Master of Science: Physician Assistant Program
Career Information
Where do Physician Assistants work?
Licensed Physician Assistants (PAs) can choose to work in private practices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, surgical centers, community health centers, nursing homes, and mental health facilities. PAs can also choose to work in non-clinical roles, such as in administrative, educational, and research settings. Some PAs decide to work as patient care providers for the military.
PAs can build unique career trajectories around their interests and professional preferences. Some work in family medicine or acute care, while others work in oncology, pediatrics, radiology or even surgery, where they assist during procedures and provide post-surgical care. PAs can transition between specialty areas of medicine.
What is the job outlook for Physician Assistants?
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the U.S. may face a shortage of over 120,000 physicians by 2034. PAs may help bridge the gap as one of the fastest growing professions in the country. More than 40,000 new PA jobs will be created over the next 10 years—a growth rate of 28%.
Do Physician Assistants have a flexible career path?
The PA pathway offers great versatility in your career. While each specialty has distinct practice guidelines, PAs are qualified to work in all of them when licensed. PAs are not required to recertify in order to change specialties or work in new settings. This means you can launch a career you love and then pivot if you discover a new area of interest. You might go from Emergency Medicine, for example, to Family Practice.
How do Physician Assistants contribute to health equity?
PAs have a measurable impact on patients and health systems. Physician Assistants play a crucial role in providing health care to underserved patient populations (e.g., the uninsured, rural-dwelling individuals) and will likely provide even greater access to care in the future. In some areas of the United States, PAs are the only licensed healthcare providers in the surrounding region.
Additional Resources
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