PA Profession History
Who is credited with starting the first formal PA education program?
Eugene A. Stead Jr., MD
On what date did the first PA class graduate?
October 6, 1967
Who is the PA department chair and program director?
Phillip Davis
What degree do students earn in E&H’s PA program?
Master of Physician Assistant Studies, or MPAS
Who's first job was at a chicken processing plant?
Dr. Davis!
At what university did the first PA program begin?
Duke University
What week is celebrated as PA week?
October 6-12
Who is the PA program’s medical director?
William HAndy, MD
Which phase is longer at E&H: didactic or clinical?
Clinical—14 months, compared with 13 months of didactic training
Who has two pet cows named Cowboy and Magniolia?
Dr. Thomas!
In what year did the first PA class begin?
1965
What year was the first national PA certifying exam administered?
1973
Who directs the PA clinical education?
Ed Ranzenbach
At what clinic do E&H PA students begin gaining patient experience during the didactic phase?
The Mel Leaman Free Clinic at Emory & Henry
Professor Bodfish!
What military background did the students in the first PA class share?
They were Navy hospital corpsmen
True or false: every U.S. state had authorized PA practice by 2000
True, Mississippi was the last to do so
Who directs the PA didactic education?
Emily Bodfish
How long is the E&H MPAS program?
27 months
Who would have been an architect if they hadn't become a PA?
Dr. Thomas!
What healthcare need helped inspire the PA profession?
A shortage of primary care physicians and a need to expand access to care
What title did the AAPA affirm for the profession in 2021?
Physician associate or assistant
Who is the assistant director of PA clinical education?
Megan McReynolds
What area of care does the program particularly emphasize for underserved communities?
Rural primary care
Who is most likely to have 47 tabs open at one time?
Professor Bodfish!