Finding His Way to the Finish Line

Everything is not lost.

For over two decades, he’s been the definition of endurance—both in medicine and in sport. A seasoned Emergency Room PA-C. An Ironman athlete. Someone who knows exactly what it means to push through pain. But nothing could prepare him for the moment everything changed. Last year, he experienced a life-altering injury that challenged not just his physical limits—but his identity, his purpose, and his outlook in a way that rivals the devastation many feel after failing the PANCE. This episode is about what happens when resilience is no longer a choice—but a necessity… and how community, perspective, and mindset can carry you through the moments that feel impossible.

Finding His Way to the Finish Line

Today I’m joined by Shin, whose path to becoming a PA was anything but straightforward. As a Korean immigrant, his journey included a few unexpected turns—including reluctant military service—before eventually finding his way to PA school. But even after graduating, the road wasn’t over. Shin faced multiple PANCE failures that tested not just his knowledge, but his confidence. In this episode, we talk about the long and winding journey that brought him to his final attempt—the mindset shifts, the strategies that finally clicked, and how persistence and the right support helped him cross the finish line.

Princess and her PANCE....

Listen now to hear whether or not Princess passed her PANCE!!!!

Real Talk with my PA School Bestie!

In this episode, I sit down with my PA school bestie to talk about practicing as a PA, balancing life and family, and the challenges of recertifying. We share an honest discussion about failing the PANRE and why it doesn’t define your career—or your worth.

Rooting for her!

Today’s episode is about advocacy, confidence, and showing up when things feel hard. I’m sitting down with a wife, a mom of two, and a future PA who navigated PA school with dyslexia and ADHD — and learned just how challenging high-stakes testing environments can be. She missed passing the PANCE by just eight points after testing with a live reader rather than the computer-based format she was used to, and that experience shook her confidence. But this is not where her story ends. She’s done the work to rebuild her self-trust, advocated for the support she needs, and is stepping into her next attempt ready. And today, our community is here to cheer her on.