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 hope.cook@gmail.com 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

#224: Raquelle Akavan, PA Mom Founder (the "PAM group"), suffered a stroke at 33 and had to take a major career pivot. 29:51 Share

Physician Assistant Burnout: Tips, Tools, and Interviews with PA and Life Coach Hope Cook

Shownotes Transcript

#224: Raquelle Akavan, PA Mom Founder (the "PAM group"), suffered a stroke at 33 and had to take a major career pivot.