Department of Physician Assistant Studies Celebrates National PA Week

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Oct. 7, 2023) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Department of Physician Assistant (PA) Studies is celebrating National PA week.

PAs are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs practice in every state and in every medical setting and specialty, improving health care access and quality.

More than 9,000 certified PAs live and/or practice in North Carolina, and there are more than 168,000 board certified PAs.

To launch the week, N.C. A&T’s Department of PA Studies and collaborating members of historically Black fraternities and sororities hosted an outreach community service event to help students become competitive candidates for PA programs by preparing them early in their education.  More than 100 A&T undergraduate students, pre-PA Students, PA students, clinical PAs, PA educators and supporters participated in the event.

The two-year PA program, housed in the John R. and Kathy R. Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences, is a professional master’s degree approved by the UNC System Board of Governors a year ago.

“PAs enhance the delivery of high-quality health care and are a valuable asset to any medical team,” said Nicole Burwell, Ph.D., PA-C, founding director of A&T’s PA program and president-elect of the PA Education Association. “PAs are committed to team-based care and dedicated to delivering effective and efficient health care for patients in North Carolina.”