Podcast appearances and mentions of lisa dandrea lenell

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Mary Fargen, PA-C Physician assistant Mary Fargen, 2011 AAPA Humanitarian PA of the Year, fell in love with the people of Haiti when she traveled there on her first medical mission in 2004. Since then, she has been to the island more than a dozen times, volunteering her time working with medical providers to help improve medical care. Following the devestating earthquake in January 2010, she ramped up her efforts to help Haitian providers, working with the Hatian and Caribbean American Organization of Texas, based in Kileen, Texas. Ms. Fargen tells host Lisa Dandrea Lenell the personal story of her work in Haiti.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Patrick Killeen, PA-C As the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passes its first anniversary, Patrick Killeen, president of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss some main legislative changes, geared toward improving patient care and outcomes, that the AAPA hopes to see implemented by the 112th United States Congress. The topics include: physician assistants' ability to continue treating patients through end-of-life hospice care; clearance to prescribe medication for opioid addiction; and eligibility for Medicaid electronic health record initiative payments.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Luis Ramos, PA-C Legislation was introduced last year to legally authorize physician assistants to practice in Puerto Rico, the only US territory where they're not. This week's guest, PA Luis Ramos, began the push to bring PAs and other mid-level providers to Puerto Rico. He joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss the obstacles and barriers to including mid-level practitioners in the island's medical community. They also talk about the first class of PAs in Puerto Rico training through Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in partnership with Universidad Metropolitana.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Nguyen Park, MS, PA-C Almost 4 million people in the US have high triglycerides. What can you do to help improve your patients' health? Nguyen Park, clinical assistant professor in the physician assistant studies program, at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss the benefits of fish oil for treating hypertriglyceridemia. They also look at the risk factors, causes and other treatment options for this very common disease.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Gary Taubes The conventional wisdom, often repeated, is that burning more calories than we ingest prevents us from getting fat. Gary Taubes, health policy investigator for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation at the University of California at Berkeley and author of the books Why We Get Fat and Good Calories, Bad Calories, discusses why his evaluation of the research leads him to the conclusion that the traditional advice is fundamentally wrong. He joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about the research on carbohydrates, not calories, as the culprit in weight gain and the advice he believes will help patients successfully lose weight, and the core perspective change he believes will keep the weight off.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Gary Taubes The conventional wisdom, often repeated, is that burning more calories than we ingest prevents us from getting fat. Gary Taubes, health policy investigator for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation at the University of California at Berkeley and author of the books Why We Get Fat and Good Calories, Bad Calories, discusses why his evaluation of the research leads him to the conclusion that the traditional advice is fundamentally wrong. He joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about the research on carbohydrates, not calories, as the culprit in weight gain and the advice he believes will help patients successfully lose weight, and the core perspective change he believes will keep the weight off.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Robert M. Blumm, PA-C One of the appealing aspects of the profession for many physician assistants is flexibility in employment. Is there a "norm" in terms of employment? Many PAs have developed jobs outside the traditional clinical setting, including in TV, film, forensic medicine and academics. Bob Blumm, distinguished fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss the array of jobs available to physician assistants, and where career growth opportunities may lie in the future.

Guest: Robert M. Blumm, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Even in times of economic recession, the job outlook for physician assistants is very good. Money Magazine recently ranked PA as the second best job in the country, and US News and World Report ranks PA as the top career in America. However, like most jobs, there is still increased competition for employment. PA Bob Blumm, surgical assistant and distinguished fellow of the AAPA, talks with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell about what you need to do to get prepared for your next job interview.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Amy Hendel, R-PA We know that high rates of obesity in children is a serious problem in the United States. What is a whole-family approach? And how do adult nutrition strategies differ from what works for children? How can parents and kids work together to make the entire family eat healthier and exercise? PA Amy Hendel, medical and lifestyle reporter and author of the book The 4 Habits of Healthy Families, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss her approach to getting families focused on making healthy lifestyle decisions when it comes to nutrtition and exercise. They also talk about how practitioners can encourage their patients to make positive changes in these areas.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Amy Hendel, R-PA We know that high rates of obesity in children is a serious problem in the United States. What is a whole-family approach? And how do adult nutrition strategies differ from what works for children? How can parents and kids work together to make the entire family eat healthier and exercise? PA Amy Hendel, medical and lifestyle reporter and author of the book The 4 Habits of Healthy Families, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss her approach to getting families focused on making healthy lifestyle decisions when it comes to nutrtition and exercise. They also talk about how practitioners can encourage their patients to make positive changes in these areas.

Guest: Gary Falcetano, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA As the medical publishing industry evolves, and journals expand into non-print new media, it's a good time to explore the function of medical journals in the professional lives of PAs and NPs. Will the experience of receiving a journal in the mail soon be a thing of the past? What do we get out of print media that we don't get online, and vice versa? And, in addition to clinical practice information, what can the engaged reader get out of the publications they read? PA Gary Falcetano, publisher of Clinician Reviews and Emergency Medicine, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss the relevance of PA/NP journals, their evolution in the 21st century, and a model for an engaged journal reader.

Guest: Betsy Nicoletti Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Every year brings changes to Medicare and Medicaid billing, and 2011 is no exception. This year, one main difference is the addition of an annual wellness visit. Betsy Nicoletti, author of The Field Guide to Physician Coding, helps host Lisa Dandrea Lenell sort out new billing codes and rules to help your practice stay compliant, while at the same time maximizing benefits of CMS.

Guest: Betsy Nicoletti Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA ICD-10, HIPPA and OIG sounds more like secret code than medical codes. What do you need to know in order to understand the ever changing world of medical coding and how can you be prepared for what's to come? Betsy Nicoletti, author of The Field Guide to Physician Coding and co-founder of codapedia.com, helps explain to host Lisa Dandrea Lenell how practices can manage changes in coding through technology and billing procedures.

Guest: Luppo Kuilman, MPA Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA The United States is not the only country experiencing a shortage of physicians. Europeans are feeling the pinch as well. The medical community in the Netherlands began six PA programs a decade ago to make sure there were enough medical providers for their patients. Physician assistant Luppo Kuilman, a lecturer at Hanze University Groningen in the Netherlands, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to explain how the PA program works in his country, what constitutes the challenges, and what the future holds for PAs in this rapidly growing field worldwide.

Guest: Jill Jones Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Jennifer Puleo The recession has not slowed the demand for cosmetic procedures. Last year, more than 10 million surgical and non-surgical procedures were performed in the United States last year. Advanced practice clinicians are getting hired to help keep up with demand, performing lasers, botox and fillers. Jill Jones, CEO of Aesthetic Advancements, Incorporated, in Atlanta and NP Jennifer Puleo, owner of Faces of South Tampa in Florida, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss the training and opportunities in this growing field.

Guest: Matt Freitas, FNP-C, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Delivering quality mental health care to patients seems to come with an overwhelming number of obstacles. How can primary care practices make it easier to provide psychiatric and psychological services? Matt Frietas, an NP/PA and vice president of Aspen Medical Group in Modesto, California, speaks with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell about how his clinic overcame billing issues, HIPPA laws and charting problems to provide quality mental healthcare to his patients at his clinic.

Guest: James Van Rhee, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA The physician assistant profession is one of the fastest growing careers in the United States, and PA programs are popping up all over the country to keep up with the demand. The latest addition is the physician assistant program at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago. Director. Jim Van Rhee PA-C joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss the details of the program, how it differs from other PA curricula, and why Northwestern decided to add a program for PAs to their medical school.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA As the specialty of cosmetic medicine is rapidly evolving and expanding, so too are the roles of physician assistants and nurse practitioners in the field. Host Lisa Dandrea Lenell talks with some of the leading experts in plastic surgery and dermatology at the Aesthetic Extender Symposium, held October 8 - 10 in Miami Beach, Florida, which educates NPs and PAs about novel technologies and techniques in cosmetic medicine. Tune in to hear about the latest in botulinum toxins, fractionated lasers, hyaluronic fillers, the use of topical anesthetics, new methods of fat reduction and more. Featured guests include: Steven Dayan, MD - board-certified facial plastic surgeon and clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois and DePaul University in Illinois David Goldberg, MD - founding director of the Aesthetic Extender Symposium; clinical professor of dermatology and director of laser research at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York; medical director of Skin, Laser and Surgery specialists of New York and New Jersey; and co-director of Sanctuary Medical Center in Boca Raton, Florida Krystie Lennox, PA-C - founding director of the Aesthetic Extender Symposium who practices at Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center in Boca Raton, Florida Jason Pozner, MD - co-founder of ...

Guest: David Goldberg, MD, JD Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Non-invasive body contouring allows physicians to tighten skin without surgery. What are the different types of non-invasive body contouring procedures, and how have these procedures evolved? Dr. David Goldberg, clinical professor of dermatology and director of laser research at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, medical director of Skin, Laser and Surgery Specialists of New York and New Jersey, and co-director of Sanctuary Medical Center in Boca Raton, Florida, talks about the ever-increasing roles of PAs and NPs in cosmetic medicine, and updates physician extenders on the latest developments in non-invasive body contouring and aesthetic medicine. Dr. Goldberg also discusses medical-legal issues in the field, including regulations about lasers and medical spas. Hosted by Lisa Dandrea Lenell.

Guest: Adam Weinstein Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA With Web-based technologies, the click of a mouse can give doctors and advanced practice clinicians access to their diabetic patients' records follow-up information, and save them from having to search through charts or request information from other doctors. Adam Weinstein is the manager of the clinical intelligence team for Athenahealth in Watertown, Massachusetts. He joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about setting up your practice to meet diabetic recognition goals. They look at the requirements, advantages, costs and time it takes to set up the data and tracking tools.

Guest: Russell Dorr, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA The virus that nearly wipes out the population in mega-popular horror writer Stephen King's novel The Stand and the physician assistant pressed into running the hospital in King's Under the Dome were created out of the author's imagination — with the technical advice of PA Russell Dorr. Mr. Dorr is a physician assistant at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Family Practice in Merrimack, New Hampshire, and has been Stephen King's medical researcher and advisor since 1975, working behind the scenes when the best-selling author brings medical issues into his fictional worlds. Host Lisa Dandrea Lenell talks with Mr. Dorr about how he began working with Stephen King, and the connections between his work as a PA his involvement in King's books, movies and television miniseries.

Guest: Jeffrey Nicholson, PhD, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA All PAs hope to never be sued. But if it happens, will malpractice coverage pay for legal costs and court awards? Is employer-provided malpractice coverage enough, and what are the differences between the types of policies? PA Jeff Nicholson, president of the American Academy of Physician Assistants in Legal Medicine, sorts out these issues and others with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell. They also look at whether additional policies are needed, depending on the PA's specialty.

Guest: Adam Weinstein Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA With Web-based technologies, the click of a mouse can give doctors and advanced practice clinicians access to their diabetic patients' records follow-up information, and save them from having to search through charts or request information from other doctors. Adam Weinstein is the manager of the clinical intelligence team for Athenahealth in Watertown, Massachusetts. He joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about setting up your practice to meet diabetic recognition goals. They look at the requirements, advantages, costs and time it takes to set up the data and tracking tools.

Guest: Donald Sefcik, MD Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA After many years of discussion, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) will offer PAs Certificates of Added Qualification in 5 specialties, beginning in 2011. Dr. Don Sefcik, chairman of the NCCPA, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to explain what it takes to obtain certification, what the benefits are to PAs, and why the NCCPA decided to institute the certification now, with the nation's healthcare system in flux.

Guest: Elizabeth Sheehan Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Seven hundred women a day receive medical care inside moldy tents on the grounds of what once was the Grace Children's Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. But their circumstances will soon improve, thanks to an innovative nonprofit organization, Containers to Clinics, launched by PA Elizabeth Sheehan. Containers to Clinics converts empty shipping containers into state-of-the-art medical facilities in rural areas where electricity, running water and quality medical care are hard to find. Lisa Dandrea Lenell talks to Sheehan about where the idea for Containers to Clinics came from, what it takes to set up a container and what the organization is doing to help the people of Haiti following the devastating earthquake in January 2010.

Guest: Ken Harbert, PhD Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Do some of your patients have trouble sleeping, experience nightmares or are filled with anger or rage? If so they may be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Ken Harbert, dean of the school of physician studies at South College in Knoxville, Tennessee, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss how to identify post traumatic stress disorder and how to distinguish between PTSD and every day stress, as well as how to get a mental health professional involved in treatment. The two also talk about how PTSD is being incorporated into the curriculum of physician assistant studies.

Guest: Emmanuel Teye Adjase, MD Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA In the past 40 years Medical Assistants have become a crucial part of Ghana's healthcare system. The MAs as their called are the equivalent to PAs in the U.S. For the past 40 years the 500 Medical Assistants have been trained at the Kintampo Rural Health Training School. Dr. Emmanuel Teye Adjase, Director of the school joins host Lisa D'Andrea Lenell to discuss the pros and cons of the health system in Ghana, how the school is changing with the times, and the country's vision for a national healthcare plan.

Guest: Emmanuel Teye Adjase, MD Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA The Rural Health Training School in Kintampo, Ghana, was established in 1969 by the Ministry of Health. Now this one-of-a-kind school has trained more than 500 medical assistants who are the backbone of healthcare in Ghana. Medical assistants, comparable to physician assistants in the US, provide care to people living in remote and under-served communities. Dr. Emanuel Teye Adjase, director of the school, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about the education model, his partnerships with other universities and how the program has thrived and changed to meet the needs in the country over the past four decades. Nursing students Our teaching team at Kintampo Rural Health Training School. Lisa Dandrea Lenell with Dr. Adjase First class at KRHTS

Guest: Michael Powe Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Recently, Aetna, which is one of the largest insurance companies in the United States, announced it would reimburse PAs at 85 percent of the physician pay schedule. So what does this move mean for PAs? Michael Powe, vice president of health systems reimbursement policy for the American Academy of Physician Assistants, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to look at the current reimbursement picture and how PAs can make sure they are being reimbursed for the care they provide. They also look at how this process could change in the future with healthcare reform.

Guest: Michael Powe Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Medicare and physician assistants both entered the healthcare field in the 1960s, but despite their similar ages, physician assistants don't always understand Medicare. Complicated rules and seeming inconsistencies can lead physician assistants to make billing errors — and avoiding these errors is more important than ever, as the federal government is looking more closely at Medicare billing, with an eye on potential fraud. Michael Powe, vice president of health systems and reimbursement for the American Academy of Physician Assistants, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about how to navigate the red tape and successfully obtain Medicare reimbursement.

Guest: Karen Bass, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Karen Bass began her career in the 1980s as a PA working in the nation's largest trauma center at the Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center, but away from the ED she had a passion for politics. Today she is the former speaker of the California Assembly and the democratic nominee for the 33rd congressional district in California. Speaker Emeritus Bass joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss how her career in healthcare shaped and influenced her career in politics, and the changes she would like to bring to the physician assistant profession if she's elected to Congress in November.

Guest: Jeremy Allen, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA When patients go to the emergency department for a non-life-threatening emergency, it seems impossible to predict how long the wait could be to see a medical provider. But now patients in New Britain, Connecticut, can plan their care by checking their iPhone. Physician assistant Jeremy Allen talks with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell about his role as lead developer on an iPhone app for the Hospital of Central Connecticut. They discuss the benefits to patients and ER staff, as well as how to expand the technology for other medical sites.

Guest: William Fenn, PhD, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA The House of Delegates establishes philosophies and beliefs for the physician assistant profession. It was a busy time for delegates at this years AAPA Conference in Atlanta. Several legislative issues passed, some failed, some had to be tabled and some major issues didn't even come up. What changes were made and how will these decisions affect PAs across the country? Dr. William Fenn, immediate past vice president of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, speaker of the House of Delegates and professor at Western Michigan University, reviews what transpired at the meeting with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell. They also explain the process and how PAs can get involved.

Guest: Robert M. Blumm, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Forty years ago, the title of "physician associate" was changed to "physician assistant." Now there is a strong grassroots effort amongst PAs to change the name back. On April 5, 2010, 50 leaders in the PA profession signed a letter declaring that the title "physician associate" better fits the role. Bob Blumm, immediate past president of the Association of Plastic Surgery Physician Assistants and a supporter of the letter, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about why this change is critical to the profession, the implications it will have on the future and what needs to be done to make the change a reality.

Guest: Jeffrey Nicholson, PhD, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA A malpractice lawsuit is something all physician assistants want to avoid, but what do you do if you are sued by a patient? We'll explore the difference between malpractice for physicians and malpractice for PAs, and can a PA be qualified to testify in court as a legal expert? Dr. Jeffrey Nicholson, president of the American Academy of PAs in Legal Medicine, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about the process of a lawsuit, common themes and mistakes in PA malpractice cases, and what to do if you make a mistake.

Guest: Dawn LaBarbera, PhD, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Why do PAs enjoy going to work? Three main reasons: helping others, interacting with patients and the intellectual challenge of the career. A 2004 study found physician assistants are the happiest medical professionals. Dr. Dawn LaBarbera, chair of PA studies at the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss how her study impacts PAs now, and what PAs should look for in career decisions to retain high job satisfaction.

Guest: Matt Freitas, FNP-C, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA The Aspen Family Medical Group in the farming town of Modesto, California, has found success for 20 years as a clinic practice and as part of the larger community, with a novel business model. They accept all types of insurance, charge $40 for a physical exam, turn no one away because of inability to pay, welcome walk-ins, provide prescriptions at a cost of $4 or give them away for free, and share profits with employees. How does this work? PA/NP Matt Freitas, vice president of the clinic, talks to host Lisa Dandrea Lenell.

Guest: James Cawley, MPH, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA In the early 1970s and 80s, when the PA profession was in its infancy, there was a lot of research about this new option in healthcare careers. Fast forward 40 years, and the research has tapered off because of lack of funding, manpower, and because so many questions were answered in those early years of the field. What are the issues yet to be addressed about PA performance, clinical practice, and career trajectory? Jim Cawley, director of the PA/MPH program at The George Washington University in Washington, DC, talks with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell about the recent summit on PA research, why he believes continued research is important, and the research still missing from the knowledge base.

Guest: James Scheulen, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA In 1975, Jim Schuelen began his career working as a PA in an emergency room. Today he is the chief administrative officer for the Johns Hopkins Department of Emergency Medicine and president of Johns Hopkins Emergency Medical Services. He joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss the skill sets, preparation and challenges that are in store for a PA who wants to transition from clinical medicine to hospital management.

Guest: Michael Gerchufsky Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA In October 2007, the first program in the Clinicians Roundtable series focusing on the issues of physician assistants aired on ReachMD. This week's program celebrates our 100th show and introduces a new series, Partners in Practice, a new, expanded series addressing the concerns of both physician assistants and nurse practitioners. This week, host Lisa Dandrea Lenell looks back at two and a half years of PA topics and guests. She is joined by Michael Gerchufsky, editor of the journal ADVANCE for Physician Assistants to talk about changes in the PA profession and where it's going in the future. Some of the issues they'll cover are: PA certification, the role of the NCCPA, and trends in PA specialization. Tune in weekly to the new series, Partners in Practice, hosted by physician assistant Lisa Dandrea Lenell and nurse practitioner Mimi Secor.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Rear Admiral Michael Milner, PA-C Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin has two new priorities: to combat childhood obesity and to encourage all Americans to put their health histories online. So how do practitioners get involved in these new government initiatives? Rear Admiral Michael Milner, assistant surgeon general and chief of the US Public Health Services Corps, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to get the message out about the latest technology allowing patients to easily share their medical records with doctors and family members, as well as getting kids to start exercising and eating healthily.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Elisabeth Howard, PhD, CNM Guest: Edie McConaughey, CNM, MS What can a medical student or resident learn from a midwife about childbirth? Dr. Elisabeth Howard and Edie McConaughey, both certified nurse midwives at Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, recently completed research on midwives as educators to medical students. They discuss with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell why it's important for these two professions to collaborate even though there may be a difference in philosophy and why midwives are good teachers for future doctors.

Guest: Eric Holden Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA PA Eric Holden hasn't had time to eat or sleep much since arriving in Haiti. He is one of two physician assistants on the team of NYC Medics, a medical volunteer organization treating the sick and injured following the January 12th earthquake in Haiti. In their first two days on the job, he and his team of medical professionals treated more than 800 patients, traveling from makeshift tent city to tent city, providing care where it's needed. Host Lisa Dandrea Lenell talks to Mr. Holden from the front lines of the medical tent, where they have teamed up with the US Army's 82nd Airborne division to treat everything from pelvic fractures to dehydration. They discuss the difficulty of treating patients without the proper drugs and medical supplies.

Guest: Eric Holden Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Medical professionals across the world have joined together to help treat the injured survivors of Haiti's devastating earthquake. Physician assistants are also part of this global effort. PA Eric Holden, a volunteer with NYC Medics didn't know what to expect when he arrived in Haiti. Holden and the rest of his team have teamed up with the 82nd airborne division of the US Army to treat the most critically injured patients in Port-au-Prince. Host Lisa Dandrea Lenell talks with Holden about the types of injuries he's treating, and what it's like to work and live in a disaster zone.

Guest: Jack Lasoski, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA How do employees working in large facilities know it's safe to return to work after being injured on the job? More than likely they must get clearance from one of the 2000 physician assistants working in occupational medicine across the country. Jack Lasoski, director of health services for the United States Enrichment Corporation in Paducah Kentucky, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about the history of PAs in occupational medicine, the typical day of a PA in this field, and the challenges and changes taking place within the specialty.

Guest: Krystie Lennox, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA More than 10 million surgical and non surgical cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States in 2008. Many of those procedures were performed by physician assistants. Krystie Lennox, the co-founder of the Aesthetic Extender Symposium, talks with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell about the state-by-state rules related to PAs performing cosmetic procedures, how to become part of this expanding specialty, and how to stay informed in this fast changing area of medicine.

Guest: Roderick Hooker, PhD, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA How does a doctor know when it's the right time to add a physician assistant to the office staff? There are a lot of factors to take into consideration when making the decision to add new employees. Dr. Roderick Hooker, co-author of the book Physician Assistant Policy and Practice, 3rd Edition, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss the cost effectiveness and productivity of the PA in a primary care practice, as well as how to build a cooperative relationship between a supervising doctor and a PA.

Guest: Nadia Miniclier, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA How does a country with only 2,500 practicing doctors provide medical care to 22 million people? That's the healthcare crisis facing the medical community and the people in Ghana. Host Lisa Dandrea Lenell looks at the healthcare landscape in this West African country, the issue of brain-drain, and the role of physician assistants — known there as "medical assistants" — in the country of Ghana, as compared to physician assistants in the US. Her guest is PA Nadia Miniclier, director of the Ghana Clinical Medicine Rotation at the PA program at the University of Utah.

Guest: Allan (Al) Forde, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA The physician assistant concept was introduced to Australia in 1999, a decade later there are two pilot programs underway and the first class of PAs started their training in July 2009. Al Forde, senior lecturer at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss the future of PAs in Australian healthcare.

Guest: Karen Mulitalo Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Even though physician assistants aren't officially recognized in Australia, the University of Queensland is training its first class of PAs. The two-year program, which is comparable to the traditional US model, will graduate its first home-grown PAs in 2011. Host Lisa Dandrea Lenell talks with Karen Mulitalo, director of the PA program at Queensland, to discuss these new pioneers in the field, where the program is heading in the next five years and the challenges that lie ahead as they try to gain acceptance from the medical and general community.

Guest: Phillip Begg, PhD Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA The physician assistant program began in the United Kingdom in 2004 with five students. Today, four universities have a PA program, with more than 200 students expected to graduate by 2012. Dr. Phillip Begg, associate dean at the University of Wolverhampton in Wolverhampton, England, talks with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell about the successes and obstacles to the beginning of this PA program, and why the program is essential to the United Kingdom's national health service.

Guest: Catherine Hoelzer, MPH, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Imagine your patients walking for two weeks just to receive medical care or operating your medical practice in mud huts without running water or electricity. Those are the conditions under which PA Catherine Hoelzer operates in South Sudan everyday. Ms. Hoelzer joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about the daily challenges she faces and her goals for improving medical care in a third world country.

Guest: Dorothy Armstrong Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA In 2006 the Scottish National Health Service began a two-year pilot program to gauge whether physician assistants would be a positive addition to the country's medical community. Eighteen PAs from the United States came to Scotland to participate in the project. Dorothy Armstrong, program director for the Scottish National Health Service, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about the results of the study and the future of PAs in Scottish healthcare.

Guest: Ruth Ballweg, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA The rate of dental disease in Alaska is the highest in the United States. In order to combat the problem, Medex has started a dental therapy program in the area called DENTEX. Ruth Ballweg, director of the MEDEX Northwest program, discusses with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell how Medex became involved with dental care, the progress of the program and their plans to expand the DENTEX program into other states.

Guest: William Fenn, PhD, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA The physician assistant has become a vital part of the medical community in the United States, but can the model be replicated in other countries? England, Japan, Australia and the Netherlands are just a few of the countries across the world trying to bring a PA model to their medical force. Dr. Bill Fenn, vice president of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and professor at Western Michigan University, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss the challenges, politics and cultural differences to bringing the PA field to other countries across the globe.

Guest: Kevin Chung, MD Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Charles Thompson, PA-C, RN The U.S. Army Burn Center at Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft. Sam Houston Texas, is one of the five busiest burn units in the country. These patients are out of the ordinary. They are military men and women who have been burned over at least 20 percent of their body while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dr. Kevin Chung an intensivist at the unit and PA Charles Thompson join host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about the process of moving patients from the battlefield to the burn unit, how burn wounds are treated and the emotional toll that it takes on the medical professionals treating these patients.

Guest: Kevin Chung, MD Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Charles Thompson, PA-C, RN It takes a team of specialists, social workers, PAs, nurses and therapists to care for the burn patients at the US Army Burn Unit in Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Every day more than 30 medical professionals make rounds checking on the critically injured at the unit. Dr. Kevin Chung, intensivist at the burn center, and PA Charles Thompson explain to host Lisa Dandrea Lenell the mutli-disciplinary team approach that is used to treat more than 500 patients a year.

Guest: Randy Danielsen, PhD, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) will launch their specialty certification program, beginning with five specialties, in 2011. What does a PA who may want to get certifiedneed to know? Dr. Randy Danielsen, dean of Arizona School of Health Sciences at A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about why it's the right time for certification in the PA field as well as the myths and fears surrounding these new changes.

Guest: Ruth Ballweg, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA When PAs meet other PAs from across the country, they often ask each other, Are you a Duke-trained PA or a MEDEX PA? This question comes from the early days of the profession when a difference in training depended on whether you lived on the east coast or the west coast of the United States. Ruth Ballweg, director of the MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program at the University of Washington School of Medicine, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss the history of the MEDEX program and what this model offers to PA students.

Guest: Tom Zampieri, PhD, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA The Department of Veterans Affairs is the single largest employer of PAs in the United States. With 1,600 PAs in the VA workforce, the PA leadership is only a part time field position. Dr. Tom Zampieri, director of government relations for the Blinded Veterans Association, joins host Lisa D'Andrea Lenell to talk about the possibility of a full-time director in the VA central office.

Guest: Ian Jones, PA-C, MPAS Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Physician assistants have been practicing in Manitoba, Canada, for only the past 10 years. With a shortage of physicians across the country, the need for PAs is more crucial than ever. Ian Jones, president of the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants, joins host Lisa D'Andrea Lenell to discuss the success of PAs within the Canadian medical system over such a short time frame, as well as the job openings available to American PAs just across the border.

Guest: Reginald Carter, PhD, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Where is the beginning of the physician assistant profession? Is it in the 1960's, in response to a growing a shortage of physicians? Or does it go back even earlier than that? Dr. Reginald Carter, founder of the PA History Center in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about the pioneers at the roots of the profession and why it's critical to preserve this history.

Guest: Reginald Carter, PhD, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Leila Ledbetter The physician assistant profession is rich in history. The PA History Center at the Duke University Medical Center in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, houses everything from oral histories of early PAs to photographs, personal papers and artifacts at the museum. Dr. Reggie Carter, founder of the PA History Center, and Leila Ledbetter, director and archivist at the Center, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss the importance of the museum to the PA profession and how you can experience it, even if you can't visit in person.

Guest: Laurie Benton, PhD, PA-C, RN Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Charles Foulks, MD Sometimes two heads are better than one. That's the case when it comes to the PA/Physician team of Dr. Laurie Benton PA-C and her supervisor Dr. Charles Foulks. The two working together over the years have been able to slow the progression of kidney disease and keep their patients off dialysis. Dr. Foulks, medical officer at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Dr. Benton an orthopedic hospitalist joins host, Lisa D'Andrea Lenell to talk about the keys to a successful PA/Doctor team.

Guest: Stephen Hanson, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA The debate over healthcare reform is on the minds of all medical professsionals these days. What could be different for PAs if new legislation is enacted? How is the American Academy of Physician Assistants assuring that PAs are an essential part of the debate? How can you get involved to make sure your representatives in Congress hear your voice? Steven Hanson, president of the AAPA, joins host Lisa D'Andrea Lenell to sort out what the AAPA is doing to keep PAs in the healthcare reform process.

Guest: Gail Curtis, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA The research is yet to be written on the number of physician assistants that face substance abuse issues. Gail Curtis, an assistant professor of PA studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, joins host Lisa D'Andrea Lenell to discuss the reasons PAs may abuse controlled substances, how to get proper treatment and the programs that are available for medical professionals.

Guest: Rear Admiral Michael Milner, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA You may understand what PAs do in the five armed services of the military, but do you know about their role in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the largest public health program in the world? Rear Admiral Michael Milner joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about the role of the Corps and the role that PAs play within the organization. He also discusses his path to becoming the only physician assistant to hold the rank of flag officer in any uniformed service.

Guest: Matt Baker, PhD, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA When disaster strikes, the first instinct of a medical professional is to jump in and help; however, that's not necessarily the best tactic. Dr. Matt Baker, dean of the school of science and health at the University of Philadelphia, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss volunteer options for PAs in the event of a local or national disaster. The two also discuss state licensing issues and educational opportunities for PAs who may want to become first responders.

Guest: George Collins, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Over ten percent of all physician assistants work in orthopedics, and the number continues to grow. So why is this such a popular career choice? George Collins, chief physician assistant and PA director for Orthocarolina in Charlotte, North Carolina, discusses with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell why PAs are drawn to athletics, what it takes to build a career in sports medicine and how to get involved with a sports team in your area.

Guest: Christina Robohm, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA How does a PA handle the situation when a parent does not want to vaccinate their child? Christina Robohm, physician assistant and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado at Denver, tackles this growing issue with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell. The two discuss how PAs make sure parents receive accurate information in order to make an informed decision whether or not they want their children to receive vaccinations, the pros and cons of not vaccinating, and what it means for other children around them and the community at large. They also look at the controversy over vaccinations and autism.

Guest: Christina Robohm, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA How does a PA handle the situation when a parent does not want to vaccinate their child? Christina Robohm, physician assistant and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado at Denver, tackles this growing issue with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell. The two discuss how PAs make sure parents receive accurate information in order to make an informed decision whether or not they want their children to receive vaccinations, the pros and cons of not vaccinating, and what it means for other children around them and the community at large. They also look at the controversy over vaccinations and autism.

Guest: Captain Timothy Harrelson Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA For his efforts in Afghanistan stabilizing victims wounded in Taliban offensives and providing clean water to families, Cpt. Timothy Harrelson was awarded the Bronze Star. Cpt. Harrelson talks with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell about his lifesaving work with malnourished children in Qalat, Afghanistan. Cpt. Harrelson was involved in the formulation of nutrition that reduced the pediatric mortality rate in Qalat by 25 percent.

Guest: Amy Hendel, R-PA Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA The obesity epidemic causes numerous health problems but it's hard for one person to change their ways when the rest of the family continues old patterns. Amy Hendel joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss how to help the group change their eating habits and take on a healthy lifestyle. The two discuss how families can work together as a team as well as how medical professionals can tackle the overweight issue with their patients.

Guest: Patrick Killeen, PA-C Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Where do physician assistants fit into the organizational chart within hospitals? How are PAs categorized within the organization? Are they considered allied health staff with no vote on hospital issues, or are they medical staff with a voice? Host Lisa Dandrea Lenell and Patrick Killeen, director at large on the American Academy of Physician Assistants' board of directors, tackle the difficult issue of the evolving role of the PA within a large hospital setting. They discuss the importance of having PAs serve within the administration and the challenges of achieving that goal.

Guest: Ken Harbert, PhD Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA More than 8000 military corpsmen will head back to civilian life this year after being released from the military. How do they go about furthering their education to become a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or even pursue a medical degree, after serving their country? Dr. Ken Harbert, president of Health Watch, Ltd., talks with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell about the education challenges for corpsmen who want to pursue an advanced health degree. The two talk about the need for bridge programs and mentoring programs for veterans.

Guest: Donald Pedersen, PA-C, PhD Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Have you ever thought of traveling the world and working at the same time? There are many international volunteer programs across the world that could benefit from the expertise of a PA. Dr. Donald Pedersen, a professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program, talks with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell about the specific programs geared to PAs, the role of the PA in other countries, as well as the cost and planning involved in an international volunteer program.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Vic Germino, PA-C Guest Vic Germino, a member of the 1961 first graduating class of the physician assistant program established at Duke University, discusses the history of the profession with host Lisa D'Andrea Lenell. Mr. Germino explains how Dr. Eugene Stead, Jr., then chairman of the department of medicine at Duke University, conceived of the program and the obstacles confronting the first physician assistants. Mr. Germino also discusses the development of the practice and the changes he has observed of the physician assistant's role in providing healthcare services.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Ron Nelson, PA Ron L. Nelson explains to host Lisa D'Andrea the structure of rural health clinics and the reimbursement incentives offered by the government for rural health clinics in order to assure access to healthcare in rural communities. Mr. Nelson describes the certification requirements for rural health clinics, which include that mid-level providers must provide fifty percent of the services. Mr. Nelson also outlines the relationship rural health clinics have with hospitals and the ownership opportunities for physician assistants. Mr. Nelson also highlights some of the difficulties Rural Health Clinics face in recruiting physician assistants to work at Rural Health Clinics.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Emily Hill, PA Guest Emily Hill explains how to properly code the services performed by your physician assistant under the physician to obtain full reimbursement. After listening to this show, you will understand the rules and be able to maximize reimbursement for the services rendered by your physician assistant.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: James Cawley, MPH, PA-C With the increase use of physician assistants, understanding the certification requirements is becoming of greater importance to physicians and practitioners alike. Host Lisa D'Andrea talks with Jim Cawley about the potential changes and certification requirements for physician assistants. Mr. Cawley explains the greater need for physician assistants to demonstrate competency in their field of practice by a certification process. Mr. Cawley views this as a positive change that will benefit physician assistants even though it will limit the physician assistant's freedom to change specialties.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Lisa D'Andrea talks with Steve Engelberg, an emergency medicine physician assistant, past president of the Nevada Academy of Physician Assistants, and Vice President and Founder of the National Association of Physician Assistants. They discuss how to utilize physician assistants in an ER setting.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Host Lisa D'Andrea speaks with guest Ed Lopez, PA, about PA specialization and the push for needed changes in specialty education, recognition and certification.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Host Lisa D'Andrea speaks with guest Ed Lopez, PA, about PA specialization and the lack of PAs in primary care medicine.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Host Lisa D'Andrea speaks with guest Ed Lopez, PA, about PA specialization and the lack of PAs in primary care medicine.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Host Lisa D'Andrea speaks with guest Ed Lopez, PA, about PA specialization and the push for needed changes in specialty education, recognition and certification.