Every October, we pause to celebrate physician assistants (PAs)—a profession built on compassion, adaptability, and teamwork. At Hippo, we’re proud to have PAs not only caring for patients across the country, but also shaping the way clinicians learn and grow.
For this year’s PA Week, I asked my fellow Hippo PAs to reflect. What do you love about being a PA? Why did you choose this path? What’s a patient story that has stayed with you?
What follows is a collection of their words, memories, and reflections. It’s a glimpse into the heart of our profession, told in our own voices.
Why I Became a PA
Every PA has a unique path into the profession. For some, it was the chance to practice medicine with flexibility and balance. For others, it was the call to serve patients in moments of deepest need.
“When I was little and someone would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always, ‘I don’t care, as long as I work for the New York Giants!’ Once I got to college and realized I had a passion for science, the healthcare field, and specifically sports medicine, that answer shifted to ‘I want to be a Physician Assistant for the New York Giants!”
Spoiler alert: I have yet to achieve 50% of this goal, and while I may not work for the NFL, I still think being a PA is a dream job. Nearly 13 years later, and it is still extremely fulfilling to know that so many patients have trusted me over the years with their health. From orthopedic surgery, to urgent care, to precepting PA students, to my current role at Hippo and to my future role as part of The Giants' medical staff, there is no shortage when it comes to the ways that I can apply my skillset as a PA, and I think that’s pretty cool.”
—Katy Almeida, PA-C, Medical Editor
When I was 13, my grandma collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. Our family soon learned she had acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and was too ill to undergo lifesaving treatment. I remember feeling completely helpless. Even as a teenager, I wanted to understand what was happening, so I spent hours in the hospital’s computer lab reading everything I could about the disease and possible treatments.
What stood out most though, wasn’t just the medicine—it was her physician. With such empathy and kindness, he sat with our family and recommended hospice care for my Grandma. I didn’t realize it then, but that moment changed me. It inspired me to pursue healthcare—not just to understand disease, but to be a source of comfort and support for patients and their families during their hardest times.
Just the other day, I gave a talk to college students exploring different healthcare careers. One of them asked, “If you had to choose again, would you still become a PA?” My answer? Absolutely—again and again. It’s a privilege to care for patients and their families, to provide the same sense of comfort I felt during my grandma’s illness. Every day, I strive to treat patients as if they were my own family, and my hope is that they feel that genuine care too.
—Erin Pressley, PA-C, Senior Medical Editor
What I Love About Being a PA
Beyond the “why,” there’s the daily joy. Our Hippo PAs reflect on what keeps them inspired—whether it’s building long-term relationships, collaborating with teams, or making a difference in small but powerful ways.
“When I was a baby PA student, age 24, I remember thinking over and over again: I cannot believe these people are trusting me with this information. Secrets, sexual history, drug use, literally everything in their experienced lives—they were willing to share with me in the hope that I would be able to help them. This is what I have always loved most about being a PA: relationships with my patients. I love establishing a rapport, making jokes, and listening with empathy. I am grateful for the trust. Then to take what they tell me, combine it with a physical exam and maybe some tests, and come up with a diagnosis that solves their puzzle—that’s the fun part. And then to have the satisfaction of having a patient come back grateful, feeling better. I feel so honored to have a part in that process. I leave the surgery to other people. Me? I like the talking part.”
—Suzette Iverson, PA-C, Senior Medical Editor
“When I started college, I still wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to be when I “grew up.” The only things I knew for certain were that I loved helping people and that the human body was endlessly fascinating. I settled on medicine because it seemed like a pretty cool direction. (Spoiler: I was right.) Becoming a PA turned out to be a great fit.
In my clinical role, I get to work with kids—who, let’s be real, are way more fun than adults. They’re hilarious, brutally honest, and have this uncanny ability to remind me of the good in the world (even if they think ketchup counts as a vegetable). On the other side of my career, at Hippo Education, I get to help create content for clinicians. There’s something pretty special about teaching and inspiring colleagues who are out there doing the hard work every day. It’s motivating, humbling, and honestly just plain fun.
So why do I love being a PA? Because I get to laugh with kids, learn alongside colleagues, and live in that sweet spot where medicine is equal parts science, humanity, and joy.”
—Jen Janocha, PA-C, Senior Medical Editor
“I’ve been in my current primary care job for over six years, and have many patients who have been trusting me with their health for that long. Seeing them through the ups and downs of life and building relationships (even friendships) with them brings me a sense of fulfillment that few other careers provide. I also precept PA students in my clinical practice, and I love to impart the softer skills of communication, listening, and honoring people in addition to the actual medicine.”
—Ashley Greer, PA-C, Director of Education
Memorable Moments
The stories we carry with us as PAs often remind us why we do this work in the first place. From moments of laughter to life-changing encounters, these memories are both humbling and inspiring.
“I became a PA at 24 and started my career in women’s health–my passion. I’ll never forget the first patient I diagnosed with cancer: a 50-year-old woman who had never had a pelvic exam. She had been experiencing light spotting for nearly five months and attributed it to her impending menopause transition. Together, we navigated a pelvic exam and Pap smear, then an endometrial biopsy. I explained what to expect from a transvaginal ultrasound, and soon after, I had to deliver the news that she had advanced ovarian cancer. It was one of the hardest moments of my career. But it was also the beginning of a relationship. I walked with her through surgery, chemotherapy, and the emotional aftermath, helping her manage depression, anxiety, hot flashes, and simply offering a listening ear.
My role as her PA allowed me to be present during the scariest chapter of her life, and I’m grateful for that privilege. We remain in touch today, more than a decade later. She has been cancer-free for nearly 12 years. Looking back, I realize that what felt like the hardest day of my career—and the hardest day of a stranger’s life—became one of the most defining. It taught me that presence, not procedure, is often the most powerful part of medicine.”
—Chelsey Meachum, PA-C, Senior Medical Editor
We often think of the memorable moments as being there for a patient in their hardest or darkest moments. But we often forget that we get to witness some of their happiest times in life as well. I’ll never forget telling a patient who had been struggling to conceive that she was pregnant. She was an international student studying at a local university and wasn’t yet established with a PCP. So she came to my urgent care clinic for the test. There were tears of joy!
--Vicky Pittman, MPAP, PA-C, VP of Education
Snapshots of Hippo PAs
No love letter is complete without a picture. From retreats to everyday moments, here are a few snapshots of our team—practicing medicine, teaching, and growing together.
As PAs, we’re privileged to stand at the intersection of medicine, education, and humanity. This week, and every week, we celebrate the passion, resilience, and teamwork that define our profession.
From exam rooms to classrooms, from patients to peers, being a PA means making a difference in ways big and small. We’re proud to be part of this community and even prouder to celebrate it together.
Happy PA Week from all of us at Hippo!
Practice-Changing Education
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