MEDEX Physician Assistant
Training Program

 Alaska’s only PA Program!

If you are considering health care as a career, learn about Physician Assistants.  Generally speaking, a Physician Assistant is a graduate of an accredited PA education program authorized by the state to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician.  A Physician Assistant can assume the medical duties that a physician will delegate, that are within the physician’s scope of practice and within the PA’s training and experience.  Does that sound interesting to you?

Interior Alaska AHEC helps coordinate rotations for PA students from the Alaska MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Training Program.  This exciting program is focused on recruiting Alaskan students to fill Alaskan jobs in Alaskan clinics and hospitals.  The AHEC and MEDEX programs are natural partners in the common goal of promoting workforce development in Alaska.

For Alaskan students, current health care employees and especially, for Community Health Aides in Alaska, the MEDEX program provides multiple avenues to the goal of PA certification.  There is a Master’s degree program, a Bachelor’s degree program and a program for those who qualify, that achieves non-bachelor degree certification.  For practicing PAs, there is a pathway to Master’s degree completion that many current PAs are taking advantage of, using the Distance Delivery format.

Here is a report from a recent MEDEX student supported by Interior Alaska AHEC:

“As a former Community Health Aide, I saw how patient care was impacted by the physician assistant shortage in rural Alaska.  MEDEX has a strong history of supporting physician assistants who choose to work in underserved areas.  I think that is why so many former health aides succeed in this program.  I’m excited about the new MEDEX training site in Alaska and believe it will provide a lot of opportunities for people who are hesitant about leaving Alaska for their training.”  Cecelia Grant, Koyukuk, Alaska (former Community Health Aide) (courtesy: MEDEX Northwest)

To read more about Alaska’s only PA program go to the following link:                http://health.uaa.alaska.edu/bshs

For general information about all of the MEDEX pathways:          www.medex.washington.edu

To contact the MEDEX program with questions, email to:             exmedex@u.washington.edu