Preceptor Activities in San Diego Attract Crowds

By Steven Lane

PAEA’s efforts to raise awareness of the preceptor shortage and to encourage clinical PAs to precept students continued at the recent AAPA Annual PA Conference in San Diego, with a number of presentations related to the issue and a booth where PAs interested in precepting could talk to experienced educators and ask questions. The preceptor initiative, dubbed the “Pay It Forward: Be a Preceptor” program this year, began last year at the AAPA conference in San Antonio, with a PAEA booth in the exhibit hall.

This year two sessions on precepting were added. These were “Paying It Forward: The Benefits, Barriers, and Balance of Clinical Precepting,” presented by University of Colorado clinical coordinator Sandy Hoops and active preceptor Toni Young-Penn, and “PAs, Preceptors, and the Health Workforce Shortage,” a broader look at workforce and preceptor issues presented by Justine Strand, Robin Hunter Buskey, and Greg Mennie. The first presentation was presented twice, in the morning and afternoon. Attendance for the three sessions totaled more than 150; about 65 percent were current preceptors and 35 percent indicated they were interested in precepting.

Attendees at these sessions were asked to fill out a short survey, data from which will guide PAEA as it refines future educational content and develops resources on precepting. Survey respondents expressed a preference for more information on preceptor tips and techniques and on effective and time-efficient precepting. In terms of delivery mode, they were interested in presentations offered at the AAPA Annual Conference and at PAEA’s Annual Education Forum and in information posted online. PAEA has begun to develop an online preceptor resource page, which will be added to over time, based in part on the data gathered at the San Diego meeting.

Volunteers and visitors at PAEA's preceptor booth in San Diego

Volunteers staffing the PAEA booth in the AAPA Exhibit Hall found traffic to be a bit lighter than last year, despite the free music download cards they were giving away and the iPod that was being raffled off. The decline in traffic may have been affected by the new rules that prevent pharmaceutical companies from giving away pens and tchotchkes. However, nearly 150 attendees stopped by the booth and expressed interest in receiving more information on precepting. PAEA staff have sent a follow-up communication to these individuals, directing them to PA programs in their areas and to resources and contact information for all PA programs. For staffing the PAEA booth, thanks are due to Karen Hills, Sharon Blattner, Emily WhiteHorse, Sandy Hoops, Claire Hull, Michel Statler, Janie McDaniel, Alison Essary, Ted Ruback, Tony Brenneman, David Fahringer, Kirsten Thomsen, Dana Sayre-Stanhope, Kevin Lohenry, Connie Goldgar, and Alyson Smith.

Looking ahead, the Association plans to develop a more formal long-term structure, in conjunction with AAPA, to guide future efforts related to preceptor recruitment and development. To date, PAEA’s efforts have been guided by a small board workgroup consisting of Kevin Lohenry, Connie Goldgar, and Tony Brenneman, who, as a clinical coordinator, replaced Kirsten Thomsen when he joined the board this year. The health workforce shortage presentation was also guided by the board workgroup. The Association is also grateful to AAPA vice president Bob McNellis, who participated in several conference calls and lent the Academy’s assistance to many aspects of the preceptor effort, including securing PAEA a favorable booth location.