For anyone interested in the Physician Assistant (PA) profession in Canada. Especially if you are preparing to apply to PA school, a current PA student or those working alongside PAs and wanting to understand the role better. Featuring practicing PAs and current PA students, we talk about what the job actually looks like, how people get into the profession, and the realities of training and working as a PA in Canada.
Canadian PA Podcast
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37 episodes
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Podcast Overview
For anyone interested in the Physician Assistant (PA) profession in Canada. Especially if you are preparing to apply to PA school, a current PA student or those working alongside PAs and wanting to understand the role better. Featuring practicing PAs and current PA students, we talk about what the job actually looks like, how people get into the profession, and the realities of training and working as a PA in Canada.
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Publishing Since
7/1/2021
1 verified contact email on file for Canadian PA Podcast
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Recent Episodes
April 12, 2026
37: Justin Lautenbach | From Orthopaedic Surgery PA to Aesthetic Injector
<p>Justin Lautenbach is a McMaster-trained PA who has spent over a decade building a multi-specialty career that spans outpatient Orthopedics, chronic pain, and now aesthetic medicine under his own brand, <a href="http://hamiltonbotox.ca/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Hamilton Botox</a>. </p><p><strong>What you'll learn:</strong></p><ul><li><p>How to move from a PA student in clinical clerkship to a licensed, practicing PA in Orthopaedic Surgery</p></li><li><p>What milestones are required to co-found and manage an outpatient medical practice</p></li><li><p>How to master ultrasound guided injections, procedures through pattern recognition and expert feedback</p></li><li><p>What the physician-directed model looks like for PAs in the business of aesthetic medicine</p></li></ul><p>View full episode show notes & resources: <a href="canadianpa.ca/podcast/37">canadianpa.ca/podcast/37</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Follow Justin:</strong></p><p>Instagram: @<a href="http://www.instagram.com/hamiltonbotox" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HamiltonBotox</a></p><p>Visit Justin's Website: <a href="hamiltonbotox.ca" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">hamiltonbotox.ca</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>EPISODE OUTLINE</strong></p><p>PA SCHOOL & EARLY CAREER:</p><p>00:00 Introduction: Meet Justin</p><p>04:51 Justin's First Job as an Orthopaedic Surgery PA</p><p><br></p><p>BUILDING A PRACTICE</p><p>09:18 ArthroBiologix: Co-Founding an Outpatient Orthopaedic Practice</p><p>16:24 Finding PA Mentorship through Networking</p><p><br></p><p>PROCEDURAL MEDICINE & ULTRASOUND</p><p>17:41 Building Competency in Procedural Medicine & Ultrasound-Guided Injections</p><p>28:50 Orthopaedics vs. Chronic Pain: Differences in Approach</p><p><br></p><p>AESTHETIC MEDICINE</p><p>34:39 From Botox for Migraines to Aesthetic Medicine</p><p>39:30 Founding Hamilton Botox: Running a PA-Led, Physician-Directed Aesthetic Business</p><p>41:06 How PAs Can Get Started in Aesthetic Medicine</p><p>43:05 Aesthetics: The Business Side of Medicine</p><p><br></p><p>WORK-LIFE & CAREER SUSTAINABILITY</p><p>48:26 Managing Multiple Clinical Roles without Burning Out</p><p>54:36 OrthoPA Network: Building a Community of PAs</p><p><br></p><p>PA ADVICE & THE FUTURE OF THE PROFESSION</p><p>56:12 Advice Justin Would Give to His New PA Grad Self</p><p>58:34 Challenges of Pioneering the PA Profession in New Provinces & Territories</p><p><br></p><p>FOR PA EMPLOYERS: WORKING WITH PAs</p><p>1:00:49 The Business Case for Hiring a PA</p><p>1:06:17 How to Advocate for Your Own Learning</p><p><br></p><p>1:08:23 Final Notes</p>
March 13, 2026
36: Allie Penrose, Dalhousie MPAS | Pioneering the PA Path in Nova Scotia
<p>Allie Penrose is a graduate of the inaugural Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) cohort at Dalhousie University and part of the first group of Physician Assistants practicing in Nova Scotia. Prior to PA school, she spent six years in specialized clinical roles at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, working in organ and tissue donation and stem cell transplantation. This experience provided direct exposure to high-acuity care, surgical environments, and longitudinal patient interaction, reinforcing her decision to pursue clinical medicine through a non-physician pathway.</p><p>Before committing to the PA profession, she evaluated multiple healthcare roles including respiratory therapy, occupational therapy, anesthesia assisting, and physiotherapy. In this episode, she outlines her approach to the Dalhousie MPAS application process, including managing a compressed timeline and preparing for the MMI with limited lead time.</p><p>She also discusses first-year workload and burnout, second-year clinical training, and the realities of entering practice in a province where the PA role is still emerging.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>View full show notes, resources and transcript:</strong><br>👉 <a href="http://canadianpa.ca/podcast/36" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">canadianpa.ca/podcast/36</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>IN THIS EPISODE:</strong></p><p><strong>Part 1: Allie’s Pre-PA Journey</strong></p><p>00:22 Meet Allie<br>01:28 Discovering the PA profession<br>04:49 Getting healthcare exposure<br>06:51 PA awareness in Nova Scotia</p><p><strong>Part 2: Dalhousie PA Admissions</strong></p><p>08:05 Dalhousie PA Admissions overview<br>14:44 Building strong healthcare experience<br>16:55 Staying organized during PA Apps<br>19:56 MMI interview prep<br>24:13 Does GPA determine competitiveness</p><p><strong>Part 3: Inside Dalhousie PA School</strong></p><p>25:46 Inside Dalhousie MPAS<br>31:09 Study strategies that worked<br>32:42 Clerkship as the first PA student<br>34:44 Can you work during PA school<br>35:30 Rural vs urban rotations<br>37:22 Licensing and first PA jobs<br>37:57 How PA school prepared Allie<br>39:16 Explaining the PA role to employers</p><p><strong>Part 4: Advice for Future Applicants</strong></p><p>41:44 Advice for Pre-PA students<br>43:33 Study tools and apps<br>45:25 Final thoughts</p><p><br></p><p><strong>CONNECT: </strong></p><p>Instagram</p><p>@<a href="http://instagram.com/alliepenrose_" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">alliepenrose_</a></p><p> @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/dal.mpas/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">dal.mpas</a></p><p>@<a href="http://instagram.com/canadian.pa" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">canadian.pa</a></p><p>@<a href="http://instagram.com/canadianpapodcast" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">canadianpapodcast</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED</strong></p><ul><li><p><a href="/prepabooks" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Recommended Books for MMI Preparation</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/PAStudies/admissions.html" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Dalhousie MPAS Admissions Information</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.nshealth.ca/news-and-notices/successful-pilot-orthopedic-physician-assistants-leads-permanent-roles-and" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Nova Scotia PA Pilot Project</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://cpsns.ns.ca/registrants/physician-assistants/physician-assistant-resources/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Practicing as a PA: College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia</a> (CPSNS)</p></li><li><p><a href="https://cpsns.ns.ca/registrants/physician-assistants/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">PA Resource Page: CPSNS</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://physicians.nshealth.ca/news/celebrating-physician-assistants-across-nova-scotia" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Celebrating PAs in Nova Scotia for PA Day</a></p><p><br></p></li></ul><p><strong>LEARN MORE ABOUT PAs IN CANADA</strong></p><p>Free Canadian PA Admissions Comparison Chart 👉 <a href="http://canadianpa.ca/admissionspdf" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">http://canadianpa.ca/admissionspdf</a></p><p>List of PA Programs in Canada 👉 <a href="http://canadianpa.ca/paprograms" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">http://canadianpa.ca/paprograms</a></p><p>What is a PA? 👉 <a href="http://canadianpa.ca/whatisapa" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">http://canadianpa.ca/whatisapa</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>CANADIAN PA COMMUNITY</strong></p><p>Facebook Group 👉 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/canadaprepa" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.facebook.com/groups/canadaprepa</a></p><p>Discord Community 👉 <a href="http://canadianpa.ca/discord" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">canadianpa.ca/discord</a></p><p>Join the Community 👉 <a href="http://canadianpa.ca/join" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">canadianpa.ca/join</a></p>
January 6, 2026
35: Sonya P, Calgary PAS2 | Success after 3 PA Admission Cycles
<p>Sonya P. is a first-year student at the University of Calgary’s MPAS program who gained acceptance into PA school in her 3rd round of applications. In this video, she shares how she navigated rejection, what changed the second time around, and what life’s been like in her first year of PA school.</p><p><br /></p><p>View full episode show notes:</p><p><a href="http://canadianpa.ca/podcast/35" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">canadianpa.ca/podcast/35</a></p><p><br /></p><p><strong>IN THIS EPISODE:</strong></p><p><br /></p><p>Part 1: Discovering the PA Path</p><ul><li>00:42 How Sonya Found the PA profession</li><li>03:26 Shadowing PAs First Time</li><li>04:10 Sonya’s Pre-PA Stats</li><li>07:01 Her Acceptance Journey</li></ul><p><br /></p><p>Part 2: Sonya’s Experience with PA Admissions</p><ul><li>07:50 Reapplying After Rejection</li><li>13:14 Applying Out-of-Province</li><li>14:46 Inside Calgary Admissions</li><li>16:49 CASPer Test Strategy</li><li>19:43 References That Matter</li></ul><p><br /></p><p>Part 3: Inside PA School</p><ul><li>22:50 Starting PA School</li><li>23:47 Calgary MPAS Program Structure</li><li>27:44 How PA Students Study</li><li>30:58 Best Study Tools</li></ul><p><br /></p><p>Part 4: Real PA Student Life</p><ul><li>34:54 Day in PA School</li><li>38:00 Balancing School and Life</li><li>40:02 What Second Year Brings</li></ul><p><br /></p><p>Part 5: Advice for Applicants</p><ul><li>42:28 Preparing for PA Practice</li><li>44:13 Advice for Pre-PAs</li><li>45:14 Fixing Application Weaknesses</li><li>47:30 Managing Application Deadlines</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>CONNECT WITH CANADIAN PA</strong></p><p><br /></p><p>IG @<a href="http://instagram.com/canadian.pa" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">canadian<strong>.</strong>pa</a></p><p>IG @<a href="http://instagram.com/canadianpapodcast" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">canadianpapodcast</a></p><p>YT: <a href="http://youtube.com/CanadianPA" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">youtube.com/CanadianPA</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Canadian PA Community:</p><p>Pre-PA Facebook Group</p><p>Pre-PA Discord Chat</p><p>Subscribe to the Canadian PA Community</p>
37 total episodes available
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