Olivia Graham, PA-C

As we all know, getting through PA school is no easy task. From multiple exams a week to balancing clinical year and PANCE prep, it takes a lot of time, dedication, and resilience to succeed.  After I graduated in May 2021, I was inspired to help future PAs achieve their dreams, so I started with read more…

Performing well on your end-of-rotation (EOR) exams is essential. Unsurprisingly, those who consistently perform well on their end-of-rotation exams are more likely to do well on their PANCE and ultimately feel more confident in their first year of practice (and beyond)! To set you up for success as a new PA, we’ll talk about some read more…

Congratulations! You’ve made it into your didactic year of PA school! Now, what should you expect when you get there? The didactic year of PA school is—in all honesty—something of a whirlwind. This is when you’ll learn the foundation of your medical knowledge, prepare for your clinical year and the PANCE, and ultimately give you read more…

Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQs) for physician assistants were developed in 2011, in the hope of providing added distinction for PAs in specialty areas.  If you’re thinking about getting a CAQ, you probably have some questions about them. In this post, we’ll take a look at some basic information when it comes to getting a read more…

Congratulations, you did it! You finally took the PANCE. You hit submit and have left the testing center. Now, after months of studying and preparing, two questions inevitably arise: When will I get my score? And what should I do while I’m waiting?  In this blog, we’ll answer both questions for you! Let’s begin by read more…

The PANCE is a rite of passage we all have to endure on the road to becoming a PA-C. The question is, with everything you have to know for the test, how do you go about creating a PANCE study guide? At times, exam prep can seem as big a mountain to climb as the read more…

Taking the PANCE is the culmination of your PA school journey. Everything you learned comes down to passing this one test before you can FINALLY put your knowledge to work. The odds of you passing the boards are high, especially if you put in the work—the PANCE pass rate was 92% in 2022, so the read more…

As you start to think ahead to your “next steps” after PA school, you may be considering ways to enhance your clinical skills, expand your network, and make yourself a more competitive candidate for your dream job. Remember, your number one priority as a PA student is to focus on your didactic coursework, clinical rotations, read more…

I have written a lot of generalized blog posts on the PA experience, but I have yet to take the time to really explain my career. While I’ve known for some time that I wanted to go into the field of Cardiothoracic Surgery, I did not actually get this position right out of graduate school.  read more…

Transitioning from the didactic portion of the PA program to clinical year can be a whirlwind. At this time, you will go from sitting in class all day to working a full 40-hour week. Although there is a reduction in the number of exams you may have to take, there is definitely no shortage of read more…

Whether you’re just starting physician assistant school or you’re knuckling through your PA clinical year, surviving PA school can be a tricky chapter of your educational journey. But you don’t have to tackle these challenges alone! If you’re struggling with any of the following obstacles during PA school, a tutor may just be your new read more…

Maybe you’re accepting your first PA job offer or maybe you’ve had experience trying to take charge (and falling short) while negotiating your PA contract. Whatever the case, knowing how to effectively make your case during contract negotiations is an essential skill for any healthcare professional. What Happens Before the Job Offer Gets to You? read more…

Whether you have one job offer or multiple, the process of finally accepting your first position as a newly certified PA is equally as exciting as it is overwhelming. You’ve worked so hard to make it to this point, and now your career as a health care professional is finally materializing.  However, it’s important to read more…

One of the most exciting yet stressful times in your PA school experience is when you find yourself finishing up clinical rotations. In between preparing for the PANCE, awaiting graduation, and finally looking at job opportunities, it’s important to celebrate your accomplishments yet practically impossible not to feel overwhelmed. So, to alleviate the stress and read more…

According to a 2021 survey by The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation, 55% of front-line health care workers reported symptoms of burnout (physical or emotional exhaustion surrounding work). Practicing as a PA, like any other medical profession, is an extremely rewarding career that requires focus, critical thinking, and a lot of responsibility. With read more…

If you’re on the path to becoming a PA-C, there’s a good chance you’ve wondered what your salary and overall compensation will look like at the end of the road. The short answer is that, according to the AAPA Salary Report, the median salary for a practicing PA in 2021 was $115,000. The long answer read more…

Are you thinking about pursuing a career as a PA? If you’re wondering how long your overall PA journey will take, there are a few variables to consider first. The pathway to becoming a PA varies depending on where you are in your career and your educational background. Here’s an overview of how long PA read more…

Although each student is different, the PA education and certification process poses similar challenges for all individuals. As a recent graduate, I can attest that the transition to the graduate program and subsequent preparation for the board examination can be a whirlwind. If you’re struggling to feel confident going into your PA school exams, you’re read more…