Our Program

The Mission of the OHSU Physician Assistant Program is to serve as a model of excellence in physician assistant education by preparing graduates to provide patient-centered, evidence-based, and culturally appropriate health care to diverse populations, and to promote lifelong learning, leadership, and service. Our Program offers a 26-month, full-time course of study leading to a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree. Located at a nationally ranked academic medical center, our program offers students state-of-the-art, interprofessional learning facilities and highly competent faculty committed to learner success. The program accepts up to 42 students each year and is constantly ranked in the top ten graduate physician assistant programs in US News and World Reports.

Belong, Include, Empower

The OHSU school of Medicine is deeply committed to increasing and supporting diversity among our faculty, staff, and learners. The PA Program supports this commitment through continuous evaluation and implementation of our admissions practices, curriculum design, faculty development and program policy with diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at the forefront. The program is committed to creating cohorts with varied demographics include race and ethnicity, gender, Veteran status, and backgrounds, as well as volunteer, work and life experiences and perspectives. Bringing together diverse students with varied backgrounds and skills enriches the learning environment for all.

Curriculum

The program begins with a 12-month didactic phase. Students receive a strong foundation in basic sciences and clinical medicine as well as hands-on experience developing clinical skills through patient interactions during mentored activities. Students develop clinical thinking through problem-based learning and learn methods to improve patient interactions and provide more effective medical care. 

During the 14-month clinical phase, students participate in clinical training activities in a variety of community-based settings. In keeping with the mission of the program, a majority of clinical opportunities will be provided for students in rural and urban medically underserved sites throughout Oregon, SW Washington, and Western Idaho. The clinical year includes rotations in primary care, pediatrics, emergency medicine, general surgery, inpatient medicine, behavioral medicine, women’s health, and elective rotations.

Admissions 

The OHSU PA Program admissions committee is looking for well-rounded candidates who bring diverse perspectives, a strong academic background and health care experience with a preference for direct patient care.  The Program conducts a holistic, mission-based admissions process and applications are assessed on the areas below.

• Completion of admissions requirements: GPA, prerequisite, health care experience
• Fulfilment of mission-based criteria  
• Knowledge of the OHSU PA Program Mission and alignment with personal and professional goals
• Interest in the PA profession
• Resilience and/or perseverance relevant to later success in PA school and/or PA practice
• Leadership experience or the potential for development of leadership skills,
• Commitment to or understanding of value of DEI in health care,
• Commitment to underserved populations
• Commitment/motivation to attend the OHSU PA Program
• Written Expression
• Review of letters of recommendation
• Academic preparedness to be successful in the program
• Review of overall scholastic record, including GPAs with an emphasis on BCP (biology/chemistry/physics) GPA. Basic science preparation at the upper division level is highly valued.

Admissions Requirements

To be considered for admission to the OHSU PA Program, admissions requirements must be completed. For more details, please visit our website or review accompanying document.

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university
• Overall GPA and Science GPA of 3.0  
• Minimum of 30 semester/40 quarter BCP (science) credits required
• Completion of prerequisite coursework with a grade of C or better
• Minimum 2,000 hours of health care experience completed at the time of application submission. Preference is given to those with direct patient health care experience.
• Three Letters of Recommendation

International Applicants - Please see our website for specific requirements if you have received your degree outside of the US/Canada.

Admissions Process Timeline 

Applications are available through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) beginning in late April each year. Deadline: CASPA application with all supporting materials (official transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) must be verified by CASPA on or before August 1. You may need to be prepared to submit your application 3-4 weeks ahead of the deadline to ensure it is verified in time. 

• Application: End of April – August 1st
• Interviews: September – November 
• Class selection: October - December
• Program begins: late June