SPRINGFIELD, Mo., August 18, 2023 — This week, Drury University welcomed the inaugural class of its newly-launched physician assistant program. Thirty students made their way to campus Thursday for orientation where they met with program faculty, advisors and were introduced to the curriculum.
“I’m excited for this new journey. I’ve been out of college for five years and so it was quite a decision to make but I feel like I have an amazing support system in the faculty,” said incoming student, Jessica Harmon. “I chose Drury because it felt right, and it has a really great reputation. Everyone has been so nice, even in the interview process, they have been so kind to me and always available to answer any questions I have.”
Physician assistants (PAs) are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications and often serve as a patient’s principal health care provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative. They practice in every state and in every medical setting and specialty, improving health care access and quality.
During Thursday’s orientation, Kathleen Flach, Program Director, welcomed students. “When you decide to become a PA, you’re taking on a lot of responsibility. You’re taking on the responsibility of giving hope to your patients and making decisions with them that affect their life long-term. The knowledge you’re learning will be information you use your whole career and at Drury, our goal is help you to learn and master that knowledge.”
The program is designed around a 27-month curriculum and is taught by faculty members hired from across the country. Drury’s PA program is different from other programs in that it places an emphasis on leadership training, skills needed for professional advancement and allows students to customize their capstone project. Two additional learning spaces were created for the program, including a cadaver lab in Drury’s Trustee Science Center and a classroom and lab spaces at Cox North.
Students will begin classes on Monday.
Applications for the fall 2024 class are now open in the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).
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Media Contact: Jasmine Cooper, Director of University Communications and Media Relations, Office: (417) 873-7390, Email: JCooper020@drury.edu