitting instruction with the help of Dr. Massey. Afterwards, I received an Intrauterine Techniques Letter of Competency, which I believe is a first for PAs.
Of course we’re proud of our fellow UK based PAs, but we also wanted to share a unique story from across the pond in the US. We’re flying the flag for all PAs, regardless of location, and Hayley’s accomplishments will make us all proud.
At the age of 10, Hayley Arceneaux received a life-changing diagnosis of osteosarcoma. After receiving treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, Hayley was given a titanium rod as part of her treatment to replace the missing bone in her left leg.
After successful treatment, Hayley grew up to become a Physician Assistant, eventually accepting her dream job to work at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where she had been a patient herself.
Multibillionaire businessman Jared Isaacman worked with SpaceX to plan an all-civilian mission to space. The mission was created to encourage people all over the world to pursue their aspirations and push the boundaries of what is feasible as well as to generate awareness and money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. And amazingly, Hayley was selected to take part.
The three-day mission had a crew of four people – Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux, Chris Sembroski, and Dr. Sian Proctor – and started on September 15, 2021.
During the mission, the crew orbited the Earth for three days, conducted scientific experiments, and communicated with patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The mission was hailed as a historic moment in the democratization of space exploration.
The trip was a big success, raising more than $200 million for St. Jude’s Hospital, and is now the subject of an excellent docuseries on Netflix. Hayley has appeared in an episode of the Physician Associate Podcast to discuss her wild ride (which is also the title of her book!).
After suffering from pain in her leg, initially chalked off to a Taekwondo injury, Hayley was diagnosed with cancer at the tender age of ten.
TO PREPARE FOR THE MISSION, THE CREW COMPLETED MONTHS OF RIGOROUS TRAINING INCLUDING SIMULATIONS OF LAUNCH AND LANDING, ZERO-GRAVITY ENVIRONMENTS AND EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
WRITTEN BY JAMES CATTON IMAGES BY AZUDOS PHOTOGRAPHY
We had the pleasure of catching up with our new VP Chandran in his home town of Milton Keynes. As many of you may not know much about Chandran, we asked him a few questions. And this segment will feature in every issue with a new special guest.
The PA profession has been growing exponentially since 2003; from the rise of UKAPA and the transition to the FPA at the Royal College of Physicians, we have seen such an evolution of the PA career in the UK.
We now look forward to regulation with the GMC, with this we can start to enable PAs to work at the best of their abilities. This is paramount to the profession but also provides that additional security to the patients we serve.
I think the best part of being VP is meeting
around the UK and hearing all the great work they are doing.
As you may know, the FPARCP has announced changes to the Physician Associate recertification process as our profession prepares for GMC oversight in 2024. Recertification is critical in ensuring we have the information and abilities to offer high‑quality patient care.
The most significant change was the removal of the recertification exam. We were the only healthcare profession to retake a qualifying exam for recertification. This is a step towards aligning our profession with the GMC’s processes. The GMC will have its own method for us PAs to demonstrate that we are up to date and fit to practice and will not require a recertification exam.
The GMC’s revalidation process will be based on the following:
annual employer appraisals reflections
local clinical governance.
This is a similar process to how doctors are already revalidated. More information is available on the GMC’s website.
For initial registration, the GMC will require PAs to:
the national exams as a student PA – which will become known as the Physician Associate Registration Assessment (PARA) but no evidence that you passed a recertification assessment. Until GMC regulation is in place, the PAMVR remains in place. And some changes are coming too in that regard. To remain in good standing and listed on the PAMVR, all PAs registered on the PAMVR will be expected to engage with the FPA Core Clinical Practice Curriculum (CCPC) via the FPA ePortfolio beginning in October 2023. The CCPC will be included in this new electronic platform and will cover all the core areas of practice in which a PA is expected to maintain expertise and the areas that have historically been examined during recertification.
Plus, members will be able to log evidence of clinical competence in their ePortfolio by completing the following:
direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS) mini clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX) case-based discussion (CBD) forms, for example, collecting multi-source feedback (MSF) and patient feedback forms, finish the FPA appraisal toolkit record CPD.
The FPA ePortfolio and FPA CCPC will be available to FPARCP members; the FPA has stated this will be a member benefit for all registered PAs on the MVR.
graduate from a UK university PA programme and pass the PA National Examination (PANE)
Or graduate from a nationally recognised USA Physician Assistant programme and passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) in the USA to be eligible to practise as a PA in the UK
have the knowledge and skills to work safely as a PA in the UK.
The GMC will require proof that you passed
The ePortfolio, when combined with the CCPC, will become the new mechanism for qualified FPA members to maintain their generalist knowledge and skillset. It will also allow fellow PAs to demonstrate their evolving speciality-related clinical knowledge.
Remember to maintain your CPD and curriculum competency and participate in the ePortfolio when it is launched. Until otherwise instructed, continue to log your CPD in the CPD diary. However, all FPA members are still obliged to follow the FPA code of conduct, maintain their generalist skills, complete the FPA’s CPD requirements, and, beginning in October 2023, engage with the new ePortfolio.
Imagine yourself in four years. What do you hope will be different about you and the PA profession?
I still see myself working in a clinical and academic setting, treating patients, and educating students as this gives me great satisfaction. The PA profession is going from strength to strength and in four years' time I expect to see a structured career pathway with a lot more PAs holding senior positions in the healthcare industry.
Talk to me about when you were seven or eight. Whom did you want to be?
Indiana Jones! Why not! Who could not resist excavating important artefacts and gold?
What is your favourite property in Monopoly, and why?
It has to be Mayfair, doesn’t it? The most expensive property and it gives you the greatest chance of winning.
What did you learn from your mum?
Not to be fussy with food! I had to eat everything that was given to me.
Among the people you've worked with, whom do you admire and why?
“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”. Such an inspirational quote, as it really means we all rely on the ideas that came before us, and I think one person who motivated me with such ideas was Karen Roberts. Karen was my initial course director when I was a PA student who then became my colleague when I worked at SGUL, Karen was a highly influential and motivational person, and she shaped my PA career.
What part of the new role do you love?
And what part do you hate doing?
I think the best part of being VP is meeting PAs from around the UK and hearing all the great work they are doing. Every day I live and breathe the PA profession, I take great pride in being a PA and when representing the profession in national meetings gives me overwhelming satisfaction. Speaking to new stakeholders/societies who are as equally passionate about the PA profession is also something I really enjoy.
Ha - I don’t think I hate any tasks, maybe the volume of emails!
If you were on a desert island and could only bring three things or people there, what or who would you bring?
1. My Fiancée (I was forced, there is a wedding at stake!)
2. My Vinyl player and speakers (solar powered of course)
3. My Vinyl collection
If you found out you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
Tough one. For one, I’d love to set up a charity for PAs (help with the cost of living and provide scholarships for PA students). And secondly, I would travel the world and take a break from emails!
What fictional character do you identify the most with? Why them?
Tony Soprano
Not for his criminal activity!
He was however a very goal-driven, charismatic, and compassionate individual and you could see that from the interaction he had with his family.
Raj is Physician Associate Partner at Bloomsbury Surgery and Workforce lead for Central Camden PCN and CHE GP Federation in Central London and has been working as a PA in primary care and leads a team of 12 PAs across the network.
The nine practices work collaboratively on innovative ways of working and introducing novel systems and pathways for managing conditions.
The PAs in the PCN are involved in running a respiratory diagnostic and treatment hub in conjunction with University College Hospital, a ENT micro suction and audiometry clinic, a family planning clinic offering IUD and contraceptive implants, COPD exacerbation services offering point of care viral testing and a point of care of testing diagnostic and treatment service for high risk diabetic patients. The PAs providing these specialist services have received the relevant training and accreditation and enjoy the variety in the role in primary care.
One PA in particular that Raj wanted to highlight is Natasha Warner – for both her excellent clinical work and for her dedication to the non-profit organisation YourStance.
I have been a PA for 12 years. I was the first RCP FPA PA of the year in 2016. I studied BSc Biomedical Science at UCL in 2005 and then did the Master’s PA course at the University of Birmingham in 2010.
Making a difference
Remember
You can make a difference to your community outside of your clinical role through organisations such as YourStance or other community development projects.
fellow PAs, this can form part of your CPD and may also be supported by your employer.
I have worked in various settings, both NHS and private, across primary and secondary care, in both fixed positions and as a locum, and taught on the Brunel PA course.
I am currently working as a PA in primary care. In addition to my clinical role, I also work as an Outreach coordinator for a non-profit organisation called YourStance. YourStance, led by medical professionals, runs a preventative educational project which empowers young people at risk from serious youth violence by teaching them lifesaving skills such as basic life support, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and haemorrhage control, which enable them to make informed decisions when faced with an emergency.
We run workshops across London in alternative educational provisions, prisons, youth hubs and on the streets with youth detachment workers. We work alongside the NHS violence reduction unit, LAS and Met Police. The organisation relies on healthcare professionals to volunteer their time to teach the workshops. The project has also been able to connect and re-engage healthcare workers with young people and their communities in new settings, which has helped reignite fallen levels of compassion towards this patient group.
We run bi monthly free online training for volunteers upon sign‑up.
NAME OF NON‑PROFIT: YourStance
ABOUT THE NON‑PROFIT
YourStance aims to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by serious youth violence in our communities by teaching skills and having open conversations between experienced healthcare professionals and young people.
It’s easy to sign up via our website: yourstance.org
There is no commitment to how many sessions you volunteer for. Even if it’s just one, it will make a difference!
WRITTEN BY RAJ GILL & NATASHA WARNER PHOTOGRAPHY AZUDOSAS A PA YOU HAVE MANY TRANSFERABLE SKILLS THAT YOU CAN APPLY TO ROLES OR PROJECTS OUTSIDE OF YOUR DAY-TO-DAY JOB.
Meet George, who is a Physician Associate in cardiology at the West Suffolk Hospital. George was able to complete his clinical rotations at West Suffolk, and after discovering how much he enjoyed working on the cardiology ward, he was determined to secure a position there after graduating.
After securing his dream job, George has been hard at work in cardiology as their first-ever Physician Associate in the ward. For his first year, George spent time working alongside the junior doctors and registrars, learning the basics of the speciality, and assisting the consultants during ward rounds. As time went on, George’s role has evolved, and he now works
in the cardiac critical care unit, looking after the more complex and acutely unwell patients.
Over the past four years, George has become a constant presence in cardiology, and he has even started accepting referrals for new patients and seeing patients with cardiac problems who are in other parts of the hospital. His dedication to the field is evident, and he also helps the junior doctors as they come onto cardiology for their rotations. George said, “Every new rotation of doctors teaches me something new.”
George’s commitment to cardiology goes beyond his workday; he even ran the London Marathon to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. To advance his career, he is also working on getting his accreditation in echocardiography. This involves scanning patients with a portable echo device at the bedside and logging 250 cases in a portfolio to prove his skills with echocardiography.
If you want to learn more about George’s journey as a Physician Associate, you can listen to his podcast episode. George is a valuable member of the cardiology team, and his hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed.
If you have a story you would like to share, contact the editorial team on : EDITOR@PA-PER.CO.UK
People say there is no career development for physician associates. Indeed, PAs do not have the same postgraduate career routes, training pathways and exams set out for us as Doctors do. But this is a massive advantage of being a physician associate. We can enjoy the ‘blue sky thinking’ approach to developing a career in a way that excites you.
Here are some of the many options across the country – some of which I’ve enjoyed taking part in – which will hopefully inspire you as to what you can get involved with as a physician associate…
The FSRH diploma lists physician associates as welcome to apply, and teaches the knowledge and skills to enable you to carry out effective contraception consultation as part of a comprehensive approach to sexual and reproductive healthcare. Almost all learning can be completed remotely, and you will be supported by experienced FSRH Registered Trainers who will facilitate your learner journey.
The Diploma in Geriatric Medicine (DGM), awarded by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), is designed for PAs who want to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise in the healthcare of older people. The diploma tests the clinical knowledge and skills required in the field of geriatric medicine to provide expert care for older people. Candidates sit two examinations: an online knowledge-based assessment and a clinical exam. If you’re involved in the provision of care for older people and want to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and understanding of managing frailty and the chronic conditions experienced by older people, this diploma will allow you to prove your expertise.
This is a Master’s level Dermatology CPD specifically listing Physician Associates on their admissions criteria. While it is a very intense course, Sally is a physician associate who has recently completed the course and praised the excellent teaching from Dr Schofield. Sally said: ‘The course has really helped me improve my dermatology knowledge, and I use the skills I’ve gained every day in my practice in a GP surgery’.
I have a real passion for medical education and supporting PA students; so I was thrilled to be able to do a PG certificate in medical education. Courses like this will be available at many universities across the UK. UEA’s course appealed to me, as it was where I had done both my undergraduate degree and PA studies, and was local to me. The course was delivered online, and was extremely interesting to me – covering topics such as learning theories, how adults learn, and the uniqueness of delivering clinical education. The course gave me a body of knowledge and principles to facilitate teaching, learning and assessment in practice-based settings, and lead on to me securing a job at Anglia Ruskin University as a lecturer on their PA course!
This course helped me brush up on the finer points of diabetes care and improved my knowledge of some of the newer therapies that are available. The course is delivered flexibly, online or face-to-face, and offers excellent CPD for PAs managing diabetes in primary care. I learnt a lot about the importance of the correct food and diets for people with diabetes and more about the drug and psychological management of DM patients.
On Becoming offers development for people serious about human growth and leadership potential. On Becoming engages its participants in-depth - to see who you really are with new eyes - in service of their agency and impact in their worlds. On Becoming run various courses, including taking on bespoke cohorts of Physician Associates onto a path of self-discovery and development. The On Becoming team also offer bespoke facilitation and team/individual coaching.
Some of the key skills from On Becoming you’ll learn include:
• Self-development and professional development
• Self-knowledge
• Personal authority
• What you notice (or don’t)
• How you communicate empathy and compassion
• How present you are to yourself and others
• How you handle conflict
• How successfully you influence and negotiate
WRITTEN BY JAMES CATTONIf you have something great to share, please contact us on: EDITOR@PA-PER.CO.UK
Share your inspiring stories and experiences as a PA.
Let’s celebrate your fantastic work and inspire one another.
