01/27/2024

Op-Ed: Danielle Spatholt, MSBS, PA-C, on OAPA Engagement as a Solution to Burn Out

Feeling Stuck? Burnt Out? OAPA Engagement May Be Just What You Need!

More PAs than ever are considering a career change. Feeling burnt out and stuck in your current position is not uncommon. I hear this from my own team and when I talk to consulting clients, and I see it on PA social media. We are facing increasing demands at our workplaces and in our personal lives. It can be difficult to understand why you feel stuck.

Burnout is found in the gap between your current state and where you want to be. Fixing burnout boils down to doing something different than what you are currently doing. As a career coach for PAs, I find they want to passively search in hope their dream career will fall into their lap.

The most fulfilled and successful PAs go out and get their ideal position. They are actively networking, creating, and hustling to shape their dream career. Designing your dream career or finding the opportunities that will get you out of the plateau phase is not as hard as it sounds. It will feel less intimidating if you break it down into mini steps.

The first move you should make is leveraging your resources, including your OAPA membership. Because OAPA is state focused, it offers the unique opportunity for in-person, local networking. One easy way to get your name out and start your search for your fulfilled career is at conferences, particularly local conferences which OAPA offers. I guarantee you will meet other highly motivated, experienced and engaged PAs who will expand your network and open your eyes to new opportunities. Talk to them about your career challenges. Ask them what they are doing that makes their PA career more fulfilling. How did they get there? You may even find a mentor that can help you get out of your burnout. Participating in advocacy efforts, attending regional dinners, and going to OAPA conferences will change your career.

I currently have a full time clinical position which is a blend of administrative and clinical duties and a side hustle where I help other PAs get the most out of their contracts, salary negotiation, and career coaching. Every career opportunity I have accepted came from small moments when I networked or took the brave step to reach out to other PAs, NPs, and MDs in my local community or in-person at conferences.

A small investment of my time and money by actively participating in PA focused organizations ultimately earned me tens of thousands of more in diversified income and tax advantages. It also led to exponential opportunities for my career. I am actively building my armor against burnout by adding flexibility in my career. That could look like part-time work, growing my role in my side hustle, or starting my own business. This has helped me recover from burnout and infused new life to my career. I no longer feel hopeless or bored in a plateau phase and I feel more passionate and optimistic than ever about PAs position in the medical community.

Danielle Spatholt, MSBS, PA-C is the APP Manager for the Department of Dermatology at Cleveland Clinic
and a senior consultant for Certified Physician Assistant Consulting.