A Beautiful PA Life

About A Beautiful PA Life

If you're like me, you're a physician assistant (PA-C, physician associate!) who is over the constant cycle of burnout in the healthcare system. You're ready to start THRIVING. You became a PA because you want the best of both worlds. You can serve the patients you love without losing yourself. You can thrive after healthcare burnout. And here, you’ll find just the tools and evidence-based practices that you need to create a beautiful PA life.

Category

education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Jun 2024

Latest episode

13 Oct 2024

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Oct 2024

   12. Face tattoos made him a better PA – “Professionalism” with WAPA president Joshua Lumsden, PA-C

   Join me for this week’s 🪴Thriving PA Community Hour 🤗ALL about professionalism and authenticity – I’d love to hear your story and what professionalism looks like to you! https://rachellacosta.myflodesk.com/thrivingpa Join me on this episode of A Beautiful PA Life Podcast for an interview with Joshua Lumsden, PA-C, a physician assistant with a passion for LGBTQ+ healthcare and PA advocacy. Joshua discusses the importance of authenticity and representation in patient care. He discusses the importance of maintaining professionalism while being true to oneself and the impact of visible tattoos on his practice. Joshua also highlights his leadership role in the Washington Academy of PAs and his commitment to advocating for the PA community.

2. 

   6 Oct 2024

   11. Step into your ~thriving~ era this PA week!

   Join me in this episode of A Beautiful PA Life Podcast to celebrate PA Week and discuss the importance of self-care and thriving in healthcare. Rachel delves into the issue of burnout, its symptoms, and the prevalence of stress among healthcare providers. Rachel introduces the PA-C method—Prioritize Your Well-Being, Authentic Action, and Connect with Community—as a framework for overcoming burnout and fostering a supportive community. She emphasizes the significance of taking time off, managing stress, and creating a thriving list of activities that promote well-being. The episode concludes with an invitation to join the Thriving PA Community Hour, encouraging listeners to connect and support one another.

3. 

   29 Sept 2024

   10. Embodiment: Finding calm in the body, with neuromuscular therapist Nicki Mercede

   Join me this episode of A Beautiful PA Life Podcast for an interview with Nikki Mercede, a neuromuscular therapist, about the profound connection between the mind and body. They explore Nikki's journey into massage therapy, the importance of embodiment, and various therapeutic techniques including craniosacral therapy and emotional freedom techniques (EFT). The conversation emphasizes the significance of listening to one's body, understanding the vagus nerve, and the role of self-trust in personal healing. Nikki shares practical tools for resetting the nervous system and highlights the need for holistic approaches to health and wellness.

4. 

   22 Sept 2024

   9. 5 tools from Eastern medicine you need as a PA, with Michelle Dellene, MMS, PA-C, RYT

   Join me this episode of A Beautiful PA Life Podcast for an interview with Michelle Dellene, MMS, PA-C, RYT. In this episode, Michelle shares her journey of healing from multiple sclerosis through the integration of Eastern and Western medicine into her life and clinical practice. Michelle discusses her experiences with medical gaslighting, the impact of her diagnosis on her identity as a PA, and the importance of daily practices such as meditation and yoga. She emphasizes the need for healthcare professionals to prioritize their health and well-being while empowering others in the medical field. Michelle also highlights her leadership role in the American Association of Surgical PAs and her mission to heal the healers through coaching and education on incorporating Eastern medical practices into their lives.

5. 

   15 Sept 2024

   8. These 6 mismatches are the keys to fixing your burnout – Burnout Series Part 2 with Dr. Allison Smith, PT, DPT, PhD

   Join me this episode of A Beautiful PA Life Podcast for an interview with Dr. Allison Smith, PT, DPT, PhD, as she discusses the critical issue of burnout among healthcare providers, exploring its origins, symptoms, and the profound impact it has on individuals and the healthcare system. The conversation delves into the concept of mismatches in the workplace, from Maslach and Leiter’s The Burnout Challenge, identifying burnout profiles, and offering strategies for both individuals and healthcare systems to address burnout effectively. Rachel gets some individualized coaching on her burnout, including the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care, alongside the need for systemic changes to support healthcare workers. Ultimately, the discussion highlights the pursuit of a balanced and fulfilling life in the demanding field of healthcare.

6. 

   8 Sept 2024

   7. From resigning to THRIVING: knowing your worth, the cost of staying, and getting what you WANT, with burnout expert Tracy Bingaman, PA-C

   Join me this episode of A Beautiful PA Life Podcast for an interview with Tracy Bingaman, a PA and advocate for PAs, who shares her journey from experiencing burnout in her own career to taking back her fulfillment and empowering other clinicians to do the same. She discusses the common symptoms of burnout, including exhaustion, depersonalization, and a sense of futility. Tracy emphasizes the need for PAs to prioritize self-care and set boundaries in order to prevent burnout. She also highlights the importance of financial stability and creating systems to work smarter, not harder. Tracy encourages PAs to prioritize their own well-being for the sake of their patients and offers practical advice for managing burnout. They also discuss the importance of finding fulfillment in one's career and how to negotiate for what you want as a PA. Tracy provides valuable insights and tips on negotiation strategies and highlights the need for PAs to advocate for themselves and their value.

7. 

   1 Sept 2024

   6. A kid with cancer just wants to be a normal kid! Communication, chaos, caretaking, and childhood cancer awareness month.

   Today is September 1st, the first day of Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Join me on a special episode of A Beautiful PA Life Podcast for a beautiful conversation with Christine Jurgensen, whose son was diagnosed with biphenotypic leukemia in 2016. Christine shares the journey of Evan's diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, as well as the importance of normalcy and joy in the lives of children with cancer. Christine discusses the lack of funding for pediatric cancer research and the need for advocacy and support. Christine shares her experiences and offers insights on how PAs can better communicate and support families going through a cancer diagnosis.

8. 

   25 Aug 2024

   5. I didn't learn THIS in PA school - Exam Room Nutrition Pearls with Colleen Sloan, PA-C, RDN

   Join me on this week's episode of A Beautiful PA Life Podcast for a beautiful conversation with Colleen Sloan, PA-C, RDN. We discuss the lack of nutrition education in medical education and the need for healthcare providers to develop counseling skills to effectively address patients' nutrition concerns. Colleen also highlights the importance of listening to patients and tailoring nutrition advice to their specific needs and goals. In this conversation, Colleen emphasizes the importance of nurturing healthy relationships with food and encouraging individualized approaches to nutrition. She highlights the need for clinicians to take a step back from prescribing and instead work hand in hand with patients to understand their struggles and provide personalized support. She discusses her podcast, Exam Room Nutrition, where she interviews registered dietitians and covers a bunch of nutrition topics. Colleen emphasizes the importance of supporting and empowering other women and PAs, and she believes that a beautiful PA life involves making a positive impact on patients' lives and pursuing passions outside of clinical practice.

9. 

   18 Aug 2024

   4. I’m sharing it all – my vulnerable, imperfect, authentic, and beautiful PA life

   I'm sharing it all in this episode! It's raw, it's vulnerable, it's just me. I was honored to be a guest on Simone and Olivia Knego's podcast "Daughter Dearest" about my life, my struggles, my career, and how I have embraced authenticity to truly live my own beautiful PA life. I've done a lot in my career, but truly embracing myself has been an instrumental part to finding that balance. I hope that hearing my story might make you feel less alone. I’ve struggled just like you--I’m doing my best. I’m not perfect. But even the imperfections are part of the beauty of my life. :)

10. 

    11 Aug 2024

    3. “Ma’am, you have burnout!” with Abby Calabrese

    “Ma’am, you have burnout!” with Abby Calabrese Episode Pearls Your career path as a physician assistant (PA) can be nonlinear, and it's important to attune to intuition and make changes when red flags show up—this doesn’t mean you are abandoning a role which was previously serving you. Self-care is not a one-size-fits-all approach and should be personalized to your needs and preferences. Thinking about what self-care means for you as an individual and starting with little shifts have the biggest impact. Women should support and lift each other up, rather than compete, in order to achieve success and fulfillment for all of us. There is no such thing as one-way liberation. Cutting out alcohol may have a positive impact on mental and physical well-being—ignoring the red flags perpetuates the physical and mental impacts. Alcohol is often used as a coping mechanism for burnout and stress, but it can exacerbate the problem and prevent true self-repair from occurring. Navigating burnout as a PA requires a holistic approach that addresses various aspects of life, including career, relationships, self-care, and personal growth. Community and support are crucial in overcoming burnout and creating a more fulfilling life. Making small shifts and taking time for self-reflection can have a significant impact on overall well-being and happiness. Words of Wisdom from the Episode “It’s not like you go to the doctor and they say: ‘ma’am, you have burnout.’” – @itsabbycalabrese (https://www.instagram.com/itsabbycalabrese/) “I need to take a step back. Like there's just no question about it. So I ended up leaving that position I was in and I really had to slow it all down and figure out: why am I getting myself into these positions? Why am I not able to set up certain boundaries? Clearly there were red flags all along the way to that collapse that was like: ‘get out of here, get out of here, get out of here!’ What was causing me to not pay attention to those red flags?” – @itsabbycalabrese (https://www.instagram.com/itsabbycalabrese/) “I think it's so beautiful that you have been in the depths of the hardest of the hard and you figured out how to pull yourself out of it. And now you're extending that hand back to other women.” – @rachel.la.costa (https://www.instagram.com/rachel.la.costa/) “So I make that a part of my month that I'm getting some of that time in there where I'm spending time with women and you know seeing how we can support each other in different things whether it's business or personal or—I don't know, venting about the kid—because there's so much power there.” – @itsabbycalabrese (https://www.instagram.com/itsabbycalabrese/) “In the end, I don't think there's anything more worth it than taking the time to figure out what's going on with yourself and getting that sorted out. Everybody in your life will benefit. And you're obviously gonna benefit your company and your career.” – @itsabbycalabrese (https://www.instagram.com/itsabbycalabrese/) More Information on Today's ABPAL Podcast Guest Abby Calabrese is a sought-after speaker and strategist dedicated to empowering women to build sustainable success. Her approach emphasizes balancing wellness, impact, and personal fulfillment with professional achievement. You can find Abby here: Instagram at @itsabbycalabrese (https://www.instagram.com/itsabbycalabrese/) abbycalabrese.com (http://abbycalabrese.com/) Get Abby's “Career Alignment” Free Training here (https://www.abbycalabrese.com/register). Thanks for joining me for this week's episode of A Beautiful PA Life Podcast! If you loved this episode, it would mean the world to me if you could leave a 5-star rating and a one-sentence review. And hey, if you know a PA who might be having a hard time right now, could you send her this episode? I'm here for you, friend! :) Want more evidence-based tools, expert tips, and Words of Wisdom every Wednesday? Check out my Instagram page here: @rachel.la.costa (https://www.instagram.com/rachel.la.costa/) Are you worried you might be feeling some symptoms of burnout? You can't pour from an empty cup, my friend. Take my quiz: How full is your cup? (https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tryinteract.com%2Fshare%2Fquiz%2F667b0780276e12c16a13c82f&e=AT1xX00cIKZ8vtdbZw79iJWiTL0qTKoudtZCgImYfCGxQ9kOrHRqPmeBey0GN5saga_rKwnxjD5DQKSk7P7N2JgFRLy8Tgs2AdE2zpc) This quiz will give you an objective measurement of your symptoms, right now. And you'll get customized tips so that you can fill your cup today!

11. 

    4 Aug 2024

    2. More than just an "assistant:" We NEED PA advocacy with Kris Pyles-Sweet, DMSc, PA-C

    Episode Title More than just an "assistant:" We NEED PA advocacy with Kris Pyles-Sweet, DMSc, PA-C Episode Breakdown Kris Pyles-Sweet, DMSc, PA-C, is a PA with over 25 years of experience in a multiple specialties. She is also the Secretary-Treasurer of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) and PA practice owner and she joins A Beautiful PA Life Podcast today to share her journey in advocacy and discuss the importance of Optimal Team Practice. She recounts a pivotal moment in her career when her supervising physician unexpectedly passed away, leaving her unable to legally provide care to her patients. This personal experience with a significant barrier to providing care to her patients instantly sparked her passion for advocating for the PA profession. She did not want other PAs to experience the same barriers she was encountering in her own practice. Kris was involved in drafting the Optimal Team Practice recommendations (under the name "Full Practice Authority") with PAs for Tomorrow and emphasizes the need for laws to reflect the actual current way in which PAs practice medicine. She also discusses the barriers to advocacy within the PA profession, including the tendency to embody the name "assistant" rather than actively pursuing advocacy for the profession. Kris encourages PAs to get involved in advocacy by knowing their federal and state laws, joining local and regional PA organizations, and contributing (even just $25!) to PA political action committees (PACs). She practices servant leadership and believes in the importance of educating and supporting PAs as the future of the profession. Kris concludes by sharing her vision for the future of the PA profession and the impact she hopes to make in her role as AAPA's Secretary-Treasurer. Episode Pearls Advocacy is crucial for the PA profession, and PAs should be knowledgeable about their laws and get involved in state organizations and political action committees. Barriers to practice, such as the reluctance to advocate for oneself, need to be addressed within the PA profession. Servant leadership involves educating and supporting others in the profession, and PAs should strive to be servant leaders. Optimal Team Practice is the future of the PA profession - we must ensure that laws reflect the current practice of PAs. Self-care is essential to prevent burnout and maintain a fulfilling career as a PA. More Information on Today's ABPAL Podcast Guest You can find Kris Pyles-Sweet, DMSc, PA-C on Instagram at @pa.pylessweet (https://www.instagram.com/pa.pylessweet/). Thanks for joining me for this week's episode of A Beautiful PA Life Podcast! If you loved this episode, it would mean the world to me if you could leave a 5-star rating and a one-sentence review. And hey, if you know a PA who might be having a hard time right now, could you send her this episode? I'm here for you, friend! :) Want more evidence-based tools, expert tips, and Words of Wisdom every Wednesday? Check out my Instagram page here: @rachel.la.costa (https://www.instagram.com/rachel.la.costa/) Are you worried you might be feeling some symptoms of burnout? You can't pour from an empty cup, my friend. Take my quiz: How full is your cup? (https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tryinteract.com%2Fshare%2Fquiz%2F667b0780276e12c16a13c82f&e=AT1xX00cIKZ8vtdbZw79iJWiTL0qTKoudtZCgImYfCGxQ9kOrHRqPmeBey0GN5saga_rKwnxjD5DQKSk7P7N2JgFRLy8Tgs2AdE2zpc) This quiz will give you an objective measurement of your symptoms, right now. And you'll get customized tips so that you can fill your cup today!

12. 

    28 Jul 2024

    1. Pilot Episode - A Beautiful PA Life

    Impactful episode quotes: "You can serve the patients you love without losing yourself." "I want you to love your career and love your life." "I caught my eye in the mirror... the woman that I saw in the mirror, she was not okay." "Rachel, you're a highly skilled PA. What would you tell your patient?" Thanks for joining me for this week's episode of A Beautiful PA Life Podcast! If you loved this episode, it would mean the world to me if you could leave a 5-star rating and a one-sentence review. Even better, if you know a PA who might be having a hard time right now, could you send her this episode? I'm here for you, friend! :) Want more evidence-based tools, expert tips, and Words of Wisdom every Wednesday? Check out my Instagram page here: @rachel.la.costa (https://www.instagram.com/rachel.la.costa/) Are you worried you might be feeling some symptoms of burnout? You can't pour from an empty cup, my friend. Take my quiz: How full is your cup? (https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tryinteract.com%2Fshare%2Fquiz%2F667b0780276e12c16a13c82f&e=AT1xX00cIKZ8vtdbZw79iJWiTL0qTKoudtZCgImYfCGxQ9kOrHRqPmeBey0GN5saga_rKwnxjD5DQKSk7P7N2JgFRLy8Tgs2AdE2zpc) This quiz will give you an objective measurement of your symptoms, right now. And you'll get customized tips so that you can fill your cup today!

13. 

    18 Jun 2024

    Welcome to A Beautiful PA Life Podcast

    Welcome to A Beautiful PA Life Podcast! I'm Rachel La Costa and if you're like me, you might have the sneaking suspicion that burnout might be right around the corner unless you do something different. You became a PA because you want the best of both worlds. You can serve the patients you love without losing yourself. You can thrive after healthcare burnout. And here, you’ll find just the tools and evidence-based practices that you need to create a beautiful PA life.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

24 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

19 ratings