A Thanksgiving Message for PA Educators

In physician assistant education, we frequently discuss competencies, curriculum design, assessment systems, accreditation cycles, and clinical site development. These are the backbone of high-quality PA training, the reason programs across the country continue to graduate exceptionally prepared clinicians.

Thanksgiving allows us to pause and look beyond our workflows and to-do lists. Let’s reflect on the people who bring these systems to life: the faculty, preceptors, support staff, and clinical partners. Let’s not forget the students whose dedication and compassion inspire everything we do. And finally, I would like to thank our colleagues who continually ensure our improvement.

As this season of gratitude arrives, it feels right to express thanks for the humans who make PA education not only possible, but meaningful.

Thankful for the faculty who give their best

PA educators are a special brand of committed professional. The workload is demanding and sometimes underestimated, encompassing course development, simulation planning, advising, clinical coordination, assessment analysis, site visits, service roles, committee work, onboarding new cohorts, and accreditation preparation. And that’s before even stepping into the classroom.

Yet, PA faculty continue to show up fully, meeting with struggling students, staying late preparing new content, redesigning labs and clinical experiences annually, in response to changing standards and learner needs. They craft assessments with intention, evaluating not just knowledge but professionalism, communication, critical thinking, and patient-centered care.

What makes PA faculty extraordinary is not just what they do, but why they do it. They choose this profession because they care deeply about shaping clinicians who will, in turn, care deeply for others. The ripple effect of their work extends far beyond the classroom.

Thankful for preceptors and clinical partners who open their doors and days

Every PA program director knows the clinical year depends on people who volunteer their time, energy, and emotional labor. Preceptors assume a challenging responsibility: balancing patient care, documentation, and workflow while simultaneously creating opportunities for students to learn.

Though it’s seldom what we could call quick, easy, or convenient, preceptors do it anyway, because they believe in giving back to the profession. They value the excitement of teaching and want to strengthen the PA workforce with competent, compassionate clinicians.

Clinical partners, like hospitals, private practices, community clinics, urgent care centers, and rural health organizations, are equally vital. They maintain relationships with programs, adapt to scheduling, respond to evaluation requests, and support the educational mission even when resources are tight.

We are deeply grateful for every preceptor who sits with a student and says, “Here, try this,” “Let me explain this case,” or “Tell me what you’re thinking.” Those moments are the bridge between knowing and doing, theory and practice.

Without preceptors, PA education simply could not function. This Thanksgiving, they deserve our recognition and heartfelt thanks.

Thankful for the staff and administrators who keep things running smoothly

Behind every successful PA program is a network of staff, like coordinators, administrative assistants, admissions professionals, technology specialists, assessment directors, and accreditation managers, who do the quiet, steady work that holds everything together.

They handle the scheduling, compliance paperwork, correspondence, logistics, timelines, tracking, and the daily operations that students seldom see but rely on entirely. Their work ensures continuity, organization, and quality. They bring stability to fast-paced programs and maintain steady support for faculty and students alike. In effect, they are like the “stage crew” that ensures that the show goes on! Without stepping into the spotlight, they ensure that each performance runs smoothly.

We are thankful for their dedication, attention to detail, adaptability, and commitment to student success.

Thankful for the students who inspire us

No Thanksgiving message would be complete without acknowledging the people who drive the mission of PA education: the students.

PA students come from increasingly diverse backgrounds - too myriad to list here, in fact! But they share a common thread: a calling to serve.

Their commitment is serious. PA school is academically rigorous, emotionally demanding, and physically exhausting. Students sacrifice time, finances, sleep, comfort, and often their personal lives to pursue a profession built on service.

They push through self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and long nights of studying as they learn to navigate complex patient interactions, build resilience through challenging rotations, and adapt with humility and curiosity.

Most importantly, they remind us all why PA education matters. The student coaches I work with repeatedly say that one of their favorite on-the-job moments is the “a-ha” moment students experience when something finally clicks. Those moments energize us and validate countless hours of behind-the-scenes work.

We are sincerely thankful for every student who chooses the PA path. They are the future of healthcare and the heart of every PA program.

Thankful for continuous improvement

Over the past few weeks, my blogs have talked (with some caution) about ARC-PA’s 6th Edition Standards. But in the spirit of the holiday, let’s be thankful for the ARC-PA’s commitment to quality in PA education, and to all our programs doing the deep work of improving their self-study, assessment systems, and learning outcomes.

A final thanks

This Thanksgiving, we honor all the people who make PA education extraordinary:

• The faculty who teach with passion,

• the preceptors who mentor with generosity,

• the staff who support with steady reliability,

• the students who inspire with purpose, and

• the organizations devoted to our constant improvement

PA education is not just a system but a community built on service, compassion, and shared commitment to preparing clinicians who will make a profound difference in patients’ lives.

To every educator, administrator, preceptor, and student: thank you! Your work and dedication matter. The impact we can all make together is immeasurable.

I wish you all a happy, restorative, and deeply meaningful Thanksgiving!