Rashadah Jordan, PA-C, PSY-CAQ found that she likes to mentor and teach people early on in her career.
“I am developing an online coaching program for PAs — there are many potential PA students out there who don’t realize the opportunities available to them in this profession,” she said.
Videos on her YouTube channel, “Reese the Psych PA-C,” describe what life is like as a psychology PA.
Her coaching program started the week of Thanksgiving. It helps students who are applying to PA school. She planned to talk about how to write a personal statement, pick your top five schools, and identify people to write recommendation letters.
“I am passionate about advancing our profession and spreading information about what being a PA is all about. I believe there are a lot of young people out there who would be interested in our profession,” she said.
Jordan works in psychiatry, but she was initially set on becoming a pediatric cardiology PA.
“I was very focused on cardiology until we started digging into studying EKGs. I realized early on that this wasn’t for me. I wanted to move into a different area. I didn’t pick psychiatry — psychiatry picked me,” she said.
Jordan discovered psychology during a behavioral health rotation in her clinical year and fell in love with it.
“I found that I was very good in this field and that it came easily to me,” she said.
As a psychology PA, she has seen an uptick in anxiety levels among her patients. She sees between 12 and 25 patients per day, with a patient population age 5 and up.
“I work with children in group homes, some from detention centers, in foster care, and of course some with very traumatic backgrounds. It is difficult but very rewarding work,” she said.
Jordan performs assessments for medication management and makes referrals as needed for counseling or medical issues.
“My director is a PA, and I work with three other PAs. Our supervising physician has his own practice across the city. I became an advocate because PAs need the authority to practice independently, because it’s what we are already doing,” she said.
She believed the DMSc helped her gain the knowledge to be an advocate for independent practice.
“I want to pursue my doctorate because there are so many avenues presented to advance the PA profession,” she said.
“I have enjoyed meeting the leadership at high levels within the PA profession, and I am learning in this role,” she said.
She was interested in pursuing the executive leadership certificate and wasconsidering the public health certificate.
“Having this body of knowledge will help me communicate in leadership circles on advancing the profession, and disseminating information about PAs to the general public,” she said.
Jordan’s website can be found at www.dreamsinspirelife.com and on Instagram at DreamsInspireLife.
