Who supported the idea of using military corpsmen to address the physician shortage?

The correct choice is Dr. Charles Hudson, who was a prominent advocate for utilizing military corpsmen as a solution to the shortage of physicians during the early 1960s. Hudson recognized that military corpsmen had already received extensive medical training and hands-on experience, which positioned them well to take on expanded roles in healthcare delivery. His support for this idea ultimately contributed to the development of the Physician Assistant profession, emphasizing the need for a new model of healthcare providers who could bridge the gap in medical services and improve patient care in underserved areas.

While others mentioned in the options played important roles in medical education and the development of healthcare policy, Hudson's direct endorsement of repurposing military corpsmen as healthcare providers was instrumental in shaping the PA profession and its foundational principles. This focus on practical training and immediate applicability in clinical settings continues to resonate in the training of Physician Assistants today.