Building a Career Beyond the Exam Room: A PA's Approach to Speaking and Research

For Valerie Stern, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, a career that now spans speaking engagements, clinical research, and medical malpractice expert work didn't start with a formal invitation. It started with a pharmaceutical rep who saw something in her that others didn't.

“There were reps that would say, 'Oh, I don't wanna see you. I only wanna see the doctor.' And that was fine. I got used to that. But then there would be that special rep from a special pharmaceutical company that would say, 'No, no, I'm here to see you today.' And they told me, 'You're the future of medicine, and we want you on our front lines.'”

Those early relationships, built on mutual respect and a willingness to engage, eventually translated into speaking invitations — starting with small dinners and growing from there. The through line, Stern says, was genuine clinical engagement: tracking patient outcomes carefully, building trust with reps, and letting results do the talking.

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The Research Path

Getting into clinical research didn't come from applying to a job posting. Stern actively sought out research-oriented practices and made herself useful, even when that meant working for free.

“I went in free. I said, 'I will give you X amount of days free if you would be willing to take me. I love what you're studying right now, and I really wanna be a part of it.' And guess what? It worked. Then I got hired.”

For APPs interested in research who can't find an opening that way, Stern recommends pursuing entry-level coursework and calling research centers directly — and making sure you can speak their language when you do.

Standing Out When There's No Open Door

Some of Stern's most consequential opportunities came from positions that weren't posted — they came from outreach she initiated herself. Her advice: do it in a way that gets noticed.

“Some of the best positions I've ever been fortunate enough to have, I contacted them first. There was no ad, and I just sent it in a big pink envelope or something ridiculous that was very professional but stood out.”

She acknowledges the corporate environment has made some of these tactics harder — handwritten notes and phone calls can get filtered out before they reach the right person. But showing up in person at conferences, she argues, remains one of the most reliable ways to start a conversation that leads somewhere.

Want to hear more? Check out part 1 here.

Valerie Stern, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, is a dermatology PA in private practice in Los Angeles, CA. She serves on faculty at the Keck USC School of Medicine PA program, co-chairs the SDPA Diplomate Fellowship Program, and is affiliated with LearnSkin, an integrative dermatology education platform.