PA programs expand to handle new demand

The growing physician assistant (PA) field has led some medical schools to expand their PA programs in order to offset the looming physician shortage. Northern Arizona University will use a recent $1.5 million grant to expand teaching space for its PA program. Meanwhile, Lynchburg College in Virginia will launch a PA master’s degree program next summer, with the help of a $250,000 investment from Centra Health, Lynchburg’s largest provider.