Meet Barbara Regis, MS PA-C of Ask the PA – Best of Health Advocacy and Mia Care INC in Ahwatukee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Regis, MS PA-C.

Barbara, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Originally from Pennsylvania, I found my way west on a full music performance scholarship to Arizona State. As an ASU graduate in 1986, Arizona has always been my home. I was a music educator and performer who down deep knew medicine was my calling, so I decided to leave a successful teaching career and follow in the footsteps of my father.

After working through the Physical therapy Dept at Maricopa Medical Center, gaining amazing experiences, I graduated from the first PA class at AT Still University. Since then, I have worked in primary care through Maricopa County before partnering and running two successful family practices. Years of conversations with providers, patients and families have fueled my desire to advocate for better healthcare experiences. I turned my passion into reality with Ask the PA. I am also the host of Best of Health Radio at Phoenix Business Radio X, author of Surviving the “Business” of Healthcare and offer patient advocacy assistance and medical-legal consulting through my website AskthePA.com.

Over a year ago, I faced my biggest challenge when I began fighting stage 3 melanoma and trying to care for my two elderly parents. Unfortunately, during my cancer fight, my Mom and brother-in-law passed away. These were huge challenges as well as trying to balance my full-time job as onsite provider/ health center manager at Insight Enterprises but throughout these challenges, I was able to remain positive and met amazing people. During this time, I was learning a lot about myself and how fractured healthcare could be, especially for the elderly.

Also, during this journey, I realized that so many people with health issues have little support with no one to talk to and are struggling to find answers. As a result of all these interactions, including my personal fight, I became very motivated to find a solution so that no one ever feels “Misunderstood, Isolated and/or Alone”. So, my legacy project was born. I am incredibly excited to partner on this project with a very motivated young man from Houston that saw the passion and value and who’s company is helping me see my vision through. Beta testing is coming very soon, and this could potentially help millions of people all over the world. Until then, I continue to be grateful for each day and advocate for all.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As much as I loved music, leaving a successful teaching and performing career to pursue my passion for medicine was risk that I knew I needed to take. I’m happy I did! I knew that as a PA having my own practice would be a challenge but I was able to accomplish this dream with an MD/ business partner for 13 years. We struggled and there was a lot of financial and sweat equity. I’m proud that we never gave up. Eventually, it was time to move on and after an amicable work divorce, it was time to rediscover my passion and vision. I eventually landed in a very special job as the clinician at Insight Enterprises, Tempe. This job that I love enabled me to rebrand Ask the PA and start exploring how I could potentially help others on a much larger scale. Then, the unimaginable happened. I was diagnosed with cancer and a rare form of melanoma, all while struggling with my elderly parents and their needs. Sadly, my mother passed away not long after my diagnosis. Still, I continued to push through and I learned never to give up. I wrote my book, got certified as a medical professional legal consultant and started helping others that had no one to lean on in their journey. It was difficult and exhausting but when you realize you may not make it, there are only two choices – fight or give up. I elected not to sit back but to keep going and to keep advocating for myself and others. This has led to my legacy project.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am extremely passionate about helping others navigate through their health challenges. Through my book, website and be accessible through social media, I have been able to help people save money, get to the right specialists, support others when they are scared and alone. I advocate and empower them to ask the right questions and never give up.

What were you like growing up?
I was a perfectionist and observer. My Dad was the town Dr and I was exposed to lots of his work given his office was at our home. I was into my music, golf and horses. Through all the amazing exposures as a child, I knew one day I would practice medicine and follow in my dads and two generations before him footsteps. Sidetracked with my music but it made me a better healthcare provider.

Contact Info:

• Website: Askthepa.com
• Phone: 4802137564
• Email: barb@askthepa.com
• Facebook: Ask the PA
• YouTube: Ask the PA

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