The physician assistant teaching fellowship: A model for faculty recruitment

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Physician Assistant Studies

Background:

• The number of physician assistant (PA) programs has rapidly increased, creating a high demand for qualified PA faculty.
• Barriers to PA faculty recruitment and retention include a lack of diverse teaching experiences and mentorship opportunities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the need for qualified PA faculty and overcome recruitment/retention challenges.
• To provide a structured training experience for aspiring PA educators through a teaching fellowship.

Main Methods:

• An established PA teaching fellowship program, initiated in 1998.
• Training potential faculty in core educational competencies and professional development.

Main Results:

• Nine out of eleven fellowship graduates secured full-time positions in PA education or administration.
• Fellow-developed curriculum projects were integrated into the institution's curriculum and disseminated to other PA programs.

Conclusions:

• The PA teaching fellowship is an effective strategy for developing essential teaching skills and professionalism in PA educators.
• The fellowship successfully increases the pool of qualified PA faculty and helps overcome retention barriers, offering a valuable model for other institutions.