Exploring Psychiatry with Ava Smith: A Journey from Emergency Care to Academia

In this week's episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Ava Smith, a seasoned PA in psychiatry, to explore her remarkable journey, experiences, and insights within the field.

Connecting Through a Shared Passion

Ava Smith and the hosts connected through the PAs in Psychiatry group on Facebook and further bonded during a Peloton challenge. From the outset, Ava's diverse background in emergency psychiatry and academia stood out. Her transition from emergency to outpatient psychiatry was driven by her desire to build long-term relationships with patients and witness the impact of her treatments over time.

A Personal Journey into Psychiatry

Ava's path to becoming a PA stemmed from her early interest in medicine, inspired by her family's medical background. It wasn't until she stumbled upon the PA role in her thirties that she found her true calling. Her personal experience with her mother's mental illness fueled her ambition to provide quality psychiatric care. Ava's story is a testament to how personal experiences often shape career trajectories in mental health.

Challenges and Achievements in the Field

Throughout her career, Ava encountered various challenges, one being the limited recognition of PAs in psychiatric roles. Her advice to aspiring PAs is to network boldly, ask questions, and actively seek learning opportunities, even when jobs don't specifically list the PA profession.

Ava's role at Texas A&M College of Medicine involves outpatient work and instructing future medical professionals. She mentors PA students and psychiatry residents, emphasizing the importance of effective communication and patient interaction skills. Her areas of interest include bipolar disorders, mood disorders, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders.

Navigating State Regulations in Psychiatry

Ava discusses the regulatory challenges faced by PAs, particularly in states like Texas, where PAs aren't authorized to prescribe controlled substances to minors. Despite these hurdles, Ava is optimistic about legislative changes and continues to advocate for expanded PA prescribing authority.

Maintaining Balance: A Passion for Puzzles and Peloton

Amidst her busy schedule, Ava relishes in solving jigsaw puzzles and enjoys the community and motivation offered by Peloton classes. Her journey with Peloton echoes the importance of finding motivating exercise routines that fit one's personality and lifestyle.

Resources and Inspirations

For continuous learning and inspiration, Ava recommends podcasts such as Dr. David Puder’s "Psychiatry and Psychotherapy," "The Carlat Podcast," and "The Curbsiders Teach." These resources offer valuable insights into psychopharmacology, patient care, and medical education.

A Call to Future PAs

The episode concluded with a call to action for aspiring PAs to advocate for themselves and actively seek experiences in psychiatry. Ava's journey is a powerful reminder of the impact PAs can have in mental health and the importance of pioneering roles within the profession.

Tune In and Stay Connected

Thank you for joining us on this insightful episode of The PA Mindset Matters podcast. Stay tuned for more stories and professional insights by following our podcast on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Podbean. Watch us on YouTube and connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn. Until next time, continue to explore the dynamic world of psychiatry with us!