Full circle: a new classroom site to facilitate the veteran to physician assistant pathway

Former military medics and corpsmen face challenges entering a civilian health care system that underutilizes their training and experience. The MEDEX Northwest physician assistant (PA) program launched a new classroom site in Tacoma, Washington, near local military bases, to ease entry into the PA profession for those in the local military and civilian communities.

To fill the new classroom, the program conducted outreach to prospective applicants at community colleges, on-base transition and education centers, and education and career events near local installations.

Half of the first Tacoma class members are military veterans, half are female, 71% are from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the average age is 33. The Tacoma class demographics are equivalent to the overall 2013 MEDEX entering class with the exception of a higher veteran population (p < 0.001) and a higher rate of educational or economic disadvantage (p = 0.001).

The MEDEX PA program has met its mission with the new Tacoma site in terms of access for former military, disadvantaged, and local enrollees. Offering a pathway to the PA profession for those with prior military medical experience recognizes the training and skills attained while in uniform and allows entry into a meaningful civilian career.