I don't think I need to say this, but if you have been teaching for any period of time, I know there have been times when you have been frustrated by your students. Teaching is hard. Students can be challenging, a mix that undoubtedly can lead to feeling stressed and impatient. We are human,...

I can't even begin to count how often I have heard this statement or said it myself, "Students don't read." Yet we all know reading is essential for learning and to stay up-to-date medically. The growing concern of students not reading isn't new. Faculty have been noticing this trend for quite...

Recently, I came across an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education that caught my attention and got me thinking. I don't know about you, but over the more recent years, I have found students so focused on needing to get an A, as if it defines them as a student, a person, and a future PA....

One thing that seems to be automatically assumed is that everyone knows how to use PowerPoint effectively. It certainly seems simple enough. But the truth is there are definitely some basic tips and pointers you should know to help you and to help you provide your guest lecturers. I am sure you...

Navigating student complaints can be uncomfortable and challenging at times. Emotions can run high, and it can be stressful. In my experience, the complaints are often due to misunderstandings, miscommunications, or mismatching of expectations. Early in my PA teaching days, I made a comment to a...

In part 1 of this two part series, we looked at the challenges many of us in education are having with trying to help our students learn and study more effectively. The article presented the research about what we know about how students study, those study strategies and approaches that have been...

In the current environment, there have been challenging conflicts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and increasing movements toward banning it. Three states have already passed bills banning or limiting DEI in higher education institutions, and another eight have laws in place...

Multiple choice questions (MCQ) are the mainstay for assessing higher cognitive thinking and are commonly used in medical profession programs, certification, and board exams (NBME, 2021). Writing good multiple-choice questions (MCQ) takes time and practice. It is a knowledge base and skill all...

I recently read an article confirming some of my thoughts about changing our profession's name. I don't usually write opinion pieces, and I am unsure if this will qualify as one, but I want to share my thoughts about it.   

The debate about our name has been an on again - off again...

Have you ever walked into a classroom and felt uncomfortable? Was it because it was dimly lit? Was it a mess with desks, chairs, and all types of items strewn around the room? Did it look as if the board had not been cleaned in weeks? Were there no windows? Were the lights buzzing? Did it smell...