A Program Module to Supplement the Clinical Psychiatry Rotation for Physician Assistant Students

A recent blog article aimed at prospective physician assistants (PAs) identified psychiatry as a series of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, diagnoses supplemented by empathy and medication. It suggested that there were ample opportunities for PAs to practice psychiatry, although a recent survey showed that only 1% of PA graduates were employed in psychiatric clinical practices. While this is only one perspective, it suggests that PAs' understanding of psychiatric practice is limited by the patient population they see during their clinical rotations as students. A broad systematically organized clinical psychiatry module with clinical preceptor direction could provide a more informed knowledge base and more interest in the field.