#224: Raquelle Akavan, PA Mom Founder (the "PAM group"), suffered a stroke at 33 and had to take a major career pivot.
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Raquelle, "Rocky" Akavan did something amazing, but it probably didn't feel all that big at the time. She craved a group of fellow PA moms to talk to, so she created a small Facebook group for PA moms. Little did she know it would eventually grow to 19,000 members only 8 years later and become one of the largest special interest groups of AAPA (the national PA organization).

The group is like a professional home filled with friends I talk to and share advice, as well as tips and tricks for surviving motherhood, marriage, and my career. It's become a way of empowering and advocating for our profession by a shared vision and a group of moms who can get $hit done!

I wanted to highlight Rocky and let her tell her story of how it all started and what she went through along the way. As she says, it takes a village (and gives credit to her amazing team of PA Moms who work 24/7 to keep the group going).

Take home points:

- If there’s something lacking in your and it’s not already available, take the brave step and create it!

- Spend time figuring out your core values, and reassess them periodically, then use them to make any decision.   

- Set aside time with no phones or screens.  Everything else can wait.  

- Good leaders have to implement boundaries, which in turn, gives everyone on the team permission to set boundaries.  

- Burnout is multifactorial, for some it’s all about their work, but relationships and health also contribute. 

- You are not alone.  

- If you start feeling overwhelmed or burned out, use this as a sign to step back and reevaluate; ask yourself what needs to shift? 

- You’re never really stuck; even when it feels like it.  There are so many more choices.  

- Stay true to yourself by really spending time getting to know yourself and what’s important to you.  

- YOLO: You only live once so ask yourself what would create a life with no regrets and use that as your guide.  

Personal IG: Raquelle Akavan, DMSc, PA-C (@dr.rocky_pa) ) and FB: https://www.facebook.com/rocky.akavan/)

PA Mom IG: https://www.instagram.com/pa_moms/)

PA Moms® - Physician Associate Moms | Facebook)

PA Mom website: ⁠PA Moms – Physician Associate Moms⁠)

Guess what, Y'all? My next PA Masterclass Series will start mid- January; there's still time to sign up and change your life for less than most of us spent today on Amazon. Let me know if you'd like to be a part of it! Here's a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) to learn more.

My book on healing burnout will also be out in 2025 (editing now!!); if you're interested in being on my advanced reader team, or would like a few sneak peeks beforehand, shoot me an email, at [email protected] or sign up for any of my free resources (including my mini-book) on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

If you'd like to talk about me being a speaker or podcast guest, or if you're interested in collaborating, use the email above to connect!

Love, Hope