PAs Share Their Many Side Hustles

Since the pandemic, many workers across industries are working a 9-to-5 while building new businesses or engaging in some sort of “side hustle.” In fact, a recent CBS News report estimated that nearly 50% of American employees work some type of side gig — and physician associates (PAs) are no exception.

About 85% of respondents in the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants’ (NCCPA’s) 2023 Statistical Profile of Board Certified PAs hold a second clinical PA position — and nearly 4% reported having a nonclinical side gig.

Most of those surveyed said they had taken on a second job to supplement their earnings, but Shayne Foley, MS, PA-C, who practices in the greater Burlington, Vermont area, said that many people take on side hustles to “fill their cup.”

“I’m sure there are people out there who are trying to pay off their student loans, but taking on a second job just to make extra money may not end up being all that fulfilling,” he told Medscape Medical News. “You want something that inspires you. And I think there are a lot of people who are highly motivated to start something of their own or are looking for something a little more creative.”

Foley, who works as a primary care PA, has a second job as an adjunct professor, teaching aspiring PAs, and also co-owns the PA Blueprint, a site that helps PAs advance their careers. While teaching has always been a love of his, he and his partner, Jordan Fisher, PA-C, decided to start the PA Blueprint after seeing a need to help support PAs as they navigate their careers.

“We learn so much medical knowledge, and we know how to apply that in our practice, but we don’t learn as much about the best way to invest in our 401(k) or how to avoid burnout,” he said. “People need to know this kind of stuff, too.”

Side Gigs in Healthcare

There are plenty of opportunities for PAs to take on gigs in the healthcare industry. Some work “per diem,” picking up extra shifts at other practices on their days off. Others teach, consult, speak, support clinical trials, or pursue medical writing.

Michele Neskey, PA-C, trained as an oncology PA but decided to take on a side hustle as an admissions coach. After helping some of her colleagues with their applications to PA school, she realized that she enjoyed assisting prospective students.

“This gave me a different kind of fulfillment than my work on the clinical side of things — and it was fun,” she said.

Neskey added that she started her admissions business around the same time she had her daughter, so reducing her clinical hours was also of benefit to achieving the kind of work-life balance she wanted.

“I wanted more control over my time and schedule, and that can be hard to get in a traditional clinical job,” she said. “While I still work as a PA — and I love it — I enjoy having this other job where I have a lot more freedom.”

Another popular side job for PAs involves working with aesthetic injectables. Botox and dermal fillers are incredibly popular across the United States, and spas and dermatology practices need licensed medical providers to administer them. Raquelle Akavan, DMSc, PA-C, works full-time in academia but also works with a concierge aesthetic medicine practice.

“I used to do injections when I was first out of PA school, and I always knew that it was something I wanted to get back to,” she said. “I really enjoy medicine. I also like helping people look beautiful and feel great about themselves, so this is a great fit for me.”

Moving From Healthcare to Wellness

Other PAs seek side hustles outside the traditional healthcare sector — helping people foster greater overall well-being. A quick internet search will lead you to websites of PAs who teach yoga, offer massage therapy, or provide nutrition services. Megan Hood, MBA, PA-C, a manager at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, has a side business, Hiking Hound Adventures, to help people in the city connect with the outdoors. What started as an idea to rent their family’s outdoor gear to people in the city has now grown into a thriving business that offers family-friendly guided hiking adventures.

“As a PA, I know the benefits of exercise and the healing power of nature,” she said. “That’s been a big driver for us. Our hope is that we can help people really connect with the outdoors, enjoy it, and, as a result, take better care of it.”

She also said that this business allows her to be more creative. Hiking Hound offers a variety of children’s hikes, including a storybook and an ice cream hike, that Hood developed.

“This allows me to tap into a different part of my brain,” she said. “We can do a lot of fun and creative things — and that was a bucket that wasn’t necessarily being filled for me before.”

Balance Your Way to Success

More and more PAs are interested in potential side gigs. Foley presented a Career Central Webinars for the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) on side gigs last September — and he said more than 500 people attended. AAPA members can still access the session through their website.

“I have a lot of people reaching out on the PA Blueprint and through other social media channels, and they are really interested in learning more about side hustles,” he said. “I’m finding that there is a lot of curiosity about nonclinical roles, in particular.”

It’s clear that more and more PAs are pursuing side gigs both in and out of the clinic — and Foley said he expects that trend will continue. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to success, Foley, Neskey, Akavan, and Hood all said that pursuing something you love is the best place to begin.

“From the start, understand what it is you want to do,” said Akavan. “It’s not always easy to balance it all, but it is easier when you are doing something you enjoy, and you believe in what you are doing.”

Neskey advised starting small. She said she first fit in coaching where she could — a couple of hours after dinner here, a lunch hour there — and built up her business from there. Hood added that it’s also important to do background research. Many resources are available to help you understand the ins and outs of any potential side gig — and if the opportunity might come with any warning flags — no matter if you are joining an already established company or starting your own. Do your homework to find the side hustle that best fits you.

Kayt Sukel is a healthcare and science writer based outside Houston.