The path to becoming a PA researcher doesn’t require a PhD — just curiosity, collaboration, and a willingness to start small.
Whether you're a practicing PA, educator, or student, engaging in research can elevate your impact on health care and education. The path to becoming a PA researcher doesn’t require a PhD; just curiosity, collaboration, and a willingness to start small.
Step 1: Define Your Interests
Begin by identifying topics that align with your clinical or educational experiences and passions. Common areas of focus include:
- Program Evaluation (e.g., assessing clinical education models)
- Clinical Research (e.g., innovations in telehealth)
- Implementation Science (e.g., translating evidence into practice)
Narrow and Refine Research Questions of Interest
Choose a topic that genuinely excites you — this will make the research process more engaging and sustainable. Immerse yourself in the existing literature to understand the current landscape. Look for gaps, unresolved issues, or areas flagged for future exploration.
From there, begin to formulate specific, actionable research questions that address those gaps. These questions will serve as the foundation for your scholarly inquiry.
In the next step, you’ll engage with mentors and professional networks to refine your ideas. These conversations can help you assess feasibility, relevance to the scholarly community, and potential impact.
Step 2: Build Your Network
Research thrives in community. Connect with a mentor, colleagues, and sponsors who share your interests.
- Develop an affiliation with a university; this could begin with becoming a preceptor
- Join a journal club
- Participate on committees in your area of interest to network within that community and to stay abreast of current affairs
- Identify a mentor who can help you shape your ideas, navigate institutional processes, and identify opportunities for collaboration
Step 3: Advance Your Scholarship Skills
Structured programs offer training, support, and funding. Consider courses, webinars, or certificates in:
- Becoming a reviewer for a journal
- Research methodology
- Statistical methods
- Data analysis and management
- Ethics
- Legal and regulatory issues in research
These programs provide a strong foundation for developing research skills and building a scholarly portfolio.
Step 4: Use Research Tools
Build understanding and equip yourself with essential tools to support your research:
- Institutional Resources: Institutional Review Board support, data analysis software (i.e., MaxQDA, SPSS, Dedoose), reference managers (i.e., Mendeley, RefWorks, Zotero), manuscript editing, research librarian
- Professional Development: PAEA (for members) and AAPA offer research toolkits and webinars
These resources can help you move from idea to implementation with confidence.
Step 5: Present and Publish
Share your findings to contribute to the broader PA community:
- Start small with a white paper, platform presentation, or poster presentation (e.g., a platform presentation within PALLA’s Research Hour)
- Assess feasibility for every project considered in the early planning stages
- As you build skills and confidence in the process, submit abstracts to conferences like AAPA, PAEA, or MdAPA CME events
- Seek grant funding no matter how small the amount
Research is not reserved for academics. It’s a tool for every PA to improve practice, education, and policy. With mentorship, institutional support, and access to powerful tools, you can take the first step today. Whether you're exploring a new idea or ready to publish, Maryland offers a rich landscape to grow your research journey.
The PA Leadership and Learning Academy (PALLA) is about shaping the future of the PA profession in Maryland. Housed within the University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies, this statewide initiative goes beyond traditional training — empowering current and future PA educators to lead, innovate, and drive meaningful change in education, research, policy, and ultimately, better access to health care across Maryland and beyond.