Physician Assistant - Master of Public Health

Health professions education is undergoing a transformation in which health professions students engage in interactive learning with those outside their profession as a routine part of their education. Interprofessional education is designed to prepare students to work together with the common goal of building a safer and better patient-centered health care system. The Physician Assistant/Master of Public Health (PA/M.P.H.) Interprofessional Concurrent Degree Program is designed to provide future physician assistants with training in public health. Participation in the PA/M.P.H. degree program requires prior acceptance into the Physician Assistant Program. Students accepted into the PA Program may pursue an online M.P.H. degree concurrently and complete it soon after completing the Master of Medical Science (M.M.S.) in Physician Assistant Studies. This program will focus on developing interprofessional public health practitioners who link public health training to community-oriented primary care. The PA profession is a major provider of primary care in the United States and plays a significant role in the improvement of access to primary care for underserved populations. PAs who hold an M.P.H. may actively participate in the planning, development, implementation, evaluation, and administration of health-related services to resolve public health problems. PA/M.P.H. concurrent degree graduates stand out when applying for competitive employment, given their understanding of health care systems and the skills acquired in prevention, assessment, and planning. Ultimately, PAs who hold an M.P.H. degree are prepared for the future of health care. ADvAntAges Of A MAster Of PublIC HeAltH Degree