Student Events

PSPA 2023 Fall Student Forum

The PSPA is offering the free virtual event on Saturday, December 2nd from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Session 1
PANCE at a Glance – Jeff Boswell, DES, Presentation & Exhibits Manager, NCCPA

PANCE at a Glance focuses on helping students prepare for the PANCE – not like an exam review course, but in a way that builds confidence by helping to create a plan for exam day success. Students will get a full-picture view on the entirety of the PANCE experience, from how and when to apply for the exam, through what to expect on exam day at a Pearson Vue testing center. PANCE at a Glance looks specifically at how clinically practicing PAs construct the questions on PANCE, dissects the current Content Blueprint for PANCE, and uncovers useful preparation tools that some students may not realize are available.

Learning Objectives:

  • Students should be able to successfully navigate the PANCE experience from how and when to apply for the exam through what to expect on exam day at a Pearson VUE testing center
  • Utilize tips and tools given to enhance their PANCE preparation as well as design, build and execute an exam day plan for optimal exam performance
  • Understand who NCCPA is and the organization’s role in their profession/career

Session 2
Financial Health for the PA Student and Beyond – Kyle Richert & Gary McGovern, Wealth Management Advisors, McGovern Wealth Group

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the meaning of Financial Health
  • Identify strategies to ensure Financial Health
  • Develop a roadmap for Financial Health from the student to the practicing professional

Session 3
Tackling Burnout from a Student’s Perspective – Justine Samanas PhD, PA-C, CAQ-Psych and Rosa Fannie DPAS, PA-C – Student Speakers: Patrick James Barney PA-S, Sofia Papastamos PA-S, Ripal Patel PA-S

Burnout is a long-term stress reaction that has been linked to both negative outcomes in patient care but also in provider’s wellbeing. The term burnout became more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic with health care organizations and other institutions looking at ways in which we can prevent this from occurring. Given the intensity of PA education, burnout often occurs leaving students with limited resources on how to navigate these symptoms but still be successful.

Learning Objectives:

  • Define burnout and identify symptoms that occur both in the didactic and clinical years
  • Recognize how burnout can affect your academic and clinical performance
  • Identify ways in which burnout can be managed through PA education from a student’s perspective

To register:

Register for the Student Forum with your regular conference registration.

OR

Register for only the Student Forum with these steps:

  1. Go to https://services.easterassociates.com/registration/conference/type/PSPA/1/.
  2. Select the Non-conference Attendee category.
  3. Complete the demographics page.
  4. Select the Student Forum listed under Saturday, December 2, on the Registration Sessions page.
  5. Click Save on the Registration Events and Registration Extras pages.
  6. Click Pay on the Registration Review page.
  7. Click Complete Purchase on the Registration Checkout page.

The 23rd Annual Physician Assistant Student Challenge Bowl

The event will be held at the Hershey Lodge on Friday, December 1, 2023 at 6:30pm. Deadline for submitting a team registration is October 31st. Teams are required to donate to the PSPA Annual Charity to qualify. Information on The Caring Cupboard can be found here.

Forms and general information for the event are available here.

For frequently asked questions, click here.

If you need further help, reach out to our Challenge Bowl coordinators, Nurdina Hasanovic and Laura McKeown, at pspachallengebowl@pspa.net.

Poster Presentation

The PSPA is accepting abstract submissions for scholarly posters to be presented at the Annual PSPA Conference. Abstract submissions are open to practicing PAs, PA students, and PA faculty members.

Posters will be accepted in the following categories:

  • Clinical or Educational Research
    • May be original research or scholarly work regarding clinical topics or topics relevant to PA practice or education
  • Case study
    • A case report or research on an unusual or uncommon clinical topic
  • Educational or Professional Innovation
    • Innovative approaches to education or innovative uses of PAs in the workforce
  • Professional Issues
    • Scholarly updates regarding state of the profession or topics related to PA practice. These may include, but are not limited to access to care, disparities, PA compensation, PA workforce issues, a health policy or public health issue, etc.
  • Community or Global Outreach
    • Presentation of community or global outreach projects led by PAs

Deadline for submission is September 15, 2023.

Additional information is available here.

Questions? Contact Mary Allias at allias1@pitt.edu.

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