“We can conduct research, perform lab procedures, order and interpret tests, assist in surgery, and even own our own medical practices in some states,” says Brianna Cardenas, director of Clinical Education of the Physician Assistant Program at Keck Graduate Institute. Sonia Otte, founding program director for the MS Program in PA Studies at KGI says that range is a big draw for prospective students once they are introduced to it. “I think just knowing that the PA profession is as versatile as you want it to be is what is the most exciting thing about it,” she says. Both see building awareness of the many dimensions of PA practice, especially among younger people and those from diverse communities, as a key part of their mission. Another is teaching cultural competence and the kind of listening skills that allow providers to see the whole lives of their patients. “We teach our students to learn from their patients’ stories and experiences. Oftentimes, you can find the thing you’re looking for in these types of conversations because they reveal their circumstances and abilities.” Join host Rishi Desai for this illuminating conversation about an occupation that, as Cardenas happily points out, ranks #1 on the U.S. News & World Report “Best Jobs List.”