Physician Assistant Studies Department

ATSU’s PA students gain hands-on experience in diverse clinical environments, including primary care practices, surgical settings, medical examiner offices, and community health centers (CHCs) serving underserved populations. Through a historic partnership with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), students complete clinical rotations that emphasize whole -person, community-centered care.

Students also engage in outreach and wellness initiatives throughout the Greater Phoenix area, including Mission of Mercy events, the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® program, school-based screenings at Title I schools, Corbin’s Legacy, and other community health efforts. Every PA student is certified as a trainer for Still Standing: A Matter of Balance™, a national award-winning, evidence-based falls prevention program delivered in teams across community settings. Through the event medical services team, students provide supervised emergency care at events such as the USA Karate Olympic Qualifier and Special Olympics competitions. Clinically engaged faculty guide students through office-based and community-based clinical experiences, supporting the development of skills needed to address real-world health needs and provide compassionate, community-focused care. These applied learning experiences advance ATSU’s commitment to preparing PAs who serve their communities with knowledge, empathy, and a dedication to whole person healthcare.

Through the Hometown Scholars program, ATSU supports students from community health centers and surrounding communities in pursuing PA education and returning to serve the populations that need them most. By strengthening pathways for local students to become healthcare providers, the program helps improve access to care while building a workforce that reflects the communities it serves.

Students in the residential Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program may also dual enroll in the Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program during their clinical year at a reduced tuition rate, expanding opportunities for advanced education and professional growth.

• Vaping: Are Its “Benefits” a Lot of Hot Air?
• Are E-Cigarettes a safe alternative to smoking?
• 10 Reasons to See a Physician Assistant
• AACOM Patriot Day, Day of National Service
• Asthma Control Rescue
• I Am Psyched; Are You? Mental health has been segregated from primary care for decades. But as calls for integration increase, opportunity looms for PAs and NPs.
• Howell, S. E., Jafferbhoy, H., Trombly, C. R., Thompson, J. D., Knutson, L. J. (in press). Dental Anesthesia for Medical Providers: A Novel Interprofessional Course. Journal of Physician Assistant Education.
• MacConnell, L. S. (2019). ENT Made Easy (pp. 1-163). Banbury, Oxfordshire: Scion Publishing Ltd.
• Ross, W. G., Danielsen, R. D. (2018). What’s the Buzz? Treatment Strategies in Chronic Subjective Tinnitus. Clinician Reviews, 27(10), 34-41.
• Simon, A.F. (2016). In A. F. Simon (Ed.), Lange Question and Answer Physician Assistant Examination. (7th ed.). New York, New York: McGraw Hill. https://www.amazon.com/Physician-Assistant-Examination-Seventh-Allied/dp/0071845054
• Walsh, S. E., Tibben, T. M. Endocrinology. Appleton & Lange’s Review for the Physician Assistant (8th ed.). McGraw Hill.
• Weber, L. L. (2020). Advance care planning and goals of care discussion. Physician Assistant in Hospice and Palliative medicine (5:3 ed., vol. in press, pp. 309-320). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Grants:

• Bettridge, A. (Principal), “Stamp Out Stigma: De-stigmatizing Substance Use Disorders and Co-morbid Mental Illness Through Innovative Curricular Strategies,” Sponsored by PA Foundation (NIDA Mentored Outreach Award), Private, $10,000.00. (January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020).
• Bettridge, A. (Principal), “Meeting at Crossroads to Improve Smoking Abstinence,” Sponsored by nccPA Health Fdn, Private, $900.48. (January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019).

Awards:

• Annette Bettridge: NIDA Mentor Outreach Award Recipient, PA foundation and National Institute of Drug Abuse. (2019).
• Randy Danielsen: AAPA Eugene A. Stead Jr. Award of Achievement (2015); Honorary Membership, Arizona School of Health Sciences Alumni Board. (May 1, 2017)
• Kim DeVore: 2020 Clinical Education Award, Physician Assistant Education Association. (2020).
• Ray Pavlick: Osmosis Raise the Line Faculty Award (Dec, 2020).
• Albert F. Simon: Recognition of Leadership, NACHC. (2019); PA of the Year, ASAPA. (March 2019)

PAs earning their DMSc from ATSU are scholar-practitioners advancing the profession through publications, presentations, research, and applied clinical scholarship.