PA program earns high praise

SLU recognized for leadership in underserved populations

The mayor's office for the City of St. Louis has paid tribute to the physician assistants education program at the School of Allied Health Professions for its leading role in training physician assistants to work in underserved populations.

The PA program is consistently ranked as one of the best in the nation. U.S. News and World Report ranked it 10th best in the nation in the best graduate PA programs. Richard Muma, department chair, said the federal government also acknowledges the program with funding. The money is used to train physician assistants in Health Profession Shortage Areas, such as poor urban areas and rural communities.

"You see medicine from a different perspective in the inner city," Muma said. "Some of these communities have no one to care for them except our physician assistant clinics. The reason why we train our students in those areas is because a lot of them will end up working in the most underserved areas in the country. They see the good they are doing by providing health care and they stay. That is why the federal government has awarded us with an HPSA grant."

Nearly 45 percent of all physician assistants are in family medicine or pediatrics. Another 9 percent practice emergency medicine, treating young people who may not have a regular physician and must rely on hospitals and emergency clinics for care.

PAs around the United States, including the SLU School of Allied Health Professions, celebrated National Physician Assistant Day on Oct. 6. Hilda Adams, acting director of the St. Louis City Health Department, presented a signed proclamation Oct. 6 at the School of Allied Health Professions.

Saint Louis University is the only PA program in the St. Louis region. It was one of the first 12 programs established in the country, founded more than 30 years ago.

PAs are licensed professionals who practice medicine as delegated by supervising physicians. They provide patient care services that would otherwise be performed by physicians.

As part of their comprehensive services, PAs take medical histories, perform physical examinations, order and interpret lab tests, diagnose and treat illnesses, suture lacerations, assist in surgery and write prescriptions in nearly all states.

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