Health Careers
Physician Assistant
Professional Activities
Physician assistants (PAs) are highly skilled members of the healthcare team who are licensed to practice medicine with the supervision of a licensed M.D. The physician assistant functions in many capacities in the state of Alaska. In urban areas, they work in close association with a supervising M.D. However, in rural areas, they often work independently in a clinic, with their supervising physician stationed many miles away. Historically, physician assistants have been a major influence in the delivery of healthcare in rural areas and villages where access to care has previously been limited.
The physician assistant can be found in all medical and surgical specialties. They are trained to perform physical examinations, compile patient medical histories, and order and interpret diagnostic testing, including electrocardiograms, laboratory tests, and x-rays. PAs often perform therapeutic procedures (including suturing and cast application), develop and monitor patient treatment plans based on medical diagnosis, and counsel patients about preventive care and risk management. In the state of Alaska, PAs can prescribe medications and controlled substances (schedule three through five). PA training is that of a medical school model.
Physician assistants work in both rural and urban settings. A majority of PAs work in clinics and physician offices. Other settings in Alaska include tribal health organizations, hospitals and nursing homes.
Educational Requirements
- Graduation from high school with coursework in science and math.
- Completion of at least two years of coursework in the sciences. Some programs require a Bachelor’s degree prior to admission. Most PA programs require anatomy and physiology.
- Acceptance into and completion of a 24-month PA program which includes coursework and clinical experiences.
Academic Programs
The Medex Northwest PA Program is expected to transition to a master’s-level program in 2009 although they are also currently exploring options for maintaining a bachelor’s degree option. Following careful deliberation by the faculty, this change reflects the increasing responsibilities of PAs and the recognition that master’s degree are becoming more the norm for PA education. MEDEX will continue to focus on training individuals with a significant level of previous healthcare experience. Recruiting rural and Alaska Native students, especially Community Health Aides, remains a top priority for our program.
The application deadline for admission to the first Masters class will be October 1, 2008. The UW Medex admissions office is committed to working with potential applicants, and offers advice on preparation and eligibility for application to the program. The status of the MEDEX Bachelor and Master’s training will be updated as information becomes available.
Prerequisites for 2008 and the Master’s Program in 2009 are located on the MEDEX web site at: http://www.washington.edu/medicine/som/depts/medex/#
UAA Department of Health Sciences is planning to expand the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences to include a pre-professional track for potential UW Medex applicants and other graduate level health career students. The Department of Health Sciences will continue efforts to help facilitate the professional advancement of Community Health Aide Practitioners into the PA profession.
Students admitted into the MEDEX program currently spend the first year of the PA program at one of the UW training sites (Seattle, Spokane, or Yakima), where they receive intense clinical and didactic instruction. The practicum year corresponds to UW’s year of field placement and supervision, beginning in September and ending in early September the following year. In the current program, Alaska students return to Alaska for their clinical year. The clinical placements call for 35-40 hours a week in supervised clinical training, and 10-20 hours a week in self-study. Students are placed in Alaska training sites currently utilized by the MEDEX program. At the completion of the PA program, students are eligible to sit for the National Certifying Examination for Physician Assistants
MEDEX and UAA are exploring funding opportunities in support of offering the two-year program in Anchorage beginning in 2009 or 2010.
BSHS PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION:
John Riley, PA-C, MS
Instructor of Health Sciences
Physician Assistant Program Coordinator
Department of Health Sciences
University of Alaska Anchorage, Diplomacy Building, Suite 404
3211 Providence Drive,
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone: 907-786-6570
Fax: (907) 786-6572
Email:
Web site: http://health.uaa.alaska.edu/bshs/
MEDEX CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jennifer Johnston, Administrator
MEDEX Northwest, Box 354980
University of Washington, Seattle 98105-4608
Phone: (206) 616- 3553
Fax: (206) 616-3889
Email:
Web site: http://www.washington.edu/medicine/som/depts/medex/
Contacts
State Contact:
Alaska Academy of Physician Assistants (AKAPA)
4450 Cordova Street, Suite 110
Anchorage, AK 99503
Toll free: (800) 478-8684
In Anchorage: (907) 646-0588
Fax: (907) 562-8641
Email:
Web site: http://www.akapa.org/
National Contact:
American Academy of Physician Assistants
950 North Washington Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314-1552
Phone: (703) 836-2272
Fax: (703) 684-1924
Email:
Web site: http://www.aapa.org/
This page was last updated by Janice Troyer on July 17, 2007
