Karen Lazard, PA-C, is a Board Certified PA with 8 years of experience in Women’s Health, specializing in prenatal care. Lazard assisted NCCPA in developing the blueprint for the OBGYN Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) exam.

Tell us a bit about you and your current role.

I have been working in Women’s Health at an outpatient clinic affiliated with a university-based practice for the past 7.5 years. During this time, I have been able to offer excellent prenatal care to many low-income and women with limited health care access, which has been incredibly rewarding for me.

Where did you graduate from PA school?

In 1993, I graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch PA Studies Program.

How did you find out about this volunteering opportunity, and which committees were you part of?

I received an email from NCCPA that identified me as a PA in women’s health from a survey I completed. I had recently been widowed and thought this would be a great opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone. I participated in meetings to assist in the development of the blueprint for the OBGYN CAQ exam as well as item writing.

What insights did you gain from your volunteering experience, and did it benefit your professional growth?

During this experience, I had the opportunity to meet with PAs from various areas of the country and different practice settings. I was able to see areas of women’s health I had limited experience in. Although I found the item writing assignments challenging, I was able to rely on my experience and use the resources to write well-constructed exam questions.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about volunteering with NCCPA?

I would advise someone to be open to this type of opportunity. Although exam writing can be challenging, it is ultimately rewarding. Seeing PAs in this setting reaffirmed my confidence in the career path I’ve chosen.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your volunteering journey with NCCPA?

NCCPA provided a great opportunity for me to expand my involvement in my profession at a time in my life where I needed to venture beyond my comfort zone. What initially served as a distraction turned out to be incredibly rewarding. Prior to this, I had only participated in clinical practice. Additionally, I was also able to visit with my son who lives in Atlanta.

If you’re a clinically practicing PA-C, who’s interested in volunteering for the OBGYN CAQ exam development in 2025, visit the NCCPA website and apply today.