Group Description

Categories: Academic and Educational

Physician assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Undergraduate students interested in becoming Physician Assistants must take a wide range of biology, chemistry, and psychology prerequisite courses before applying to Physician Assistant school. Most Physician Assistant programs require a Bachelors degree and confer a Masters degree at their completion. Graduates of Physician Assistant programs are eligible to sit for board exams, most notably the one developed by the Accrediation Review Commision on Eduction for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). All states now grant board-certified Physician Assistants (or PAs for short) the right to see patients, order tests, perform minor surgery, and prescribe medications. Many PAs work independently with limited contact with their supervisory Physician such as in rural clinics, others work side-by-side with physicians in surgery or the emergency room. The Physician Assistant profession has many things in common in Nurse Practioners, Nurse Anesthetists, and Paramedics. It should not be confused with Medical Assistants, who often staff doctors offices behind the counter. The Physician Assistant profession is evolving and growing. As the number of doctors and nurses declines, PAs are filling the gap with skilled, quality, affordable healthcare. Physician Assistants have some of the highest job satisfaction rates in healthcare and overall.

Group's principal activities, events, or programs:

-Monthly Meetings
-Volunteer Opportunities
-Fund Raising Events
-Close relationship with Augsburg College PA Program

How this group's activities benefit the University community:

Through educational meetings students interested in the Physician’s Assistant profession will give students a more extensive view of the opportunities available in this field.
The meetings will also help build a sense of community among students interested in obtaining a masters degree as a Physician Assistant.
The philanthropy portion of our organization will provide beneficial services for the University.

How this group fits into its categories:

We believe our organization will provide crucial information to students aspiring to obtain a degree as a Physician Assistant. By having educational meetings we will inform students about current standards with the application process as well as opportunities available within the profession.

How to get involved with this group:

Future participants can join our group by our monthly meetings at a to be determined location. They will be given a business card upon attending a meeting in which will include the officers contact information. There wiil be no membership application to fill out.