being able to have all the students in the same environment planning for their practice future.
“ Everybody wants to hire the [ PA ] students. I don’ t think any of our students actually have difficulty getting job offers. The most difficult part of it for them is selecting where and which offer they’ re going to accept.”
Fogarty, who remains engaged with College of Medicine following his February 2023 retirement, is thrilled with how things have turned out.
“ I’ m very proud of what the program is doing,” he said.“ It’ s very gratifying to know that the PA students are out there in the workforce. Ben picked up the program at a very difficult time. Continuity has been critical to the growth of the program.”
Smith, who initially accepted the interim director position after much consideration, is excited to maintain the program’ s momentum.
“ Everything that’ s happened is what would fully be anticipated to happen, but I think the rate at which it’ s happened now is due to the staff and faculty that we have, the support from the college and the university,” Smith said.“ The FSU name is very helpful, but it’ s enhanced, magnified, by passionate people who are doing what they’ re doing every single day.”
PA PROGRAM TRENDING TOWARD“ GOLD STANDARD”
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028
No. applicants |
276 |
1,210 |
1,321 |
1,396 |
1,670 |
1,680 |
1,834 |
1,954 |
2,142 |
2,367 |
Verified applicants |
246 |
411 |
436 |
377 |
677 |
587 |
670 |
672 |
775 |
976 |
Dir. patient care hrs. |
1,001 |
1,466 |
2,050 |
1,888 |
2,338 |
3,238 |
2,892 |
2,255 |
1,930 |
2,595 |
Undergrad GPA |
3.50 |
3.46 |
3.52 |
3.50 |
3.65 |
3.63 |
3.68 |
3.75 |
3.76 |
3.74 |
Math / science GPA
3.50 3.41 3.45 3.38 3.51 3.50 3.58 3.76 3.75 3.71
GRE combined 298 303 302 303 303 305 305 305 302 307
Note: Years reflect PA graduation classes. Verified applicants are those eligible for interview, seat in class. Direct patient care hours, undergrad and math / science GPA and GRE combined figures reflect class averages.
FALL 2026 | FSUMED 21