Pitt PA Studies Hybrid students practicing clinical skills at their in-person immersion session.
The Department of Physician Assistant Studies (PAS) is excited to announce the first Physician Assistants Advancing Diversity (PAAD) scholarship—an opportunity for students at any Pitt campus to better understand the PA profession. In May 2024, we will host a weeklong, all-expense paid experience. The program will include PA classroom opportunities at the Murdoch Building on Pitt’s Oakland campus, faculty teaching and discussions, cadaver lab learning, coaching for the PA program application process and hours of PA clinical shadowing in the field. This opportunity is limited to 15 seats and will be offered to students selected by faculty after reviewing their applications. When we say this is an “all-expense paid experience,” we mean we will feed you, house you and teach you ALL THINGS PA!
Let’s Be the Change We Want to See
During my own PA education, my favorite professor would frequently remind us that “Ours is a noble profession, young scholars.”
Nobility is not status nor a title. The greatest satisfaction of the PA profession--which makes it a noble profession--is the capacity to serve people with the knowledge and skill sets we acquire along our journeys.
This concept also captures our ability to self-reflect as a profession, to be intentional to assess where we might improve our services and then to be humble and bold enough to bring about necessary change. A quick look at PA demographics finds that we are mostly white women. While these are hard-working and committed clinicians (myself included) the problem is that we do not always reflect the amazing diversity of our communities, which has proven to have a negative impact upon the health of certain populations.
Pitt PA Studies Hybrid students practicing clinical skills at their in-person immersion session.
The purpose of PAAD is not to discourage any future clinician from seeking the PA profession but rather to increase awareness of the PA career path and to pave a way to achieve these roles for all populations of students. Physician assistants (or physician associates) have a unique opportunity to practice medicine in nearly every field AND to switch disciplines at any point of our careers (as we are certified so broadly). We graduate with many employment opportunities that offer competitive wages and are privileged to take care of our patients in a very impactful manner.
If you have thought about a career as a PA but perhaps weren’t so sure about how you fit in or how to get there, please consider applying to join us for this weeklong immersion of all things PA! We are passionate about our patients and communities, which starts with being intentional to promote and encourage prospective students to pursue our proud profession.
“Ours is a noble profession,” my old professor said, and we are excited to share it with you while promoting equity among the populations we serve by ensuring diversity among ourselves.
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You can learn more about PAAD or apply by visiting our webpage.
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Written by Tara McSwigan
Director of Admissions for the PA Studies Hybrid Program and Assistant Professor
Department of PA Studies
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Published October 19, 2023