Stanford med and PA students urge unity, better training, and renaming PA degree to 'Master of Medicine' amid healthcare shortages and burnout.

Physician assistant and medical doctor students at Stanford are advocating for greater unity, emphasizing collaboration over hierarchy in healthcare. With a projected physician shortage and rising burnout, the authors stress that PAs and MDs are essential partners, not competitors. They call for renaming the PA degree to "Master of Medicine" to reflect its clinical rigor and foster mutual respect. The piece also warns that unstructured reflection in medical training can fuel anxiety and imposter syndrome, urging institutions to redesign reflective practices to support well-being and meaningful learning.