As a recent graduate of PCOM’s Physician Assistant Studies Program, Zach Murphy, PA-C ’20, understands firsthand how challenging mastering material could be for students—especially when balancing life’s many responsibilities. That experience inspired Murphy and his colleagues, Robert and Kristen Beach, to launch NinjaNerd, a YouTube-based platform dedicated to making complex medical topics easier for students.
NinjaNerd grew out of a need Murphy noticed while working as a professional tutor at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, PA. “There were so many students who couldn’t use the tutoring center because of outside responsibilities—kids, jobs, you name it,” Murphy explains. “It was an underutilized resource because so many students had unconventional schedules.”
That realization sparked an idea. Murphy, along with Robert and Kristen Beach, asked themselves the question: “What if we took essential medical school lessons to the internet?”
Driven by a shared passion to support the next generation of healthcare providers, NinjaNerd was born. The trio spent countless weekends producing videos to break down difficult topics. “We shared notes, created quizzes and question banks, all in Rob’s grandparents’ basement,” Murphy recalls.
But as quickly as NinjaNerd grew, life caught up with its creators. Murphy graduated from PCOM, Kristen began her nursing career, and Rob entered the field of physical therapy. “It became harder and harder to keep up with video production once we entered the clinical world,” Murphy admits.
Then COVID-19 hit in 2020 and the world went online. With students everywhere stuck at home, NinjaNerd became a go-to resource for learning. Within months, the platform gained over a million subscribers. “We never expected this passion project to grow to such heights. It’s truly humbling,” Murphy says. “Now, our content is being watched in places like Hungary, India, Australia, you name it.”
Murphy designed NinjaNerd with an approachable, step-by-step teaching style. “We break information down gradually, use visuals, and ask questions instead of overwhelming students with too much content at once,” he explains. “I might be the guy in the backwards hat, but that’s intentional. I want students to feel related to while they learn.”
The platform has since expanded, offering study templates, digital sessions, and interactive learning tools. “Traditional lectures never worked for me,” Murphy says. “I learn best through interactive, visual methods, so I incorporated those elements into NinjaNerd.”
Today, NinjaNerd boasts over 3.8 million subscribers worldwide and continues to grow. Murphy is beginning to see just how much impact the project has had. “I’ve been invited to speak at colleges and meet students whose journeys we’ve directly shaped. That’s when it really hit me that what we’re doing matters and is making a difference,” he says.
With more than five years of clinical experience under his belt, Murphy understands the challenges that students and new professionals face. “Whether you’re a student or just stepping into the clinical world, you have to embrace the discomfort,” he advises. “That’s where the real learning and change happens. You’ll be amazed at your growth when you look back on your time as a practitioner.”
