11/19/2023

PA Program Spotlight: Ohio University

Newsletter Article - June 2023

The Ohio University Physician Assistant Program residing in Dublin, OH graduated their first cohort in 2017, and have since graduated 6 cohorts with the most recent cohort of 36 students graduating this past May. The program is proud to have a diverse and interdisciplinary faculty representing PAs, physicians, and a licensed pharmacist. They strive to prepare students to be leaders in any clinical setting, with a particular emphasis on primary care in urban and rural communities.

In May, the class of 2024 with 34 students began their clinical rotations. The students will return in one week for exams and presentations to close out on rotation number two before heading into their third clinical rotation. Although the time is going by fast, the students are enjoying applying the skills and knowledge from didactic year to the patients they are seeing now. The class of 2025 with 32 students is in their second semester of didactic coursework and were excited to receive their white coats this month. They have been studying hard and are eager to continue learning medicine.

Recently, students hosted area high school and college students to promote the PA profession. In addition to hosting on-campus events, students have participated in volunteer activities including the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, to help mulch and clean up a park to maintain a safe and inviting environment for the local youth. Students also volunteered in an interprofessional event, the Dublin Medical Academy’s four-day summer camp, in which 56 central Ohio high school students directly engaged with PA students, medical students, and numerous healthcare professionals to enable career exploration and nurture interests within medicine.

Looking ahead, students are planning a few plant sales to raise money for the annual PA Olympics and are also hoping to work with the refugee population in Columbus to share healthcare opportunities. Overall, students are enjoying all of their experiences and are proud to be a part of a program that supports, develops, and creates opportunities for students to grow into future healthcare leaders.