Figure 2.

Conceptual model detailing the facilitating factors and barriers to student PA identity formation. There are three sections to this conceptual model. The ‘safe shore’ is solid ground on which student PAs can easily find their footing and represents the factors which assist student identity formation. The ‘hazardous deep’ can easily drown a student, and represents barriers to student identity formation that can overwhelm a training PA. The ‘uncertain shallows’ is a hinterland between the safety of the shore and the dangers of the deep and represents factors that, depending on context and agency, can either help or harm student PA occupational identity formation. PA, physician associate.