Styles, strategies, and challenges of PA leaders nationally: An exploratory qualitative study.

Objectives: To identify the leadership styles, strengths, strategies, and key factors of PA leaders in healthcare executive, clinical, and academic settings.

Methods: An exploratory, qualitative study was completed through the American Academy of Physician Associates 2023 Practice Survey to answer seven qualitative questions. Of the 1,423 PAs who responded to the survey invitation, 348 PA leaders in formal and informal roles chose to answer, for a 24.4% response rate.

Results: For PA leaders' styles and strengths, collaborative and emotional intelligence emerged as themes. For key factors of PA leadership, balancing expectations and giving and receiving critical feedback emerged as themes. For skills or qualities PA leaders wish they had before starting to lead, project management skills and increased confidence emerged as themes.

Conclusions: Leadership development training needs to be in the didactic and clinical curriculum of PA programs for the future of PA leadership. Leadership pathways for PA leaders in healthcare executive, clinical, and academic settings need to be created and established more widely.