• This program is housed in the Department of Family and Community Medicine within the School of Medicine. Instruction is provided by various departments and faculties of the Health Sciences Center. Small group tutorials are actively used in the professional curriculum. The 27-month program consists of didactic and clinical instruction. Students can expect to have several clinical clerkships in rural and underserved areas of New Mexico. Upon successful completion of the curriculum, a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree is awarded.
  • PAs are qualified by graduation from an accredited Physician Assistant educational program and certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Within the physician/PA relationship, PAs exercise autonomy in medical decision-making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. The clinical role of PAs includes primary and specialty care in medical and surgical practice settings in rural and urban areas. 
  • Physician Assistant practice is centered on patient care and may include educational, research and administrative activities.Physician Assistant Studies ProgramThe PA program’s mission is to educate Physician Assistants to be competent providers of primary care medicine with a special focus on the medically underserved and/or rural populations of New Mexico.