MEDICAL EDUCATION
degree was converted to a master of health sciences degree, which has survived dramatic fluctuations in class size, from a low of 10 students (Class of 1986) to the present-day high of 50 students per year. New classroom facilities, ample and diverse clinical rotation sites, and integration within the OU College of Medicine also reflect the evolution of the program.
PA students cite their oath during the annual PA White Coat Ceremony.
Poised For Next Half Century: OU’s Physician Associate Program The physician associate program at the OU College of Medicine’s Oklahoma City campus is one of the oldest PA programs in the United States, graduating seven members of its first class in 1972. With a 50th anniversary looming, program leaders are planning for the historic event. Established in 1970 through the leadership of A. William Horsley, M.D., and William D. Stanhope, P.A., the program was originally administered under the direction of the newly created Department of Family Practice, Community Medicine and Dentistry in Oklahoma City. PAs fulfill a critical need in healthcare delivery and eliminate potential gaps in continuity of care. Like physicians, PAs may narrow the focus of their practices to any number of specialty areas, from primary care to an array of subspecialties in cardiology, surgery, oncology or pediatrics, to name only a few. “In short, there is a role for physician associate practice in every medical discipline,” said Bruna Varalli-Claypool, MHS, P.A.-C., associate professor, OU College of Medicine. As part of a comprehensive healthcare team, PAs are inextricably woven into the fabric of healthcare services. Licensed to provide care that includes diagnosis and treatment, PAs practice as part of care teams with physician collaboration. According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants, educators and physicians in the mid-1960s recognized a growing shortage of primary care physicians. Using curriculum that successfully fast-tracked the medical training of military personnel in World War II, faculty at Duke University Medical Center assembled the first class of PA students in 1965. Four Navy Hospital corpsmen were the first graduates of that first-ever PA program in 1967. The program at OU has grown its offerings and capacity throughout five decades, and is one of the original six accredited programs in the United States, with continuous accreditation since 1972. The original bachelor of science
While steeped in tradition, the program is more than prepared to provide an educational experience that keeps pace with every medical, scientific and technological advance. In the midst of ongoing and proactive change, the stability of the program at OU is a testament to strategic planning. The retention of active and seasoned faculty members is a factor that cultivates student engagement, involvement and leadership in the profession on state and national levels. Throughout its long history, OU’s program has had historic influence in promoting educational excellence within the profession, creating greater opportunities for successful and rewarding careers. In addition, the program has fostered leadership at both local and national levels, with five graduates or faculty members having served as president of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Partnering with the Oklahoma Academy of Physician Assistants and the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants, OU’s PA program coordinated the first organized, statewide continuing medical education conference in 1974. A member of the 1972 graduating class, Earl Dunkleberger, P.A.-C., now retired, was one of the chief organizers of that inaugural event. Sponsors optimistically anticipated 60 participants at most. In fact, 276 PAs attended from such far-flung regions as Canada and Central America. Registration fees were directed to support local chapters and invest in the growth of future CME activities. For some time, PA chapters continued to share revenues earned through each event, and used the funds as seed money to sustain local chapters of the AAPA in Oklahoma and Texas. This practice also made it possible for other chapters to co-host CMEs and introduce additional PA-related offerings at the national level. Varalli-Claypool said the program has made significant contributions that have resulted in a stronger healthcare workforce that serves residents in Oklahoma and beyond. “Demand for this level of expertise and training is evident in the enrollment volume,” she said. “Each year, we interview at least 150 applicants for only 50 available placements. Since 1996, the average number of graduates annually is 50, and since inception, the program has graduated 1,772 PAs. That’s a legacy with lasting impact for improved health outcomes.” “Those who choose to practice medicine as PAs embark not only on a demanding career path, but also on a calling to care that challenges them to bring the best they have to offer, continuously and consistently,” said Melody Yozzo, P.A.-C., recently retired program director. “The PA profession offers wide and varied avenues for contributions to the practice of medicine that are practical, meaningful and rewarding. As we celebrate this momentous anniversary, we have every confidence that our efforts here today are essential to the future of healthcare and our providers are more than able to meet its challenges.”
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