The department of physician assistant (PA) studies was founded in 2011 in the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS). The department has close ties to the Milken Institute School of Public Health. With proximity to the U.S Congress, the White House, and many major medical professional organizations, the department provides a wonderful opportunity for students and faculty to learn about and participate in the development of healthcare policy and practice.
The department of physician assistant studies hosts highly accomplished faculty and staff who develop, implement, and assess program curricula. As evidence of the department's teaching acumen, 40 percent of the department faculty hold master teacher leadership development certification. Many faculty serve in leadership positions in regional and national organizations such as:
- Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) (previous president of the board, two current committee chairs)
- National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) (previous board chair and current board member)
- Post Baccalaureate Centralized Application Service (past co-chair)
- Peer reviewers for multiple medical and education journals (nine journals)
