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Kara Gooding, PA-C: Advancing Your Career Through Negotiation, Advocacy, and Risk-Taking

Kara Gooding, PA-C, discusses the importance of self-advocacy, negotiation, and strategic risk-taking in building a successful medical career, drawing from her presentation at the DERM2026 NP/PA CME Conference. Reflecting on 26 years of clinical experience, she explains how negotiation extends beyond salary to include procedural opportunities, paid time off, and bonus structures. She also shares how identifying unmet needs in clinical practice and administration led her to establish professional councils and societies for advanced practice providers.

Topics Covered

  • The importance of self-advocacy and negotiation in medical careers
  • Negotiating compensation, benefits, and clinical opportunities
  • Taking strategic risks to advance professional growth
  • Identifying unmet needs and creating leadership opportunities
  • Establishing professional councils and organizations for advanced practice providers
  • Building professional networks and industry relationships
  • Stepping outside comfort zones to pursue career advancement

 

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