On Oct. 14, the Physician Assistant program at ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ celebrated its 50th anniversary with an open house and reception for alumni, faculty, staff, students and supporters.
Founded in 1972, the ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ PA program was the first program in Kansas and one of the first in the nation. The program provides students with a patient-centered education that includes high-tech simulation scenarios, real-life cases and clinical problem solving.
βFor 50 years, Wichita Stateβs PA graduates have improved health outcomes throughout the community and across Kansas by increasing access to medical care, particularly in underserved and rural areas,β said Dr. Rick Muma, Wichita State president and first certified PA in the nation to serve as a university president. βWith our exceptional faculty and rigorous curriculum, Wichita Stateβs PAs have a reputation for providing excellent care and compassion for the people of our state.β
The AAPA House of Delegates recently passed a resolution altering the meaning of the acronym βPAβ from βphysician assistantβ to βphysician associate.β The ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ PA program has a history of high-quality and innovative education. Continuing in that progressive spirit, the program officially announced at the 50th anniversary celebration plans to change their name to βDepartment of Physician Associate,β making it one of the first PA programs in the nation to embrace the new title.
βThe profession has evolved significantly over the past 50 years,β said Ronda Hanneman, program director. βWith our focus on training some of the best health care providers in Kansas, we believe the term 'associate' rather than 'assistant' better reflects and represents to the public the abilities, functions, roles and responsibilities of PA providers.β
ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling almost 22,000 students between its main campus and ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ main campus, is one of the nationβs largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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