Member Spotlight | Theresa Schimmels, PA-C

Feb 13, 2017

From our January 2017 Monthly eNewsletter

What do you find most gratifying about your job? For me, I am so happy to be a PA-C and help provide specialty services in dermatology to a population that may not otherwise have access to this type of care. Adding PA’s to the practice has helped us to expand to include seeing more Medicare/Medicaid patients. I love the challenge of dermatology; it’s not all acne! We take care of 125-150 skin cancers/month in our busy practice of 1 MD and 2 PA’s. Figuring out the cause of rashes is a particular interest of mine.

Where do you see the future of the PA profession going? Team medicine is the way of the future! I suspect we are headed towards some form of independent practice as well. There will have to be active engagement with physicians to facilitate this move and I don’t think it’ll be painless. We were founded on the MD-PA relationship. It’s such a part of our history. I’ve never fought for independence in the past as I really enjoy and value the collegial relationship with the physicians I have worked with in my practice. (Notice I say work with, not against or for!) By using the healthcare team of MD, PA, NP, nurses and other ancillary staff and caregivers, we create a safe environment for practitioners and patients.

What are words of advice for other Derm PAs? Challenge yourself. Get involved. Keep learning. Share your knowledge with your patients, colleagues and students. Keep getting back on the horse if it bucks you off. Dermatology is a science of many terms and multiple diagnoses. You may not always get it right so learn from each case, each patient, each experience. And don’t forget to stop and smell the roses along the way!