In what year was the first PA program initiated?

The first Physician Assistant (PA) program was initiated in 1965 at Duke University. This innovative program was developed to address the increasing shortage of primary care physicians and to meet the healthcare needs of the population by training individuals to provide care in a variety of medical settings. The program was established by Dr. Eugene Stead, who envisioned the PA role as a way to extend the reach of physicians and improve healthcare delivery.

The year 1965 is significant because it marks the inception of this new model of healthcare provider, which combined a medical model of training with an emphasis on primary care, thus laying the foundation for the PA profession as we know it today. Subsequent programs were developed in the years that followed, contributing to the expansion and formal recognition of the PA role within the healthcare system.

Understanding this background is crucial for grasping the evolution of the PA profession, the role of PAs today, and the continuing growth of PA education across the country.