LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 19, 2012) − Members of the University of Kentucky's Physician Assistant Class of 2014, alumni and program faculty, joined Lexington Mayor Jim Gray who signed a proclamation recognizing the UK PA Program and National Physician Assistant Week, October 6-12, 2012.
Physician Assistant students, faculty and practicing PAs throughout the state of Kentucky, also attended a proclamation signing by the Governor’s Office on Friday, Oct. 12 acknowledging Physician Assistant Week and the continued health care that PAs provide to the citizens of the Commonwealth.
The UK Physician Assistant Program, located in the UK College of Health Sciences, has a 39-year history of educating some of the finest PAs for the state of Kentucky and the nation. Currently the PA program enrolls 60 students annually into a rigorous 30-month graduate program which emphasizes primary care medicine, and preventative health care.
At the present time, there are 86,500 certified physician assistants practicing medicine across the country, an increase of more than 100 percent over the last 10 years.
"The hallmark of the PA profession is team-based, patient-centered medicine which is a perfect fit for today’s changing healthcare system," said Brad Schwarz, director of the UK Physician Assistant Program. "This is ultimately conveyed to the public as enhanced access to quality healthcare and improved health outcomes.”
Forbes magazine named physician assistant studies the single best master’s degree for the third year in a row, citing the profession’s favorable outlook for salary and long-term employment.
“Whether we work as administrators, clinicians or educators, there are limitless opportunities for the more than 84,000 certified PAs in transforming our nation’s health care," said James Delaney, president of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
Media Contact: Ann Blackford at (859)312-3587 or ann.blackford@uky.edu
