Katie Iverson, PA-C
If you’re walking into 2026 feeling a bit overstretched, over-messaged, and maybe even a little under-caffeinated, you’re in good company. Clinical work has never been more complicated. Information is noisier, time feels tighter, and tough conversations seem to show up in nearly every shift.
Every October, we pause to celebrate physician assistants (PAs)—a profession built on compassion, adaptability, and teamwork. At Hippo, we’re proud to have PAs not only caring for patients across the country, but also shaping the way clinicians learn and grow.
It is tragic that in 2025, measles—a fully preventable disease—has caused two deaths (at the time of writing) and sickened hundreds across the United States. With outbreaks making headlines, patients are flooding our inboxes and exam rooms with urgent questions:
On the PANRE-LA topic blueprint, NCCPA lists “Emergent Topics” as 2% of the exam. For many exam takers, these questions are causing headaches due to the lack of clear guidance on what will be covered. NCCPA lists “Legal, Ethical, DEI” on the blueprint, but no one knows the exact questions, and the specifics can’t be shared. Let’s dive a bit deeper into these three topics to help ease your anxiety and prepare you for whatever might come up.