Pauline Bulala is the NCAPA Marketing and Communications Coordinator and is leaving NCAPA to begin PA school at Campbell University next month. As a pre-PA in this role, she shares a written reflection below on her unique path from reapplicant to NCAPA to PA school.
Like many other pre-PAs, my journey to PA school and the PA profession was not a linear one. It was a road dotted with detours, delays, winding paths, and unexpected scenic routes. As a reapplicant that had been working on my application for years — retaking prerequisites, volunteering in my community, and gaining valuable patient contact experience — I was steadfast in my goal of going to PA school.
When the opportunity arose at an open position at North Carolina Academy of PAs (NCAPA) as the new Marketing and Communications Coordinator, I jumped at the chance. As a pre-PA with both clinical and communications experience, this was a rare melding of both of my interests and allowed me to contribute my skills in a different way. Additionally, with one application cycle under my belt, I longed to understand the profession from a different perspective.
Tasked with keeping Members and audiences informed of the vital work that NCAPA does to support PAs and patients in North Carolina, I got to see the profession through a different lens. I have had the honor of interviewing PA veterans and some of the earliest PAs in the country, all who shared the storied history of the profession, starting with military corpsmen who trained to become the first PAs in order to fill a health provider shortage.
I got the chance to attend state medical board meetings, hear regulatory issues relevant to PAs and their patients, and keep Members informed and aware. I have interviewed Members to spotlight their contributions and paint a portrait of a North Carolina PA. In the process, I’ve gotten to know their remarkable stories and journeys, which showed me that PAs can be leaders in many different spaces – from patient care in rural and underserved communities, to legislative advocacy on Capitol Hill.
I have had the opportunity to see the behind-the-scenes work of the Board of Directors and NCAPA leaders, all who generously volunteer their time and energy to consistently champion their PA peers. I have participated in campaigns that support pre-PA members and address the need for students from underrepresented communities, have assisted in leadership trainings for PA students as they prepare to graduate, and have shared the importance of practicing providers joining state academies like NCAPA.
NCAPA is the only organization that advocates for PAs at the state level, and getting involved in that work has been an ultimate privilege. As a pre-PA with a predominantly clinical background, I never expected to step into the politics and advocacy space, let alone speak to a Senator at the General Assembly in Raleigh about enhancing practice laws. However, being at NCAPA meant leaning in and growing out of my comfort zone. While coordinating important advocacy alerts to NCAPA Members, I learned of the need to modernize PA practice laws in the state to better expand access to patient care, and found my voice in a space I never thought I’d be in.
I’ve learned firsthand that state legislation can dictate exactly how medicine is practiced in the state, which affects all PAs and the environments they practice in. Advocacy ensures that PAs are named in laws, have the ability to practice at the top of their scope to provide quality patient care, and have a seat at the table with other professions.
My time at NCAPA has also shown me that there is more work to be done. As a PA student, I hope to empower my student peers by sharing my experiences and guiding them on how to be an effective PA advocate. As a practicing PA, I will continue advocating for PAs to be considered in important policies that directly affect their ability to provide high-quality patient care. My ultimate goal is to work towards celebrating and enhancing the PA profession in North Carolina, and I am excited to continue my involvement at NCAPA as a Student Member and future professional member.
Being in this role has been an impactful experience, one that has given me the privilege to learn from trailblazers and PA pioneers. I will be forever grateful to the NCAPA staff and Board of Directors for their support in my journey, and I thank my mentors who have given me a deeper understanding and lasting appreciation of the PA profession.
To any pre-PAs who may find themselves comparing their application journey to someone else’s and are struggling to find your path: your path can and will be different, and that is more than okay. Keep an open mind and say yes to opportunities that may be different to what you were expecting – it can end up shaping you to become the best provider you can be.
