For his final round of studies, Clark moved across the country to attend City University of Los Angeles, where he obtained a doctorate in life sciences. In my practice in the Valley, the patients looked at me no differently than the supervising physician. I did stress tests, vascular exams and minor surgical procedures in the office. I got a lot of the cardiac or vascular patients because that was my background. The physician assistant can fill a role in a rural area without needing a physician onsite, he explains.
Rural health is where physician assistants have been shining stars.
There are more than 450 rural health clinics in Texas, and three-fourths are staffed by PAs. In hospitals with 50 beds or less, it s likely you ll find a physician and PA team for outpatient and inpatient services. I emphasize dedication between the physician and physician assistant team. PAs are trained as dependent practitioners and not as independent physicians. Clark says he hopes to develop the PA program into one in which students can earn a master s degree.