Physician Assistant Program
Develop skilled and compassionate physician assistants with a strong focus on primary care and rural health.
What is a physician assistant (PA)?
As integral members of the health care team, physician assistants are adept problem solvers, aptly equipped to tackle communal health hurdles and deliver essential, top-tier medical care. PAs are licensed and board-certified providers who proficiently conduct patient interviews, execute comprehensive physical assessments, initiate and decipher diagnostic evaluations, create comprehensive care strategies, and prescribe tailored therapeutic regimens for all patients. This holistic process unfolds within a person-centered paradigm, seamlessly integrated into the interprofessional tapestry of health care delivery.
About the Master of Physician Assistant Practice Program
The overall envisioned future for our physician assistant graduates is one of profound impact and meaningful service. These graduates will be the cornerstone for improved health care access, better health outcomes and stronger community well-being in primary care and rural health settings. Through their dedication, compassion and expertise, they will embody the program’s mission, vision, and values, contributing to a healthier and more equitable future for all. Our graduates will exemplify clinical excellence, cultural humility, joy in their work, and interprofessional collaboration while leading community engagements, advocacy, and emphasizing wellness and holistic person-centered care.
Mission
To develop skilled and compassionate physician assistants with a strong focus on primary care and rural health. We are committed to fostering a learning environment that cultivates clinical and inclusive excellence, wellness, and community engagement, ensuring graduates are equipped to provide comprehensive and accessible health care services to all populations.
Vision
To be a national leader in physician assistant education, renowned for producing graduates who excel in delivering person-centered care in primary care and rural health settings. We aim to bridge health disparities in underserved communities by preparing compassionate practitioners who are adaptable, collaborative and dedicated to improving the well-being of those they serve.
Values
Advocacy • Compassion • Cultural Humility • Excellence
Integrity • Joy • Leadership • Person-Centered Care
Service • Teamwork
Accreditation Information
The University of Arizona Physician Assistant Program has applied for Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The University of Arizona PA Program anticipates matriculating its first class in August 2026, pending achieving Accreditation - Provisional status at the March 2026 ARC-PA meeting. Accreditation - Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
Please note that the program will not commence in the event that the provisional accreditation is not received.