Education As An Art: Alex Kendall, Program Director of the Emory University School of Medicine's Physician Assistant Program

“I think education is very much of an artistic process. I love to think of this as kind of being in a museum. It's about curation of an experience,” says Alex Kendall who oversees the physician assistant training program at Emory University. As he takes on the role of director, Kendall’s background in art and anthropology give him an interesting perspective from which to build on and realize the program’s vision and mission, which are rooted in evidence-based education, leadership development, interprofessional education and creating patient-centered, community-oriented clinicians. Toward that end, one curated experience is participation in the longstanding Emory Farm Worker project in which students care for thousands of migrant workers from Florida, Georgia and other states. Among other things, it’s a great opportunity to deepen awareness of the social determinants of health and practice caring for diverse populations. Looking to the future, Kendall and colleagues are keen to prepare their students for growing trends that will impact their work as clinicians including team-based care, the aging of the population and the increase in climate-related health problems. “We ask ourselves what does the future of health and society look like in ten years and what is needed from physician assistants? Our job is to identify what medical education then needs to look like in order to meet those future challenges.” This expansive conversation with host Hillary Acer also touches on Emory’s cognitive apprenticeship curriculum, scaffolded learning, making primary care an easier choice of specialty and the growing interest in point of care ultrasound.

Mentioned in this episode:

Emory University School of Medicine PA Program 

Emory Farm Worker Project

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