What Does a Physician Assistant Do? Roles, Responsibilities, and Career Insights

In this interview, Stephen McMahan, a physician assistant (PA), provides an in-depth explanation of the PA role, its educational requirements, and scope of practice. He compares PAs with other healthcare roles like medical assistants, nurses, and nurse practitioners, and explains the collaborative nature of his work with supervising physicians and nurses. Stephen also discusses the rebranding of the profession from 'physician assistant' to 'physician associate.' He shares personal insights into his career choice, training path, and the work-life balance that influenced his decision to become a PA.