Joint Effort PAs
We're two orthopedic surgery physician assistants discussing PA school, life as a PA, cases and topics related to orthopedics, and much more!
Episodes
March is Athletic Training Month, and we’re highlighting one of the most essential—and often underrecognized—members of the orthopedic care team: the certified athletic trainer (ATC).
In this episode, we sit down with an ATC to break down their role across settings—from sidelines to clinic settings. We discuss injury evaluation, acute management, rehabilitation, and how ATCs work alongside PAs and surgeons to optimiz...
Bracket busters, buzzer beaters… and a lot of orthopedic injuries.
In this episode of Joint Effort PAs, we break down the most common injuries seen during basketball season and March Madness—from the classic ankle sprain to the biggest season ending injuries we've all seen.
We dive into how these happen, how they are managed, and thoughts from the ortho PA perspective.
Whether you’re watching the tournament, worki...
In this episode of Joint Effort PAs, we’re talking about the cases that keep orthopedic providers up at night—starting with the big one: joint infections.
From septic joints to postoperative infections -we break down the clinical red flags that make your stomach drop and the decision points that matter most. We also talk through the real-life scenarios that every ortho PA eventually encounters: the “angry joint” that migh...
6 years ago, the world stopped—and so did elective orthopedics.
In this episode of Joint Effort PAs, we take a look back at the early days of the COVID shutdown and how it changed life inside an outpatient orthopedic practice. From empty OR schedules and canceled surgeries to the sudden rise of telemedicine, we talk about what it was like when one of the busiest specialties in medicine suddenly went quiet.
Hannah also...
We’ve heard it all.
“Typing causes carpal tunnel.”
“Steroid injections destroy your joints.”
“PA school is the easy route.”
“Lifting weights ruins your knees.”
In this episode, we’re opening the files and breaking down what’s actually true — and what needs to be retired permanently.
Expect evidence, real clinic stories, and a little myth-busting energy.
Because ortho deserves better than internet folklore...
In orthopedics, high standards are the norm. We pride ourselves on being efficient, reliable, and unshakeable. But what happens when that drive quietly turns into self-sacrifice?
In this episode of Joint Effort PAs, we unpack the unspoken martyr complex that so many high-performing orthopedic PAs carry. The pressure to never complain. The instinct to fix everything ourselves. The fear that asking for help makes us l...
Welcome to the Ortho PA Game Show 🎙️🦴
In this episode, we put each other in the hot seat with rapid-fire “this or that,” would-you-rather scenarios, and the ultimate ortho pet peeve questions. From clinic vs OR debates to what irritates us more (no supplies in the room or an unprepared scrub tech?), we’re picking sides and explaining why.
It’s competitive. It’s honest. It’s slightly chaotic.
If you’ve ever wondered w...
Physician Assistants in orthopedics carry significant responsibility for patient care—from clinic evaluations to the operating room and postoperative recovery. Yet many PAs experience burnout not from the work itself, but from feeling unheard at an administrative level.
In this episode, we discuss the frustration of being trusted with outcomes while facing pushback and lack of advocacy within healthcare systems. We e...
We’re recapping our week in orthopedics and diving into the conversations and curiosities that naturally came up along the way — from clinic cases and patient questions to career reflections, tangents, and the real-life stuff that exists outside the exam room. Think of this as a “rounds-style” debrief with a human twist: unscripted, honest, and conversational.
If you like behind-the-scenes ortho talk, practical pearl...
It's time to level up! We're pushing the boundaries this year in every way possible, scheduling, volume, our sanity, etc. We are also plunging into the world of regenerative medicine. This week, join us as we brush the surface level of how we are working to offer non traditional methods to augment our orthopedic care plans, taking things to the next level!
PA school will teach you a lot… including what not to tolerate while dating.
We’re breaking down what dating really looks like during PA school.
We cover:
- Dating classmates (pros, cons, and hard no’s)
- Dating outside of medicine
- When dating becomes a distraction vs a support
- Time constraints, burnout, and emotional availability
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Do I even have time to date?” — this episode is for you.
Being an orthopedic PA means living in the gray.
In this episode, we dive into the ethical dilemmas unique to orthopedic practice — the moments that don’t show up in textbooks but define real-world decision-making. From surgical vs non-operative care, to the blurry areas of patient advocacy, and documentation ethics, we unpack the tough calls ortho PAs face every day.
This episode isn’t about havin...
2025 was… a year.
We’re taking a look back at the moments that defined the year — the wins, the chaos, and the lessons no one teaches you in PA school.
From evolving confidence, our use of AI, and goals going into next year, this episode is an honest recap of what it really looked like to be an Ortho PA in 2025.
If you’re an Ortho PA, a PA student eyeing orthopedics, or anyone trying to survive and grow in medicine wi...
In this episode of Joint Effort PAs, we sip wine and break down the real-world insights behind what its really like starting out early on in practice from our favorite hand surgeon. From creating the PA–surgeon partnership , balancing the early grind and work life balance, branding/social media, and more!
Whether you’re a PA, physician, student, or just curious about how we started up, this episode is equal parts pra...
In this episode of Joint Effort PAs, we’re breaking down the most common surgeon personality archetypes you’ll encounter- from the hyper-focused perfectionist to the cowboy, with the help of our OR Nurse guest!
We talk:
- The classic surgeon personality types
- How each type communicates under stress
- What not to take personally
- How PAs, residents, RNs, and staff can adapt their approach to work smarter
This episode ...
Holiday office parties in medicine hit a little different.
One minute you’re talking clinic schedules and call coverage, the next you’re seeing your coworkers in cocktail attire wondering how we all ended up here.
In this episode of Joint Effort PAs, we dive into the unspoken rules, awkward moments, and universally shared chaos of holiday office parties in healthcare. From navigating awkward situations, alcohol ...
Surviving clinical rotations in PA school isn’t for the faint of heart — it’s for the chronically exhausted, over-caffeinated, and wildly determined. In this episode, we break down the highs, lows, and “did that really just happen?” moments of rotations. From navigating pre-rounds and pimp questions to surviving OR etiquette, awkward patient encounters, and the art of pretending you know where supplies are, we’re sh...
Welcome to another episode of ‘why didn’t anyone warn us about this in PA school?’ We’re talking all things awkward patient encounters — the weird comments, the situations you just aren't quite sure how to handle, and the things we wish we could un-see. If you’ve ever kept a straight face while a patient overshared, under-shared, mis-shared, or tried to show you way more than you asked for… same. This episode d...
The holidays are here — which means twinkle lights, family gatherings… and absolute chaos in medicine.
In this episode, we dive into why December feels like the Super Bowl of stress for healthcare workers, from jam-packed clinics and last-minute surgical add-ons to deductible-season madness and patients who show up with their entire family in the exam room.
Whether you’re a new PA, a seasoned provider, or just s...
Ever feel like every rotator cuff tear has its own personality? Some just need a little TLC and a scope… others are galloping straight toward a reverse. In this episode, the Joint Effort PAs saddle up to break down the wild ride from partial tears to cuff tear arthropathy — and when it’s time to trade the suture anchor for a prosthesis. 🤠💀
We’ll cover:
- The biomechanics behind why cuff tears go rogue
- How the rever...
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