What is a Physician Assistant (PA)?
Definition:
A physician assistant or PA is a healthcare provider who practices medicine. A PA can examine, diagnose and treat people with injuries and illnesses. They can interpret lab results, conduct procedures, assist in surgeries and prescribe medications. They do all this under the supervision of a physician. Autonomy varies greatly depending on specialty, facility and supervising physician. Some PAs work very closely with their supervising physician and others have much more independence. The profession is flexible allowing PAs to work in every speciality and medical setting.
Check out this video from the AAPA (American Academy of Physician Assistants). It does an excellent job summarizing the profession!
Education:
After completing a bachelors degree physician assistants complete a 2-3 year masters degree program. The first 1-2 years are spent in the classroom learning as much medicine as they possibly can! In their last year PAs spend about 2000 hours in clinical rotations getting hands on medical experience. With completion of the training program the PA takes a national certification exam and applies for their state license. Upon passing the exam they become a certified physician assistant, hence the credentials PA-C. However, learning does not stop here. PAs have to document at least 100 hours of continuing education every two years and take a recertification exam every 10 years. Learning never ends!
History:
The physician assistant profession originated in the United States in the 1960’s. Physicians at the time realized there was a shortage of primary care providers, thus they created a position to improve and expand healthcare. The first class of PAs consisting of Navy Hospital Corpsmen graduated from Duke University in 1967. The profession took off from there and the rest is history!
Around the World:
There are not many opportunities for PAs internationally as the profession is mainly limited to the United States. A few other countries, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ghana and South Africa have adopted similar versions of the profession. Occasionally, countries such as New Zealand will sponsor projects to test the PA concept by bringing in US trained PAs. Currently, there is not an abundance of international opportunities, but the future may look promising!
If you are a PA interested in international practice you can contact:
* PAs for Global Health: a non-profit organization for PAs interested in working in medically under served communities around the world
* Country specific professional associations for PAs
* New Zealand Physician Associate Society
* Faculty of Physician Associates (United Kingdom)
* Australian Society of Physician Assistants, Inc.
International positions are limited, but don’t be discouraged. There are opportunities out there! You just have to search for them!
Interested in learning more? Check out the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) at www.aapa.org.
*This information was gathered from the AAPA website as well as my personal experience/knowledge.