About the Program

Established in 1972, the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program at UT Southwestern is a full-time, post-baccalaureate program that begins once a year in May and is completed in 30 months with graduation in December.

The curriculum is a robust blend of academic learning and hands-on clinical training. Students begin with four semesters of lecture and bedside demonstration in medical and behavioral sciences. This foundational coursework is followed by four semesters of clinical rotations in a wide range of disciplines and settings.

Mission

• The mission of the Physician Assistant Studies Program is to:
• Excel in the art and science of physician assistant education.
• Promote interprofessional primary health care delivery to a diverse and dynamic population.
• Encourage leadership, service, and excellence among our faculty, staff, students, and graduates.
• Foster a commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidence-based medicine, quality improvement, and patient safety.

Vision

The vision of the Physician Assistant Studies Program is to become a destination PA program for economically and environmentally disadvantaged faculty, staff and students while achieving and maintaining excellent outcome measures.

UT Southwestern Physician Assistant Program honors 3 recipients of the National Health Service Corp Scholarship. 

Goals

The program goals of the Physician Assistant Studies Program are: 

• Exceed the U.S. National average first time pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)
• Provide student clinical education opportunities in diverse settings and medically underserved areas/populations
• Demonstrate excellent and scholarship, leadership and service
• Demonstrate achievement in diversity and inclusion
• Provide longitudinal educational experiences in evidence-based medicine and quality improvement and patient safety

Accreditation

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the University of Texas. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Meet the Program Director

Temple Howell-Stampley, M.D., MBA, FACP

Professor

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