Physician assistants (PAs) play an essential role on the health care team. These advanced health care practitioners practice in all areas of medicine, diagnosing injuries or illnesses, creating treatment plans, prescribing medications, researching treatments and ensuring high quality patient care.
As a physician assistant student at USD, you will gain the training, flexibility and agility needed to deliver the highest quality care to your patients. Our program offers a variety of strengths, including an evidence-based approach to patient care, curriculum that centers compassion in the health care setting, and an emphasis on primary care in rural populations. Plus, as a student in the state's only comprehensive health sciences, you'll have the opportunity to learn collaboratively with students in a variety of health sciences disciplines – uniquely preparing you to succeed on the health care team. Over the course of 24 months, you'll take your learning from the classroom to the clinical setting, gaining supervised clinical experience from licensed physicians and physician assistant preceptors in a number of clinical areas.
USD's master's program will equip you with a range of skills as you prepare to fill a critical need in the future of health care. You'll graduate ready to be the competent, compassionate professional your patients need.