As Good As You Can: The PA Model Around the World Part One

Welcome to part one of this powerful nine-part miniseries detailing filmmaker Adam Halbur's spectacular new documentary film about the PA model around the world. Make sure to sign up below to receive all the posts in this series.

Documenting The PA Model Around the World

Adam Halbur is a filmmaker and poet who went around the world in 2017 documenting the PA model in nine countries: the US, UK, Netherlands, Israel, South Africa, Liberia, India, Australia, and Laos.

He then made a film about it!

This is the first post of a nine-part series in which we will take a deep dive into the film and spotlight pioneers of the PA profession trailblazing new paths around the globe.

In each post, we will cover one of the nine countries in detail, along with never-before-seen footage and compelling interviews provided especially for you by the filmmaker.

Why Make a Film about PAs?

Many outside the PA profession questioned Adam why he would invest time and money circumnavigating the globe, filming physician assistants.

To which, he graciously replied:

Physician Assistant Number 180

Though very well-paid now, Dick Halbur, the filmmaker's father, began his career as an early physician assistant (PA #180 in Wisconsin to be exact).

As a PA pioneer, Dick wholeheartedly devoted himself to the PA profession despite being overworked, underpaid, and his new profession tottering on the verge of collapse for over a decade.

But his father, a farmer's son, understood the meaning of hard work and enjoyed chewing the fat (conversing) with the rural folk he treated. He enjoyed addressing their needs and gaining their confidence.

Also, like many PAs who followed in his footsteps, Dick didn't always know that he wanted to be a physician assistant.

Adam, the filmmaker, came to know some of his dad's patients in person and by word of mouth and so developed his own devotion to the story.

This is best illustrated in a poem Adam published over a decade ago that demonstrates medicine's influence in his writing:

Like the Earth, the heart is
a Badlands. There's really no love, as they say
there is, just a quiet between
the systolic push of red
along channels of the chest:
An evening thunderstorm, let's say, lightning,
a rush of muddy waters
trenching the canyon walls
and a clearing where a coyote
places constellations
of river stones in the sky.

"I truly believe that the PAs I met along the way have been given the opportunity of great lives, and I thank them for allowing this lone coyote an attempt, in the very least, of placing their story amidst the stars." - Adam Halbur, documentary filmmaker (seen here in the white shirt)

A Preview of What's to Come in This Blog Series

PAs In the United Kingdom

Watkins is one of six original PAs to graduate from one of three pilot programs in the UK, namely St. George’s, which she then joined as staff in 2008:

Why We Really Need PAs in the UK: The British Physician Associate

PAs In the Netherlands

The Netherlands is one country in which the PA has been implemented not merely on a trial basis but as a long-term government solution to rising healthcare demands and costs. It is also a country where everyone is covered by the national healthcare plan regardless of income.

PAs in the Netherlands: The Dutch Physician Assistant

PAs In India

During filming in 2017, there were no PA programs or PAs practicing in northern and northeastern parts of India. The government is slow to hire PAs, and without avenues of career advancement or a standard of living comparable with western counterparts, eventually, most PAs migrate to other industries or abroad.

The Indian Physician Assistant (PA): Past, Present, and Future

And many more countries will be covered as part of this series!

For the Love of the PA Profession

To say that I am grateful for Adam and his commitment to creating global awareness and understanding of the PA profession is a gross understatement.

As Good As You Can: The PA Model Around the World is a beautiful, meaningful, and timely piece of work. The footage from these interviews is a behind the scenes journey into the minds of heroes and trailblazers of our profession.

Join me as we begin our journey around the world with PAs leading the charge for better, more cost-effective, patient-oriented care. We will be starting here in the good old U.S of A in the first of our extraordinary nine-part series, titled American Cheese: The Patenting of the U.S. PA. If you are at all interested in global health or the history of the PA profession, then you won't want to miss this series.

I'll see you soon for post #2, and in the meantime, make sure to sign up using the form below to receive email notifications. Also, please consider supporting filmmaker Adam Halbur's incredible work by making a $25 contribution to the development and marketing of his film through this link.

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Stephen Pasquini PA-C Physician Assistant

Stephen has been a family practice PA since 2004 and is the creator of The PA Life, Smarty PANCE Board Review, and PASchoolfinder websites. A National Health Service Corps Scholar and a graduate of The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (Rutgers) PA Program and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Stephen's goal is to provide one-of-a-kind online resources for those interested in or practicing in the PA profession, to promote better access to healthcare for all, and to foster universal recognition/awareness of the PA profession. Read more about Stephen.

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About this webinar Are you applying to PA school but worried about writing a compelling personal statement that will grab the admissions committee’s attention? Do you want to learn the secrets of crafting a PA school essay that stands out from the crowd and showcases your personality, motivation, and fit for PA school? ​ If so, then you don’t want to miss our webinar on Crafting Your Best PA School Personal Statement. ​ In this webinar, you will learn the following: What a personal statement is and how schools use them. You will understand the purpose and expectations of writing a personal statement and how schools use this information during the admission process. What to do before you start writing. You will learn how to prepare and organize your thoughts, research, and brainstorm your strengths and achievements. A successful structure for your personal statement. You will learn how to craft a clear, coherent, and compelling narrative that showcases your personality, motivation, and fit for their program. Common mistakes to avoid. You will learn how to polish your personal statement and avoid errors that could undermine your credibility or impact. By joining this webinar, you will gain valuable insights and tips on how to write a personal statement that increases your chances of admission to your desired PA school. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback from our experienced PA school coaches. ​ Don’t miss this chance to learn how to write your best PA school personal statement. Register now and secure your spot for this webinar. You won’t regret it! ​

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