Physician Assistant

As one of the most successful and fastest-growing medical professions, the role of the physician assistant is a diverse and valued one, allowing those who pursue this career path to feel an increased sense of positive impact. Working in tandem with physicians and other clinicians, physician assistants are able to diagnose and treat illnesses due to their advanced education. The autonomy afforded to physician assistants enables them to develop deeper relationships with their patients, establishing trusting bonds that mirror those of the bonds that should exist between all physicians and their patients.

The skillset of a physician assistant is diverse and all-encompassing; they have a variety of areas of knowledge they draw upon each and every day, and it is likely that no two days are quite the same. Just like physicians, physician assistants can perform physicals, take a patient's history, aid in surgery, set broken or fractured bones, interpret laboratory or imaging results, and treat a variety of illnesses. Even more importantly, the role of a physician assistant can be to supplement the healthcare needs of communities that only have periodic access to a physician; rural areas with just one doctor to cover a very wide area might only have access to him/her every few days, something that can be detrimental in emergent situations. Through the utilization of a physician assistant, however, care can be accessed on nearly any day, ensuring that patients have access to care at the times they need it most.