Bridging the gap: ATSU-ASHS educates future physician assistants for rural healthcare success
Posted: April 16, 2026
Bri Corey is a student in the A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program, class of 2027. Corey, originally from Acton, California, came to ATSU after graduating from Colorado Mesa University in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a minor in business administration. Drawn to the University’s mission of serving underserved populations, Corey found a welcoming community that felt like home from her very first interview.
Why did you choose the PA program at ATSU-ASHS?
“I chose ATSU-ASHS because of its mission of serving underserved populations through a whole person healthcare approach. Being from a rural community with limited resources I felt that my passions aligned with the mission of ATSU. From the minute I stepped foot on campus for my interview, the faculty and staff made ATSU feel like home. As I toured the campus with ambassadors, I knew that ATSU was where I wanted to be.”
What do you enjoy about being an ATSU student?
“What I love about being an ATSU student is how much ATSU strives to foster a sense of community amongst the students. From the faculty and staff, to students of other departments, down to the PA department, ATSU feels like one big family. The professional degrees that ATSU offers are no easy feat and can be challenging, but getting to come to campus and feel like I am at home makes the hard days much easier.”
What do you hope to achieve professionally, and how is ATSU-ASHS helping prepare you for your career?
“Beyond becoming a physician assistant, I am passionate about starting a nonprofit organization in the future to help victims of accidents caused by drivers under the influence, as well as their families. Having personally experienced a life changing situation of this nature I hope to help others navigate the medical, emotional, and legal challenges that often follow.
“In the future, I hope to help fill the gaps in healthcare in rural communities of Arizona as a physician assistant. I have a passion for helping rural communities like the one I was raised in and inspiring residents of those communities to be proactive about seeking healthcare. ATSU is helping me prepare for my passions by providing me with an osteopathic education that will allow me to treat the whole person and navigate the unique hardships my future patients may be facing, and to provide them with reasonable and achievable solutions.”
You are the Leadership and Professional Development chair of the PA class of 2027 with the Kettel Society. Why did you choose to join this student organization?
“I joined Kettel Society as the Leadership and Professional Development chair because of my background in business and passion for networking. As the Leadership and Professional Development chair, I network with practicing PAs and arrange events for them to come to campus and speak with my classmates about their experiences surrounding the PA profession and their careers. This opportunity has allowed me to meet so many inspiring physician assistants and provide my classmates with valuable resources for professional development.”
Why did you become a student ambassador, and what do you enjoy about serving in this role?
“I became a student ambassador because I have a passion for helping individuals from similar backgrounds as me learn more about the PA profession, and providing them with resources to be successful in applications, interviews, and their education. Being from a rural community and the first person in my family to go into healthcare, the PA profession was something I had not heard about until I was a few years into my undergraduate degree. Having to navigate the PA school application and interview process was foreign to me. I spent countless hours researching the process and how to be successful, even contacting the ATSU ambassadors myself as a prospective student.
“This inspired me to join the student ambassador program so I could provide prospective students with the same valuable information that was provided to me. It is such a rewarding experience to be on the journey with prospective students who possess so much passion for becoming physician assistants as they go through the application and interview process, and then following up with them again to congratulate them on their acceptance.”
What are some of your interests, hobbies, or achievements outside of ATSU?
“My hobbies include spending time with my family, friends, and rescue dog, Jinx. While completing my undergraduate degree, my family moved from California to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and I love visiting them to spend time on the lake, in the mountains, and exploring everything the area has to offer. Arizona provides countless opportunities for both professional growth and adventure and I love being able to call it home.”
