JPAE Podcast

Coaching for Success: Rethinking Student Support in PA Education

In this episode, hosts Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, editor-in-chief of the Journal of PA Education, and Carey Barry, MHS, PA-C, chair and associate clinical professor at Northeastern University, are joined by Joy Hampton, DMSc, MS, PA-C, Assistant Professor at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, for a discussion on student success coaching in PA education. Dr. Hampton shares the development of a pilot coaching program designed to support newly matriculated PA students who continued to struggle despite existing academic resources. She explains how the program used referral criteria and a student-driven coaching model focused on metacognition, resilience, accountability, and long-term growth. The conversation explores how coaching differs from traditional advising and remediation, along with the specialized training Dr. Hampton completed to prepare for the role. She also reviews the study design and findings from a retrospective evaluation of the program, including both quantitative and qualitative outcomes, positive student feedback, and lessons learned from implementing coaching within PA education. This episode is sponsored by AMBOSS [http://go.amboss.com/pa-edu].   Show notes JPAE article: Implementation of a Student Success Coaching Program [https://journals.lww.com/jpae/abstract/9900/implementation_of_a_student_success_coaching.292.aspx]   The JPAE Podcast is produced by Association Briefings [https://associationbriefings.com/].

Predicting Success: Using EOC Data to Prepare Students for the PANCE

In this episode, hosts Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, and Carey Barry, MHS, PA-C, are joined by Ryan A. Downey, PhD, Mitchell Barnett, PharmD, MS, and Susan Jameson, PhD, to discuss their JPAE article on using the PAEA End of Curriculum (EOC) exam to assess student readiness for the PANCE. The conversation explores the challenge of balancing remediation with real-world consequences, as Dr. Jameson outlines concerns about raising EOC passing scores and the financial, logistical, and psychological impact on students—alongside the high stakes of PANCE failure. The team shares how they developed and validated a program-specific predictive model using six years of data, finding the EOC exam to be a strong standalone predictor, with only modest gains from additional assessments. They also discuss how incorporating error metrics helped create a more reliable cut score, leading to 100% PANCE pass rates. The episode highlights the importance of dedicated learner support and looks ahead to a multi-site follow-up study. Show notes JPAE article: Using the End of Curriculum Exam to Evaluate Student Readiness: Balancing the Need for Remediation Against Real-World Consequences [https://www.ovid.com/jnls/jpae/abstract/10.1097/jpa.0000000000000736~using-the-end-of-curriculum-exam-to-evaluate-student?redirectionsource=fulltextview] The JPAE Podcast is produced by Association Briefings [https://associationbriefings.com/].

Navigating AI in PA Education

In this episode, hosts Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, and Carey Barry, MHS, PA-C, are joined by Chris Roman, DMS, PA-C, associate professor in PA Studies at Butler University, and David Bunnell, PhD, MSHS, PA-C, DFAAPA, assistant professor in the Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program at the University of Maryland, to discuss physician associate students’ use of large language models during the didactic year. The guests share findings from their qualitative research exploring how PA students are integrating LLMs into their studies. Through interviews with students from two programs, they found that learners often use these tools to generate practice questions, clarify complex concepts, and prepare for assessments. They also discuss the benefits and concerns students reported, including efficiency and study support alongside worries about inaccurate outputs and limited institutional guidance. The conversation touches on broader issues such as equity, intellectual property, and the evolving role of AI in competency-based PA education.   Show notes JPAE article: Physician Associate Student Use of Large Language Models to Support Learning: A Phenomenological Study [https://journals.lww.com/jpae/abstract/9900/physician_associate_student_use_of_large_language.287.aspx] The JPAE Podcast is produced by Association Briefings [https://associationbriefings.com/].

Specialization in PA Education: Exploring the Future of the Profession

In this episode, hosts Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, and Carey Barry, MHS, PA-C, welcome Malwina Huzarska, director of didactic education and assistant professor in the PA program at The George Washington University, along with Sarah Marsan, admissions officer for the university’s PA program, to explore emerging research on specialization in PA education. The conversation examines how the evolving healthcare landscape may require shifts in PA curricula to better support students and align with workforce needs. Together, they discuss the potential move from a generalist to a more specialized training model, consider the implications of curriculum changes and a possible PA doctorate pathway, and highlight the importance of continued research, collaboration, and dialogue among educators, policymakers, and students. This episode is sponsored by Body Interact [https://bodyinteract.com/physician-assistant]. Explore Body Interact’s new PA Virtual Simulation Catalog and see how it supports your curriculum: https://bodyinteract.com/physician-assistant [https://bodyinteract.com/physician-assistant].   Show notes JPAE article: Preparing for the Future: A Call to Examine Specialization in Physician Assistant Education [https://journals.lww.com/jpae/abstract/9900/preparing_for_the_future__a_call_to_examine.284.aspx] The JPAE Podcast is produced by Association Briefings [https://associationbriefings.com/].

Predicting PANCE Success: What EOC Exams Can Tell PA Educators

In this episode, hosts Dr. Trenton Honda and Carrie Berry are joined by Rachel Ditoro, EdD, MSPAS, PA-C; Shalon R. Buchs, EdD, PA-C; and Jennifer Coombs, PhD, PA-C, MPAS to discuss their research on the predictive value of the Physician Assistant Education Association’s (PAEA) end-of-curriculum (EOC) exams for performance on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). The conversation explores what inspired the study, how the research team came together, and the methods used to analyze exam performance data. The guests also discuss the importance of identifying at-risk students earlier in the educational process and how EOC exams can support timely intervention. The episode concludes with a look at how these findings can inform PA education practices, strengthen student support strategies, and offer practical takeaways for educators and learners alike. Show notes JPAE article: Physician Assistant Education Association End of Curriculum Exam as a Predictor for Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination Performance [https://journals.lww.com/jpae/abstract/9900/physician_assistant_education_association_end_of.257.aspx] The JPAE Podcast is produced by Association Briefings [https://associationbriefings.com/].