Dear New PA,

Someone will want to see a doctor.

Someone will question your diagnosis.

Someone will ask if you’ve ever done this procedure before.

Someone will ask how long you’ve been practicing.

Your biopsy won’t be deep enough.

Your treatment plan might not work.

You’ll disagree with your supervising physician.

Some days, it’ll feel like you can’t do anything right.

And, guess what?

It’s okay.

The rash will get better. The skin cancer will get treated. Your supervising physician will still have faith in you. And, eventually, patients will request to see YOU!

Early in your career, it’s easy to have your confidence rattled. Rattled by a missed diagnosis, a treatment plan that wasn’t strong enough, a disgruntled patient, or an argument with your boss. Let it happen and learn from it.

I used to equate mistakes with failure. Boy, was I wrong. I’ve learned some of the most valuable lessons while practicing when I’ve made mistakes. When it comes to medicine, making mistakes is better than faking perfection.

Your medical knowledge will grow over time but your confidence should grow daily. Having confidence still doesn’t mean you’re always right. Often, it means you’re able to admit when you’re wrong. Or be able to accept the fact some patients will inevitably want to see a doctor rather than a PA and understand it’s not always YOUR fault. For me, having confidence means providing the best possible care without fear of failure or judgment.

No one expects you to be perfect. In order to succeed in this field, my one piece of advice to you is simple:

SHOW UP EVERY DAY.

Show up with a smile on your face, an eagerness to learn, humility to admit mistakes, and the ability to accept criticism. The rest will happen. Embrace the journey.

“The greatest mistake a man can make is being afraid of making one.” – Elbert Hubbard