Eric Tetzlaff, MHS, PA-C, DFAAPA
ERIC TETZLAFF, MHS, PA-C, DFAAPA, a physician assistant at Fox Chase Cancer Center, has received the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) 2018 Publishing Award for his article, “National Study of Burnout and Career Satisfaction Among Physician Assistants in Oncology: Implications for Team-Based Care,” published in the Journal of Oncology Practice.1 The AAPA Publishing Award recognizes a new clinical or research article that has contributed to the advancement of the profession of physician assistants. Dr. Tetzlaff received the award at a formal presentation during the AAPA Annual Conference in late May.
Dr. Tetzlaff ’s article examines factors that increase the risk of burnout in oncology physician assistants and offers new perspectives that may help physician assistants and the organizations in which they practice. He and his team conducted a national survey of physician assistants who specialize in oncology, asking about their personal and professional lives, specifically their feelings about their wellness and work-life balance.
He found that about one-third of those who responded to his survey had experienced burnout. The study identified poor relationships with a collaborating physician and an imbalance of time spent doing administrative work rather than caring for patients as major contributors to burnout. ■
REFERENCE
1. Tetzlaff ED, Hylton HM, DeMora L, et al: National study of burnout and career satisfaction among physician assistants in oncology: Implications for team-based care. J Oncol Pract 14:e11-e22, 2018.
