Hampton named National PAEA Future Educator Fellow

Written by: Tayler Stewart
Media contact: Adam Pope

"It was one of those moments where I just knew what I wanted to do."

For Brianna Hampton, medicine was always in her life plan, but it was not until she learned about the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Physician Assistant Studies program that she knew where medicine would take her. Housed in the Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences of UAB's School of Health Professions, the PA program is ranked as one of the top programs in the country.

"UAB is just unbeatable, both for the medical program and for UAB's reputation. The connections the hospital and school have are unmatched," Hampton said.

Now in her second year as a PA student, Hampton has been selected as a National PA Education Association Future Educator Fellow.

The program is geared toward PA students and other medical graduate students who hope to practice medicine alongside teaching the next generation of professionals. Students attend monthly meetings, network with other students, engage with guest speakers and more. The three objectives of the program include:

• Foundational Educator Competencies: developing skills such as teaching, learner-centeredness and role-modeling.
• Functional Educator Competencies: expanding their skills in scholarship development and leadership.
• Leadership and Professional Development: opportunities for interprofessional education and research, and building strategies for collaboration to enhance PA education.

For Hampton, medicine and teaching went hand in hand.

"I always knew I wanted to go the teaching route," Hampton said. "I didn't want to teach English or math - medicine was always my passion."

Selected as one of 15 students for the 2024-2025 cohort, Hampton is looking forward to the ways she will grow as a student, instructor and medical professional. PAEA has had seven cohorts since the 2018-2019 academic year, and out of all PA programs in the country, UAB has had the highest number of students that have completed the fellowship.

When Hampton first learned about the program, she was unsure whether it was the right path for her. Erin Dorman, a CDS faculty member, spoke in one of Hampton's classes about her own experience as a PAEA Future Educator Fellow in 2018.

Hampton says Dorman, one of her mentors, advised her to apply for the fellowship; she believed this was a step in the right direction.

To learn more about UAB's Physician Assistant Studies Program, click here.

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