06/14/2026
2026 OAPA Annual Conference - PA Student Track
Saturday, August 29, from 8:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
This track is your PA student survival guide, with job tips, salary negotiation, and self-care hacks for surviving the transition from classroom to clinic.
Student Track Schedule
- 8:15-9:15 a.m. -- Tips and Tricks for the New PA, presenter TBA
- 9:15-10:15 a.m. -- The PA Career Blueprint: Strategies for Success and Negotiation, presented by Anuradha Mathur, DMSc, MS, PA-C
- 10:15-11:00 a.m. -- Coffee break with the Posters and Exhibitors
- 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. -- Next Stop: Clinical Practice, presented by Andrea Bethauser, DMSc, PA-C, Meghan Kessinger, MSPAS, PA-C, and additional panelists TBA
- 12:00-12:30 p.m. -- Financial Wellness: A Burnout Prevention Strategy for PAs, presented by Carrie McMahon, MHPE, MPAS, PA-C
- 12:30-1:00 p.m. -- Shift-Proof Your Energy: Practical Nutrition & Metabolic Strategies for Healthcare Providers, presented by Sarah Wade, PA-C
8:15-9:15 a.m. Tips and Tricks for the New PA, presenter TBA
Speaker headshot & bio to come
9:15-10:15 a.m. The PA Career Blueprint: Strategies for Success and Negotiation, presented by Anuradha Mathur, DMSc, MS, PA-C
Anuradha (Anu) Mathur, DMSc, MS, PA-C, is a Physician Assistant educator, clinician, and leader who has served in a variety of leadership roles within PA education since 2018, including responsibilities in curriculum design, assessment, admissions, student success, and program development. She serves as an Assistant Professor and Director of Curriculum Design, Assessment, and Remediation in the Dual MSPAS-MPH Program at Touro University California. Dr. Mathur is a practicing Physician Assistant with clinical experience in family medicine, internal medicine, sleep medicine, and urgent care, and she continues to practice PRN in urgent care. She is passionate about advancing PA education, mentoring learners, and developing innovative strategies that prepare future clinicians. In addition to her academic and clinical work, she serves as Region 7 Director for the Cincinnati region of the Ohio Association of Physician Assistants (OAPA) and as Chair of the OAPA Membership Committee, supporting professional advocacy, engagement, and growth within the PA profession.
10:15-11:00 a.m. Coffee Break
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Next Stop: Clinical Practice, presented by Andrea Bethauser, DMSc, PA-C, Meghan Kessinger, MSPAS, PA-C, and additional panelists TBA
Andrea Bethauser, DMSc, PA-C is a board-certified Physician Assistant who also holds a German degree as Certified Midwife and has over a decade experience in Family Practice/Geriatric Internal Medicine in addition to her OB/Gyn background. She has functioned as adjunct faculty for Mount St. Joseph University Physician Assistant program and has supported well over 40 clinical trials as Sub-Investigator to date. She is fully bilingual in German and English. She obtained her Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) Certified Professional certification in 2023 and her Doctorate in Medical Science summa cum laude in 2024.
Meghan Kessinger, MSPAS, PA-C, is a recent graduate of the Ohio Dominican University Physician Assistant Program. She began her career at the Cleveland Clinic as a member of the inpatient surgery team. In this role, she assists in surgery across a variety of specialties including orthopedic, vascular, gynecologic, plastic, and general surgery. She also provides perioperative patient care, including managing patients recovering in the post anesthesia care unit. Meghan is passionate about surgical medicine and is dedicated to providing high quality, compassionate care to her patients.
More speaker headshots & bios to come
12:00-12:30 p.m. Financial Wellness: A Burnout Prevention Strategy for PAs, presented by Carrie McMahon, MHPE, MPAS, PA-C
Carrie McMahon, MHPE, MPAS, PA-C – National Speaker, Clinician, and Educator - With 28 years of experience as both a clinician and educator, Carrie is a dedicated PA whose career has included family medicine, women’s health, plastic surgery, and dermatology. Passionate about patient care, medical education, and professional development, she has made a meaningful impact in both clinical practice and academia. As a national speaker, Carrie is committed to supporting the long-term success and well-being of healthcare professionals. After experiencing clinician burnout, she became deeply interested in the relationship between financial wellness and burnout prevention. Carrie now shares practical strategies to help healthcare colleagues achieve greater financial freedom, reduce stress, and build more sustainable, fulfilling careers.
12:30-1:00 p.m. Shift-Proof Your Energy: Practical Nutrition & Metabolic Strategies for Healthcare Providers, presented by Sarah Wade, PA-C
Sarah Wade, PA-C, is a board-certified Physician Assistant with nearly two decades of experience in emergency medicine. She earned her bachelor's degree in Sports and Exercise Science before completing her PA training and has since combined her clinical expertise with advanced training in nutrition, fitness, and behavior change coaching. As founder of The Foodie Fit Mom LLC, Sarah helps healthcare professionals build sustainable habits that improve energy, performance, and overall well-being. She is passionate about mentoring future PAs and frequently speaks on wellness, workplace resilience, professional development, and preventive health strategies for healthcare providers and students.
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