PA Clinical Doctorate Program Graduation
I did not see this when it was originally published, but in its Dec. 20, 2007, issue the Fort Sam Houston News Leader published a good article about the graduation of the first class from the U.S. Army's clinical doctorate program for PAs in emergency medicine. The article begins on page three and includes a photo of the first four DScPA graduates.
The Army Medical Department Center and School and Baylor University awarded the first Doctor of Science of Physician Assistant Studies in the major of Emergency Medicine during a ceremony at Wood Auditorium Monday.
Four Army officers, Capt. George Barbee, Capt. Yvonne Franco, Capt. James Schmid and Capt. Sharron Rosser, with a combined experience of 76 months in combat environments, received the first clinical doctorate degree awarded to physician assistants. ...
During the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Russell Czerw, AMEDD Center and School commander, noted the degree sends a more capable and flexible physician assistant to the Army medical community. “The degree is important, but not as important as preparing physician assistants to return to the battlefield. The underlying concept of providing this academic and clinical training is to improve the survivability of Soldiers on the battlefield,” he said.
The DScPA program has been very successful and has generated a lot of interest from PAs. The Army is planning to expand the emergency medicine DScPA program and create PA clinical doctorate programs in orthopedics and general surgery.
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