What Are the Best Physician Assistant Schools

Now that you’ve decided to be a physician’s assistant (PA), you want to enroll in one of the best physician assistant schools to teach you the skills and techniques required by the job. As you probably already know, a physician assistant works under the supervision of a licensed doctor and performs the same basic functions like examining patients, taking medical histories, ordering lab tests, treating minor injuries, and prescribing medicine. Since you’ve got people’s lives on your hands, nothing but the best physician assistant schools can give you the solid foundation you need for this career path. Below is a list of the best physician assistant schools.

University of Iowa’s Carver College of Medicine

The University of Iowa’s PA program is ranked by America's Best Graduate Schools 2008 as the best PA program in the country. This is because the University of Iowa has a unique curriculum that enables PA students to complete more than half of their course requirements with medical students. By doing this, PA students can easily integrate themselves into a physician team when they graduate and start working. PA students don’t just memorize body parts and pharmacological agents; they learn actual skills that will help them throughout their careers as Pas. This hands-on approach also teaches PA students to be critical thinkers while providing the best of patient care.

Duke University

Duke University also has a full-time PA program that immerses students into the work of a PA. During the first year of the course, students handle pre-clinical studies, receive exposure to clinical experiences, as well as decide on their medical specialties. The following year is devoted to clinical rotations, some of which are done in medically underserved areas. After completing the rotations and undergoing a final senior seminar, students participate in evaluation exercises in campus before they can take the exam to be a certified physician assistant.

Emory University

Among the best physician assistant schools is Emory University, a school with a long history of excellent PA education. Emory University’s PA students have had consistent high scores on the PA National Certifying Examination and devote much of their career to excellent health care, especially in medically underserved communities. Through engaging, innovative education, PA students are molded to become the best in their field. The Emory campus itself is also among the most picturesque in the country despite being located in the city.

George Washington University

The PA Program at George Washington University is a full-time program similar to what is offered at Duke University. The first part of the program is academic and focuses on the basic sciences, behavioral science, clinical medicine, and pre-clinical skills. During this period, PA students are slowly introduced to clinical patient experience. During the clinical part of the program, PA students undergo clinical rotations in various inpatient or outpatient settings. Under the supervision of a doctor, students actively engage in patient care. Aside from the rigorous academic program, the PA Program also has a nationally recognized community service aspect that enables students to provide quality health care in underserved areas in Washington. This component often serves as the eye-opener of PA students as they learn about what services are needed by communities and how to make these accessible to all.