Episode #15: Eden Pearl | Manitoba PA in Hematology-Oncology
Episode Summary
I sat down with Eden DuPont, a seasoned PA who’s navigated everything from rural hospitalist medicine to the high-stakes world of acute leukemia and bone marrow transplants at Winnipeg’s Health Science Center. We dive deep into her transition from a microbiology lab to the University of Manitoba’s PA program, specifically how she managed the "big blur" of first year and eventually found her footing in a specialized oncology ward.
In this episode, we cover:
Why Manitoba's program looks for "outside the box" applicants with backgrounds in things like musical theater or community volunteering.
The transition from general internal medicine to the "magic science" of hematology oncology.
Navigating the job hunt when positions aren't always handed to you in a neat package.
The reality of PA autonomy: prescribing opioids, managing chemotherapy side effects, and knowing exactly when to ask the attending for help.
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The Path to Practice
3:08 Surviving the First and Second Year
6:10 Conquering the PA Capstone Project
7:21 The New Grad Job Hunt Strategy
Clinical Life & Specialization
8:42 Insights from Rural Hospitalist Medicine
11:54 Pivoting to Hematology-Oncology
5:21 Must-Have Clinical Learning Resources
The Manitoba Landscape
16:47 What Regulation Actually Changes
17:13 Deciphering the Provincial Funding Model
17:32 Why the PA Union Matters
24:27 Managing Continuing Medical Education
Professional Collaboration
18:55 Navigating the Physician Relationship
19:20 Working with Nurses and Allied Health
20:14 Advice for Building Interprofessional Trust
21:34 How PAs Transform Departmental Flow
23:11 Guidance for Physicians Hiring PAs
27:23 Learning Curves in Your First Year
29:02 Perfecting Your PA Elevator Pitch
Key Takeaways
Audit your "unconventional" experiences. Eden highlights that Manitoba’s PA Program looks for people with original ideas and unique volunteer backgrounds, like her time in musical theater and refugee support.
Master the "PA Elevator Speech" early. You will inevitably encounter physicians who don't know what a PA is, so you need a practiced, concise way to explain your scope and value to the medical team.
Prioritize Internal Medicine basics. Even if you're eyeing a niche specialty like BMT, a solid foothold in managing heart failure, pneumonia, and arrhythmias is the foundation you'll build everything else on.
Leverage your allied health colleagues. Nurses and pharmacists aren't just coworkers; they are your best teachers for managing side effects and understanding the social realities of long-term hospital stays.
Adopt the "do one, teach one" mindset. Competency in procedures like bone marrow biopsies comes through shadowing, being watched, and then eventually teaching others, a cycle that builds the trust required for true autonomy.
About Our Guest
Eden is a graduate of the University of Manitoba’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies. After starting her career as a hospitalist in rural Manitoba, she transitioned to the Acute Leukemia and Bone Marrow Transplant ward at the Health Science Center in Winnipeg. She is currently active in networking through Cell Therapy Transplant Canada to connect advanced practitioners across the country.
Connect with Eden:
