🇺🇸 English

PAs/Asociado Médicos communicate all day, every day-- rounding in the hospital, seeing patients in clinic, leading and educating, and increasingly, in advocacy spaces. John Maxwell argues that even if we are doing all this communicating, that alone doesn't give us influence.  It's CONNECTION that does. Connection that is intentional, relational, and grounded in credibility.

For PAs/Asociado Médicos advocating in Puerto Rico, this distinction is especially relevant. We are working within complex systems (local? federal? colonial? cultural?) where roles are misunderstood, titles are confused, and trust must be earned. Repeatedly. Maxwell offers a framework to navigate this that we can learn from. 

First, finding common ground. Connection begins with shared interests and values. In our case, medical access to the people of Puerto Rico that is high-quality, evidence-based, and accessible. Our aim is to stabilize the healthcare workforce on the island and serve underserved communities. This should be common ground with many different groups! Physicians, social workers, epidemiologists, researchers, and our neighbors and friends. 

Second, keep it simple. Maxwell emphasizes clarity over complexity. It is so easy for us to launch into our entire mission and values and history and why we are so passionate about PAs in Puerto Rico but this isn't the most effective approach. Further, this applies to how we edplain our role on the island in the healthcare system. Clear, consistent language and titles are essential when speaking with patients, legislators, and the public. Simplicity builds understanding, and understanding builds trust.

Third, capture interest. People engage when it applies to their lived reality. In Puerto Rico, framing PA contributions in terms of continuity of care and reduced wait times or shifting the focus from treating to prevention, makes our role tangible. Connection increases when people see how the message affects them-- and that is precisely what we are about!

Fourth, be inspiring. It can't all be factual and intellectual. It is emotional. Serving our communities drives us and that come from a desire to help and make a difference, to alleviate suffering, and to support our patients in living healthy lives. We want to create this same excitement, passion, and motivation as we advocate for both patients and PAs. Our influence will be more impactful when others feel motivated, valued, and included in this larger mission.

Finally, live your message. Maxwell is clear: credibility depends on alignment between words and actions. In Puerto Rico as we establish the identity of PA-C's/Asociado Médicos, legitimacy and integrity go hand in hand. We must earn it, live it, and share it. 

Maxwell tells us how: be authentic, be other-focused, go beyond words. The great thing is, this mirrors what PAs do daily in patient care! Listening, being present, body language, follow-through, sincerity, and integrity. These speak across language barriers. These communicate more than titles. 

So let me ask you: which of Maxwell's principles do you think would help us most in Puerto Rico? Where could we be more intentional about our connections?

🇵🇷 Resumen en Español

Los Asociados Médicos (PA-C) comunicamos todo el día: con pacientes, colegas, equipos clínicos y cada vez más en espacios de liderazgo y defensa profesional. Pero, como plantea John Maxwell, comunicar no es lo mismo que influir. La verdadera influencia nace de algo más profundo: la conexión.

Para nuestra profesión en Puerto Rico, esto es clave. Trabajamos en sistemas complejos donde nuestro rol muchas veces se malinterpreta, y donde la confianza no se asume—se gana. Maxwell propone principios que aplican directamente a nuestro trabajo aquí: encontrar puntos en común, mantener el mensaje claro y simple, captar interés conectándolo con la realidad del pueblo, inspirar, y sobre todo, vivir el mensaje con coherencia y credibilidad.

La conexión no es teoría—es práctica diaria: escuchar, estar presentes, comunicarnos con intención, y dar seguimiento con integridad. Son esas acciones, más que cualquier título, las que fortalecen nuestra legitimidad y aumentan nuestro impacto.

Pregunta para ti: ¿Cuál de estos principios crees que más necesitamos fortalecer como profesión en Puerto Rico?