Kara Gooding, PA-C, shares valuable insights on how speaking up, negotiating, and taking strategic risks can shape a successful medical career based on a presentation at DEF Essential Resource Meeting 2026 (DERM2026) NP/PA CME Conference. Drawing from her 26 years of practice, she explains that negotiation goes beyond financial contracts to include advocating for clinical procedural opportunities, paid time off, and bonus structures. She highlights her own professional journey, detailing how she identified unmet administrative and clinical needs to establish new professional councils and societies for advanced practice providers. Ultimately, she offers practical tips on building peer connections and partnering with industry representatives to help professionals step out of their comfort zones and advance their careers.
