If you have visited your family doctor, chances are you have likely been cared for at one time or another by a physician assistant. They are trained medical professionals who serve under the supervision of a doctor and can do many of the same functions as physicians with the major exception of surgical procedures.
There has been a national explosion in physician assistant programs due to the increased demand for rural healthcare and the unmet demand for more M.D.’s across the country, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The physician shortfall estimates range from 50,000 – 90,000 nationally by the year 2025 according to the AAMC.
That’s scary considering the current wait time to get an appointment with many family practitioners, especially in rural areas.
This is particularly true in Central Pennsylvania. It is also why we are fortunate to have a number of universities in the state that offer the physician assistant degree including local institutions Lock Haven University, St. Francis University and Pennsylvania College of Technology.
I have the great honor of working with some of the physician assistant faculty and staff at Lock Haven University and have seen first hand how the program benefits our area.
According to our website, ‘the Lock Haven University Physician Assistant Program is ranked 7th in a national study examining PA programs’ success in returning graduates to rural and underserved communities.’ Lock Haven University has PA programs in four locations including the main campus in Lock Haven, the Clearfield Campus, the Coudersport Campus and the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.
What is unique to LHU is that there are cadaver labs at all 4 locations. While technology is making simulations better all the time, nothing beats the real thing. LHU has simulation labs as well.
I recently spoke with Walt Eisenhauer, the chair of the Physician Assistant Program at LHU. He said, ‘The success enjoyed by the Lock Haven University Physician Assistant Program is a result of the creativity, hard work and commitment of a dedicated faculty coupled with outstanding students who strive to become compassionate, competent healthcare providers.’
Walt evaluates physician assistant programs all over the country and noted the rigorous accreditations it takes to operate such a program. I have spent time getting to know Walt and a number of his staff while planning and celebrating the Lock Haven University Physician Assistant Program 20th anniversary alumni reunion.
Dr. Scott Carnicom, Dean of the College of Natural, Behavioral, and Health Sciences at LHU, said that annually around 1,000 applicants vie for 72 spots.
‘It is extremely competitive and attracts applicants from across the country and from Ivy League, Big Ten, and other well known ‘R-1′ research institutions,’ he said.
It was at the reunion that a pioneer in physician assistants advocacy and LHU Medical Director Dr. Michael J. ‘Mickey’ Greenberg was honored. Dr. Greenberg was one of the early enrollees of an accelerated medical degree program that started at Penn State and led to a Doctorate of Medicine from the George Washington School of Medicine in 1969. Mickey went on to earn an MBA from the Wharton School of Business in 1987 and has been a nationally recognized leader in championing the role of the physician assistant programs.
More than 880 PA graduates have earned Lock Haven University degrees during the past 20 years. It was in large part because of Mickey’s vision and his passion for helping others that LHU is among the top programs in the country.
Originally, PA programs were designed to place health care workers in underserved areas (rural and inner city) but now they are accepted everywhere. The two-year degree attracts high quality students who spend their first year, the ‘didactic year,’ in intense classroom training (May-April). PA faculty work with the students for 12 months and really get to know and challenge them while striking up great relationships.
The second year is the ‘clinical year.’ It is a series of eight or more rotations where the students are ‘travelers’ and get hands on experience with preceptors at top medical facilities across the country. More than 200 preceptors from around the country agree to mentor LHU PAs — from the Cleveland Clinic, to Geisinger, to Mt. Nittany Medical Center. Dr. Mark Armstrong, a general surgeon in State College, was in the audience at the anniversary dinner along with numerous other colleagues who serve as preceptors.
My son Ryan played golf as part of the group of alums and I asked him to stay for the dinner honoring Dr. Greenberg. I was glad he was there to see these brilliant young men and women and have a chance to hear the story of those who have dedicated themselves to serve others.
‘We do what we do for the students and to serve the mission of the state university system and the commonwealth,’ said Dean Carnicom. ‘Everyone involved works hard for the greater good of our communities.’
