Helping Veterans Become Physician Assistants

Resources for PA Programs

American Academy of Physician Assistants
AAPA represents physician assistants (PAs) throughout the United States, and is the only national organization representing PAs in all medical specialties. The PA profession has a unique relationship with veterans. The first physician assistants to graduate from PA educational programs were veterans, former medical corpsmen who had served in Vietnam and wanted to use their medical knowledge and experience in civilian life. Today, PAs practice in all medical specialties and are employed in virtually all medical settings. PAs are employed throughout all branches of the Uniformed Services.

Physician Assistant Career Pathways for Veterans Kickoff Webinar (recorded) a national conversation hosted by HRSA between physician assistant educators and stakeholders in veteran education on developing career pathways for veterans and service men and women.

Accreditation Review Committee for Physician Assistants
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) is the accrediting agency that protects the interests of the public and physician assistant profession by defining the standards for physician assistant education and evaluating physician assistant educational programs within the territorial United States to ensure their compliance with those standards.

Navy Medicine Support Command
The Navy Medicine Support Command provides educational program support while members are on active duty. The Command continues to actively pursue methods to help active duty members access college programs in the Health Care Fields.

Physician Assistant Education Association
The Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) is the only national organization in the United States representing physician assistant (PA) educational programs. PAEA works to ensure quality PA education through the development and distribution of educational services and products specifically geared toward meeting the emerging needs of PA programs, the PA profession, and the health care industry. PAEA provides effective representation to affiliated organizations involved in health education, health care policy, and the national certification of PA graduates. PAEA has a web page with information and resources for veterans.

We Can't Wait: Supporting Our Veterans
White House blog supporting initiatives to help veterans become physician assistants.

Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Center

Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding

ACE Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services

American Academy of Physician Assistants Veterans Caucus

The National Association of Medics & Corpsmen

Feds Hire Vets

The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Hearing - July 29, 2010

Navy Interservice Physician Assistant Program

ARMY Interservice Physician Assistant Program

Society of Air Force Physician Assistants

Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)

Publications

Michaud, E., Jacques PF, Gianola FJ, Harbert K. “Assessment of Admissions Policies for Veterans Corpsmen and Medics Applying to Physician Assistant Educational Programs.” J. Physician Assistant Education. 2012; 23(1):4-12.

Brock DM, Wick KH, Evans TC, Gianola FJ. “The physician assistant profession and military veterans”. Military Medicine. 2011;176(2):197–203.

Gianola FJ, Harbert K. “Life savers now; care givers when?” Journal of Physician Assistant Education. 2009;20(2):33–37.