The International Academy of Physician Associate Educators (IAPAE) held their 12th IAPAE annual conference in Winterthur, Switzerland on October 16-19. There were 14 countries represented from around the world.  The conference had over 60 attendees and was joined by the Switzerland PA Symposium on Friday afternoon bringing the afternoon event to more than 200.

In the mid-1960s, educators and physicians discovered a developing gap between the number of patients needing medical care and the number of primary care physicians available to care for them. To remedy the issue, the concept of a physician assistant (PA) was created, lauded by the medical community as a career flexible enough to match the ever-changing world around it.

Second year physician assistant studies (PAS) student Allison Christian has a fresh outlook on her chosen field after attending a medical mission trip to Pedras Negros, Mexico with UK PAS alumni and many of her fellow classmates. In Mexico, Allison participated in real-world experiences that increased her confidence in her own clinical skills and knowledge. 

The College of Health Sciences has a long-held reputation for preparing exceptional and dependable health care professionals in the physician assistant (PA) field. Now, research is proving exactly how important physician assistants are across the medical landscape, and this impact extends particularly to Kentucky patients. 

The phrase “we are the University of Kentucky for Kentucky” is one that resonates across the entire UK campus. Because of his belief in this mission, physician assistant studies graduate Tyson Gross has dedicated his career to delivering care to some of the most vulnerable and underserved populations in the state of Kentucky.   

What would you say is your number one career advantage you received by completing your Physician Assistant Studies education at CHS?

I AM proud to say that I graduated from the University of Kentucky. Employers have been happy to know that we had a full gross anatomy course. 

What advice would you give to current CHS PAS students that would help them position themselves in competitive career roles?

Make as many contacts as possible and keep up with your contacts.

In June 2015, the unthinkable happened for physician assistant studies student Amy Hehre. Her three-year-old nephew, Ovidio, passed away. A “nephew through love”, as Amy puts it, “Ovi” was an orphan cared for by Amy’s sister. 

The UKPA Program hosts Informational Sessions and Open House events each semester for the upcoming admissions cycle.

The 2024-2025 Admissions Cycle opens April 25, 2024, and closes July 15, 2024, for the Class of 2027 who will begin the UKPA Program in January 2025.

The UKPA Program will conduct interviews on August 10th, 11th, and 13th in Lexington and August 14th in Morehead.   Any interested alum who would like to assist with interviews may contact Julia Flannery.

The UKPA Program will conduct interviews on August 10th, 11th, and 13th in Lexington and August 14th in Morehead.   Any interested alum who would like to assist with interviews may contact Julia Flannery.