Characteristics of Physician Assistants/Associates in the Uniformed Services

Physician assistants/associates (PAs) serve as commissioned medical officers in the uniformed services, supporting readiness, global health operations, and domestic response. Despite their critical contributions, limited data exist to inform strategic workforce planning, recruiting, and retention efforts.

A cross-sectional quantitative analysis was conducted using a 2023 national workforce dataset. We compared the demographic and employment characteristics of PAs on active duty with those not on active duty (N=12,146), using descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis (Pearson chi-square tests for categorical variables and Mann-Whitney tests for continuous variables).

The PA Professional Profile data identified 12,146 PAs who reported their armed forces status, with 2,508 (20.6%) indicating they were on active duty, although 9,639 (79.4%) were inactive (retired and veterans). As of 2023, 2,508 active duty PAs served in the Army (52.0%), Air Force (25.8%), Navy/Marines (20.1%), USPHS/NOAA (5.9%), and Coast Guard (3.0%). In terms of demographics, PAs in active duty report a median age of 41, with 29.9% female and 11.6% indicating Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity. Compared to PAs not on active duty, PAs on active duty were more likely to complete a postgraduate fellowship/residency (17.6% vs. 13.9%). Over half of active duty PAs participate in telemedicine. More than a third (37.2%) of active duty PAs report symptoms of burnout, compared to 30.1% of PAs not on active duty.

PAs occupy unique roles in the U.S. government's uniformed services. Federal agencies should enhance PA retention initiatives by addressing workload demands, aligning compensation with responsibilities, expanding leadership and fellowship opportunities, and incorporating flexible, nonclinical career pathways into retention packets. Such strategies are essential to sustain a resilient, skilled, mission-ready uniformed PA workforce.