PA Turns Grant into Lifeline for Food-Insecure Patients
Meet Patricia Donahue, PA-C, a Board Certified PA who brings a comprehensive background in various specialties, including hospital medicine, emergency medicine and college health. Additionally, she’s a member of a pioneering team of PAs and NPs who are innovating the primary care inboxology specialty, which is dedicated to managing the high volume of administrative and clinical tasks that accumulate in electronic health record (EHR) inboxes. She has also been volunteering with NCCPA for six years.
Tell us a bit about you and about your current role?
I’ve been a Board Certified PA since 2012. Currently, I’m part of a team of 25 PAs and NPs working in inboxology. This has been a truly groundbreaking experience, as we’re pioneering a new field of medicine largely led by PAs and NPs.
Why did you want to become a PA?
I became a PA because I’ve always been passionate about helping others and wanted a career where I could make a direct impact on people’s lives. From a young age, I was fascinated by medicine and how the human body works. Becoming a PA allowed me to combine my strong interest in science and health care with a deep desire to support and advocate for patients. It’s an incredibly rewarding career!
Where did you graduate from PA school?
Louisiana State University-Health Science Center in Shreveport, Louisiana.
How did you learn about this volunteering opportunity with NCCPA?
My involvement began quite simply: during a certification renewal process, I noticed a question asking if I was interested in volunteering. I clicked “yes,” and it’s been a fantastic experience ever since!
Since then, I’ve had the privilege of volunteering with NCCPA and contributing to various Exam Development teams, including those for PANRE, PANRE-LA and the Hospital Medicine CAQ exam. My work on these teams has involved writing new questions, reviewing current questions and assisting with standard setting.