Year in Review: Most Popular Articles
How will you remember 2020?
While you likely will not look back on the year with endearment, we hope that you will feel great pride. We hope that you will see what we see.
We see a community of PA educators who led with creativity and resilience in the face of uncertainty, banded together to share resources with colleagues across the country, and advocated for racial justice both in our nation and our programs – all while guiding students, caring for patients, and so much more.
As we look back on 2020, we are again amazed at the grit, innovation, and leadership shown by you – our members. In the midst of it all, you served with extraordinary sacrifice and courage, pushing forward and learning lessons that will benefit you, your students, and the future of PA education in the years to come and beyond.
In honor of this transformative year, we are sharing a look at the most popular articles and resources released in 2020.
1. Virtual Shadowing: Helping Students Prepare for PA School Applications During COVID-19
One of three articles about admissions in the time of COVID-19, this piece explored virtual shadowing as a possible way for pre-PA students to gain needed experience to fulfill part of their admissions requirements.
2. Coronavirus Contingency Planning: A Joint Statement from ARC-PA and PAEA
PAEA worked alongside ARC-PA to develop a joint statement to provide useful guidance as programs developed plans to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. 6 New PA Programs Set to Open Their Doors
This article congratulates the latest group of PA programs to receive ARC-PA provisional accreditation.
4. COVID-19 Stimulus Law Includes Needed Relief for PA Education
Detailing critical sources of relief for both PA programs and students.
5. Virtual Interviews: The Current “Normal” for Admissions
Paul Gonzales, assistant professor at the Touro University – California PA program and Janie McDaniel, director of admissions at the Yale PA Online program, provided tips to help programs and pre-PAs adjust to a virtual interview environment.
6. Preparing for the New ARC-PA Diversity and Inclusion Standard
This year, PAEA released new diversity, equity, and inclusion resources, building on the ongoing work around goal #1 of our current strategic plan. The release of these resources came at a time of heightened awareness of the racial inequities in higher education and in society at large.
7. Helping Disadvantaged Students Become PAs
Carolyn Bradley Guidry and her team secured a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health Resources and Services Administration as part of the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Program.
8. A Safe Space for Uncomfortable Conversation
An overview of the first PAEA Student Town Hall on racial injustice, where students had the opportunity to share and process their feelings about not only the injustices that occurred this summer, but also about their past experiences with racial discrimination.
9. Racial Injustice Affects Health for All
PAEA President Howard Straker called upon PA programs to support their students, faculty, and staff – especially individuals of color – through the traumatic events surrounding the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd, as well as the disproportionate numbers of Black, Latinx, and Native peoples contracting and dying from COVID-19.
10. Developing Doctoral Programs for PA Educators: Is It Time?
This article discussed the rising demand and considerations for pursuing a doctoral degree by PA faculty.
For additional reflections and learning, visit these popular resources shared this year in the PAEA Digital Learning Hub:
- PAEA Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit
- ECU PA Clinical Year Contingency Assignments
- Presidents Commission 2020: Reflections on a PA Entrance Exam
- PAEA PACKRAT 25th Anniversary Faculty Guide
- Physician Assistant History Module
- COVID-19 Resource Channel
We wish you a safe and happy holiday season and offer hope for the new year ahead.
