November 15, 2023

View Ryan Clancy's Faculty Profile

What has inspired you to train the next generation of leaders?
I come from a family of teachers. I always wanted to combine medicine and teaching. I always wanted to make sure that patients were well informed and educated regarding their medical diagnosis and treatment plans. Becoming a physician assistant allowed me to educate every patient that I encountered each day in clinical practice. As a PA educator, the number of patients that I impact is exponentially greater because I know that I not only impact the patients I treat each year, but I also impact each patient that each of my graduated students have treated and educated.

How has education and practice shifted over the last five years?
Over the last five years, I have seen an increase in the need and use of simulation activities in PA education. Allowing students an opportunity to work with standardized patients in simulated patient encounters, as well as participating in high fidelity simulation with mannequins, enhances the student’s confidence when they are out treating actual “real world” patients. It makes them better students and better practitioners.

How do you prioritize health equity in the curriculum and practice?
As a program, we attempt to introduce health equity to our students during their first few weeks in the program, starting in their Patient Communication course where I am the course director. We emphasize treating all patients the same. We discuss topics about cultural humility and intrinsic bias and the need to continually learn and self-assess our own biases. Throughout their entire didactic experience and clinical rotations, we ensure that students are prepared to treat the whole patient in every clinical setting and instill in them the mantra that you are treating a person and not a diagnosis.

Do you have a favorite restaurant, museum or location in Philadelphia where you enjoy spending time?
Anything and everything sports. I love watching the Phillies, Eagles, Sixers, Flyers and Union. My favorite place to eat is at Reading Terminal, as there are so many great food options.

What do you wish students knew before arriving for their first year of study?
You are only a PA student once. Take advantage of every opportunity presented to you. Treat school like a job. Work hard but realize sometimes you may have to put in some overtime to be successful. Always remember self-care and to take time out for yourself to have fun and recharge your batteries. Schedule this self care in your weekly planner. If it’s not in your schedule, then you will neglect this important time. Make sure that you get seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Learning and retention is enhanced with a good night’s sleep.