Smith added that nearly 180,000 practicing PAs nationally today are “ making a difference in health care delivery , quality care , patient satisfaction and quality outcomes .”
In addition to Smith ’ s leadership roles , he wrote the curriculum for the pipeline program ’ s introductory course and instructs a class of 50 undergraduates each fall and spring on the College of Medicine ’ s central campus .
Smith is thrilled with the growth of the pipeline program , along with the competitiveness for the 10 slots allotted from each class . Berggren has conducted 45 student interviews this year alone and narrowed that to 15 finalists .
“ The students who entered this pathway program have foundational roots ,” Smith said . “ They lived in the Panhandle , come to FSU and complete their clinical training in the Panhandle and then they become employed in a place that is home . There ’ s a lot of sticking power with that . That ’ s why the program is successful and will continue to grow .”
And there ’ s no person to provide a better gauge moving forward than Pensacola Regional Campus Dean Paul McLeod , M . D ., who has been a fixture in the community since arriving in 1975 at Naval Hospital Pensacola for family practice residency .
students a hat-tip for that . They ’ ve sold themselves .”
Berggren noted that recent College of Medicine Alumni Hall of Fame inductee Jada Leahy , M . D ., has recently hired three UWF PAPP graduates to work in her practice .
That ’ s the type of evidence that should carry weight with the Florida Legislature when it takes up the next round of funding for the joint program . FSU and UWF have been working together to educate health care providers since the 1970 founding of the Program in Medical Sciences ( PIMS ).
So , too , should the endorsement by students drawn to the mission and providing compassionate care .
“ The pipeline helped solidify my decision in choosing FSU because it guaranteed my return to Pensacola for clinical rotations ,” said Quina , who will begin her final year there in January . “ It allows me to return to an area that means so much to me and see the additional pieces of our community ’ s health care system that need more assistance … make connections and seek different opportunities to provide care and help fill in those gaps in the future .”
“ He ’ s the cog in the pipeline ,” Smith said of McLeod , who has a pulse on the community and how the College of Medicine graduates – physicians and PAs – are both received and performing .
“ Success is measured by what kind of impact we can have in the community ,” said McLeod . “ That ’ s our goal . That ’ s our mission … Having high quality PAs practicing in our community as a result of the pipeline – those are the results we are getting .”
McLeod has seen a pendulum swing in how College of Medicine practitioners have been received , based on his interaction with the students coming through his campus and working alongside medical community partners , including those who provide clinical instruction as clerkship faculty to his PA and M . D . students .
“ A lot of these faculty members who had some skepticism have trained our students and now they are believers ,” he said . “ They ’ ve seen the high-quality students we have produced … That ’ s exactly what needed to happen and exactly what has happened . You have to give the
Kristin Quina ( PA ‘ 25 )
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