Morehouse School of Medicine Announces New
Physician Assistant Program
Physician Assistant is ranked one of the top in-demand careers by U.S. News and World Report
Contact:
Bill Doughty
404-752-1752
wdoughty@msm.edu
ATLANTA – March 9, 2018 – Physician assistants (PAs) play a critical role on today’s collaborative health
care teams, with demand expected to grow by nearly 40 percent over the next 10 years
and a median salary exceeding $100,000, according to U.S. News and World Report.
To meet this growing community need, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is launching a new physician assistant program beginning in summer 2019. The 28-month long full-time program will lead to a Master of Science in Medicine Physician Assistant Studies degree. MSM will begin accepting applications on April 27, 2018.*
PAs are highly trained health care professionals licensed to provide medical care under a doctor’s supervision. They can conduct physical exams, order and interpret diagnostic studies, write prescriptions and more. Trained PAs work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, and federal agencies.
“The Morehouse School of Medicine physician assistant program is driven by vision, mission and legacy,” says Pangela Dawson, Ph.D., PA-C, PA program director. “Understanding the pioneering efforts of early educators has inspired us to develop a student-centered curriculum design that focuses on equipping future leaders, enhancing access to care, and improving community health outcomes for rural and underprivileged populations.”
The PA program at MSM will empower students to make health equity a priority and address
community health issues, Dr. Dawson says. The program also adopts the competencies
consistent with the national standards for the PA profession.
*Morehouse School of Medicine has applied for Accreditation- Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Morehouse School of Medicine anticipates matriculating its first class in June 2019, pending achieving Accreditation - Provisional status at the September 2018 ARC-PA meeting.
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
Prospective students may apply for admissions and participate in the interview process (if selected); however, students will only be allowed to begin matriculation into the Program after Accreditation-Provisional status has been awarded.
For more information regarding accreditation, contact ARC-PA at: 12000 Findley Rd. Suite 150 Johns Creek, GA, 30097, (770) 476-1224 or http://www.arc-pa.org/provisional_acc/information.html.
About Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM)
Founded in 1975, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is among the nation's leading
educators of primary care physicians, biomedical scientists, and public health professionals.
In 2011, MSM was recognized by Annals of Internal Medicine as the nation’s No. 1 medical
school in fulfilling a social mission. MSM faculty and alumni are noted for excellence
in teaching, research and public policy, as well as exceptional patient care.
Morehouse School of Medicine is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award doctoral and master's degrees. To learn more about programs and donate today, please visit www.msm.edu or call 404-752-1500.
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