August 26, 2025

Meet Emily Hearst

Physician Assistant 

Where are you from? 

I grew up in a small town in southwestern Missouri called Aurora. 

What made you choose orthopedics as a specialty? 

I chose ortho because I have always had a love for sports medicine. I played soccer in high school and almost became an athletic trainer before deciding to go to PA school. 

What brought you to WashU Medicine Orthopedics?

I was at an urgent care before, but I was wanting to specialize in orthopedics, so when I saw the opening with the Orthopedic Injury Clinic I thought it would be perfect for me.

What aspect of your work do you find most interesting and rewarding? 

I love when you treat a patient for an injury and when they come back for their follow-up visit they feel so much better and are ready to return to the activities they love.

Is there a patient who made a lasting impact on you?

I saw a patient who was in a bad car accident. She had a lot of injuries, so initially they did not pay attention to the pain she was having in her foot/ankle. Several weeks later, I saw her after her PCP ordered x-rays of the foot and ankle which showed a small fracture in her ankle. She was just coming in to get a walking boot, but after talking with her and examining her foot, I ended up getting an MRI which showed a Lisfranc injury and several fractures the x-ray missed. She was so thankful for the extra work-up and told me I really made a difference. It was so touching and rewarding. 

What's the best advice you ever received? 

Never stop asking questions.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?

I love spending time outside. When the weather is nice I love to walk, hike, and run. When the weather is bad, I love to stay in and bake.  

If you weren't in healthcare, what would you like to be doing?

If I wasn't a PA, I would love to be a stay-at-home mom to my beautiful one year old daughter. 

Learn why patients choose WashU Medicine Orthopedics, request an appointment online or call (314) 514-3500.