Megan Hazel, PA-C

What is your practice philosophy? My practice philosophy is that with compassion, good listening and education, I will be able to help patients make decisions regarding their own care and help them achieve their personal health goals.

Hometown: Lakeville, Minnesota

What are you passionate about? And why? I am passionate about my family, friends, and creating a life that I enjoy through being active and pursuing my interests. Through my career, I hope to help patients to pursue their passions as well by helping them get back to their optimal state of health.

If I wasn’t a provider, I would be a: Yoga instructor, because I love yoga and it would continue to fulfill my passion to help others achieve optimal health.

Why did you become a provider? When did you know this was the career for you? I became a provider because I wanted to be in a field where I was surrounded by people, and could learn about the body. I knew this was the career for me when I saw the joy in patients after being treated by their healthcare provider.

Something I have learned from my patients is: Listening can be so powerful, and is one of the most important aspects of starting the journey of healing for patients.

One of the challenges of this career that I enjoy is (and why): I enjoy the challenge of diagnosing patients’ complaints because it is always a new mystery to solve, and each patient is truly unique.

My personal health goal is: Share my joy of being active with my own family.

What is the best thing you’ve done for your health or the best health advice you’ve received? I have learned that health starts from the basics – eating well, taking care of mental health and staying active – and if we take care of ourselves through those venues, we can avoid many lasting health issues.

What are a few of your personal achievements? Running a half marathon, submitting my research to JAAPA magazine at the end of PA school, and staying healthy with a full time job and a family.