Department of Physician Assistant Studies

"The Physician Assistant Program fosters an environment that promotes the acquisition and application of culturally sensitive, patient-oriented clinical knowledge and skills to produce a diverse workforce of primary care physician assistants who practice medicine with competence, professionalism, and compassion driven by academic excellence and a spirit of service to the community."

Welcome

Established in 1996, the Physician Assistant Studies program at the University of South Alabama is a Master’s Degree program and is designed for the student who holds a baccalaureate degree in any field.

The program provides the student with comprehensive medical knowledge, skills, and attitudes enabling them to engage in clinical practice, and is designed to prepare the student for a variety of clinical practice settings. The goals and objectives of the program are guided by the criteria set forth in the Essentials and Guidelines for an Accredited Educational Program for the Physician Assistant, as established by the Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

Students are prepared for practice using a variety of learning strategies, including, formal lectures, practical laboratory classes, clinical education and clinical research. Graduates develop advanced clinical problem solving skills, in addition to acquiring technical proficiency in areas related to professional practice.

USA PA Studies Welcomes AHEC

The University of South Alabama Physician Assistant Studies Program welcomes AHEC (Area Health Education Center).  AHEC programs throughout the U.S. are designed to meet each state's health and health workforce needs by providing educational programs in partnership with academic institutions, health care agencies, and other organizations committed to improving the health of the people in each state in which AHEC operates.

AHEC educational programs and information services are targeted toward:

• Improving the distribution and retention of healthcare providers, with a special emphasis on primary care and prevention.
• Improving the diversity and cultural competence of the health care workforce in all health disciplines.
• Enhancing the quality of care and improving health care outcomes.
• Addressing the health care needs of underserved communities and populations.

Our program has successfully partnered with AHEC in order to improve the health and quality of life for Alabamians in rural and medically underserved areas on the Gulf Coast and its northern counties.

We encourage you to read more about the Alabama AHEC.