Q&A with Paula Olson, assistant professor, PA Studies

June 20, 2024 • CHP News

PaulaolsonheadshotWhat drew you to HSC and why did you accept a faculty position here?

As an alumna of the PA Studies program and a long-term resident of Fort Worth, it was only natural for me to be drawn back to HSC. The dedication and quality of the current faculty and program leadership made the position very attractive.

What are your favorite spots you have discovered on campus or in town?

I love that the campus is in the museum district. From time to time, I will walk across the street during a lunch break to look at one of the many wonderful exhibits at the Kimball or the Amon Carter. Just recently I sat for a while on a marble bench by the waterfalls behind the Kimball and listened to the cicadas singing their summer songs. It is truly an urban oasis.

What have you enjoyed most about your time here so far?

The department atmosphere is congenial and collaborative. The staff and faculty in the PA Studies program go above and beyond to help one another with the mutual goal of developing and delivering a first-rate educational experience for the students.

Starting out as a new faculty member at HSC, what are your goals and what do you hope to accomplish during your time here?

My primary commitment is to the future patients of our graduates. My main goal is to help prepare the PA students to practice good medicine and to deliver excellent healthcare for many years to come.

What is something you would like for students or fellow faculty members to know about you?

We just welcomed our eighth grandchild into the family.

What are you reading or listening to right now? 

I discovered Jon Batiste (Grammy-winning composer and musician) during COVID, and I was very happy to get to hear him in concert recently. Listening to his music is always a mood-booster.