Developing Tomorrow’s PA Leaders: A Guide for Educators
Leadership in healthcare is no longer a “nice-to-have” skill—it’s essential. As integral members of healthcare teams, PAs must navigate complex relationships with patients, providers, and systems, making leadership skills critical for success.
To address this need, the PAEA Leadership Mission Advancement Commission (LMAC) has developed a comprehensive toolkit to help instructors embed leadership development throughout PA education.
Why Leadership Development Can’t Wait
While healthcare increasingly demands strong leaders, many medical education programs struggle to integrate leadership training effectively. PA leaders are increasingly being tapped for roles in team coordination, quality improvement, and organizational leadership.
Additionally, accreditation standards require programs to develop students’ professionalism, communication, and interprofessional practice skills—all core leadership competencies.
In short, the demand is there. The opportunities are there. What’s missing is a roadmap.
The Solution: Integrating Leadership Development into PA Curricula
PAEA’s new Leadership Toolkit for PA Educators transforms how faculty teach leadership, offering practical strategies for both classroom and clinical settings.
The toolkit focuses on three pillars:
- Leading Self – Build emotional intelligence, resilience, and self-awareness.
- Leading Others – Strengthen teamwork, communication, and mentorship skills.
- Leading Organizations – Master systems thinking, policy, and healthcare structures.
Every section provides ready-to-use resources and our innovative “Session in a Box” exercises – everything you need to implement leadership training in your program.
What PA Educators Are Saying
“Leadership isn’t a title you earn later—it’s a mindset we should nurture from day one. This toolkit helps PA educators plant those seeds early, so our students graduate ready to lead with skill, purpose, and heart.”
– Melanie Ellis, MPAS, PA-C, University of Arizona and LMAC Chair
“Educators often step into academia with strong clinical leadership experience but little formal training in education leadership. The toolkit helps bridge that gap; not by offering one-size-fits-all solutions, but by providing adaptable strategies and insights that educators can tailor to their roles, teams, and institutional culture. It’s a practical starting point for growing into leadership that truly makes an impact.”
– Christine Rodgers, EdD, MPAS, MPH, PA-C, University of Pittsburgh and LMAC Member
Student Impact
Effective leadership transforms how PA students approach patient care through enhanced confidence, decisive action, and collaborative teamwork.
“PA students come to the table with energy, intelligence, and motivation. It feels like we all want to change the world
,but aren’t sure where to start. I think PA students are ripe for leadership training and am excited to see this further embedded in PA education.”
– Alison Streeter, Yale PA Online, PAEA Student Member at Large
By introducing students to leadership as a mindset—not just a position—we help them prepare for every role they’ll hold in their careers.
Ready to Lead?
Transform your program’s approach to leadership development:
Help shape the future of healthcare – one PA leader at a time.
