Brescia University has received Accreditation-Provisional status for its new Physician Assistant Program, clearing the way for the program to welcome its first class of 30 students in August.
The designation was granted by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the national accrediting agency for physician assistant education programs.
According to ARC-PA, Accreditation-Provisional status is awarded to proposed programs that have not yet enrolled students but demonstrate the ability to meet accreditation standards if plans and resources are implemented as proposed. The status may also be granted to programs that continue making progress toward meeting standards before graduating their first cohort.
Accreditation-Provisional status does not guarantee future accreditation and is limited to no more than five years from the matriculation of a program’s first class.
“Achieving accreditation status is a testament to the caliber and hard work of the PA program’s faculty, as well as the support of the institution,” said M. Blair Whitaker, program director for Brescia’s Physician Assistant Program. “Our faith has been unwavering throughout this process, and we are blessed to continue the tremendous work we are doing. Brescia’s PA program is dedicated to improving access to quality medical care in our community and region, and we are eager to welcome our first cohort of students.”
The ARC-PA evaluates physician assistant programs nationwide and establishes standards intended to protect the public and ensure educational quality across the profession.
Development of Brescia’s program was supported in part through startup funding from HealthForce Kentucky, a regional initiative focused on expanding healthcare education and workforce opportunities. HealthForce Kentucky is a partnership of nine higher education institutions and numerous school districts across 16 western Kentucky counties.
“Brescia’s commitment to our region’s workforce is rooted in our founding,” said Brescia University President Madison Silvert. “We are incredibly fortunate to have a world-class faculty and, thanks to HealthForce and the Kentucky Legislature, a world-class simulation facility. We are privileged to help form the next generation of compassionate healthcare providers through the holistic and deeply personal education that every student at Brescia enjoys.”
University officials said the Physician Assistant Program aligns with Brescia’s efforts to expand academic offerings that address regional workforce needs while helping improve access to healthcare throughout western Kentucky.
“This is a huge milestone for our program, and I am personally excited to see students from our own community learning to provide exceptional care for both the hospital and the surrounding regions in the near future,” said Dr. Brent Hayden, medical director of the Physician Assistant Program.
Additional information about the program is available through Brescia University.
