Many clinically practicing physician assistants/physician associates (PAs) see education as the next phase of their careers. After all, teaching a generation of clinicians can be an incredibly rewarding professional endeavor. However, our clinical training and experience does little to specifically prepare us for education and a career in academia. So, how can PAs set themselves up for success in academia and compete for faculty jobs at top PA programs? Writing and publication can help you get a job in physician assistant education.
Writing and publication helped me get a job in PA education
I landed my first full-time faculty position at a “Top 5” PA program at just 30 years old. While I had done plenty of things throughout my short career to lay the groundwork for this move, the most important thing I did was build a portfolio of writing and publication experience. Despite my shortcomings and weaknesses as a young prospective educator (and I had plenty), my strong track record of publication helped me stand out among the field of potential faculty and even among seasoned PA educators.
“…either make me money or make me famous.”
-Anonymous University Dean
Why do universities care about writing and publication?
Life in academia is strange. The goals of universities are somewhat different than hospitals and clinics. And the measures of success are different as well. While universities (and PA programs) certainly need to make money to pay salaries and keep the lights on, they also deal in other currencies. Schools rise to prominence, in part, based on the accomplishments and reputations of their faculty members. Ground-breaking research and other high-profile work can draw attention to a university and, in turn, attract high-caliber faculty and students. It also attracts grant money and donations. A dean at a prominent university once told me that the best faculty “either make me money or make me famous.”
Of course, not every professor aims to win a Nobel prize, nor should they. Numerous small accomplishments will, over time, build a mountain of success. Universities know this and expect their faculty to contribute outside of the classroom, even in small ways. They have a special term for this academic work that reaches beyond the walls of their institutions: scholarship.
What is scholarship?
Scholarship is any work that a) meets the standards of academic rigor (basically, it’s high-quality work worthy of a university professor) and b) is disseminated in some way so that others can see it and benefit from it. The traditional (some would say “old-school”) definition of scholarship was very strict. It meant that scholarship was limited to things like original research studies published in academic journals or chapters written in dusty old textbooks.
But the world is changing and so is scholarship. The definition of scholarship certainly includes anything written in academic journals, but also encompasses things like conference presentations and research posters. More progressive institutions are starting to also acknowledge other work like online videos, podcasts, and even social media posts, if they have academic merit. My CV mentions Instagram videos I made that discuss important academic topics and have thousands of views. Remember, “make me money or make me (Instagram) famous.”
You never know: if your writing wins an award, you might just be a hot commodity for jobs in PA education.
How can writing and publishing set you up for that dream teaching job?
Unfortunately for the profession (but luckily for you), the bar for publishing within the PA profession is very low. Survey data shows that PAs publish very little and most of what we publish comes from the same small group of very prolific scholars. In fact, the median number of publications for PAs is zero and about half of PA faculty out there have never published anything in their entire careers!
I am personally working hard to try to change that but, in the meantime, you can use it to your advantage. Even a small number of relatively simple publications will make you stand out from the crowd. In addition, the fact that you have decided to undertake these projects before your formal academic career has begun will signal that you are a driven and talented person with an upward trajectory, the exact type of person a quality PA program will take a chance on hiring.
Where should you start?
Does this mean you should start organizing a massive randomized controlled trial at your hospital or clinic? Absolutely not. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Start Small– you are likely doing this work on your free time, in between exhausting clinical work and everything else your life entails. Pick small, simple projects to start. Too big of a task right away might sink you. I discuss this concept more in this article.
Pick a topic that excites you– Remember, this is going to be a crown jewel of your CV and something you will likely want to discuss at job interviews. The more excited you are about your work—and the more you can talk about its future potential—the more attractive you will be as a faculty candidate.
Create a network– find someone who is already working in the topic area that interests you the most and reach out. Ask for advice, offer to collaborate, or simply express your appreciation for the work they have already done. The PA education world is very small and connections are important. Just keep in mind that if you are asking for help, specific questions are much easier to answer than broad requests for advice. Go in with an agenda and see where it leads.
The best time to start is now
Your foray into teaching might be a long, gradual process, but the sooner you start building a portfolio—and a reputation—for scholarly work, the shorter you can make that journey. Brush your hesitation aside and get started on any small task that represents the first step toward your goal. If you are absolutely stuck and can’t think of an idea, try using this guide: The First Five Steps to Publication. Good luck!
