The physician assistant (PA) profession developed in the 1960's due to a shortage of primary care physicians. Over time, health care in the United States has changed and the PA profession has evolved, yet the main goal of the PA profession continues to be providing high quality primary care services. Physician assistants (PAs) practice medicine in all 50 states (and many foreign countries) as an integral part of the medical team working in virtually all specialties of medicine. PAs are responsible for performing physical examinations, ordering and interpreting special tests, diagnosing and treating illnesses, performing procedures, and assisting in surgery. PAs also provide patient education and counseling, make rounds in hospitals and nursing homes, and prescribe medications. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the need for PAs will increase 30 percent from 2010 to 2020 because of the demand for primary healthcare providers.

Eastern Michigan University Physician Assistant Program

In response to pending local and national primary care provider shortages and the changing healthcare industry, the Eastern Michigan University (EMU) Board of Regents approved the new Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies academic program. The EMU PA Program is being developed in the College of Health and Human Services and School of Health Promotion and Human Performance. The PA Program will be a twenty-four month graduate professional program that emphasizes basic medicine and clinical methods. This developing program will prepare its graduates to be certified and licensed to practice medicine using autonomous decision making under the supervision of a physician.

Accreditation & Timeline

The Eastern Michigan University Physician Assistant Program has applied for provisional accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The EMU PA Program anticipates matriculating its first class in May, 2014, pending provisional accreditation in September, 2013. Provisional accreditation is an accreditation status for a new PA program that has not yet enrolled students, but at the time of its comprehensive accreditation review, has demonstrated its preparedness to initiate a program in accordance with the accreditation Standards. In the event that provisional accreditation is not received, the EMU PA Program will not commence.

Admissions Information

General admissions information is available here.

Eastern Michigan University Pre-Admission Course Checklist is available here.

Contact Information

For more information about the Eastern Michigan University Physician Assistant Program:

Call: 734.487.2843
Email: chhs_paprogram@emich.edu