Do you want to become a physician assistant? Your first step will be to attend PA school. If you are able to attend a prestigious Physician Assistant program you should not take it for granted. If you attend a different Physician Assistant program that is not on our list, you can still have a great experience! Make sure to study hard, engage with your peers and faculty, and get as much experience as you can. If you are interested in attending PA school, you should familiarize yourself with the different programs across the country. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of the best physician assistant programs in 2019 to help you get started on your search!
The Five Best Physician Assistant Programs in 2019
Duke University
Duke is the birthplace of the physician assistant profession. Their years of perfecting the program makes Duke one of the best physician’s assistant programs in 2019! The former chairman of the Department of Medicine, Dr. Eugene A. Stead Jr., started to the program. Duke’s PA program mission, according to their website, is to “provide a creative and supportive environment” for “learning and growth.” The program is very competitive, and their acceptance rate is around 3%. However, don’t let that stop you from applying! The Duke program is looking for academic excellence, knowledge of the health care system, and great personal skills. The application process includes an interview, so be sure to practice your interview skills! Applications are due around October 1st of each year and you can find more information here.
The University of Iowa
You might be surprised to find The University of Iowa on this list, but the Iowa PA program has been ranked highly for years. What makes the Iowa PA program so special is that PA students complete their curriculum with other medical students. Iowa’s program focuses on honing skills rather than memorizing facts. Each year’s class is 25 students and applications are due on October 1st. The application process is competitive, but you can present yourself in a unique way. If you are invited for an interview, then you will have your interview in-person in Iowa City. The Admissions Committee selects those who will interview based on “academic achievement, health related experience, letters of recommendation, test scores, and personal narrative,” according to their website. You can find more information about the application process here.
Baylor College of Medicine
The Baylor PA program boasts the world’s largest medical complex, The Texas Medical Center. The program also focuses on interdisciplinary training, combining PA training with the medical students and nursing, social work, and pharmacy students. The program also focuses on student involvement, pushing for students to take leadership roles within the school. The college focuses on diversity and inclusion, boasting new initiatives to enhance student and faculty diversity. What is unique about Baylor’s program is that they do not require applicants to have a previous degree in the sciences. However, applicants must be able to handle scientific concepts. Each incoming class is around 40 students, and the acceptance rate is about 3%. Although the acceptance rate is low, it’s worth it to apply! The application deadline is September 1st and the application committee urges good time management. For more information, visit their website here.
The University of Utah
The University of Utah’s PA program focuses on training PA’s to provide care to medically underserved and rural communities. They also boast the oldest, continuously accredited PA program in the Western U.S. The program has two phases. They are classroom instruction and supervised clinical practice experience. The clinical training phase includes a rotation in a rural setting. The application is due September 3rd and they conduct interviews in November. They do not require applicants to have majored in a science-related field for their undergraduate degree. Though they do not give automatic preference to Utah residents, they do consider Utah residency a factor in an application. You can find more information about the process here.
Emory University
The Emory PA program takes place on The Health Science campus of the university in Atlanta, right next to the Center for Disease Control. Emory’s program emphasizes community service. Students travel to rural South Georgia and care for farmworkers. They also work in urban Atlanta clinics, providing healthcare for those without insurance. The program’s goal is to ensure that students are team-oriented, efficient, and patient advocates. The deadline for Emory’s application is September 1st. Although September 1st is the application due date, they strongly encourage applicants to apply earlier. Program acceptance is offered on a rolling basis, so you have a better chance of getting in if your application is submitted earlier. Each class is around 50 students, with the majority of students being women. If you are interested in the program, then read more information here.
Are you excited to begin your physician assistant journey? While you apply to one of the best physician assistant programs in 2019, be sure to browse our list of travel PA jobs!
