Emma Riley PA-C

"For Emma Riley, primary care brings together everything she loves about becoming a physician assistant: caring for patients while getting to know them as people. During clinical rotations in her training, she found herself fascinated by every medical specialty she encountered. She loved endocrinology, women’s health and pediatrics. “Everywhere I went, I found something that interested me,” she says. “That’s when I realized primary care really does it all.”

Her experiences before becoming a PA also helped shape the kind of provider she wanted to be. Emma earned her CNA license and worked in a skilled nursing facility, then worked as a medical assistant at an integrative practice focused on whole-person care. She also volunteered with Dance Marathon, working alongside child life specialists in South Carolina hospitals. “Those experiences showed me how important it is to support not only the patient, but their family as well,” she says.

Emma enjoys the opportunity to build lasting relationships with patients in family medicine. “You get to know them as a person, and that builds trust,” she says. “When patients trust you, they’re more comfortable talking openly about their health.” She also loves the patient education that comes with primary care, especially those moments when something suddenly clicks. “I love when a patient says, ‘Oh my gosh, that makes so much sense,’” she says.

For Emma, being a good provider starts with listening. She wants patients to feel comfortable sharing their concerns and asking questions so she can understand the bigger picture and offer the right guidance. “My goal is for patients to feel heard, understood and supported,” she says.

Outside of work, Emma enjoys walks, going to the gym, trying new recipes, and spending time with friends and family. She also loves to travel; whenever she has a free moment, you can find her planning her next trip."