Duke Physician Assistant Program News & Blogs

Our own Dr. April Stouder talks about what the Duke PA Program looks for in a student

On August 2^nd, the Duke Physician Assistant (PA) Program held its 57^th graduation, celebrating the class of 2024.

Ninety-one students walked beneath the Gothic arches and stained glass of Duke Chapel to receive their certificates.

Division Chief and Program Director Jacqueline S. Barnett, DHSc, MSHS, PA-C, began the ceremony by providing statistics on the amount of work it takes to be a PA student.

Many students worry that if they are not prepared to apply to a physician assistant program in concert with the end of their undergraduate degree, they are hurting their chances of getting into PA school at all. But did you know that only about 7% of our students in a given year come directly from college? For many, college is where the path to PA begins, but we do not believe that's where it must end.

Who we are

The Duke Physician Assistant (PA) Wilderness Medicine Student Interest Group (SIG) was founded in 2022 with hopes to foster a commun

You have successfully conquered the hurdle that is CASPA; now what? Most schools have a supplemental or secondary application that asks for additional information. Every school wants to get to know the “real you,” and supplementals go a long way towards filling in the blanks that standardized applications cannot.

Duke Physician Assistant (PA) Program faculty, students, and alumni attended the 2024 American Academy of PA (AAPA) conference in Houston, Texas, from May 18 to 22, despite severe storms that tore through the metro area earlier that week. 

After winning their local competition in May, the Duke Physician Assistant Program point-of-care ultrasound teams came home with another trophy from the 2024 American Academy of PAs (AAPA) conference in Houston, Texas.

Called Up to the Big Leagues

My journey to the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) House of Delegates started last year, when I was elected to our PA program student government. I served as one of Duke’s representatives for the AAPA Student Academy with my classmate Chris Marshall. The Assembly of Representatives (AOR) mimics AAPA’s House of Delegates (HOD) and introduces student leaders to our profession’s governing structure.

Enhancing your application to PA programs extends beyond just showcasing your academic and technical proficiency. While a strong GPA and substantial healthcare experience are undeniably valuable, admissions committees are increasingly recognizing the importance of soft skills. 

You can frequently highlight them in your application through the essays or by demonstrating them with your choices of patient care work, volunteering, or extracurriculars.