Why I Chose the CDCES Path as a PA
Apr 8, 2026, 14:51 PM
By Brian Burroughs, MSPAS, PA-C, AQH, BC-ADM, CDCES, CHC
When I first entered clinical practice in family medicine, I knew that diabetes would be a central part of what I did. What I did not fully appreciate at the time was just how complex, nuanced, and deeply human diabetes care truly is.
Like many clinician trainees, my early exposure to diabetes management was largely algorithm driven. Focus on the A1c. Adjust medications. Repeat. It was structured, efficient, and in many ways incomplete.
What changed for me was recognizing that diabetes is not just a condition to manage. It is a disease people live with every day.
That realization is what led me to pursue the CDCES credential and become involved with ADCES.
As a physician associate in primary care, I was already treating diabetes regularly. But I began to see gaps in my own training. I could prescribe medications confidently, but I was less equipped to help patients navigate the day-to-day realities of living with diabetes. Questions about food, routines, motivation, burnout, and barriers to care often felt harder to address than medication titration.
I started to understand that clinical knowledge alone was not enough.
The CDCES credential offered a way to bridge that gap. It reframed diabetes care from being primarily about treatment decisions to being about supporting behavior change, education, and self-management.
That shift was profound.
Joining ADCES further expanded that perspective. It introduced me to a community of professionals who approach diabetes care holistically, emphasizing not just outcomes but lived experience. I was able to learn from nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and others who brought different but equally valuable expertise to the table.
It also helped me see my role differently.
As a PA, I had always valued collaboration, but through ADCES I began to integrate team-based care more intentionally into my practice. I became more thoughtful about when to involve diabetes care and education specialists, how to reinforce DSMES principles during visits, and how to align care plans with what actually matters to patients.
Perhaps most importantly, the CDCES pathway helped me become more comfortable slowing down.
Not every visit needs a medication change. Sometimes the most impactful intervention is helping a patient feel understood, supported, and empowered to take the next step in their care.
For early career clinicians, especially those in primary care, I would strongly encourage considering the CDCES credential. It does not replace your clinical training. It enhances it.
It gives you tools to connect more meaningfully with patients. It helps you address the real-world challenges that influence outcomes. And it situates you within a broader community committed to improving diabetes care.
Looking back, pursuing the CDCES credential was not just a professional decision. It was a shift in how I understand my role as a clinician.
And it has made me better at what I do every day.