The University of La\u00a0Verne\u2019s new physician assistant master\u2019s degree program has received provisional accreditation from the field\u2019s premier national accrediting body.<\/p>\n
The approval, granted by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), is for a new PA Program that has not yet enrolled students.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a program that will change lives \u2013 the lives of the students seeking a rewarding career and the lives of the patients they will eventually serve,\u201d University of La\u00a0Verne President Devorah Lieberman said. \u201cThis is a proud moment for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first group of 22 students will begin coursework on August 27.<\/p>\n
The need for physician assistants in Inland Southern California rose by 18 percent between 2011 and 2016, according to a Centers of Excellence study. The program is part of the university\u2019s commitment to expanding health sciences educational programs, outlined in the university\u2019s 2020 Strategic Vision. The program also complements the mission of the Convergence, an initiative aimed at providing skilled and diverse health care professionals for the region.<\/p>\n
The physician assistant profession has been named by several top media outlets, including Forbes and USA Today, as the most promising job in America. The demand for physician assistants increased more than 300 percent from 2011 to 2014, according to the healthcare search firm Merritt Hawkins. As of January 2016, there were more than 108,000 certified physician assistants nationwide who interact with patients upwards of 350 million times annually.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is going to have a significant impact on Inland Southern California and we look forward to training our students to meet the health care needs of the region,\u201d said Dr. Michael Estrada, the program\u2019s director.<\/p>\n
Students enrolled in the 27-month program will complete 118 units to receive a master\u2019s degree. Students will work the first 15 months in the classroom and the following year in hospitals and other medical facilities in Inland Southern California. Scholarships are available through a\u00a0$250,000 gift from Cardenas Markets Inc.<\/p>\n
The program\u2019s accreditation follows a thorough review of both the curriculum and the new faculty.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have no doubt that students will be entering a world-class program,\u201d said Dr. Lawrence Potter, dean of the university\u2019s College of Arts and Sciences. \u201cOnce we receive full accreditation, our graduates will be prepared to apply for California\u2019s State Medical Board or medical boards in other states for a license to practice. We are extremely pleased with our unique PA Program curriculum and its focus on integrating cultural competence and humanistic approaches to working with clients. Our students will be equipped to work in hospitals, private practice, and community clinics and will be trained in a range of specialties such as women\u2019s health, pediatrics, behavioral and mental health, emergency and family medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next application period for students runs from Apr. 27 to Oct. 1.\u00a0Information sessions<\/a>\u00a0will be held regularly at the University of La\u00a0Verne, 1950 Third St., La\u00a0Verne.<\/p>\n