Ohio Dominican University, the first university in Central Ohio to offer a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, is celebrating Physician Assistant (PA) Week from Oct. 6–12. The week recognizes the PA profession, its impact on patient care, and the students preparing to enter the field.
ODU’s first PA class graduated in fall 2014, and the program has continued to prepare students for careers centered on patient care, service, and expanding access to health care.
PA Week commemorates the beginnings of the profession. Oct. 6 marks both the anniversary of the first graduating class of physician assistants from Duke University’s PA program in 1967 and the birthday of Eugene A. Stead, founder of the profession.
“Now, it’s a week to honor the PAs caring for patients and to help the public understand who we are and what we do,” said Christi Gierhart, MPAS, PA-C, program director of PA Studies at Ohio Dominican.
PAs work throughout nearly every area of health care, including primary care, emergency medicine, surgery, and specialty practices. Gierhart said recognizing the profession is especially important as PAs continue to help expand patients’ access to care.
“Many patients see a PA without fully understanding the training behind that role,” Gierhart said. “Most importantly, PAs help patients get care. In a time when many communities struggle to see a provider, that is worth celebrating.”
Ohio Dominican’s 27-month PA program enrolls cohorts of 50 students, a size designed to help students develop close relationships with faculty and one another while completing a rigorous academic and clinical curriculum.
Service and whole-person, patient-centered care also play an important role in the program. The Class of 2024 contributed more than 850 service hours and completed more than 65,000 patient encounters during clinical rotations. With most rotations taking place throughout Ohio, many graduates have the opportunity to serve the same communities in which they trained.
Throughout PA Week, ODU students have participated in themed dress-up days, a blood drive, activities with the Charles School, simulation lab experiences, and a Jeopardy event with the Pre-PA Club. Celebrations continue Thursday with an undergraduate and college school spirit dress-up day and Friday with an ODU dress-up day.
For Gierhart, the week also gives students an opportunity to reflect on the profession they are preparing to join.
“PA school is demanding, and it’s easy to get lost in exams and rotations,” Gierhart said. “PA Week is a chance to step back and remember why they chose this path. I hope students feel proud of the profession they’re joining and see themselves as part of a nearly 60-year tradition.”