Duke University’s Physician Assistant (PA) Program ranked number one among PA programs in the country, according to new U.S. News & World Report graduate and professional school rankings released on March 10, 2015.
The birthplace of the PA program, Duke welcomed its first class of three PAs in 1965. The program was developed by Dr. Eugene Stead, former chairman of the Department of Medicine, who believed that mid-level practitioners could increase consumer access to health services by extending the time and skills of the physician. Today, physician assistants are well-recognized and highly sought-after members of the health care team. Working interdependently with physicians, PAs provide diagnostic and therapeutic patient care in virtually all medical specialties and settings.
Duke’s PA Program is now one of the largest in the country with 88 students in each class. During the past five years, the program has held a 98 percent graduation rate and maintains a 95 percent employment rate within six months after graduation. And while the program originally consisted primarily of male students, today the average student body is predominantly female.
There are now close to 200 PA programs throughout the United States, and the number of programs continues to expand as does the breadth of the role of PAs, according to Patricia Dieter, MPA, PA-C, Division Chief of the Duke PA Program.
Today, the job descriptions for PAs are as diverse as those of their supervising physicians, and include patient education, team leadership, medical education, health administration and research. One-third of graduate PAs provide primary health care services, especially in family and general internal medicine. About 40 percent of graduate PAs work in hospital settings, and about one-fourth of all clinically active PAs work in surgery and sub-specialties.
This year, Duke’s PA Program will celebrate its 50th Anniversary with an all-day celebration on Saturday October 3, at the Durham Convention Center. The celebration will include a continuing medical education event called “Return to PA School” including lectures, program tours from current students, class lunches with friends, and an evening gala. For additional information about the events, visit http://pa.mc.duke.edu/Alumni/50-Anniversary/.