Today we’d like to introduce you to Michele Neskey.
Hi Michele, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Michele Neskey, and I help aspiring Physician Assistants (PAs) get into PA school and healthcare providers find purpose beyond medicine through healthy living. I graduated from the Yale PA program in 2005 and have spent the majority of my years in clinical practice working in adult medical oncology. My husband is a head and neck cancer surgeon and we moved many times over the years for his training to cities including Miami, Houston, and now Charleston, SC which we call our home. After moving to Charleston in 2014 and having my daughter, I chose to return part-time to clinical work as I was having feelings of burnout, and search for a passion outside of the clinic. I began focusing on my own personal wellness and helping students who were applying to PA school with the application process. I remembered being a pre-PA and trying to navigate the process myself without any guidance and being the first in my family to go into the medical field. Helping these students not only became rewarding, but fun! I created the Posh PA in 2019 to help guide, educate, inspire and encourage aspiring PAs as well as to promote wellness and build confidence.
Since then, I obtained a wellness counseling certificate from Cornell University and have integrated helpful techniques into my work with pre-PAs, current PA students as well as practicing PAs. The Posh PA team has grown to include 4 additional PAs around the country who have expertise in helping students navigate the application process, as well as assist with study strategy, academic performance, career counseling, and more. Our services encompass everything a PA needs from the application process to practicing PA.
As a healthcare provider, my priority has always been focused on serving others as it is for most. But healthcare provider burnout is real and during the second year of the pandemic, left me feeling exhausted with compassion fatigue and apathy. I had tremendous feelings of guilt and shame as I considered stepping away from clinical practice, but what I discovered was the importance of having an identity outside of medicine. For me, focusing on my own fitness and nutrition through health and coaching brought me new purpose. I found fulfillment that not only included helping students through The Posh PA but also helping other healthcare workers make their health a priority.
Building The Posh PA and Posh Wellness from the ground up has been both challenging and rewarding. I am honored to be able to help so many students achieve their dream of becoming PAs and healthcare professionals live a healthy and fulfilling life. I look forward to continuing to grow and learn every year!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Getting to where I am today has certainly had its challenges. As I had very little background in business, I struggled at first to figure out operations, financials, and how to structure my business. I hired a business coach to help me with the basics, which was the best thing I could have done. I felt confident in my back office and when to hire out for services. However, as The Posh PA began to become popular, I definitely experienced some growing pains. I realized that I could not do everything on my own. That in order to grow I needed to find others with experience and expertise in areas that were not my own. This was hard for me at first as I felt that I “should have” been able to do it all, but the truth is, that was limiting me and my business. Once I allowed myself to realize the potential and invest in help, everything began to fall into place.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The Posh PA mission is to provide personalized guidance, education, and motivation to build confidence and promote wellness for aspiring physician assistants and beyond. Our vision is to help Pre-PAs to gain acceptance into an accredited PA program. To teach and maintain a healthy work-life balance for future PAs, PA students, and practicing PAs by investing in their own health and wellness. To provide guidance on career counseling, career transition. To increase diversity and inclusion in the PA profession. To provide a platform to enable challenged socio-economic backgrounds to have an avenue to get into PA school. To educate the younger generation about the PA profession.
We are known for our personalized services and helping students beyond just the hard facts they need to apply to PA school. Each one-on-one call is customized to fit the client’s needs. We also give them tools to work on mindset, vision, and how to manage stress.
As a brand, I have focused on providing “edutainment”, meaning, providing educational tools through fun videos and TikToks and Instagram Reels. I am most proud of my relatability as a brand in sharing my personal and professional journey as a PA and health coach.
The Posh PA is a one-stop shop for all things PA! We provide services geared towards prePAs, current PA students, and practicing PAs. Posh Wellness integrates health and fitness programs along with personal development and community to manage the burnout and stress that comes with being a healthcare provider.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I absolutely love listening to audiobooks! Some of my favorites are The High 5 Habit by Mel Robbins, The Happiness Advantage by Shaun Achor, and The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy. I also love listening to On Purpose by Jay Shetty and The Influencer Podcast by Julie Solomon.
Contact Info:
- Email: theposhpa@micheleneskey.com
- Website: www.micheleneskey.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/michele.theposhpa
- Facebook: facebook.com/michele.thepospha
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIdU2bdYcAeL8s_dsk1QRkQ
